<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #8000ff; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document
face=Arial color=#8000ff size=2>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 3/8/2005 1:19:02 PM Central Standard Time,
troy_newman@msn.com writes:</DIV>
<DIV>Thanks Troy</DIV>
<DIV>I appreciate the input and think you are correct in a lot of instances.
This is the type of opinion I am looking for. We can continue as we are now or
look for possible ways to improve our lot. Thanks</DIV>
<DIV>Buddy </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000>Buddy,</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>I have been really
quiet lately. I don't think the changes you are looking at are going to
increase pattern participation. The weight and box limits in my opinion are
good and don't need jacking with......</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>I know you and Don are
working hard at it. We on the sequence committee are as well. I don't think
changing the box is going to help us. I really don't think changes to the
weights or sizes is going to help us....</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>I want to weigh in
here so to speak on something that I feel will help pattern grow in changes to
the rule book. </FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000>I feel most changes to the rule book are going to make us more
elite or a more secret way you have to do things. Guys that are even in our
ranks don't read the rules so why make them even more specialized..and so
on.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>BUT there is a single
set of things in the book that I feel and others feel need to be
addressed.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>Advancement to the
next class.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>I think we should just
NIX all advancement rules. Let the pilot fly whatever wants too and when ever
he wants too. Let him jump around if needed. The reason its not used. I have
been from sea to shinning sea ATL to CA and have never actually heard anybody
keeping track of their points. The AMA says its up to the pilot and they
provide a little card to fill out. I have been flying pattern since 86 and
have never seen one of the cards! Its not enforceable. There is no database to
keep the records. It takes too much time and energy. We spend our time and
energy in other places more rightfully so....So lets eliminate the advancement
system.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>Reason #2 is we don't
have the numbers we once had to push people up to another class when they may
not be ready. SO would we rather push a pilot up to the next class and
maybe out by peer pressure...... or have him staying in the same
class.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>My opinion is I don't care if Dave Brown himself came
back and flew Advanced. I think we could all benefit from him being a the
contest and participating in the events.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>Prime example I
witnessed two district Champions last season move up to the next class and
neither one was ready to go. But they felt obligated to go since they won the
D champs. The reality was that they went to enough contests to get the points.
The reality also is they don't have the skills they needed to learn in the
previous class.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>Pattern is about
perfection and precision. I see our pattern ranks getting smaller and smaller
and the skill sets getting weaker and weaker. The pilot that survives the
Intermediate sequence for a couple years maybe even wins some stuff around
locally then moves up. But the reality is just because he won everything
locally with maybe 2-3-4 pilot doesn't mean he is now ready for the next show.
The quality of flying in the lower classes seems to be lower that it has been
in the past. Our numbers seem to be much much lower too. Pattern flying is
about perfection and flying that perfect sequence. I think if we eliminate the
advancement stuff over time we will gain back some of the old dogs for another
run. And new pilots that have not learned the required skills can get them
before moving on. It has been brought up that back in the old days
pre-turnaround...a local guy would dust off his model and support he clubs
local event. Maybe if we let him fly whatever he wants then we might get him
to come back after 5-10 years off. This could also could encourage new people.
No pressure to move up. Enjoy the competition at a level you are
comfortable. Right now we reward any margin of success with more and more
challenge. Maybe this pushes people away. Many people in their lives are
content to be right where they are. They want to play and have fun with the
group...but are not comfortable up with the next group. WE SHOULD NOT TURN
THEM AWAY!</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>Some pilots will never
be ready for a jump from Intermediate to advanced. regardless of the current
large steps between a couple classes. I feel that there are some career
Intermediate pilots like my father in-law Jerry. He is one of the best pilots
at his local club. He is the man for test flights, and advice among the crowd.
But He is happy and challenged with Intermediate. He will continue to be happy
and challenged with it for a long time to come. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>The cheer from the
crowd in the awards of the contest is always move up...move up. Especially in
Sportsman.Is pushing people away...in my mind. We need to pat them on the back
and say good job...not jump IN and get eaten by the
sharks.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>I think this defeats
ourselves a little. </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>If we let someone jump
around classes and he got in too deep he could always come back without AMA,
DVP, and so on approval. Just fly what ever class you want to
fly!</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT
color=#000000></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#8000ff><FONT color=#000000>The question is would
we rather have a guy sand bag a little and still have him at an event or call
him a trophy hog and push him out. This goes for older more seasoned pilots as
well. The guy is getting up there a little in years like my buddy Pastorello
<picking on you man I like to pick on Bob because he fights back!>
and flew at a very high level of competition but now wants to not
practice all the time...maybe doesn't have the best model for the job....Let
him move back from a masters to an advanced and fly there. He has a bunch
of knowledge and can help people at the events. Plus sometimes he is even fun
to fly with!</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Would we rather have him or Not?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>This does a couple things. Keeps the pilots that
can't make it at the higher level what ever the reason...and it also improves
the skills of the lower classes. A newer pilot will have to be more
prepared to win an event and he will not readily jump to the next class as
there is nobody to fly against in the current class. Competition is a
motivation factor. If a guy is out there doing his two loops really
well...then it will inspire the another pilot to "work on my two loops because
old Bob is going to kick my butt when we get to the contest next
week."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>For most people the biggest factor for them being
here in Pattern today is they wanted to learn to fly better. But that success
and flying better today pushes them into another class that is more difficult
yet. You know Mark Martin is still running the Busch Series and he has been a
Cup champion and Busch Champion before too. Even though many look at the Busch
and Truck series as a kind of minor leagues to the Cup cars.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>Just some thoughts</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000>TN</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>