Well Erich, you are going to here about it again. It is possible and it ain't no BS! I 've attended 2 contests so far this year, 50 pilots at the first one, 45 at the second. Both ran like clockwork, both were great fun for all that attended.
Maybe instead of hiding in your van watching DVD's you helped with contest, judging, scribing, helping out with the scoring, are but a few things I can think of that would help speed up the day. Getting airborne before the pilot in front of you has finished is a must.
With 5 classes these days you need to have 35-45 pilots to make it competitive. The CD ( I am one) sets the tone for the contest. If the CD sits back and just "lets it happen", which I have seen done, then it takes forever to get through the rounds, no fun for anyone, judges included. If I go to a contest I expect to fly twice both days unless the weather decides otherwise. 2 back to back rounds of "known" on the first day, "unknown" and one more round of back to back "known" on the second day. There is no reason in the world that this cannot be done with 45-50 pilots if the organization and the pilots themselves work to make it happen.