Hey NCR — I'm stepping down as the club contest director... expecting to move from the area in 2015. I regret missing the meeting, but in case the membership is left contest-less at the moment, I've proposed a contest idea that I think will fly.

Single Shot Sweepstakes — Cluster*

We’ll return again to the single shot sweepstakes, but with a significant catch- you must cluster your motors. You’ll try to achieve the best altitude with a cluster of at least 3 AP motors limited to 640 Ns total impulse. There are no limitations on airframe dimension. This contest is about carefully selecting motors, getting the cluster to successfully ignite and then reaching the highest altitude. 

Objective is to successfully fly a rocket with a cluster of motors to the highest altitude

• Open to current NCR club members
• Prize to be the sum of entry fees, awarded to the highest valid flight.
• $20.00 entry fee, multiple attempts allowed. Teams permitted. Fee must be paid in advance before first flight.
• Over the course of the year, entrant to launch (at NCR sponsored launch dates only) and successfully recover declared contest rocket. Contest open year-round and until the 2016 annual club meeting.
• Rocket must be propelled by at least three certified motors (AP propellant only).
• Each motor must ignite on the launch pad; no air-starts, staging, or booster separations allowed.
• Total impulse of all motors must not exceed 640 Ns.
• Different combinations of motors may be used (e.g. one 38mm H motor and two 29mm G motors).
• Rocket may have standard launch guidance (e.g. lug, rail guide) or be tower launched.
• Recovery deployment may be via electronics or motor ejection. Tumble recovery not allowed.
• Electronic tracking is allowed.
• A commercial altimeter listed in the NAR Pinkbook must be successfully read and verified by two witnesses and recorded on the flight card ( http://www.nar.org/pinkbook/G_altimeters.html). GPS altimetry also permitted.
• “Single Shot Sweepstakes-Cluster*” must be declared on the flight card prior to launch.
• Rocket must be successfully recovered by the close of that day’s launch. Successful recovery based on integrity of flown rocket for Immediate Return to Flight Status (no field repairs allowed excepting fixing less than one inch of airframe zipper). Unsafe flights are disqualified.