Derek, you wanna hear cost to fly at SWC! I am a slope flyer, have been for
the past 18-20 yrs. Left thermal flying for the slope because I simply got
bored flying around in circles all day long. Well , started reading this
RCSE list about 6 mos ago- thermal flying kinda sounded good, so I said why
not? Decided to enter a contest, signed up for SWC- only one problem-
didn't even have a plane to fly in it. Built a Mantis-$450, servos/mini
receiver-$200, needed a radio for a "full house plane"-used Vision $300.
Joined the local club to fly at club field with their winches-$50. After
driving to the club field a few times, realized it was just waaaayyy too far
to drive for 6-8 flights. Bought a winch-$500. Now I have to drive all the
way from San Jose, Calif to someplace in Arizona to fly a plane I just
barely know how to fly, in a rather large contest yet! Oh yea, forgot the
contest and dinner fee. On the way to contest the little lady wants to stop
at Vegas- who knows how much thats going to cost me- $100/hr??? All I can
say is- bring your money people- there might be a good deal on a low time
Mantis and winch- I may need the cash to get home!! see you at the contest,
Walter
-----Original Message-----
From: Derek Boyer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: [RCSE] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Monday, December 20, 1999 7:06 PM
Subject: [RCSE] SWC2000, Bethlehem and the Emperor
>Sorry to make a grand re-entrance to the Exchange with a rant, but I
>got an early Christmas present today (lump of coal?)
>
>"Sorry, we are sending this notice to quite a few entries we received
>recently...We have stopped accepting entries because we are over the
>175 limit...[no mas] because we are finishing placing vendor sponsored
>pilots etc...We just don't have enough daylight in the winter to fly
>more pilots without having to drop rounds or shorten flight times."
>
>
>At once, this message bummed me and reminded me of a quote from one of
>the supply guys during my Navy days: "Your lack of planning does not
>necessarily constitute an emergency on my part" That said, I know I
>must admit that I should've entered earlier.
>
>However, you guys may want to re-think this thing. Attendance is a
>good thing, especially when you're part of the most prestigious series
>this side of the Worlds. I know that many guys were turned away from
>the Old Buzzard's HLG events because Ray was directed by the host club
>that he could only sign up one pilot per frequency. This means that
>every stinking frequency will have to be accounted for in order to get
>max turnout. Guess what? He's doing a pretty good job of filling the
>frequency board because of guys like me who are getting second and
>third channels just to attend what is looking to be a really memorable
>event. In spite of the frequency issue, he's getting maybe the third
>best HLG turnout of this nation's season. Every single HLG club
>contest in SoCal has at least one, and often more, frequency conflicts
>but we wouldn't dream of sending people away because of the
>complications arising from frequency management. As far as sheer
>numbers go, nobody likes the idea of cutting task windows or rounds,
>but it's the less evil of the options presented. Ask Ron Schark what
>he's gonna do about the IHLGF this year. He's expecting a huge jump in
>attendance, but I guarantee you he won't be telling Werner Stark to
>stay on the other side of the ocean because Derek insists on getting
>in another ladder task on Sunday.
>
>Ask the Soaring Exchange. I'm a competitor and I know I would rather
>fly one less round than to have possibly formidable competition turned
>away. Ask Daryl if he'd be willing to fly
>one less task or give up a lunch break or go a little longer on Sunday
>to have the chance to beat 230 instead of 160. Ask Joe how he likes
>the idea of turning away competition. Ask Sal or Karlton which number
>they'd rather have attend. Yep, some of us are the fodder, but we're
>the guys who pay the dues, spread the word and boost the LSF points
>for the rest of the warriors.
>
>The biggest thing is that missing out on the SWC will dramatically
>reduce my motivation to attend the other Triad events. It's not about
>flying in my first TD contest, it's about flying in THE triad. Without
>getting to the SWC, Pasadena and Visalia just become "big contests."
>In addition to that bummer, now that I've paid to enter the two HLG
>events (which I'm attending because I thought I was going to Queen
>Creek for the SWC) I'm gonna end up taking at least one day off work
>and driving across the desert for a single day of flying. Add that to
>the cost of buying a plane without finger pegs, another with a T-tail
>(!!!!), and all the "Only HLG for me" chanting I had to swear off
>before entering a TD event. At least you caught me before wasting
>money on a Talking Timer and a neck strap.
>
>Twenty bucks says if you allow Ray to open up the Old Buzzard's
>contest to three pilots per channel you'll grab an additional twenty
>guys (making it nearly the numeric equal of the
>International) and who knows how many you'll add to the SWC? Can't you
>guys ask for more winches, more volunteer help, better software, or
>something to help increase throughput so as not to turn people away?
>
>When I find myself between a rock and a hard place like the one every
>CD faces when they must make decisions like this, I have to ask
>myself, "What Would Elvis Do?"
>
>And now I'll hide behind that very rock so the flames don't burn too
>badly.
>
>
>Derek
>
>Ps. Sensei, I guess I can carry your tranny now :-(
>
>
>
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