If you had to qualify for the NATs, it would die. It being stuck in one part of the country is already a strike against it; not like the old days when it traveled. In a given year a bunch of qualified fliers could get stuck with other obligations and be no shows. Local contests is the biggest problem . One day contests would help. Maybe points should be tallied per contest day. Two day contest has double points available. So someone flying 4 one day contests could equal with someone flying 2 two day contests. A one day contest would fly better to the gripers complaining about closing the field. Yes the farm team contests will not put lots of planes in the air, but they will be flying and showing off to others who may want to join in. There will be minuses for sure, but a local or within an hour drive contest twice a month and the "big " contests where the bigger group shows, and then NATs for the biggest grouping.

Airframe spec is such a problem. High end equipment should be discouraged in Sportsman. IAC sequences are set buy flying and "average plane" for the classes. A CItabria should be able to win their lower class; having a Yak 55 will not help you. Masters is set so you need an Extra to be competitive . That is the way pattern should be. Yes it really is about the pilot, but if someone shows up in Sportsman with a Masters airplane, it is a big put off. Sportsman should be a gathering of 60,90 size models and the class should be scored where they should beat a top end 2M. You want people to try pattern, more than once, the sigma of having a 2M has to go. Once they decide they want to pursue Pattern they can move on to better equipment.