1st Contest Experience (D4-Dayton, OH)

[patterndude at attbi.com]

The roach thing is not only in D6.  In fact there are probably more roaches in 
the rest of the country.  $34 a night is an excellent effort. I'm impressed and 
inspired.
--Lance
> Larry,
> 
> I think the roach thing is just a district 6 thing....I think... unless some of 
> you out there have some good hotel/motel stories.
> 
> WG
>     -----Original Message-----
>     From: jed241 at msn.com <jed241 at msn.com>
>     To: NSRCA <discussion at nsrca.org>
>     Date: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 6:38 PM
>     Subject: 1st Contest Experience (D4-Dayton, OH)
>     
>     
>     This can be put in a future K-Factor if desired…
>     
>     I want to first offer a special thanks to Mark Atwood and Harry Slone for 
> their great support in making this contest a contest I will remember. There are 
> many others to mention, Bob Kane, Andy and Tim Jesky, an many more…
>     
>     Since I have procrastinated this day long enough I started out by fighting 
> the steering wheel in my truck which was trying to take me home to my comfort 
> zone. But I pushed on….Glad I did…
>     
>     Harry had made sure I had a place to stay. It was everything I've read about 
> on this discussion group. I was a bit disappointed however, as the room was not 
> furnished with the roaches I've heard so much about, but the price was right at 
> $34 a night. I was greeted with a police officer waiting at my door. Wow, I 
> asked if he was my private body gard and he said, "Nope, I just patrol this are 
> real close". I felt much better knowing that the police was right there. I knew 
> I must be at the right place. This hotel was "Highly" recommended by the 
> seasoned pattern flyer Mark Atwood and Harry Slone who made sure the experience 
> was nothing less than the best for a rookie!!!
>     
>     As many of you read, I was very concerned about my trim on my Aresti and 
> Mark was very helpful in sorting it out…Upon take off Mark flew through some 
> very nice maneuvers I have never seen before. The four point roll was very crisp 
> and loops were perfect. Upon landing he said, "I need to borrow Chip's line…it 
> took a click of right aileron, should be fine now". He smiled and nicely said, 
> "Get fueled up cause we have allot of work to do"..<VBG> He had no idea how much 
> work was ahead of us. Harry also showed his concern with much grace and 
> sincerity as he asked me, "If Mark was that smooth with your plane, are you 
> shaking so bad that the sticks are bouncing". I replied, "I didn't know cause my 
> knees were shaking so bad I couldn't hold the radio still…"
>     
>     During practice with Mark coaching, I started learning the coaching 
> language. While flying the schedule his comment, "That's alright, keep going" 
> really means, "You blew that one". His feed back was always said with a smile 
> from this top notch coach!!!!
>     
>     I have always heard that you don't comment about errors while flying the 
> sequence. I believe I understand why now. Some of my best maneuvers was followed 
> by a not so quite Oooops, or oh sh@#…". Mark was coaching me through the last 
> round with such great confidence and zeal, I can recall clearly…"OK good 
> straight flight back, now 1/2 reverse Cuban 8", I completed this maneuver and he 
> said" Great job!!! now do the 1/2 Cuban 8 again at the other end", I replied, 
> "oh sh@#". Mark quietly said, "Don't let the judges know when you made a 
> mistake. The judges then replied, "Too late, but that was a nice 1/2 Cuban 8" 
> and the score sheet reflected a nice score of 8 which was scribbled out and a 
> good looking goose egg accompanied the chicken scratch. After reviewing my score 
> sheet I noticed the fine consistency of the various judges. Every maneuver I did 
> (and I said Ooops or Oh Sh@#), had a nice score scribbled out and a very nice 
> looking goose egg beside it. I believe this level of consistency is a result of 
> the very well structured judging seminars through out the NSRCA.
>     
>     My last "Double I" could get a new name. I'm just trying to get a 
> politically correct way of stating it. It started out with a straight flight and 
> then pulled through a 1/2 half loop. At the top of the loop I found myself 
> wandering into an inverted Cobra with out rolls. I pushed at the apex of the 
> Cobra back up to the top of the next pull for the 1/2 loop and exited upright. 
> This drew a very puzzling look from Mark Atwood as he has never seen the Double 
> I performed quit like that and asked why I pulled power at the top. "I don't 
> remember doing it", I said. I was very focused on the maneuver, but can't say 
> what I was thinking about as it's not appropriate on this forum. However…If you 
> draw the maneuver as I flew it "and" you realize I am recently divorced and 
> haven't dated in a while this maneuver then starts to take shape on exactly what 
> I was thinking…Hello Dolly!!!!! 
>     
>     I hope I haven't offended anyone with this thread. I do want to say thanks 
> to all that attended the Dayton, OH contest for making this a great memory. I'm 
> officially hooked and can't do any worse at a future contest. Everyone from the 
> top guns to the other Sportsman were top notch and very supportive. I can't wait 
> for Muncie.
>     
>     My advise for anyone that is putting off entering your first contest, is to 
> just jump in. I have been practicing regularly (two or three time a year) <vbg> 
> with out any help because nobody in my area was into pattern. I have put off 
> going to a contest because I didn't feel ready. I wasn't ready, but I went 
> anyway. The experience I received was far more valuable than anything I could 
> have learned on my own. It was also very rewarding experience!!!!
>     
>     Thanks D4, see ya in Muncie!!!! 
>     
>     Larry
> 
> 
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