Hi Guys, Joe and I showed up expecting a couple of die hard's to fly the club contest today, but found about a dozen guys, including Ed Anderson of Syosset NY had decided to join us!
All came with their $50 cash just in case they might earn their "I Beat Gordy In North Jersey Buttons". Joe Melchoir hadn't flown his Victory C since the Daniel Boone, so he was more than a bit rusty, however the practice we'd put in yesterday, brought his thumbs up to full speed....ending up second today...clearly demonstrating why he is the top contest TD pilot in all of Deleware. Everyone seemed to take a time hit or got thrown from the landing spot by rolling thermal turbulence at one point or other. The Tasks were 6 rounds of 8mins with about an 8' circle landing, graduated 10, 20,30,40, 50. At times we had lots of birds to help cue the crowd, but other times it was on your own soaring. CD and current top ESL pilot Steve Lucke was very kind to the rest of us, by keeping things moving and not being too good today. He made a point of choosing his own air, regardless of others clearly working lift in an opposite side of the field. A great guy who worked his butt off to insure the rest of us had a seamless and carefree fun day of soaring. Euro transplant Beat (Be-at) was flying his recently re-balanced Pike Perfect and was clearly going to be the hero of the day, flying some of the best contest flights by far...until his stab joiner folded leaving his elevator locked and one half of the stab making like a spare vertical. He got it down no worries....(apparently he didn't know that there was a thin run of those carbon tube joiners, that needed either an inner piece added or a thicker replacement). That knocked him out of the wood race, but he got his Superior going and put in a few more perfect flights. Definitely one of the better thumbs coming up in the ESL. Chuck Robinet is in love! With is Shadow...more than a couple of guys commented to me about how his scores, confidence and piloting had improved since he got his Shadow. Now nicknamed the Shadow-Man! :-) I don't want to leave any of the guys out but the fun was spread around equally..as were the whinning...we me at the lead as usual ;-). I left lots of points in the landing zone all day..and that cost me....I made bad air decisions and that cost me...but same for all today :-) At the end, it was Lesik, who put the Polish polish on the score sheet, guiding his Pike Perfect into the top spot....Joe Melchoir was second (he had a great caller! :-) and me bringing up a close third. You should have been there! Their site is a park that was originally an airport...in two directions you can reach mountains, there are thermal generators in a bunch of different directions and good visibility in all directions... There is a LOT of open area with only a few Goal stands in one direction to be aware of. Thanks North Jersey! Gordy **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00030000000007 )
