As a would-be noob, I've dabbled with the idea of entering classic pattern, but don't really know where to start. The idea sounds cool, but strangely out of reach at the same time. The local club field (NJ Pinebarons) doesn't really do competitions that I'm aware of, and I've never flown competitively. I enjoy flying pattern aircraft, and practice some of the manuavers you mention, but really have no idea if they're 100% correct by a judges standards. I just have fun flying the planes as I enjoy the way they handle. Instead of a whole class, (or possibly in addition to?) how about say, a non-judged, practice orientation sequence where someone toying with the idea can "try out?" At least to see if they're good enough to bother going any further. My apologies if such a program already exists, but I've never heard of one. Other things that would increase participation would be to have a "park pattern" class, where scaled down electrics are used, then people can go on to join the big guys if they like it.