Peter,

I would love to hold a Basic, Sportsman Only contest out here in the SW, Have been thinking about it for a while now. I would like to have an event in the November/December time frame, here in Arizona. That time of year would allow many of our snowbirds from up north to come on out to compete and being after our regular contest season would allow us to have a fun event with a training/learning component geared for the newer participants in the sport and get them all fired up for the next contest season.

I believe there are many advantages for this type of event for promoting scale aerobatic competition.

Regards,

Anna Wood
IMAC SW Region
Assistant Regional Director

Hi Anna,

A few years back Pete Bergstrom and Tom Wheeler did that in the NC region. It was sort of a seminar/contest and was for Basic and Sportsman. It was very well received and I wish we could do more of them. I believe it had a major effect on the growth in the NC region

Not to burst any bubbles, but the San Gabriel Valley RC Club has done this for several years with great success. Jim Riccio and his crew have done a marvelous job at the Whittier Narrows site.

To that end, this is a very good idea. Let me know what I can do, and I am there.

I agree that it is a good idea. Here are some ideas

1. have lots of upper class fliers involved, this is the hard part.
2. have upper class fliers calling for them, coaching them and discussing there round after the flight.
3. have a seminar on plane set up and practice techniques.
4. have a discussion on contest flying

This could be more then just a contest for Basic/Sportsman. It can be a way to create better pilots.

Bill Lairdsey offered a similar event last spring in Maine. Unfortunately the weather was pretty wet and turnout very light--but I'm still glad I drove 3 hours to attend. Only a couple of upper class flyers/demonstrators, plus a couple of Basic/Sportsman flyers. What we missed in variety we made up for in very close coaching. I'd like to see something like that on an annual basis.

Majortom,

I don't think it would be any problem getting pilots to come. The trouble would be to get upper class pilots to help. If we held a contest like this I believe we would have 30-35 pilots.

I am thinking that we may be able to entice some upper level competitors by doing what I would call an Intermediate Pro class. This would be for demo only and would be some custom sequences made just for the event. Maybe having everyone fly 50cc somethings to help showcase some of the smaller airframes out there. (I have already made some queries, last year, with a manufacturer to see if that was feasible). It is... I am very sure we can get support from the manufacturing community with some of the name pilots to fly in the Intermediate Pro and to offer some teaching/tips.

I agree getting some other class pilots could be difficult without offering them a flying opportunity. An extra demo class could also allow for some better management of contest flow.

There are a lot of neat ideas that can be done, with this type of event, with the major focus being on our Basic/Sportsman pilots and introducing more pilots to the sport.

I would like to do an event in December, in Arizona (Phoenix or Tucson). After the weather cools and when our snowbirds start coming back to town for the winter. As long as it is not the first weekend in December, which is the traditional weekend for the full-scale IAC, Arizona State Championships, I am in and would like to CD or manage an event.

If we can get a location to host the event, I will be happy to get the ball rolling on the rest of it, for the SW.

Regards,

Anna Wood

Anna,

I have a couple of options for locations.

Wish that someone in the SE would do that.
It would be very well received if the present turnout of Sportsman and Basic pilots are any indication.

Geistware,

Take the initiative and volunteer to manage/CD an event like that for your region..... :-)

Anna Wood
IMAC SW Region
Assistant Regional Director

I just attended the S.E. judging seminar and was very excited about the mention of a day to help us in Basic. Please try to organize an event in the S.E.. Everyone was very helpful and glad to answer questions what a great event. There is just alot to digest. Thanks so much!!!! I am reeally excited about this year.

At the contests, Sportsman class always seems to have the largest number of flyers by far. Advanced and Unlimited have the least number of flyers. Why would you think the Sportsman flyers need more encouragement to show up for contests?

As Bill wrote, Jim Riccio and the San Gabriel Valley Flyers have been doing this for a number of years at Whittier Narrows. I came and judged at almost all of the events. But it is primarily for the basic class. What Anna is suggesting with the Intermediate Pro class is why the Sportsman class is there. These are one day events, by the way.

At Whittier Narrows, there were usually 9 or more sportsman pilots, but the basic class was usually close to or more than 20 pilots. I've judged Right Flyers, quickees, and all other nature of planes trying to fly the basic sequence. What these contests are really best at is introducing new pilots to the concept of aerobatic competition. It makes no sense to run one of these in November, when there will be no contests for interested pilots to attend until the next year. The best time of the year for these events is at the beginning of the season. These events whet the appetite for a full contest experience. I saw many of these one day basic class pilots show up and compete in a regular two day event. Don't be surprised if only two or so actually make it to a full contest. But they are the two the event is really designed for.

