These threads were getting a bit long in the tooth. Some issues came up to discussion so I thought I'd consolidate it all and repost the SSS/SSSS rules:
RULES FOR SINGLE SHOT SWEEPSTAKES and SUPER SINGLE SHOT SWEEPSTAKES – 2006
SINGLE SHOT SWEEPSTAKES
1. Contest runs from 1/1/06 thru 12/31/06.
2. Contest is open to anyone who pays the entry fee. Participants need not be a member of NCR to enter.
3. Object of the contest is to go as high as possible using only an unaltered Aerotech G80 motor for upward thrust. NOTE THAT THIS MEANS THE “NEW” G80, WHICH IS A 100NS MOTOR. The “old” G80s are not allowed.
4. No electronic tracking devices of any kind may be utilized. GPS modules, transmitters, and sonic beacons are expressly prohibited.
5. Entry into SSS is $20, due before the first declared flight is flown. After one declared flight is flown, the contest is closed to new entrants.
6. The G80 may use any length delay, and the rocket may rely on either motor ejection or electronic ejection.
7. Each contestant gets one and only one declared flight.
8. The contestant must declare his intention to make “this flight count” prior to ignition. The declaration must be made to at least two other NCR members in good standing.
9. Declared flights may only be made at NCR sanctioned club launches.
10. The rocket for a declared flight must be returned prior to the published close of waiver on the day it is launched. The rocket may be returned in any condition. The altimeter needs to have recorded an altitude, and be able to report that altitude.
11. Altitude reading must be witnessed by at least two other NCR members in good standing.
12. Altitude reading for the declared flight must be provided by an unaltered, commercial altimeter such as a Bonnova Altimate, Perfectflight MiniAlt WD, or Missile Works RRC2.
13. Altitude reading must be recorded in the flight log.
14. The altitude from the declared flight is the contestant’s score.
15. No altitude reading for any reason results in a score of zero.
16. All proceeds go into the prize pot.
17. The contestant with the highest score on 12/31/06 is the winner and collects the prize pot.SUPER SINGLE SHOT SWEEPSTAKES
Rules are exactly as above with the following exceptions:1. Motor to be used is a "NEW" Aerotech J350 reload for the 38/720 casing. This is the 700 nSec total impulse motor currently manufactured, not the 660 nSec, .5" core J350.
2. Electronic tracking of any kind is allowed - GPS, tracking beacon, audio beacon.
I should ad that entries to both contests is still open as no one has yet made a flight in either of the contests. Tell your friends, the more the merrier. The current pot for the SSS is $200. The Super SSS Pot currently holds at $120. Until someone makes a flight, the contest is still open to entry and the more people join, the more money is in the pot.
Hope this helps everyone be clear on the rules for both contests.
warren,
Gotta say this sticks a bone down the throat of fair competition, never once was this ever presented either last year or this in such a manner. Its not that I'm objecting to any of the rules, just the clumsy way in which we get this edict. Hell at least 2 of are using Bob DeHates picoalts--is this commercial enuf? But point is thus seems to be a new ad hoc list of rules w/o any input from those who are participating.
Robert Dehate's altimeters are considered commercial products. We're only saying home-made altimeters that haven't been calibrated in a vacuum chamber like Missileworks, Perfectflight, Pico, etc... aren't allowed. These rules are the same rules as last year. Nothing has been changed in an arbitrary fashion. These rules have been posted on the website since last August when the website changed over and were just updated to change the year to 2006, the motor to G80 and to add the Super Single Shot contest.
The rules are ad hoc in that they were arrived at in a discussion between John Wilke, myself, Jon Skuba and a couple other members of the executive committee last year. NONE of these rules give any advantage to any person or group and have been specifically designed to minimize any unfair advantage for ANY flyer. Several of the rules are specifically designed to rule out any advantages. The no-tracking rule was added for that reason.
