Florida Sailplane Grand Prix Race Sep 27-29 at Seminole Lake

Ok! I'm in. Huge thanks to Andy for putting on the GP and thanks to Scott for getting the word out. Actually, I suspect Scott has more to do with this than he is saying. How about it Scott? You a co-conspirator?

Hurray for simple rules! However, wouldn't the GP format pretty much require a max start height?

WB

WB

100% Andy!

Just getting the word out...


Excited to fly with you again WB! Bring your RV, there's new hookups out there with electricity, water and wifi.

wrote:
On Saturday, July 27, 2013 6:48:26 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Saturday, July 27, 2013 6:16:00 PM UTC-4, Sean F (F2) wrote:

So 11 of 24 maximum already Scott? Only 13 spots available? 3 in high performance left?



Yes, and from what Andy said those are only the confirmed entrys. There
are still a half dozen or so pilots that are tentatively planning on coming.

Why no water?

What? no low performance 1.15 and up grouping?

Von,

Get a group together and I am sure they will add at low performance group!

Sean

In article ,
wrote:

Thanks to Andy McQuigg, he has volunteered to direct a series of weekend
"Grand Prix" style races that are of no cost, other than your tow fees. Here
is a website if you are interested.

Email Andy McQuigg at ash99e(at)yahoo(dot)com to sign up for the event.


Visit ---- https://sites.google.com/site/florid...lanegrandprix/


Tailwinds,
SA



We sorta did a GP style "race" during a GTA weekend at Cordele several
years ago. I think it was a 3-day Memorial Day weekend GTA. We had
gotten in two excellent days of soaring on Saturday and Sunday. In fact,
Sunday's task was a 500k triangle that we all successfully completed and
I think Joe Flores had also done a 500k on Saturday. After two strong,
long days we were pretty well raced out. So,instead of the usual racing
task on Monday, Larry Goddard suggested we take a couple of newbies out
for their first real cross-country flight. Larry suggested doing a GP
start to facilitate the training aspect. Getting everyone together at
about the same altitude and lined up for a start was actually pretty
easy. It was way cool to start like that. Looked like a formation of
bombers heading off on a mission. We all pretty much stayed together for
the 120 mile task and essentially the whole grid "team flew" the task
and coached the newbies along. About two thirds down the second leg,
Larry was coaching the new guys to start getting themselves in a final
glide mindset and to try to finish the task with little or no additional
thermalling. We pretty much were on final glide for the last 40 miles or
so. The new guys were a little nervous about blowing on through good
thermals without stopping but loving it. In the end, one of the newbies
even won the day!

This looks like an interesting format.

Perhaps I'm too jaded as one who isn't all that sentimental about "the good old days of racing" that "The Florida Sailplane Grand Prix has been designed to bring back," but I wonder if the organizers have really thought through what unlimited altitude starts and finishes mean, at least if anyone gets at all serious about the race.

Up in to the clouds for the last few minutes before the start? Zero zero final glides? What happens when you put competitive glider pilots wingtip to wingtip, give points to the guy who finishes one inch ahead of the other? Answer: well, it's exiting for the spectators. Even the IGC grand prix went to altitude limited finishes after a little too much excitement. I hope the fields near Seminole are hospitable and the fence is low.

And with a class that starts at handicap 0.880 and below, with no glider handicapping, I know what I will bring to Florida if I can make it.

That said, the general concept of starting a reasonably small race at the same time, and getting rid of start gate roulette and leeching once and for all seems attractive.

I don't know what that has to do with "the good old days," where starting last, diving through a 3000' gate at VNE and catching the gaggle were the heart of the game.

John Cochrane

In article ,
wrote:

This looks like an interesting format.

Perhaps I'm too jaded as one who isn't all that sentimental about "the good
old days of racing" that "The Florida Sailplane Grand Prix has been designed
to bring back," but I wonder if the organizers have really thought through
what unlimited altitude starts and finishes mean, at least if anyone gets at
all serious about the race.

Up in to the clouds for the last few minutes before the start? Zero zero
final glides? What happens when you put competitive glider pilots wingtip to
wingtip, give points to the guy who finishes one inch ahead of the other?
Answer: well, it's exiting for the spectators. Even the IGC grand prix went
to altitude limited finishes after a little too much excitement. I hope the
fields near Seminole are hospitable and the fence is low.

And with a class that starts at handicap 0.880 and below, with no glider
handicapping, I know what I will bring to Florida if I can make it.

That said, the general concept of starting a reasonably small race at the
same time, and getting rid of start gate roulette and leeching once and for
all seems attractive.

I don't know what that has to do with "the good old days," where starting
last, diving through a 3000' gate at VNE and catching the gaggle were the
heart of the game.

John Cochrane

Well, with any luck, no one will get "serious". It's not a sanctioned
event for one thing. Besides, I wish everyone would remember it's just
an effing glider race. Clearly one of the most ridiculous and
impractical pursuits ever invented. Why does anyone ever take it
seriously?

No max start height, no minimum finish? Matters not one whit to me. I
ain't gonna kill myself to win even if it were the World's.

If any of y'all are intent on suicide in the pursuit of the absurd,
please do it somewhere and someway well distant from aviation. My
insurance is quite high enough already.

On Monday, 29 July 2013 15:55:28 UTC-6, WB wrote:
In article ,

wrote:



This looks like an interesting format.



Perhaps I'm too jaded as one who isn't all that sentimental about "the good

old days of racing" that "The Florida Sailplane Grand Prix has been designed

to bring back," but I wonder if the organizers have really thought through

what unlimited altitude starts and finishes mean, at least if anyone gets at

all serious about the race.



Up in to the clouds for the last few minutes before the start? Zero zero

final glides? What happens when you put competitive glider pilots wingtip to

wingtip, give points to the guy who finishes one inch ahead of the other?

Answer: well, it's exiting for the spectators. Even the IGC grand prix went

to altitude limited finishes after a little too much excitement. I hope the

fields near Seminole are hospitable and the fence is low.



And with a class that starts at handicap 0.880 and below, with no glider

handicapping, I know what I will bring to Florida if I can make it.



That said, the general concept of starting a reasonably small race at the

same time, and getting rid of start gate roulette and leeching once and for

all seems attractive.



I don't know what that has to do with "the good old days," where starting

last, diving through a 3000' gate at VNE and catching the gaggle were the

heart of the game.



John Cochrane



Well, with any luck, no one will get "serious". It's not a sanctioned

event for one thing. Besides, I wish everyone would remember it's just

an effing glider race. Clearly one of the most ridiculous and

impractical pursuits ever invented. Why does anyone ever take it

seriously?



No max start height, no minimum finish? Matters not one whit to me. I

ain't gonna kill myself to win even if it were the World's.



If any of y'all are intent on suicide in the pursuit of the absurd,

please do it somewhere and someway well distant from aviation. My

insurance is quite high enough already.

What WB says. Sometime life and flying is just about having fun.

I think I win the bet? I said under 96 hours until the post we all knew was coming came!

;-)

On Monday, July 29, 2013 7:34:43 PM UTC-5, Sean F (F2) wrote:
I think I win the bet? I said under 96 hours until the post we all knew was coming came!



;-)

You have forgotten Ionia 2012 so soon?