Fly ins are not dumb. If fly ins don't work for you, then you could always do a contest. If that grows classic pattern in your area go for it.

Some people are just not interested in competition. It does not make them less of a man (or woman), they just enjoy flying pattern planes! At the end of the day, it is just a hobby.

We have had several two round informal "non contests" at our fly ins. It gives a pilot the opportunity to fly the pattern format for the first time, and in front of judges. They discover something new- flying with a purpose. The result has been that several pilots that would have never considered flying in a contest are now regular attendees. See what we did- we grew the event. That is why we are doing well in our region.

Robert