A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Soaring
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

New fun racing format



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old October 8th 03, 01:24 AM
Kirk Stant
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default New fun racing format

This past weekend the Arizona Soaring Association tried a new fun
racing format, and it was a blast!

A little background: The ASA runs a weekend racing series from April
to September, with a weekend race just about every third weekend.
Between races, the usual gang of suspects usually get together for
some serious XC, which often ends up being an informal race when
someone calls the first turnpoint... In the past, on occasion the
pack has flown what is essentially a group PST/AST, with the first
pilot to each turnpoint calling the next, and the pack racing around
until the concensus was that it was time to call the finish. Lots of
fun, but often the leader ended up having to call the whole task
himself, while the rest of the lazy leeching slobs sat back, smokin a
Lucky, and letting fearless leader do all the work of deciding where
the bad lift was over unlandable terrain.

So last weekend CH suggested that as a variation, the first pilot to a
turnpoint would instead pick which of the following pilots would have
to call the next turnpoint. After a little discussion, it was a go:
5 mile start cylinder, 6000' MSH, first turnpoint selected by
concensus on the ground, and each pilot would have to pick a turnpoint
if tagged, until all pilots had picked, up to 10 turnpoints.

On both days we had good 3-5 knot thermals, and the gaggle pretty much
started together - everybody wanted to get to the turnpoint first and
make somebody else sweat! (In fact on Sunday, it was a 6-ship
racehorse start out of the same start gaggle as we counted down the
time until the gate opened and everybody rolled our on course in
formation - neat!). While the task of choosing the course jumped from
pilot to pilot, the racing was close and a lot of fun - plenty of
"team flying" as everybody helped each other find and center lift, but
still a race as everybody tried to catch up and pass their friends and
be the next to tag someone. A lot of fun was had by all, some great
flying together (often ALL the gliders involved ended up in the same
thermal on course), and everbody knew where everbody was and how they
were doing all the time (instant, real time performance feedback).

When all the dust settled, we flew about 190 miles on Saturday with
the winning speed being 61 mph, and about 150 miles on Sunday at about
50 mph.
Not bad for October, and a really fun "non-contest" contest.

Kirk
66
  #2  
Old October 8th 03, 06:46 AM
Scott
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

That sounds awesome. That's an excellent idea.
"Kirk Stant" wrote in message
om...
This past weekend the Arizona Soaring Association tried a new fun
racing format, and it was a blast!

A little background: The ASA runs a weekend racing series from April
to September, with a weekend race just about every third weekend.
Between races, the usual gang of suspects usually get together for
some serious XC, which often ends up being an informal race when
someone calls the first turnpoint... In the past, on occasion the
pack has flown what is essentially a group PST/AST, with the first
pilot to each turnpoint calling the next, and the pack racing around
until the concensus was that it was time to call the finish. Lots of
fun, but often the leader ended up having to call the whole task
himself, while the rest of the lazy leeching slobs sat back, smokin a
Lucky, and letting fearless leader do all the work of deciding where
the bad lift was over unlandable terrain.

So last weekend CH suggested that as a variation, the first pilot to a
turnpoint would instead pick which of the following pilots would have
to call the next turnpoint. After a little discussion, it was a go:
5 mile start cylinder, 6000' MSH, first turnpoint selected by
concensus on the ground, and each pilot would have to pick a turnpoint
if tagged, until all pilots had picked, up to 10 turnpoints.

On both days we had good 3-5 knot thermals, and the gaggle pretty much
started together - everybody wanted to get to the turnpoint first and
make somebody else sweat! (In fact on Sunday, it was a 6-ship
racehorse start out of the same start gaggle as we counted down the
time until the gate opened and everybody rolled our on course in
formation - neat!). While the task of choosing the course jumped from
pilot to pilot, the racing was close and a lot of fun - plenty of
"team flying" as everybody helped each other find and center lift, but
still a race as everybody tried to catch up and pass their friends and
be the next to tag someone. A lot of fun was had by all, some great
flying together (often ALL the gliders involved ended up in the same
thermal on course), and everbody knew where everbody was and how they
were doing all the time (instant, real time performance feedback).

When all the dust settled, we flew about 190 miles on Saturday with
the winning speed being 61 mph, and about 150 miles on Sunday at about
50 mph.
Not bad for October, and a really fun "non-contest" contest.

Kirk
66



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.524 / Virus Database: 321 - Release Date: 10/6/2003




-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Digital Photos (was: Reno Suite...) RST Engineering Piloting 19 December 13th 04 08:46 PM
1913 Naval/Aviation Pics (jpg format) raymond o'hara Military Aviation 1 June 5th 04 11:26 AM
Racing Airplane Questions..... Cessna140lb Home Built 12 March 16th 04 07:41 PM
Reno AIR RACING like PLANE wanted for Photoshoot Vlens Piloting 1 March 16th 04 06:43 PM
Reno AIR RACING like PLANE wanted for Photoshoot Vlens Restoration 0 March 15th 04 04:08 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:52 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.