I am a member of the Bear Mountain Flyers which is the club that has hosted the District Champs for the last several years. The club felt that the amount of money they got for the use of the field was not enough. I think they got $300 for the 2010 Champs. The event has been falling off in attendance since BMF first hosted the event. I think the 1st year at BMF it was nearly 40. Last year I think it was around 25. The club asked for more. The decision was made to move to Fresno. No problem, Fresno is a great field and has held it before. As far as my spring contest, again the club membership voted it down as it, in their opinion, didn't bring in enough money for the club. Who can really blame them.

Pattern contests have gotten used to, IMO, low entry fees compared to nearly every other R/C event I've attended. At my contest last year we charged $40 instead of the usual $35 and heard complaints. Maybe that's why it can be hard to get clubs to agree to hold pattern events. And if the attendance tanks, just another reason.

We are going to include Classic Pattern to our fall contest at Lancaster. Maybe if we can get a few of those guys along with current pattern the events will be more worthwhile.

BTW, Mark Latimore is deep into helicopters and is not involved with the club now.