moderator....

[Woodward James R Civ 412 TW/DRP]

Good points Glen and Bill.  I think one of the best descriptors of our
overall state-of-pattern, is that we are still talking about it.  Bill's
vivid memory of 1959/1960, and obviously through today, spans 44 years.
Throughout the 44 years, pattern has survived or led every equipment
improvement, the economy, & "turnaround."  We have also survived as Glen
pointed out, the emergence or all other form of RC hobby.  Pattern must
offer something the others don't.  Anyone remember how fast the "New Coke"
turned into (or back) to "Coke Classic."  I would not like to change too far
from where we are now.  At risk of starting a different fire, I don't want
the weight limit raised either.

Jim W.

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Glen.Watson at aspentech.com [mailto:Glen.Watson at aspentech.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 7:23 AM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: RE: moderator....

 

I feel a major contributor to the perceived declined in pattern is due to
the wide variety of available technologies in the RC community today when
compared to 1959.  Pattern now competes with Jets, Helicopters, Scales
Aerobatics, Big Birds, 3D flying, electrics the list goes on most of which
were non existent or viewed as fledgling technologies 30+ years ago.  There
is a finite pool of money spent within the RC industry and variety has
divided this pool into smaller sections.  Viewing the thread activity on
RCUniverse.com provides a good sampling of the varied interest within the RC
community.

 

Regards,

 

Glen Watson

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Glaze [mailto:billglaze at triad.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 9:19 AM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: Fw: moderator....

 

It's possible that the decline has been so steady, and relatively small,
that it hasn't been until recently that long-time competitors have looked
around and asked "where has everybody gone?" 
When I got back into pattern ~1991, I was surprised at the small size of
contests, relative to what I had been used to around 1960.  I recall being
the contest director in a contest held Summer of 1959.  It was about average
for that time and place, (LARKS Club, Los Angeles Radio Kontrol Society) and
had 144 contestants.  And, it was held at a place called Turlock, in central
California. Look it up on a map; it's pretty obscure. 
We used to have more folks show up for club contests than now show up for
open contests.  And, at that time, the closest thing to an ARF was a kit
that had die-cut parts that you didn't have to cut out with a razor blade or
X-Acto knife.  You actually had to.......gasp........build it.  And, still
they came. 
As far as pattern not dying out, well, maybe.  But, I can remember when
U-Control Speed was very big in my (then) area.  Now..........U-Control
What? 
Folks on this list will come up with a lot of reasons for the above.  They
each will, in all probability, be correct to some degree. 
The fact that the trend has yet to be reversed is not an excuse for
accepting the status quo. 
The opinions above are mine alone.  The numbers and incidents quoted are
facts, not imagination. 

Bill Glaze 

 

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