Well, just bought the G80-10T motor for my SSS flight - it will be used for balancing the rocket and of course flying it 😀
Looking forward to this - it will actually be my first ever G80T flight. I've flown almost exclusively reloads 😆
I want to reiterate what Warren has said-- that the rules are essentially the same as last year (must find rocket same day, only commercial altimeters, must be at an NCR launch, etc.) The only changes that come to mind are:
- different motor (we wanted to change it up, get rid of the need to own hardware, make it available to level zero flyers and kids)
- no tracking, as this levels the playing field. For the record, I use a tracker all the time, and it was I that suggested this particular rule change.
- contest was opened to non-NCR members
Anyway, when the website rolled over, the old site went down. Much of the info was lost (1, 2, 3 mile high members / site elevation info / maps / etc.). Another thing that was lost was the posting of last year's SSS rules, though they still exist as a MS Word doc on many of our computers.
If anyone has any qualms about all this, I'd be glad to forward the old emails that circulated between the exec committee discussing the few rules changes. The bottom line is that the rules were most assuredly NOT changed in any arbitrary manner, or without input from the contestants. They were also finalized before the annual meeting last January.
Pico altimeters are indeed welcome and "commercial", so they are fine. We don't want any home-brewed altimeters for obvious reasons.
What started this latest round of discussions was someone commenting that they were going to fly at Hartsel. While that is a great idea for pure altitude, it does make administration of the contest a lot tougher; hence the you-must-fly-it-at-an-NCR-launch clause... Which, BTW, was the way it was last year....
John,
No qualms in particular, JUST didn't remember there being 17rules and my biggest concern was the picoalt which is commercial but more specialty item than mainstream. Hopefully the website is stable now so rules won't come and go. I think thats important in these year long events.
Now if someone suffers a cato, whats the deal?
John S
I'll send you the 2005 and 2006 rules offline. I don't know how to attach them here (or if attachments can even be done here?).
It has always been my understanding -- and if I may be so bold as to speak for the exec committee, their understanding as well -- that a CATO on your SSS blast does NOT allow you a second flight. Again, I can dig up old emails on this for anyone interested.
I never thought much about this... CATOs are pretty rare. Then I had TWO G80s CATO for a TARC project! AAAAAAGGHHHHH!!!!
Do *not * use lot #010406!
Personally, I view the SSS as a combination of two things... Extremely refined design and construction work... and the chance involved in gambling where the outcome depends on things completely outside your control. You do everything you can to make the bird tight - refined design, dialed in weight including the paint job, etc. etc... and yet it still depends on the turn of a friendly card. That's where some of the excitement is for me.
It doesn't matter whether its a gust of wind, a CATO, a bad ignition, or whatever... one shot, one try - win lose or draw. You pays your money and you takes your chances... the essence of gambling. (should we be encouraging a mere youth such as Chris LaPanse to be gambling?) 😈
I'm ready to fly by the way.
Warren
I'm ready to fly by the way.
Warren
I haven't started mine yet :-O
Mine's nearing completion - haven't done the electronics or fine tuned the weight yet, and still need a streamer though.
As for gambling?
Bring it on 😆
I owe an apology to John Wilke, in reviewing the e-mails I was indeed sent a copy of the current list of rules in april 2005 where explicit mention was made of commercial altimeters.
To all, sorry for any confusion/irritation/etc my post might have caused.
John S
Ah, shucks, NOBODY owes ME an apology for anything. No worries.
Also, Warren, have a good time on the river. Can I have your big monitor just in case you.... ah, nevermind 😉
Does the club, or anyone who'll risk a G80T CATO nested inside, have a tower launcher that's been waxed instead of WD-40'd? While WD-40 is slick and nifty, you really don't want any residue getting on the rocket's AF--more drag.
We could clean and wax the tower...
Warren
What about liquid teflon? Been a while since I thought about friction coefficients, but close to zilch. Personally, I'm converting my daughters air hockey table so that compressed air jets blown out of finely spaced holes in the tower struts prevent any actual physical contact...
J
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