Does USA need a Club Class?

Couldn't have said the way things could be better myself. If you do not
like having spent $100k+ only to get beaten by KS, 7V, etc. in whatever
"modern" class you want to fly in, then Trade-"Down" to a $30K LS-4 or
a $14K Std Cirrus, enjoy a few non-soaring vacations with the
proceeeds, and get beaten by the very talented younger crowd of racers
who drive their lowly "club class" ships. But this would only be truly
possible if there were a true or modified "club class" contests in the
U.S.A.

I would further echo Bob Fidler's comments on how we should be racing
at home like we race in international competitions. IMHO, we are
setting our teams up for overall failure if we expect "modern" glider
guiders to adapt from their ASW-Wahtever to a Std Libelle in the three
weeks of a WGC. "Club Class" flying is a particular skill that can be
gained in this country. I for one, from personal experience, would
prefer that we send pilots to world competitions that are put in the
position to excel, rather than merely compete for the honor of it.
Lucky for me, I actually was a "club class" pilot when I went to worlds
last year.

This comes from a VERY committed sports/club class pilot who owns a
$14K Std. Libelle and who would love to stay in my Libelle for many,
many years to come. I fly sports class regionals for the experience in
my class and to share my growing knowledge with other pilots. I fly
sports class nationals because that is the only thing my $14K is
sometimes competitive in.

While I may be a little above-average in my soaring and racing skills,
my win at Elmira's Sports Class Nats in 2003 was in part because I
happened to own one of the better ships for the conditions that existed
there during that contest period. Should luck, $'s, planning or the
combination of all three in choice of ship determine who wins in a
"fair" and "handicapped" contest?

The fiction that handicaps can even out performance over the wide range
of soaring conditions that US Sport Class are held in (i.e. Albert Lea,
Mifflin, Minden, Ionia, Elmira, etc.) is just that ... fiction. Ask
anyone who has flown a pure ridge day at Mifflin whether a dry ASW-27
is going to be quite a bit quicker than than a Libelle. Or how about if
that next western thermal on any particular day is always 42:1 away and
you are in a 35:1 ship? Yeah that pilot might have been competitive on
most days, but that one day just cost him or her any chance on that
particular day no matter how well they flew their fairly "handicapped"
ship.

If somebody honestly, in detail, and without privately smirking, can
explain to me how my Std Libelle is going to be equally competitive in
all expected wx conditions as a flapped ship (i.e. LS-3 to ASW-27) in
the Western thermals of Parowan this June, I would love to hear it!!!

In Europe, Sports Class AND Club Class co-exist just fine - even in
small countries like Norway, for instance. The same can be made to work
here. Somebody just has to step up and prove the concept out by holding
a few well located Club Class Events. Then of course the powers that be
have to approve it.

Oh yeah... one more thing... club class is fun!!! It is fun to try and
outperform the x-c speeds acheived by the greats of our sport who cut
their teeth in "club class" ships inthe late 60's and early 70's. And
the competition who is flying "club class" contests in Europe and at
the world level will stack up with anyone in any other "real" class -
and they fly libelles, cirri, LS-4's, etc. - Willingly!!!

Club class should at least be given a full and honest chance in the
U.S.

Flame Shield to full power...

Tim S. McAllister "EY"
U.S. Club Class Team, 2004 WGC Elverum, Norway


Tim Mara wrote: SNIP