On Aug 2, 12:36 pm, Rick Culbertson wrote:
JJ & all,

Good point, I'm certain every contest could use the extra $, in
Parowans case $1,800.00 for last min. drop outs. #18 is surprising
last minute dropout # for such a popular contest or maybe because of
it but I was pleased to see it allowed some fine pilots outside R-9 to
"officially" enter the contest.

Forgive me for the rant but speaking only for myself, I'm not a big
fan of tweaking the rules on a whim but I would fully support
extending the non-refundable period to say at least 4 months prior to
the contest start date and just make the rules state the deposit of
$100.00 is 100% non-refundable after 120 days prior to the contest. In
an oversubscribed contest this should weed out the majority of the 6
month long fence sitters who had nothing to loose but were always in
doubt. This should still allow the CM ample time for final
preparations and has the added benefit of removing the somewhat
emotional decision by the CM to keep the deposit and just make it
mandatory per the rules. I would be surprised if any past and current
CMs would be unhappy with this rule change.

Legitimate reasons for dropping out at the last minute will still
occur; family, health, work obligations, financial, etc. that's just a
given. I suspect even with the substantial sums of $ we all gleefully
invest in this sport, be it 10k or 200k a fair amount of pressure is
tossed at the CM by the last minute pilot dropping out to return the
deposit monies. I'd like to see the $ go to the organizers who put on
the contests, take on the risks and rarely make any real money doing
so, in fact they more often than not dig into ones own pockets to
complete the show. You don't see professional Sailplane Contest
organizers advertising in the yellow pages let alone in the SSA mag?
Contest pilots are not a bottomless pit for cash but we can all afford
to donate $100 to a good cause, that's about 3% or less of the average
pilots cash cost to attend a 7 day contest.

I'd be curious to hear from other contest pilots & managers etc on
this subject, be nice.

Rick - 21

On Aug 2, 8:26 am, John Sinclair



wrote:
At 02:00 02 August 2007, Tuno wrote:
Don't know what could be
done about what I would call 'casual interest', sure
some will drop out, but 18? Guess the deposit could
be increased or made non-refundable (or both)
JJ- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I agree increase the deposit and the cancellation period. I was
called about 12 hours before I would have to hook up the glider and
start diriving. I informed the contest personel about 1 month before
that I had to make other plans as I could not count on going. They
never answered and kept me on the list. Some people work for a living
and have to schedule vacations!