Its really simple guys, make a sequence that anyone can fly an electric ARF (you know, the molded foam types...T-28, etc.) and present the event as more of a "social" event and you may expose more people to an aerobatic discipline. Like most of you, I pretty much fly only pattern and IMAC and really enjoy it, however, the vast majority of people in this hobby don't want to spend big$$$$ on one airplane (it seems that the sky is the limit for what you can fly, ducted fan jets, 3D, scale, etc.). From my experience being around "sport flyers" is that they want cheap stuff to fly (with t he appropriate flight characteristics and durability associated with it) and they don't really care if they can fly a straight line or not (for most of them landing without damaging their model is a big enough accomplishment). However, the average sport guy/gal seems to enjoy the social life associated with being at the flying field. If "pattern" people can learn to socialize with the "sport" folks and ease them into precision flying. I have turned a few pilots to IMAC when I demonstrated to them that a bigger model is much easier to fly, and see, as well as fly when the wind picks up, prolonging the flying day.

Yes, its cool that we are flying our big dollar electric pattern airplane or 42% IMAC plane, usually migrating to the other club members with the same interest (and being seen as "snobs" by the rest of the club, not that we are, but we are more focused on what we do with our models), but unless we get out and socialize with the others, it will be  tough road to recruit more "precision pilots". On the club contest note, it is an idea that should have been out a long time ago (btw-what happened to SPA events?) and before a sequence is formatted, I suggest one take the time to passively observe how most "sport" flyers fly their models. You may be surprised how little they can actually do while having the confidence to  do it.

Good Luck to all...