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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jim,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The answer is Poor contest management! not
cost.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We have about 10-15 guys at my local club that fly
IMAC and about 5-6 that fly pattern with a couple cross overs. The answer the
IMAC guys give for not flying pattern is its not fun to attend the events. Yet
they practice and work every bit as hard as the pattern guys do. The models guys
are spending big $$$ for their stuff as most are flying 35-40% stuff as you
point out. I have even surprised a couple when they flew my Pinnacle and then
found out how good a model they can get for the price $3k. And this is a top of
the line model most of them are not flying top of the line stuff in IMAC and
spending 50-80% more for it. So why is that? The people and
clubs that put on the contests make the event fun for the
pilots!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Look at how well organized the IMAC-SCAT group is
in Southern Cal area. Anna Wood and the rest of the group not to leave anyone
out have really put in some outstanding work....Attendance in So Cal dropped
when Greg and Suzie stopped running the entire southern district.
The CD's were reliant on the outstanding work that Suzie put in.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm not saying this as a slam on anything or
anyone...but the reality is a contest entry fee out here is $35 and some of the
clubs don't even offer any kind of concessions. Go to any other part of the
country and the clubs are not in the business of trying to make money on the
event. As many know I have traveled from sea to shinning sea in the past couple
years. There are parts of the country that really treat you as a guest and want
you to have a good time. Other areas the contest is taking club time away. So
the attitude is well if you make some money you can have the field for the
weekend. I even know of clubs in So Cal that charge pilots to fly on Friday for
practice? Its a nominal fee and really is small in comparison to the cost of the
trip....but the reality is the pilots are not really welcome...or lets say not
made to feel welcome. You pay your $35 and might get 4-5 rounds not because of
too many people but because the event is not organized well. 20 pilots and
somebody wants to fly a single flight line. Then the Masters and FAi guys sit in
the chair all day long. Bottom line is its no fun!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I will point out one really good event I attended
back in North Carolina (Burlington)...not to take away from any of the other
hospitality I received in the area....Pensacola-Huntsville-Apopka and many
others.....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Burlington group....home of Piedmont models
essentially put on a their host hats for the event. I think the cost was like
$25 for the contest and they fed the whole crowd all weekend with hot dogs and
burgers at N/C and then they had a steak BBQ on Saturday night...if I remember
with all the trimmings and a keg of beer (this was after hours of
course)....Basically the club was happy to have the event and wanted everyone to
have a good time. John Ferrell and Dave Guerin with help from Steve Wall and Lee
Davis were the hosts of the event...and made you feel welcome! It was a y'all
come type of attitude.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I don't see this kind of attitude out here in the
south of D7. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To compare the IMAC-Scat group out here is all
about having fun. They have incentives in terms of district champs and bragging
rights that go along with the events. As the JR SCAT series of the past couple
years they got some help</FONT> <FONT face=Arial size=2>from many
manufacturers and suppliers to support door prizes and district champs awards. I
know that they were giving away 10X's and such for championship points...I think
that much of the money ($40-50) entry fees went back into the event to help
purchase these prizes....They have Foamy events at night to have fun...and
sometimes they even have some competitions on the foamy stuff. Above all its a
fun thing.....not a dragging contest. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The bottom line is you need somebody in the area
willing to put in the time to manage the organizational work. I see this work
occurring in Northern California as Don Atwood (DVP) is up there.....but the
Southern part of the district just doesn't have the catalyst to get it going.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Again this is only an observation of what I have
seen in the contests from the east coast to the west coast. In the last 3-4
years I have attended on average about 12 events a year.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Solution I see is to have a really well run event
where the pilots can come fly and have fun. This may involve a club judged
event...If a club would come up with a group willing to judge and we spend some
time with them to help educate rather than complain about the credentials of the
judge then I suspect there may be some more guys playing in the game. Our rules
have gotten cryptic and specialized to where a lay person can't understand them
at a glance and the result is he is not going to spend a ton of time going to
school and paying to go to school at that. Then for his fee of learning to judge
it qualifies him to sit for a entire weekend and judge a bunch of ungrateful
pilots that complain he is not qualified. The results are not too
surprising....We need to change the attitude associated with the event out here
in D7</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Again this is not a hit on anyone its an
observation from a person inside the fence. There are good events all over...and
my friends run the events...so I understand....but the reality is we are not
making it fun!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have spent tons of time here in PHX talking to
people that used to play with us and why they have stopped. Changing this
attitude is the key to the growth. A well managed group of workers would go a
long way to helping the attitude issues. MAKE THE PILOTS WANT TO COME PLAY. The
reality is right now having been to the events I don't really look forward to
attending most of the pattern contests out here. I attend because I love to fly
and compete with my models. I would travel and have traveled 1000miles for
a good contest. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Just my few cents worth.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Troy</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>