This is a message that i have been threatening to write for months. An early exit from the NATS gave me thinking time about it on the road home.
Tom Kiesling's line in an email said: "a contest is what you make it."
I'd like to add to that -- it's what those around you make of it, too.
for example:
--At the 1st contest i ever flew (a Cinci Memorial), Cap'n Jack and Karen taking us (Jim Carlton and me) to his home in Cinci to sample some of his personally brewed beer, and do some repair work on a plane -- when he had just met me that day.
--When a plane i was flying died a horrible death (this is a theme that will recurr below) at the first NATS i flew in, Doug Barry tried repeatedly to stick a beautiful Peregrine in my hands to fly -- and he didn't know me from Adam.
--When i wasn't going to fly in the handlaunch golf a few years back, Doug and Denny of Polecat actually reworked one of Doug's left handed dhl's to righthanded, then taught me to discus in a few minutes before going to the course. The result was one of the funniest moments in my life. As a late entry, i was following the field, and they were all gathered on the 9th green to watch me finish (seems to me there were brown bottles in most of their hands...). After some goodnatured comments about 'delay of game', the assemblage cheered loudly when my plane circled below green level, then crested the uphill approach with just enough momentum to float 'into the cup'. One of the VERY few times i have ever had cause to 'take a bow' in soaring.
--when my Barracuda shed a stab on launch and died a loud death in the hardpan of the NATS field, Mark Nankavil was timing for me. A few months later, a box showed up at my door unannounced -- a Big Bird kit from Mark, with servos donated by Alden Shipp to ease the pain.
--a NATS flight when Mike Stump timed for me -- it may have been my hands on the sticks, but it was Mike's max time.
--A note of appreciation from Cal Posthuma, after I had the privilege of presenting the Spirit of Soaring Award to him.
--Peter Goldsmith providing me with a freq module for my 388, and then an rx crystal to match.
--great talks with Marna, Johnny, Jim Deck, Alden, The Cap'n, Doug and others way too numerous to list
--and of course, constant help and valued time with my best bud, Jim Carlton.
I have always said that some of the best people you'll ever meet are in the soaring community. We may get GPS once in a while, but it's a great group.
Thanks for making it fun. I'm going to miss it...
Dana
