Very good advice brushing up on the Judges manual. Its amazing the descrepencies you see in judging. I've heard off handed comments like that from pilot / judges that just make no sense if you know even the basics of IMAC judging. If someone is at all serious about competing in IMAC or SCAT, do your homework and learn what the judges will be looking to downgrade. Even if you fly consistent, if you are getting consistent downgrades it really is discouraging to not be getting better scores. Usually it is very simple for a basic pilot to dramaticaly improve their scores by just knowing what the pefect "10" manuever is suppose to look like. I believe Doug was involved in the low key "contests" they used to have in CA where you could fly in front of the judges and get a score, but then discuss with the judges what downgrades you were assesed. It seemed like a very cool idea to me. We copied the idea a while back here in AZ and had a basic only contest for new comers... it was great fun. See ya at the Shootout....... Bill