On Monday, February 17, 2014 12:48:35 PM UTC-6, wrote:
Another twist: How do you handicap non-MGs on weak days when a pure sailplane can dump ballast? Getting rid of the engine and fuel weight is impossible in flight. Possibly you've already found a fair solution?

Or another answer to what John provided: Have you ever seen a day so weak that a non-motorized version of an otherwise IDENTICAL plane can stay up when the motorized one with an equaly experienced pilot can not stay up? And not just stay up, but climb and be able to move along?

Yes, I know there is a weight penalty. Which increases the sink rate and speed at which that sink rate happens. But, we are talking of 3-4 knots in thermalling speed, and probably less than 25 ft/min change in sink rate. Pilot technique can mask that pretty easily.

And to be totally honest, the only one ever happy with the handicap is the guy or gal on top of the scoresheet at the end of the contest. Handciaps are set based on a series of assumptions about the weather. Unless you want to really make everyone mad and change the handicaps every day based on either forecast or results submitted, I think that the system in place right now is pretty good. If there are adjustments that need to be made on the handicapping, please contact the Contest Board and the Hadicapping Committee.. Info available from ssa.org.

Steve Leonard