This is also a good time for sportsman pilots to get a chance to be judged on a new sequence. Thus, I don't think it works for Sportsman in November, either. This is an idea that should be concentrated on for next year. I think it is too late at this point, unless you want to ramrod it through and have it in a month's time.

Remember, these are very local events. You are not going to get a potentially new basic pilot in Los Angeles who is thinking about competing. but not sure, to commit to travel to Arizona for a competition. These types of events should be put on where ever there are sport pilots doing loops, snaps and spins.

Jim Riccio had it right - do it as a one day event at the beginning of the season.


Barry

Barry,

In AZ Nov to Feb are some of the best flying months. If they fly the contest in nov it will give them time to get a 40% plane built for the first contest in Feb. :-) but really it can give the pilot a chance to work on what he has been taught for the following spring contest.

That's true. But one of the things I saw at the San Gabriel Valley events, year after year, were pilots coming out to try basic who otherwise never would have come to a full, two day event. It's from this pool of pilots that you will get some interest that wasn't there before. If there is a long down time before the next event, you lose some momentum. If it is done at the beginning of the season, they can follow through with the same sequence into a regular event, and, looking at this year's calendar, go to a regular event within the next thirty days.

I'm not saying you shouldn't do it late in the year - I fly year round (almost) myself. All I'm saying is that a sportsman/basic only event gets its biggest bang if done early in the season.

I have suggested just that in the SE region. While I have a lot of pilots or potential pilots that would be interested, I just can't seem to get any additional help. My plan was to have the first one in December of 2004 but I could not get it off the ground. I presently have 6-10 people who are interested, but need pilots of Advance or higher class to be coaches. (I fly sportsman). I may just put a clinic on anyway to help people who have never flown aerobatics (I know what to do but just can't get my brain to tell my thumbs how to do it perfectly) For me it is time to fish or cut bait, so I will be putting something together in March and will see what happens.

Count me in Anna. Its a fantastik idea. We had a beginer event at the AMA field years ago (I'm sure John and Jim remember it was a lot of fun. Let me know what i can do to assist. Bill Adams

Great idea Anna, you go girl! I'm there for you if you need any help. As well, with the growing Sportsman poulation, they could help the Basic class flyers for calling/coaching too if flight lines permit. This past weekend saw 5 of our newest Basic competitors getting ready for the Cactus Classic. It's fun prepping them. Bill and I always have something to do now on weekends when when we aren't flying or calling for each other.

I am very interested in new ideas and "events" to get 'net new' pilots involved with IMAC. I ran my first event last year and was disappointed with the turn out. There were several reasons we did not get the turnout... but there are several reasons we should have got a good turnout too. [[shrug]]
If I were to limit the tournament to just basic and sportsman classes... I don't think I would have had any intermediate, advanced, or unlimited guys show up. There were other events available for pilots in those classes to attend.
Just as I am interested in getting 'net new' pilots involved... what are some of your ideas to get 'net new' clubs committed to running an IMAC contest (all classes available)?

I agree, there should be some incentive to get clubs to try out running an IMAC event. If it doesn't go perfect the first time (as surely it won't) then I say try, try again. It seems like the point is to get more people that want to be involved (like me) a chance to do so.

I live in the North Central part of the U.S. I am desperately trying to find a contest to attend within driving distance (I'll drive 350 miles!) of Eastern North Dakota. No luck. The clubs down in Minniapolis are shrugging their shoulders, telling me there is just no interest. I can't believe it! [&o]

It seems like most clubs these days just exist to provide a place for people to fly once a week...no one wants to improve. "That's just not my flying style" or "I'll never be good enough for that" and "you mean I have to practice?" are the common excuses I hear for people not wanting to fly with a purpose and get better.[>:]

No wonder the new fliers in most areas would just rather take their foamy and go back to the park or open field down the road. The masses would be attracted to a club that was holding contests, IMAC, IRCHA, and Fun-Flies of all types. Your normal, "has a real job and has to work five to six days a week", pilot IS NOT going to attend Joe Nall, the NATS, or any of the "big contests" going on any part of the year...they just want to attend something within driving distance. There's no real contest conflict for the average pilot in IMAC, the way I look at it. Tell me if I'm wrong.

Yes, a one day contest is going to be best for beginners in IMAC, the attention span of people these days is too short for a two day event/clinic. The declining AMA membership numbers tell a lot!

IMAC might be flourishing in a couple small parts of the nation, but overall I bet, if you really looked, it is only a very small special interest group and nothing more.[] I really want to be part of this SIG, but I guess I'll have to move to take part.[]

I'll promise all of you I'll go compete in the first contest within 350 miles of my house! [8D]