WOW,
This certainly has been an interesting and enlightening discussion, at least for me. I had no idea that this thread would generate the amount of response that it has. I sincerly appreciate the input guys. Some of the reasons given make perfect sense given the condition's described, ie: short fields etc.but......... I have seen guys do this when they still have 500 ft. of pavement in front of them after the plane stops. Grass fields and retracts? mmmmmmmm.......NO. I have too much experience with retracts on grass fields to think thats a valid reason. I think the bottom line is a good number of guys don't REALLY know what the reason is, They just do it that way.......because it's tradition and that's O.K. by me 'cause I think tradition is a good thing (most of the time). I think TonyF says it best in posts #16 and #20. I'll try to keep this lite and suggest that it all started way back in the dawn of pattern history when some "pattern guru" had his engine set up just a tad lean and when he throttled back to land it died. And when asked why his engine died he responded that he had it set up to do that so as not to damage the prop...or, so it won't run off the end of the field or some such. Anyway, thanks again to all who tried to help me with this question and let me say that after all is said and done, the guys who fly pattern and fly it well deserve our utmost respect for the dedication and discipline that I KNOW is required to do what they do. I certainly could'nt do it.
Thanks again guys.
Steve


(P.S. I have to agree with TonyF 'cause.......I fly JR too. LOL)