1 Day IMAC Contest

[MattyMatt]

Personally, I like the 1 day contest idea and completely disagree with attendance dropping.

I travel a lot for work... weekends are often the only time I'm home much. It is very hard for me to be gone all week, then leave my family again to be gone all weekend. I'm sure there are more people that have a harder time being gone all weekend than for one day. Besides, I have a short attention span... after one full day of watching the same planes do the same thing... I'm ready to go do something else.

How many of you would like to compete, but your spose would give you too much flack for being gone 1-2 weekends each month for 4-5 months, so you don't go? Many people work weekends as well and could possibly get off one day, but not two?

Not only the contestants, but the clubs don't like the whole weekends being used for contests as the regular club members complain about their club not being available. Also, more clubs could have contests if the neighbors didn't have to deal with 2-3 days of planes overhead. If this was the case, more contests could be run making you not have to drive so far.... and lets face it, with gas going as high as it will this summer $4.50?, i think more people will be less inclinded to drive so far anyway.


I think it would be nice to have both. I think there is value in looking into it.

[aviti]

Anyone with a long drive would have to stay overnight on Saturday anyway so might as well fly on Sunday too. The best plan is to do as much flying Saturday as possible so you can wrap up by noon on Sunday. Then even those with a 10 hour drive can be home before midnight.

[Temptation]

	Quote: Originally Posted by aviti
	Anyone with a long drive would have to stay overnight on Saturday anyway so might as well fly on Sunday too. The best plan is to do as much flying Saturday as possible so you can wrap up by noon on Sunday. Then even those with a 10 hour drive can be home before midnight.

Exactley. I agree 100%.

You can tell by reading these posts, who have competed in contests and who have not.

[bdawg]

There are some good points on both sides here, but just keep in mind that the Imac BOD and community has worked hard for the past 5 (?) years or so to get and keep things consistent across all the regions. I think for the most part they have done a very good job at doing that.

A one day event in the southern regions where it can be 95 degrees + would result in a lot of dehydrated pilots and judges with burned retinas that would be in no shape to drive home.

Like one of the previous posts said, I like visiting and learning from the others when I travel to the events. Until a few years ago I was the only guy in a city of 4.5 million people who was doing Imac. I had no help at all. By having available time at the standard 2 day formats, I was able to learn from the Upper class guys and get to where I'm at now. This could never have happened in a one day venue. Heck, I even learned something from Wayne Geffon and his brother Mike McConville.

Allan

[Dan_nO]

I also agree with Wayne. With the expense now involved with traveling for what gas and Diesel fuel cost, motel on top of that, I wouldnt drive very far either to go to a one day contest.

[Wayne]

I have flown at Jeff's contests for the last several years..
We have always left pretty early on Sundays.

One Unknown and one Known. Awards and Cya.....

This is another reason to do Freestyle on Saturday night if there is going to be a Freestyle competition.

I also think pilots moving back a class (for no points) is not a good idea.

[Downhumpty]

If I am the only contestant in my class I would like to get my 1000 points! If I attend and fly I feel as if I already paid for it.

Kent

[Temptation]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Downhumpty
	If I am the only contestant in my class I would like to get my 1000 points! If I attend and fly I feel as if I already paid for it. Kent

I agree 100%.

[MattyMatt]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Temptation
	I agree 100%.

Agreed. I also agree about having to drive longer distance about it being two days. But, what if they were smaller closer contests. Could there be more of them? Many fields you can not camp at night... this could make them an option.

My point is that the 2 day contest also excludes many people that would like to compete but may not be able to because of time, the cost to drive so far, and nightly accomodations.

Years ago when it was still called the aerobatic biplane association (yes I was involved back then very early) they did have 1 day contests... same with pattern.

If you had smaller more local contests, you could run only certian classes instead of trying to fill all of them. For example, typically, when IMAC/Pattern starts in an area that doesn't already have a developed program, the first few classes are the only classes flown. Or maybe, they split them into different weekends.

Just thoughts... Believe me, I'm not saying I have an issue with the current program, but I can understand the rational behind a one day event.

Hell... the Rocky Mount contest wound up being a on day event and was great.

BTW: the current program almost forces you into 3 days not 2. Most contests start at 8am on Saturday, which requires you to leave on Friday. This is reality.

[Al Lewis]

I'm totally new to IMAC but it would seem to me right off that limiting the number of pilots would mean that none of the points would count. If you had 26 IMAC pilots try to sign up and cut it off at 25 why should those 25 be able to earn points in the standings when the other pilot wanted to participate but was not allowed.

[Wayne]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Al Lewis
	I'm totally new to IMAC but it would seem to me right off that limiting the number of pilots would mean that none of the points would count. If you had 26 IMAC pilots try to sign up and cut it off at 25 why should those 25 be able to earn points in the standings when the other pilot wanted to participate but was not allowed.

That is a great point...

I think the bottom line is that the current system works and is in place for a reason.

[aviti]

Let's face it. IMAC is a whole weekend no matter how you slice it. Even if you live in town, you leave early Sat morning, get home Sat evening and leave again first thing in the morning. It's like saying you're gonna try to fit weekend getaway in one day.

Knowing this, you plan the number of contests accordingly. I flew my first 2 contests last year and this year I'm hoping to do 3. I have a 2 year old son at home plus I enjoy regular fly-ins and just flying at the local field on Sat or Sunday. Other guys only think IMAC and for them it's no big deal to be gone almost every weekend.

I feel you should base your plans on how many weekends you can devote to contests. If you can't or don't want to devote a whole weekend, then maybe reconsider whether you should be in competitions. Just my opinion I know, but I don't think a 1 day event is a good idea.