On Thursday, July 4, 2013 4:36:51 PM UTC-6, noel.wade wrote:
OK, so I don't mean to be a downer on the 4th of July, but let's see:



The National Championships are being held in Hobbs, NM.



The last day of Nats has to be scrubbed because the city of Hobbs is telling people to go watch the local fireworks from the airport runway, starting midafternoon.



Hobbs, NM is the HQ of the SSA



So our NATIONAL organization can't even coordinate with their own "home town" to organize our NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS?



I feel badly for the contest staff who are no doubt working their asses off; but I'm shaking my head in disbelief. What the HELL, SSA?



--Noel

Over many years we have always flew on the 4th at Hobbs. The police would just keep the entry roads closed to the ramp until all the gliders had been accounted for.
Since Tim reads RAS maybe he will chime in and let us know what happened? Dave Nadler even posted the weather was not behaving as needed.
The Mayor did come to the opening pilots meeting. He was very friendly and happy we were their. The Chamber of Commerce even came and was very pleased at the large turnout.
Many, besides those who work for the SSA, give freely of their time and work very hard for us to help put a contest on ( National or Regional). The CM and her husband drive down from Wyoming to help put the contest on and do so at their expense.
The last several contests we have had, we passed the hat around (as I was the hat passer, it was $150 extra per entrant) to help them break even, in one case they still lost several thousand dollars.
The folks who have supported racing at Hobbs over the years have done so because they really care about our sport. They are great folks, so lets not jump to unfounded conclusions. Misunderstandings do happen.
Am hoping Tim will jump in and help clear this up.

Tom Kelley. #711.