ORIGINAL: DavidAgar
Horrace, You make some interesting points about the Nat's. However I totally disagree with some of your thought's on it. When it was on the road it was a talked about event and people went to it, both to compete and watch. As mentioned the numbers were higher and I think the event held a lot higher level of anticipation and prestige than it does now. When the news leaked that it was going to be held in Muncie only forever, I know that the first thought that went through my mind was, I have been to my last Nat's, which was in Reno, NV.
David, disagreement is definitely allowed. It doesn't seem rationed on this forum.
Now I flew at the NATs, CL and FF, when it was totally Navy Hosted.
I also flew and WORKED at the last Navy Hosted NATs, Glenview, '72, when we -- AMA -- furnished all the manpower but just used the base. In fact I served as Manpower Director there.
I flew a time or two at the 1st non-Navy NATs since, I believe, before the War, Oshkosh, '73, where I also served as Manpower Director plus Assistent CL Director. Believe you me, obtaining manpower in Oshkosh was a whole lot different than a place like Chicago-Land.
I attended a couple around-the-country NATs while serving as a Vice President.
Whatever the case, I have some level of experience with the older NATs before they became totally operated by the Significant Interest Groups, and spread out over some long length of time at Muncie. Back in '96, I did spend a couple weeks at the Muncie NATs just as an observer. For a number of years after Oshkosh, a friend of mine, the late Bob Vojslavek was employed by AMA to direct and DO most of the NATs logistics for movng equipment around the country plus many other duties. That all gives me some more background in the logistics required for the moving-Nats. Then comes those that get very excited when the AMA spends such money for .075% of the membership that compete in the NATs. That even takes place as we speak. So many more complain than actually participate.
If you are an active Contest Director, you well know what happens when you try to train local club members to officiate a COMPETITIVE event. Most will not commit so you therefore can not train them. Then you have untrained officials trying to work for contestants that are aware of the rules. Not Good. Do a Fly-In and those entrants are not trained to any degree of formality or regimentation, and now you have another problem to contend with. The NATs needs trained officials on a base where the required administrative and hard goods can be assembled to meet with the needs of those dedicated competitors that already know the drill.
AMA is doing the TAG program which, if the clubs would actually do their job, could be very much a good thing. I have not observed such. [&o] Look at what happened to the AMA Grand Event which was supposed to be getting the words out to the public through the larger Clubs. Again the local Clubs flubbed the dub. Lots of money spent with almost no return.
AMA cannot depend on Club support even when AMA does try something. So just how could AMA expect any club or group of local clubs to support a NATs. Believe you me again, It's no fun when one spends weeks and days planning an event and no one shows up for the party. BTDT too many times. The AMA simply cannot afford such, without tripling the current dues, and then these people would have a million and one reasons to quit AMA. What does it gain you to get a BIG pay-raise and then a week later get fired?
The AMA came up with a million reason's to cancel the road shows, yet in my mind there is the entire membership amount of reasons to keep it on the road. It has taken me a lot of years to get to this point in my flying abilities and I am not saying that I am as good as the winners of last Nats, however as a member of the AMA, I would like the chance to compete without the time and expense of going to Muncie. How can it be considered a National Event if a large percentage of the AMA membership are excluded due to time or money restriction's.
That is a good liberal view point, Dave. if you really wanted to be a National Champion, you would find a way to get there. Look at the FAI competitors. They pay their way to other countries, and have to get by elimination contests, to get on the small team. No one owes anyone a road to being a National Champion, or even just the ability to compete for the love of it. Those things YOU have to decide for yourself and set your own priorities. We all have made and will again make decisions along the road that redirect our lives, and once you enter that road, the gate locks shut behind you. That is life my friend. BTDT oh so many times, some which still linger with regret, although almost all were for the best.
As also mentioned, I beleive the hobby and the AMA would grow if more was done to get the hobby more public exposure. I can remember how excited my friends and I were at the outlook of going to Reno for the Nat's, and while I will admit that mother nature was not nice in Reno, it was still a great event to go to and you knew that every third year it was going to return to your side of the United States, which meant that you could get ready for it, as a participant, helper or spectator. I know I always looked forward to it.
Dave
Dave, do you think all those good things were because YOU were ALREADY a modeler? Those getting ready for it would be the modelers. So, is it that AMA is the mountain that
you go to, or is it that you want AMA to BRING THE MOUNTAIN to YOU?