Q500 engine
03-07-2007 | 10:03 AM
#26
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From: , MN
RE: Q500 engine
Up here in Minnesota, things aren't much better. we added Lee & Kent in the last few years. But as compared to when I started in the late 80's were in a big funk. We consistantly had 24+ racers, some times 30. Now we have 12 or so fast dudes. 20 some 424 flyers on the best days.
This day and age, it tough to get people out. You can't text message and do video games with a RC controller in your hand.
I have a Quickie hanging in the LHS for the last 3 years with all the info to find us and never gotten a bite.
Time to start sing'in Dylan tunes.
This day and age, it tough to get people out. You can't text message and do video games with a RC controller in your hand.
I have a Quickie hanging in the LHS for the last 3 years with all the info to find us and never gotten a bite.
Time to start sing'in Dylan tunes.
03-07-2007 | 02:11 PM
#27
Senior Member
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RE: Q500 engine
ORIGINAL: garys
428 was changed to the long course at the Nats in 1994. Where is the rule that says you must run 428 to hold a contest? Wayne didn't force anybody to the long course and 428, they easily could've changed their events to be able to keep the short courses if the desire was there at the time. The answer isn't to change 428, the answer is to run whatever event will get you the most entries and suit your flying field.
Part of the problem with the speeds increasing over the years is the national events become national markets for manufactures. I'd be willing to bet, no matter what the racing event is, there would be a substantial increase in speeds if it were to become a popular national event. If the market is there, the manufacturers will do what they can do to get an advantage to sell their products. The only way to attempt to prevent this it is to limit to one manufacturer so that there can't be any competition from other manufactures.
428 was changed to the long course at the Nats in 1994. Where is the rule that says you must run 428 to hold a contest? Wayne didn't force anybody to the long course and 428, they easily could've changed their events to be able to keep the short courses if the desire was there at the time. The answer isn't to change 428, the answer is to run whatever event will get you the most entries and suit your flying field.
Part of the problem with the speeds increasing over the years is the national events become national markets for manufactures. I'd be willing to bet, no matter what the racing event is, there would be a substantial increase in speeds if it were to become a popular national event. If the market is there, the manufacturers will do what they can do to get an advantage to sell their products. The only way to attempt to prevent this it is to limit to one manufacturer so that there can't be any competition from other manufactures.
Again, you are absolutely right. No one has to even follow the AMA events if they don't want to. But very few local CDs are willing to write off all the committed, knowledgeable pilots who fly (flew) 428. Without them, you haven't got much of a contest, and no role models for the new guys.
National recognition for an event is a two-edged sword: It standardizes the rules, gives manufacturers a market for what otherwise would be an orphan product, and inspires local hobbyists to broaden their horizons. ( "Gee, if I practice enough, maybe I can be a National Champion!" ) On the other hand, if there are any loopholes in the rules, national status encourages anyone & everyone to exploit those loopholes to the max. That's why our track record in translating local events into Nats events is so bad. Until an event hits the big time, nobody cares enough to try to really push the envelope. After it hits the big time, there's no way to fix it because the rules have simply been imported from the local handout sheet into the AMA rule book, warts and all, and everyone who has invested in equipment for the event fights even the tiniest changes tooth and nail. Add to that the fact that the contest board is controlled by folks who are already succeeding under the status quo and have no fear of a little more speed or a little more expense, and you have a prescription for disaster.
It's a structural problem. There is no complete solution. The best anyone can do is to think ahead to avoid the most obvious loopholes, plan on a certain amount of "speed creep" happening anyway, and put aside your own personal convenience in favor of limitations that will keep the event viable for a bigger pool of would-be participants. It's THEIR entry fees we all depend on.
Mr. Cast Aluminum Cassandra
03-11-2007 | 10:33 PM
#30
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From: Strafford,
MO
RE: Q500 engine
Just getting into this Q40 stuff, so take it easy on me. Getting a plane from Freeman Jr. and AJ is going to help me set it up, hope everything goes well in Ft. Lauderdale, it will be my first Q40 race. I finally got AJ to come to a race with me, imagine that. See you soon.
