[NSRCA-discussion] OK it's time to stir things up. Where's thebeef?
JShulman
jshulman at cfl.rr.com
Thu Sep 28 06:05:05 AKDT 2006
Well, lets see what's in the pot now compared to years ago... Nats, Don Lowe
Masters, Tucson Shootout, XFC, Joe-Nall, Top Gun, Toledo and WRAM Shows,
ETOC/X-Games at Toledo, SEFF, NEAT, AZ Flight Festival and IMAC contests.
Years ago, there was the Nats/Masters (team trials) and TOC, and of course
the local contests. When I was in NJ, it was nice because contests were
with-in 5 hours of home. Here in FL, I will travel 7 hours to get to
Pensacola and Atlanta to go to contests. Out in AZ, there was the Phoenix
contest and LV contest, and everything else was 8+ hours away from Tucson.
It's not that I didn't want to go to the contests, it's that they were
further than I wanted to drive. That's why I've been to so many contests
since I've been back here. I even tried to pull double duty during Top Gun
and drive almost 2 hours to make the contest before and after my demo's. The
demo's went well, but I finished last at the contest cause we flew 5 rounds
and I only made 3. Oh well, I still enjoyed it.
The problem, as I see it, is that today the top pilots have a schedule that
makes this a job. I personally am home for 4 weeks the first 5 months of the
year. I am all for the 3 contests to qualify for the team trials, but again,
if I were in AZ still, I might not be thinking the same. Also, take a look
at how many pilots you consider "top pilots" today as to how many you did
back then. I think the list is longer years ago than it is today. I remember
trying to climb the ranks in FAI in the early 90's and I started from the
20's. The overall participation in pattern is down, not just by the top
guys.
As for doing away with sponsorship stickers on planes... that's a good one.
;)
Regards,
Jason
www.jasonshulman.com
www.shulmanaviation.com
www.composite-arf.com
-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of mike mueller
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 9:39 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] OK it's time to stir things up. Where's
thebeef?
Note I didn't say that all the top flyers don't participate on a local
level. Dave Lockhart is always there, along with guys like Troy Newman and
since he's been in Fla. Jason has been seen. There may be more but for the
most part the participation is lacking.
As far as sponsorships it's just a point of discussion. I know that it
can't be changed but that doesn't mean I don't think that its part of the
problem. Mike
Dave Michael <davidmichael1 at comcast.net> wrote:
Anything that will get the marquee flyers out and competing/mixing it up
with "the rest of us" is beneficial for promoting the hobby and generating
interest but I'm not sure you can say that all of these flyers aren't out
there participating locally. They may also wish that they could fly more
local contests but their personal and professional obligations may just be
getting in the way of going to contests just like everyone else struggles
with. So- having said that, overall, I would support something that would
incent the top flyers from getting out to the local contests.
The sponsorship decals idea- not allowing stickers or blatent
advertising- I don't agree with. I personally don't see any real benefit in
getting rid of them or harm in having them- why do you feel this way? It's
a byproduct of capitalism- advertise your product, market to your potential
customer. If a flyer is fortunate enough to get a sponsorship I assume they
earned it and I wouldn't want to dis-incent anyone from working hard to get
something special. In addition- there's no way you could enforce it.
Dave Michael
----- Original Message -----
From: mike mueller
To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 9:03 AM
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] OK it's time to stir things up. Where's
the beef?
I have an observation that I've made that disturbes me. I don't think
that we are getting enough of the top notch or team worthy flyers
participating on a local level.
I think that in the future the team trials need to be revamped so
that a flyer wanting to make the team would be required to fly in at least 3
to 5 local contests per year.
Here's why I think this is important. We need the top names in our
sport to be part of the sport from a leadership standpoint. Imagine a QQ
showing up to fly against Andrew at a local contest. It would be much more
exciting to watch and it would therefore promote more interest. If we
continue on the path we are going interest in pattern will continue to
slide.
In the 70's when the team selection was known as the Masters you had
to fly your way into the contest by accumulating points on the local level.
It was exciting. Were totally missing the boat with our present system.
So here's the deal. Support the real pattern flyers who make the
effort to support us and we will all be better off. Oh and for what it's
worth I think we would be better off all around if we didn't allow any
stickers or blatant advertising of any products in our sport. Let's get back
to the flyers who do it on there own without all the sponsorships.
All this is just what I've seen in the last 6 years of flying after a
15 year absence for the hobby. TIA for letting me vent and as my budddy
Bobby Satalino would say "Have a nice day"! Mike Mueller
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