<div>Del,</div> <div> </div> <div>Great post. I agree. I personally liked turnaround when it happened, but there were those that did not, and most of them dropped out.</div> <div> </div> <div>There are a lot of reasons why attendance is down, you mentioned most of them. And, you are correct that clubs have to decide whether it is economically feasible to hold a contest. It is a snowball thing, too. I remember when a few local contests in this area had 50 contestants, and at the same time there were at least 10 contests a year within a 3-4 hour driving distance from my house. Now the attendance is about 30 and the number of contests is about 5.</div> <div> </div> <div>I like the idea of the SPA. I hope to attend a contest this year, and have been trying to get interest in holding an event locally.</div> <div> </div> <div>Bob R.</div> <div><BR><BR><B><I>"Del K. Rykert" <drykert2@rochester.rr.com></I></B> wrote:</div> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">I agree with many of the post I have been reading and very much so with <BR>George's and Terry's post. When I look back at the earlier days of pattern <BR>(70's) when all maneuvers were done center stage a person with fair flying <BR>talent could compete and have fun and good time. Some even came out and <BR>compete for the local pattern event only practicing a little during the week <BR>prior to the pattern contest. The competition bar has been raised way beyond <BR>that stage now and why we had a few leave when we went to turnaround. We <BR>have been in steady decline for the most part since the beginning of <BR>turnaround. Not looking only at NSRCA numbers but attendance of local meets <BR>from those days. Due to the cost and poor attendance at some contests clubs <BR>have to do a serious look at justification of holding events if low turnout <BR>is result. Cost to compete have risen and some have to pick
and choose which <BR>event we will attend. Not always monetary choice but time choice. I know <BR>there was a time when I would travel 4 hours to a local contest to have fun <BR>and be somewhat competitive but now with the value of the airplane and cost <BR>of getting to the events rising for me I have to look at justification if I <BR>haven't practiced and don't know how the equipment is performing I now <BR>choose to stay home work on equipment issues. The sport has become more <BR>complex. One now needs a professional caller at their beck and call.. Not <BR>just some warm body from the flight line. This is for local events folks.. <BR>Not the Worlds or Nat's. All of these changes do have a price that goes with <BR>them. It has improved the caliber and quality of flying and only those very <BR>strongly interested now participate. Many have used great and unique ideas <BR>to help recruit new blood. Each idea will not work for all people or areas. <BR>Unfortunately the old days of
just letting new blood approach us are mostly <BR>gone. These issues sure have not helped encourage attendance and pattern <BR>participation IMHO.<BR><BR>Del<BR>nsrca - 473<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE>