I personally like everyone using the same motor.

As far as getting several guys to flyin the same day... to date, we haven't been able to get five guys to fly in the same *season*

Although I would probably prefer a greater choice in motor selection I like the idea of making it different than just a J class altitude attempt which anyone could fly at anytime.

So if you're willing to have some restrictions, why not have the limitation to fly at a particular launch like MHM? I agree that it is likely that most of the local competitors would fly then, but they don't have too. Local fliers have the option of waiting until a later month with no problems.

Let me include that I am not suggesting that you change your rules just for me. Some of these competitions do intrigue me. But if your desire is the increase the number of competitors, perhaps consider a contest that someone like me that attends only the major launches could has the same opportunities as the local fliers. Just my 2 cents...

Doug

I might play in something like that. A situation like that has some nuances of its own, though. Suppose I go first and my chute is somewhat tangled up and the altimeter lands really hard. Not at all fair to the next guy. Or what if there are five guys in the game, and the third guy loses the altimeter?

Any set of rules will have some ups and downs, no pun intended. I personally like everyone using the same motor.

As far as getting several guys to flyin the same day... to date, we haven't been able to get five guys to fly in the same *season* 🙂

I don't know that they have to be the exact altimeter--just the same brand and general vintage, and have at least two in case one is lost or takes a knock,
John S

John, I think you have some good points but have managed to misrepresent my view. I am frustrated by the fact this is a poker hand I can't win. I have built rockets each of the three years we had this, and while highly competitive designs, never flew one. This year was no exception.

So I'm proposing the purest pink slip contest I can think of--one day, one motor, one altimeter. Noone can slink away muttering about this or that, weather, altimetry, motors, etc. Its balls to the wall, and hey in the spirit of a pink slip contest, $$. Winning 250 doesn't offer a lot of motivation when its a couple hours of work for me, while building such a rocket might take ten, but losing 250 and bragging rights factor carries for me some major motivation.
😉
JS

I am frustrated by the fact this is a poker hand I can't win. I have built rockets each of the three years we had this, and while highly competitive designs, never flew one. This year was no exception.

Me very confused. How does going from 8-10 chances to fly down to a singular date improve your poker hand?

Further to that, how is this current arrangement stacked against you (or any of us?)

I don't understand your premise that you have a "poker hand that you can't win".... We all have the same cards here.

Am I missing something?

JW

how is this current arrangement stacked against you (or any of us?)

Since the gist of the single shot contest is that you only have one attempt, then why provide the opportunity to make that attempt last the entire year? It should be obvious that people like myself that cannot realistically attend your launch every month are at a disadvantage to everyone else that could attend.

If you limited the SSSS contest to only HMH then everyone has the same weather to deal with. IF all three days we completely unflyable and everyone agreed it could be cancelled. Otherwise the winner could be announced Sunday and another contest could occur at Oktoberfest.

Doug

Per previous posts, we cannot possibly make everyone happy. This contest got magnitudes more play than any of our other contests ever did. The fact that we have awarded nearly $1K in prizes to date seems to underscore that. Distilling it down to a singular launch, even one with multiple days will almost assuredly thin the ranks vs. swell them.

My earlier point remains -- the contest has been won in months that were considerably less favorable than what it was in May, even given last year's wretched May conditions. You could have flown in May, but didn't. Ed flew in zero temps two years ago and kicked my butt with a beautiful shot. Being (self) restricted to May isn't exactly insurmountable.

By all means, post away in this section to start a similar contest, perhaps using a different motor so as to not step on the current SSS or SSSS contests? I think it'd be great if there were interest and I'd gladly compete. And, Doug I understand your earlier comments that you don't think the contest should be changed to accommodate you - and I appreciate that. Like I say, it is hard to make everyone happy....

I am frustrated by the fact this is a poker hand I can't win. I have built rockets each of the three years we had this, and while highly competitive designs, never flew one. This year was no exception.

Me very confused. How does going from 8-10 chances to fly down to a singular date improve your poker hand?

Further to that, how is this current arrangement stacked against you (or any of us?)

I don't understand your premise that you have a "poker hand that you can't win".... We all have the same cards here.

Am I missing something?

JW

Yes, maybe you are. With so many current projects and goals, having the entire year for someone attentionally challenged and with other hobbies/interests, is too diffuse.

