[SPAM] Rules changes Advancement

[BUDDYonRC at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/8/2005 1:19:02 PM Central Standard Time,  
troy_newman at msn.com writes:
Thanks Troy
I appreciate the input and think you are correct in a lot of instances.  This 
is the type of opinion I am looking for. We can continue as we are now or  
look for possible ways to improve our lot. Thanks
Buddy 

Buddy,
I have been really  quiet lately. I don't think the changes you are looking 
at are going to  increase pattern participation. The weight and box limits in 
my opinion are  good and don't need jacking with......
 
I know you and Don are  working hard at it. We on the sequence committee are 
as well. I don't think  changing the box is going to help us. I really don't 
think changes to the  weights or sizes is going to help us....
 
I want to weigh in  here so to speak on something that I feel will help 
pattern grow in changes to  the rule book. I feel most changes to the rule book are 
going to make us more  elite or a more secret way you have to do things. Guys 
that are even in our  ranks don't read the rules so why make them even more 
specialized..and so  on.
 
BUT there is a single  set of things in the book that I feel and others feel 
need to be  addressed.
 
Advancement to the  next class.
 
I think we should just  NIX all advancement rules. Let the pilot fly whatever 
wants too and when ever  he wants too. Let him jump around if needed. The 
reason its not used. I have  been from sea to shinning sea ATL to CA and have 
never actually heard anybody  keeping track of their points. The AMA says its up 
to the pilot and they  provide a little card to fill out. I have been flying 
pattern since 86 and  have never seen one of the cards! Its not enforceable. 
There is no database to  keep the records. It takes too much time and energy. We 
spend our time and  energy in other places more rightfully so....So lets 
eliminate the advancement  system.
 
Reason #2 is we don't  have the numbers we once had to push people up to 
another class when they may  not be ready. SO would we rather push a pilot up to 
the next class and  maybe out by peer pressure...... or have him staying in the 
same  class.
 
My opinion is I don't care if Dave Brown himself came  back and flew 
Advanced. I think we could all benefit from him being a the  contest and participating 
in the events.
 
Prime example I  witnessed two district Champions last season move up to the 
next class and  neither one was ready to go. But they felt obligated to go 
since they won the  D champs. The reality was that they went to enough contests 
to get the points.  The reality also is they don't have the skills they needed 
to learn in the  previous class.
 
Pattern is about  perfection and precision. I see our pattern ranks getting 
smaller and smaller  and the skill sets getting weaker and weaker. The pilot 
that survives the  Intermediate sequence for a couple years maybe even wins some 
stuff around  locally then moves up. But the reality is just because he won 
everything  locally with maybe 2-3-4 pilot doesn't mean he is now ready for the 
next show.  The quality of flying in the lower classes seems to be lower that 
it has been  in the past. Our numbers seem to be much much lower too. Pattern 
flying is  about perfection and flying that perfect sequence. I think if we 
eliminate the  advancement stuff over time we will gain back some of the old 
dogs for another  run. And new pilots that have not learned the required skills 
can get them  before moving on. It has been brought up that back in the old 
days  pre-turnaround...a local guy would dust off his model and support he clubs 
 local event. Maybe if we let him fly whatever he wants then we might get him 
 to come back after 5-10 years off. This could also could encourage new 
people.  No pressure to move up. Enjoy the competition at  a level you are  
comfortable. Right now we reward any margin of success with more and more  challenge. 
Maybe this pushes people away. Many people in their lives are  content to be 
right where they are. They want to play and have fun with the  group...but are 
not comfortable up with the next group. WE SHOULD NOT TURN  THEM AWAY!
 
Some pilots will never  be ready for a jump from Intermediate to advanced. 
regardless of the current  large steps between a couple classes. I feel that 
there are some career  Intermediate pilots like my father in-law Jerry. He is one 
of the best pilots  at his local club. He is the man for test flights, and 
advice among the crowd.  But He is happy and challenged with Intermediate. He 
will continue to be happy  and challenged with it for a long time to come. 
 
The cheer from the  crowd in the awards of the contest is always move 
up...move up. Especially in  Sportsman.Is pushing people away...in my mind. We need 
to pat them on the back  and say good job...not jump IN and get eaten by the  
sharks.
 
I think this defeats  ourselves a little. 
 
If we let someone jump  around classes and he got in too deep he could always 
come back without AMA,  DVP, and so on approval. Just fly what ever class you 
want to  fly!
 
The question is would  we rather have a guy sand bag a little and still have 
him at an event or call  him a trophy hog and push him out. This goes for 
older more seasoned pilots as  well. The guy is getting up there a little in years 
like my buddy Pastorello  <picking on you man I like to pick on Bob because 
he fights back!>  and  flew at a very high level of competition but now wants 
to not  practice all the time...maybe doesn't have the best model for the 
job....Let  him move back from a masters to an advanced and fly there. He has a 
bunch  of knowledge and can help people at the events. Plus sometimes he is even 
fun  to fly with!
 
Would we rather have him or Not?
 
This does a couple things. Keeps the pilots that  can't make it at the higher 
level what ever the reason...and it also improves  the skills of the lower 
classes.  A newer pilot will have to be more  prepared to win an event and he 
will not readily jump to the next class as  there is nobody to fly against in 
the current class. Competition is a  motivation factor. If a guy is out there 
doing his two loops really  well...then it will inspire the another pilot to 
"work on my two loops because  old Bob is going to kick my butt when we get to 
the contest next  week."
 
For most people the biggest factor for them being  here in Pattern today is 
they wanted to learn to fly better. But that success  and flying better today 
pushes them into another class that is more difficult  yet. You know Mark 
Martin is still running the Busch Series and he has been a  Cup champion and Busch 
Champion before too. Even though many look at the Busch  and Truck series as a 
kind of minor leagues to the Cup cars.
 
Just some thoughts
 
TN



 
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