Rules Changes----Advancement

[Joe Lachowski]

There are two separate committees. One for Sequences, the other for rules.

>From: Rcmaster199 at aol.com
>Reply-To: discussion at nsrca.org
>To: discussion at nsrca.org
>Subject: Re: Rules Changes----Advancement
>Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 17:08:10 EST
>
>
>I believe that this may open a different can of worms. It's true that  some
>guys attend contests simply for the fun and camaraderie of the flying, but
>there is a whole nother set of troops that attends to compete. In my 
>opinion,
>this is the largest of the two, by wide margin. These folks want to win, 
>place
>or show and really try hard to do their best. The former group may not care
>as much about doing its best; just being there is good enough. But it is 
>still
>an extremely important group nontheless.
>
>It seems to me that there are a bunch of guys, (Masters in D3 is a good
>example) that are very good in their present class(most of us are quite 
>evenly
>matched), and some of these may decide to drop down a class and park for a
>while. Taking that skill level down to Advanced could demoralize the 
>Advanced
>level guys that want to really compete, and could actually have the exact
>opposite effect from that desired. I wouldn't want any Advanced competitor 
>to  leave
>the sport because of an infusion of Masters class guys re-entering the  
>class
>
>We agree on the fact that the points system is silly and  unenforceable.
>
>Having said all that, I wouldn't be aversed to a trial run of such a rule.
>Reconvene after the trial period was over and make a decision on its
>success--failure. Then make a final decision and have buy-in from the CB up 
>  front to
>either make a change, or not. Having CB buy-in up front will alleviate  
>some of
>the acremonious debate we have seen in past issues.
>
>I recommend caution either way. This indeed is unchartered territory, at
>least in my 27 years, and demands careful thought. I like the fact that the
>committee is thinking in different and challenging ways to improve the 
>sport for
>everyone, eventhough THIS committee's charter is to build schedules and not
>rules.
>
>
>MattK
>
>PS- one more thought on this: it may turn out that no self respecting
>Masters competitor will move down to Advanced, or Advanced down to 
>Intermediate.
>Then this suggested approach could work. Convincing the AMA CB will be the  
>trick
>
>
>
>In a message dated 3/8/2005 4:20:51 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>patternrules at earthlink.net writes:
>
>From:  Troy A. Newman
>To: discussion at nsrca.org
>Sent: 3/8/2005 2:18:31 PM
>Subject: [SPAM] Rules changes Advancement
>
>
>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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