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<DIV><FONT id=role_document 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><FONT face=Arial
color=#8000ff></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>