Ok, I attended ( as a spectator ) the Peach Pattern Classic today. This is the first pattern contest I've been to and was pleasantly surprised. Instead of the "he** bent to win" attitude I had expected people were there having bunches of fun in a relaxed atmosphere. Everyone was friendly and didn't seem to mind answering the typical noob questions. I had already planned on trying pattern as a way to improve my flying and attending the contest locked me in on that decision. Signed up with the NSRCA while I was there too. Looks like just too much fun to miss out on.
Dave