If i know I will be flying on a particular day, I can manage that--or more to the point, it manages me. Its like a deadline. The past two years I waited til the end and we had cancellations or I had conflicts. Besides I'm not proposing we change the entire contest--just a personal challenge to any who would like to partake. Upping the ante, and picking a particular date will help me focus. It may help others. It certainly leads to a nice pot for that hand. And flying with the same altimeter, motor and weather conditions takes the idea of a single motor to its logical conclusion, that the best build wins since all else is the same.
John S

John, with all due respect, if you have the mental agility to design the rocket (you do) and if you have the resources to buy the parts (you do) and if you have the time to build it (you did, as you said you built these birds) and if you have the skills to do it right (you most certainly do-- I have seen your work, and it is elegant!) but you DON'T have the time to go out and slide an SU motor in there and fly... then you don't have a "poker hand you can't win". You have a time management issue.

You just need to step up to the plate and do it. Your do-it-on-a-certain-day idea is intriguing, but you say it provides a "deadline". We already DO have a deadline -- by the end of the year.

Your skillset is perfectly sufficient to win this sucker. I mean that sincerely. You just need to pull the proverbial trigger...

I agree with John Wilke with this. I've victimized myself in just the same way as you do John Smolley... as in.. "oh yeah, I've got a whole year to get this done, I'll do other things now, I've got plenty of time..." and next thing I knew in 06 it was Oktoberfest and I KNEW I couldn't make the December launch and was very unlikely to make the November launch so I flew - late in the day and all to boot. Of course I lost the rocket and it still sits on the praire. As a result of my own procrastination, I never even flew the SSSS - I had a rocket, but I needed a new booster sized for the 38/720 case instead of the 1080 case it was built for and I kept meaning to get around to that, but never did.

This year will be different. Made tubing for the SSS just the other day - nothing like aerosleeve... good stuff.

Warren

Warren, Like thats a surprise. Guys just listen. We now have an opportunity for more than one flight. I'm trying to get my gear together and knows what helps. If no one is willing to fly a single shot same day, same altimeter for 250 bucks ante, so be it. I'm not trying to change the contest. Put up or shut up. or ignore but please no more crap about how I'm trying to change the contest.The contests flies as usual. If you lost this early hand, well that might be helpful...
John

While the idea of a pot sweetened with multiple $250 bets is pretty sweet, it's also too rich for my blood - especially competing against folks like John Wilke and Ed Dawson. I'll stick to $20 entry fees myself.

I do like the idea of a one day contest - a deadline if you will. It bears more discussion.

Warren

Guys just listen.... If no one is willing to fly a single shot same day, same altimeter for 250 bucks ante, so be it. I'm not trying to change the contest. Put up or shut up. or ignore.........

I personally have no interest whatsover in going out and spending a couple of hundred bucks in parts + $70 on a reload + scads of time on a build just so I could break even if I win. Get 4 guys in there, and I'm game, subject to some other rules -- like making sure everyone's altimeter is on par via a baro chamber (there are two in N. Colorado that we can use), and agreement on other issues (need to recover cleanly? darts allowed? TRA rules regarding closures? that sort of thing). I'd say interested parties should sit down and hammer out the finer points.

I've committed to SSS and SSSS as well as a major project with a junior member, plus BALLS. I really don't have time or that much interest in this latest whim, but if 4 guys step up, I'll play.

JW

JW,

now we are talking. I'm in and will have cash in hand. You know for all the egotism in the club, I remember the days of pink slip challenges between cars costing twenty times more in time, $$ and love than we have here.And this with teenagers. We are rocket wimps I say.

Warren, others, Any ssss has couple hundred dollars value, w/o electronics. At best with 20 bucks entry, you recoup the motor. Granted its an interesting project, but little else. No record potential, just a will of the wisp you see for a second then might spend hours findng. Now thats rational. 🙄
JS

John, (Smolley, not Wilke), if we get significant interest in an SSS/SSSS event, we could top $1000 in the pot and for that I'd go ALL out. I have a bird, details left to the imagination, that I KNOW will top 17K on a J570 and with the appropriate booster section will take the record for a J350. I'd be all in... if JW wasn't in the game... 😯 😀 😆

Warren