On Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 2:11:32 PM UTC-4, wrote:
I have been reading some of the stories of the 1-26 Championships of years past. The Mockler boys and others who went on to racing higher performance ships cut their teeth doing these highly competative races.

Maybe some of you big wing boys (18-20m) might want to consider joining us for some fantasticly competative racing this next year at the 2020 Championships at Sunflower KS.

If your tired of arguments over ever changing rules and having ever increasing costs to be competative, you can have the same (many times more) challenges while never being more than 80 miles from home base.

And if you think 1-26 racing is for newbies or the competition is not first rate, let me tell you, some of these guys who have been racing for more than 40 years in the same bird, will teach you a thing or two about going fast and going long. You will be racing within a field of 20 or more competators, of which more than a dozen competing are past and multi time champions.

At the end of 7 days of competition, if you come in toward the back of the pack, you surely won’t be able to say its due to not having the highest performance ship. And if you score toward the top of the list you will know that it was due solely to your piloting skill. Its the only true man against man (and woman) one design racing that exists, no handicap arguments/advantages.

I can guarantee you can not have any more fun as well as challenge anywhere. In addition, first time 1-26 competators have NO entry fee, even if you have been racing glass for years. There is also a team competition for two or three pilots sharing the same machine.

I have had the pleasure of attending two recent national 1-26 championships as a spectator guest. This is the best bunch of guys in the soaring community, it doesn't get any better. One of the old timers that I knew well and flew with was Harry Senn, from Miami. He had his 1-26 ready for takeoff on many days, trying to cross the Everglades on his way North.
Last year while in Moriarty I was there during the 1-26 championship and met a good fella with a nice 1-26 named Bulldog. These guys and gals were getting their ships tuned up for the week of racing. What a good bunch of competitors. Bob