Grand Prix were originally conceived to make glider racing more of a spectator sport.

We have been running a Grand Prix series at Truckee for the last several years and they are an absolute blast - Pioneered by Sergio Colacevich, we have done close-in lap race (for spectators, friends and family) and 300km O&R formats, all with handicapping (handicap distance so first one back is the winner)

Last GP race was done from Truckee down the spine of the Sierra to Coyote Flat and return, both ways on the west side of Lake Tahoe.

Claims that GP's are safer are on shaky ground - particularly with a close-in regatta start , however Sergio had an algorthm for simultaneous start over a line at the same altitude which worked very well indeed. Safety is largely a function of how the start is organized (or more often, how it is NOT organized)

I am a big, big fan of this kind of racing. GP's can be held anywhere by anyone.

And dont think there isnt leeching or following - there are tactics in any and all kinds of racing - watch the NZ GP with Pete Harveys tactics for example , but it is close-in racing and quite exciting. Laps are particularly 'racy' as the lead can change from lap to lap.

In my experience GP's are fantastic fun and make for great stories round the camp fire in the evening.

Peter Deane (2T)



On Sunday, 11 November 2012 21:28:22 UTC-8, Sean F (F2) wrote:
It should be but almost certainly will not be within the SSA.



IMO, Grand Prix glider racing is the only "true" test of competition glider pilots. It is a pure race. No compromise or luck involved. Everyone flies thru the same air at the same time essentially. No conditions improving or declining. No picking the best time to connect the clouds ahead, etc.. No excuses. Very much like one design sailboat racing. In other words, A REAL RACE.



The typical US task consists of an assigned area task (aka AAT or OLC task) and the "start whenever you want" concept. The good guys ideally start 5-15 min behind the "pack" (they refer to them as markers) with the goal of leeching back up to and thru this pack. Pretty difficult to describe this as a "race." More like a hunt. It is easy to catch gliders ahead generally. They have to find the lift. You can fly right to it as they mark it once centered. It is about as "un-pure" of a "race" as you can get really. This is actually part luck, part planning and strategy and park skill. It can only loosely be described as a race. I think a hunt or a draft is almost a better description.



Grand Prix RACING would be alot more fun that even FAI rules (assigned tasks). Again, the game with FAI is to start behind your competitors and leech up to them, then stay with them or pass them.



I suspect that Grand Prix would be alot safer as well. The start would have everyone keenly aware of the proximity of the other gliders (spread laterally over a 3-5 mile start line). The pilots ability to time themselves into the start line accurately (not to early, or late) at the maximum altitude would separate the pack naturally from the very beginning. After that it would further string out naturally as the superior pilots pull ahead as they should. The leaders would have earned the lead and have an opportunity to get ahead, stay ahead and have that lead "ACTUALLY MEAN SOMETHING..." Large gaggles would be smaller to non-existent as the task progressed.



It would be very exciting to have our "race" result in the first pilot home being the winner. How much fun would that be? Maybe a spectator could enjoy (understand) the finish for once? Maybe spot tracking would matter. In fact, the "finish" of a glider race (FAI or US) more than often means absolutely nothing. To me, without the opportunity to finishing first the experience feel less enjoyable. We are always wondering if we managed the course well, or missed something. Seeing another glider along the course means very little as to how well you are doing at that point. In fact, one typically has no idea how one is doing during the AAT task up until the scorer runs his complex software which results in a score (not a time...!). Racing is typically a time comparison, no? We don't really have that concept in glider racing. Its average speed...over widely random distances, paths, etc.



I am sure someone could organize a Grand Prix contest in the US. Just may not be SSA sanctioned. I wonder how many might want to try something like this? Email me if you are smfidlerATgmailDOTcom.



It would be pretty easy to set this up. And potentially alot of fun. Handicaps would work fine as well really.



Sean