Team Trials

[JOddino]

John,
Your obsevations should make everyone stop and think about their own
situation.  Building and flying model airplanes is a great hobby but like
everything else in life there must be a balance with other aspects of your
life as you mentioned.
We had a very successful SCAT contest in Camarillo this weekend with about
40 entries.  I'd say half the planes were ARFs and I believe ARFs won in
every class.  I'd sure like to see pattern as healthy but I think it will
take some rule changes.
Jim
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Ferrell" <johnferrell at earthlink.net>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 7:41 AM
Subject: Re: Team Trials


> Some personal observations:
> If we all flew like the guys at the team trials, we would have to hire
> people to put on contests.
> If we did not have ARF's we would lose a lot of flyers.
> If we did not have guys in business to produce pattern planes, we would
lose
> a lot of flyers.
> If we all agreed on what airplane/engine was best it would be a one-design
> program.
> The only real constant is change...
> I believe things are coming along nicely!
>
> There are elements of IMAC/SCAT/SPF & ARF's that have made positive
> contributions to pattern.
>
> Some of us come to grips with the fact that we fly pattern for fun and are
> never really going to become really successful competitors regardless of
the
> rules. At that point we choose to pick the contests that are the most fun,
> fly in weather that threatens neither health or equipment, with equipment
> that provides the least frustration.
>
> There are lifestyle factors that come into play as well. A new baby, a
> grandchild who is willing to share your time, a health problem (yours or
> your family), an employment situation, an opportunity to fulfill some
> special dream (think full scale flying). Environment changes: Your local
> field is no longer available and travel time to the field becomes
excessive.
>
> We each come to the Pattern World with our own agenda and either adapt to
> reality or leave. While there are a lot of us who have a strong drive to
> compete and win, I believe there are more of us who pursue it as the venue
> for self improvement. Those who must compete and win simply go away when
the
> trophies stop.
>
> Like I said at the top, just some observations....
> I am still having fun!
>
> John Ferrell
> 6241 Phillippi Rd
> Julian NC 27283
> Phone: (336)685-9606
> johnferrell at earthlink.net
> Dixie Competition Products
> NSRCA 479 AMA 4190  W8CCW
> "My Competition is Not My Enemy"
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "JOddino" <JOddino at socal.rr.com>
> To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 11:41 PM
> Subject: Re: Team Trials
>
>
> > Hi Dennis,
> > You make sport flyer sound like a bad thing or maybe I'm over reacting.
I
> > am a sport flyer if that means I fly to have fun.  I also assert that
> >
>
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