SE Regional Championships What do you think

[McFueler]

One BIG issue all of ya'll are missing out when you compare what we are doing to what they are doing in Nascar ,,,,,,,,in Nascar these guys are winning Money and getting paid to travel and do this we are NOT ! We are doing this for Fun and it cost everyone of us money to go to contest and I don't know anybody that is getting paid to do this . Even the guys that are putting the regional championship contest on , it cost them money and time to do this ,,,,,,,,,, they are not getting paid , so lets try to keep that in mind . Just how big a deal is it anyway that you are the 2008 Champion in any class ,,,,, it is only worth bragging rights for that year and that is all ,,,,,,,, it will not get you anymore money at work and they will not cash it at the bank sooooooo ,,,,,,, there you go this is supposed to be fun ! I think we should count the best 100 contest for the regional champion so the guy with the most money and can afford to go to every contest can buy that 1st place spot ! That would put me in the poor house but it might be the only way I could ever win it in Unlimited !!!!

[xtra330]

Kevin, are you saying you cant have a 'competitive' competiton with pilots who didnt make the top 10 in the points race? I know some very competitive people who dont make very many contests throughout the year - but if they show up - they would definetly give 'the best' a run for their money.

Is this contest about getting a piece of wood for your traveling throughout the year - or your flying ability for that weekend?

[MattyMatt]

	Quote: Originally Posted by pcastine
	Not true. A good pilot who's on top will remain on top [mid-airs notwithstanding] Pete

My thoughts exactly Pete.

	Quote:
	One BIG issue all of ya'll are missing out when you compare what we are doing to what they are doing in Nascar ,,,,,,,,in Nascar these guys are winning Money and getting paid to travel and do this we are NOT ! We are doing this for Fun and it cost everyone of us money to go to contest and I don't know anybody that is getting paid to do this . Even the guys that are putting the regional championship contest on , it cost them money and time to do this ,,,,,,,,,, they are not getting paid , so lets try to keep that in mind . Just how big a deal is it anyway that you are the 2008 Champion in any class ,,,,, it is only worth bragging rights for that year and that is all ,,,,,,,, it will not get you anymore money at work and they will not cash it at the bank sooooooo ,,,,,,, there you go this is supposed to be fun ! I think we should count the best 100 contest for the regional champion so the guy with the most money and can afford to go to every contest can buy that 1st place spot ! That would put me in the poor house but it might be the only way I could ever win it in Unlimited !!!!

Dead on Mark.

[prizzy]

	Quote: Originally Posted by jtsails
	Kevin, In Na only the top 12 make the chase and points are normalized but, everyone goes to the biggest, most prestigious race of the year, Daytona. I think we should be doing everything we can to promote participation and recruit new competitors, and I don't think having a closed regionals does either of these things. I'm a new guy on the block and I would be willing to drive 8 hrs to fly in a regionals but because of scheduling conflicts and event cancellations I don't have a chance of finishing in the top 10. I'm planning to make 2 more contests this year and had originally hoped to make 6. Looking back at the results from last year I see that there were only 3 basic guys at regionals, not good participation.

Last year's Basic doesn't really represent interest. They do a basic flying sportsman at regionals, because they never had basic there. So basic pilots show up, and fly with the sportsman pilots, flying the sportsman sequence and unknowns, but scores are in the basic class. The caveat is that those pilots must move up to sportsman the next year.

[ifly3d]

There are lots of good thoughts on this subject. There has to be a changed made for next year, I think we all agree on that. I do not like the bonus pionts at all. It may work in other dist. but in the south east, or dist. is to big. I cant go do to florida for three or four contest to get more pionts. So I think we should just throw that out. All so go back to four contest or five six is a little much, for most with gas at $4.00 a gallon. I think for next year we should make the regionals for the top ten like it has been in the past. If there is a tie in the pionts standing you can use the regionals as the tie braker.

Next as for this year we have to go by the rules that we have. Which means that at the very least you have to let people with five or more contest go it, as long as the regionals is the last contest of the year. ( the points race is from jan.1 to dec. 31)If not then you must factor in how many more contest are left and let the pilots that could make six by the end of the year go to regionals all so.

The way I see it the regionals will decide who the points champion is and all so who the regionals champ will be. I dont like this fact at all, for the points race. you may have a guy thats in front but has a bad regionals and he will lose both races.

Josh

[ifly3d]

P.S., This should have been talked about and decided long a go. Not in the middle of the season when it time to be making plans to go to the regionals. I know there are a lot of guys that are on the fince on wheather they are even going to go or not.

[Radioactive]

Tony, thks... i appreciate chatting with you, and thks for starting the thread... Next step... let's have a poll like joe stated... please start it guys when you're ready..I'm watching and reading... i'm surprised that some of the pilots have expressed a 100% different point of view since i spoke to them last over the phone..this is a good thread, now i'd like to see a poll... as the RD the more data i see, the better informed decisions can be made.
Loving this...

[McFueler]

	Quote: Originally Posted by ifly3d
	P.S., This should have been talked about and decided long a go. Not in the middle of the season when it time to be making plans to go to the regionals. I know there are a lot of guys that are on the fince on wheather they are even going to go or not.

I hear ya Josh , making of the rules should be done Before we start the 1st contest of the season not half way through . What ever the rules were when we started this year is what we should be doing . We should Only be talking about what we want to change for the next season . Make a plan and stick to it ,,,,,, good , bad or ugly ! If people don't like it we can change it next year not in the middle of the season .

[Radioactive]

josh, it was decided before the season... following the tradition that fred, stan, have always done... i haven't changed anything, this is pure by the pikots of your region that have expressed their concerns... as for those reading this thread... the SE RD position will become open after the regionals, as soon as elections are held.. time to get off the phones, emails, and the like for me,volunteered two yrs, time to get to the field, and fly my new dalton....

[Radioactive]

Exactly Mark, it was your brothers begging ,and pleading their cases.... note.. are you seeing any change?? I'm not, i'm just letting all of you guys battle it out... i'm going out for some popcorn... keep her going!!!

[prizzy]

	Quote: Originally Posted by McFueler
	I hear ya Josh , making of the rules should be done Before we start the 1st contest of the season not half way through . What ever the rules were when we started this year is what we should be doing . We should Only be talking about what we want to change for the next season . Make a plan and stick to it ,,,,,, good , bad or ugly ! If people don't like it we can change it next year not in the middle of the season .

This is talk, and not even talk by the bod. Rules have been, and are in place. I think the point is to try to make it better next year.

[McFueler]

No I have not seen any change ,,,,,,,,, but it was looking like we were going to change everything . That is why I posted what I did . Don't get me wrong ,,,, change can be a good thing and I'm in no matter what we do as long as I can keep having fun with this . That is why I fly IMAC ,,,,,,, Fun and friends .

[jtsails]

Josh and Mark,
I agree that this year should be carried through with the rules that were set at the beginning of the year and I see this thread as being more of a discussion for how to do next years.
Don,
Is the Basic class going to be handled like last year?
james

[Radioactive]

yes sir... you pay your dues,fly, expereince wins, defeats, etc and are imac family... despite my flogging from some pilots that don't wish to have basic partcipate.. Basic stays as part of everything ...on my watch!

[Radioactive]

mark, thks.. glad we can all agree to disagree respectfully... that is a very good thing, and yes it's all about flying, and fellowship....