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<FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>On 4/5/06 6:30 AM, "Ken Thompson" <mrandmrst@comcast.net> wrote:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'><FONT FACE="Arial">I've read most of the replies in this discussion thread. I'm sure my take on this subject has been stated before, but I'm going to give it any way.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">These pilots are not winning because they are sponsored, they are sponsored because they are winning. I don't see that fact as a detriment to the pilot that pays his own way, nor do I see this as a reason to add expense to local contests by giving out additional plaques.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">I, for one, will never be good enough to get a sponsorship, I know that fact, and am ok with it. I will go out and do my best, practice when I can, and have a ball! <BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">If I can't afford the best of the best, it's ok, I'll fly what I can afford. I happen to have a very good plane this year, however, it's only because Mark gave me a great deal on his El Nino that I have a great plane. If it was necessary, I would still be flying my LA-2, and I would be ok with that, because I would still be having fun.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">The only way that I see a sponsorship as a HUGE advantage is if it entailed fuel. That would be nice, but again, if I couldn't afford YS 20/20 or DZ, I would be running a ST-2300, cheap fuel and a lot of power for the money.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">Some things I will be doing this year are as follows, <BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">1. Practicing as much as I can.<BR>
2. Learning every chance I get.<BR>
3. Having fun.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">Something I will not be doing this year,<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">1. Worrying about the fact that I'm not sponsered.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial">Ken Thompson<BR>
D4<BR>
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</FONT><FONT FACE="Tahoma">-----Original Message-----<BR>
<B>From:</B> nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org [<a href="mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org]">mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org]</a><B>On Behalf Of </B>DaveL322@comcast.net<BR>
<B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, April 04, 2006 11:47 AM<BR>
<B>To:</B> NSRCA Mailing List<BR>
<B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] The Pilot<BR>
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Recently, in the US, the idea that "we are all winners" and everyone should be awarded for participating and trying hard in competive environments has been propagated in many areas.<BR>
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There is no doubt that we could easily create enough categories (Jr, Sr, Open, unsponsored, over 60, most improved, etc) such that everyone could be a winner at every pattern contest.<BR>
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The take away I saw from the emails from Ed and Matt was pretty simple - pattern competition is just that - competition. And all competitions traditionally recognize the top finisher, or the top 3, or top 10%, with awards/trophies/etc. I'm with Ed and Matt - I like the award system in pattern the way it is, just my opinion. Promoting pattern and encouraging growth/participation are a separate issue with many avenues available outside of awards/trophies/etc, again, just my opinion.<BR>
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Regards,<BR>
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Dave Lockhart<BR>
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DaveL322@comcast.net<BR>
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<HR ALIGN=CENTER SIZE="3" WIDTH="95%"></FONT></SPAN><FONT SIZE="1"><FONT FACE="Monaco, Courier New"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:9.0px'>_______________________________________________<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>You know the old saying, “dance with the one you came with”. More importantly DANCE! And if I am sponsored or not I will always enjoy the dance. Winning is great but when winning is no longer fun or you lose sight of the joy of competition, then you need to look in the mirror and ask some hard questions about yourself.<BR>
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Some people put a lot into the sport, money, time, and lots of fuel. They have an investment and when they trophy that is their dividend. If the people who compete and don’t invest themselves then they have no right to complain when they don’t win. Winners chase success, success doesn’t chase people.<BR>
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By the way--- does anyone know the incidence setting for the wings and stab on the CA Eclipse, CA didn’t include it in their instructions. <BR>
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Keep Dancing!<BR>
Randy Bearden</SPAN></FONT>
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