Respectfully,
EY

Just my opinion.
UH- RC Chair, WGC Club team '01, '02

A lot of good points here from a guy who has thought a lot about the
subject.
As long as we keep the Sports class open to all, the possibility of a
pilot finding a "ringer" does exist, but we have worked hard to try and
prevent this.Ringers have been identified and adjusted recently and
this will continue.
I think you are making a mistake changing from the Libelle. I can't
imagine how a '27 will beat you at Parowan with equal pilots. Your 23%
advantage in selecting the best area to go( available area is square of
handicap ratio)is a big advantage. In tricky area KS glides off into
oblivion because he has to to go far enough to use up time, and you
just turn and slide on home. Just like you did to me in Elmira. I had
to extend and you didn't. Day died, you got home and I land just short.
One possibility to encourage more Club Class handicap ships is to make
team slots only available to those flying ships in that handicap range.
RC has looked at this in the past,but not adopted.
If this is seriously worthy of revisiting, it could be added to this
years pilot poll. Interested folks, contact your rules committee
representatives and we will add if there is enough interest.

The one and only problem with the pilots poll is that the poll will consist
of nearly all pollers being the current crop of racing pilots registered.and
most of whom will be flying current or near current racing class ships.
There is no doubt in my mind that few of these guys are going to vote
themselves out of any opportunity to fly in any contest, which is what they
would have to do to make this change.
The Poll doesn't include, what we as an organization should be trying to
attract, that being those outside that "could be" attracted to join in and
grow the ranks of the current membership. Many of these on the outside
looking in, just don't see the value of sailplane racing as it applies to
them, because, well, many don't have or can't afford what is considered to
be a competitive ship....if the sports class was aimed more at these older
ships and newer pilots I think there would be an increase in new
participation, which can't be bad for soaring as a sport inside and outside
racing.


I sorta agree with 1M on guys with current ships staying in the FAI
classes in regionals. The exception would be "entry and exit" folks.
That is why I do not fly Sports in regionals. I do not agree that this
is applicable to Sports Nats. Different show.

Decades ago, when I was "less mature" and more nimble I raced moto cross and
hare scrambles.we had in those days a novice class which basically was the
starting (entry) class. You were basically allowed to race in this class
only as long as you didn't win it.....then you were moved to the armature
class...They also adopter a senior class (exit) that allowed anyone over a
certain age to race with others among this age group....we already do this
with the very highly successful Senior Nationals.....there could be also
regional "Senior" contest.though that may already take a very large portion
of the soaring population in the USA.....which again is IMHO why we should
be doing all that is possible to attract and keep our newest (entry) pilots
interested in moving beyond club flying...racing can be and has been the
fuse for doing this in the past.

Enough blather- good discussion with less than RAS standard of insults
and name calling.
CU UH

I always enjoy friendly discussions with UH, EY and many others I consider
not only pilots with similar interests, but good friends as well...like in
any marriage, when we don't talk (argue constructively) we soon part....
tim

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Wings & Wheels
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