Pete Bergstrom
Posts: 54
Joined: 4/2/2002
From: Champaign,
IL, USA
Status: offline
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A little bit of research into the history of "Beginner - Novice" level events that are eventually allowed to run at the NATS will show that what eventually happens is that we end up having to invent yet another "Beginner - Novice" event. This was true from Navy Carrier in CL with "Profile Carrier", Slow Rat in CL Racing, 428 in Pylon Racing. (These are only three that come to mind off the top of my head!)
Originally the intent of Q500 was to allow the novice racer to learn to race and provide a fun event for experienced racers. Left alone, this is a laudable goal. When a National Championship is at stake, everyone enters and the entire event grows to the point that the original intent of "teaching new people to race" has been lost. Now 428 is an event that provides equal challenge and speed to what should arguably be our premier event, QM40 and draws the best pilots in the nation, expensive airframes, and expensive motors. No where would anyone have thought that Q500 would have gotten this far, and it never had until it became a "NATS" event.
By the look of the entries at this years NATS, the existing grass roots 424 programs are doing a great job of feeding pilots into the 428/422 racing program. I believe that 424 needs to be a grass roots event (see my post under "426 - Intermediate Q500?"  and that is where it will do the best for us all overall. We don't need another event with "Speed Creep" - (what is that anyhow, this is racing!) nor do we want "Dollar creep" - or "run" - as the case may be. We will do nothing but chase away ptoential pilots and the cry for a "true" beginners event will come forth from the ranks once again! I have heard this before and I would like to stop from having to hear it again.
Regarding Racing Classes in General
There are only two ways to differentiate between events. Equipment or Pilot Skill. It is difficult to use them in combination because as soon as you move up a skilled pilot to the point that his wallet breaks, you have lost a racer totally. When the only difference between events is in equipment, then the pilots that love to race will figure out how to make the new equipment work just a little bit better and go have fun racing the new event in addition to their old event. The only true way to differentiate bewteen classes is by pilot skill with no restrictions on equipment other than the existing rules. This works well in the APRA with their 9 lap rules, etc. Then the improving pilot does not have to make a quantum leap in technology or expense to compete in the next class. He most likely already has the equipment or is in need of retiring worn out equipment.
Generally pilots move up in category through peer pressure. This can only be applied from the local racers that know the pilots in question. Once again, a grass roots function.
In conclusion I believe we should let each area promote its own grass roots racing program as their pilots. clubs, money and interest permits. This has been working better in the past few years and will take time to take hold. Remember, the existing situation did not happen overnight, but occured over a 7-10 year period. We need to allow ourselves the time to grow and mature at these events. Maybe we can get more clubs on the East coast if we are willing to put the work into the events we already have. We cannot legislate participation. Every time we try to do this we end up with lower participation.
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Standard vs. Expert - 
Neophyte Question on Rules -