The most successful Fun-Fly ever was the Tropical Fun-Fly in San Jose, Costa Rica. It took place 20 years, back in the days when we could travel with airplanes and electronics. It earned sponsorship from LACSA and American Airlines, local hotels, even a helicopter (full-size) sight-seeing company one year. We had flyers come from as far east as Pakistan, as far west as Thailand. More closer in, Europeans, Canadians came in great numbers. They came from the other end of S. America, Brazil, Chile - one year there were 25 Argentines present. Not only Ugly Stik flyers, the rich and famous like Quique Somenzini and Dave Dave Brown, Don Lowe, Mark Smith, etc.came and flew.
The only man-on-man judged events was streamer combat- the winner is easy to judge. One year we raced sig "Wonders, and he year Carl Goldberg died, in his honor, we raced "Eaglets. All other Best-Of categories were decided by pilot written votes. Classes varied from year to year, but there were simple ones - the fastest, the best finish, best civil, best military, prettiest, ugliest (airplanes NOT pilot), with the flyers also having input as to categories.
And we FLEW - there were always two or three in the air. And we ate and drank and danced and told stories and lies in varied languages. Few ever came only once!
Of the 20 - I attended 19!!!!!!