I think people get caught up in the pursuit of perfection and never get around to building or more likely finishing their rockets or they wait for perfect conditions that never arrive. My opinion at least - it seems to hold true for me. My last SSS bird is laying on the prairie. I have an SSSS bird except for the booster section and fins - I just never got around to ordering up a pre-cut, pre-slotted FWFG tube and some pre-cut, pre-beveled G10 fin cores to go with it. It's the work of an afternoon, perhaps 2 if I paint it. But, never got 'round to it. I might yet, but we'll see - been busy with lots of life too and that gets in the way more than anything.

Warren

I'm curious why these wonderful contests don't get much traction?

or they wait for perfect conditions that never arrive

I would like to see the contest to run for only MHM or Oktoberfest. John now that you live so far away, how likely are you to enter the contest when you might have only one or two opportunities to fly? Well, that's not exactly a fair question because you have the experience to still have an advantage over everyone else. But people who live in Norther Colorado and could fly any weekend have an advantage over those of use who can barely make it for the two major events of NCR.

But if it is truly a "single shot" contest, why not make it for only one weekend? That way you eliminate the weather as a factor. The contest eliminates the choice for motor, so if you eliminate the weather then the contest is reduced to building abilities and flying skills. Obviously, if the weather is bad the entire weekend, like this years MHM, then all entry fees could be returned to the fliers.

Doug

That is something I would seriously consider as a modification of the rules. Announce it and take money starting at the annual meeting - flights to be held at Oktoberfest... gives people 10 months to design and build and then everyone flies on Saturday or something.

Warren

John now that you live so far away, how likely are you to enter the contest when you might have only one or two opportunities to fly?

To be perfectly honest with you, I'd probably enter and fly again. I've entered every year and flown every year. Not always successfully, but I have pulled the trigger each time. Ed D. beat me the first year for the SSS and we were the only two who flew. My SSSS cato'd last year, I won SSS last year, and I flew SSSS this year. Basically 4 entries, 4 flights for me. Lots of guys have put the cash in the kitty and never flown. Hence my question.

My prediction is that if you limit it to a single date, participation will erode further. I can't see any logical reason it would increase. Cutting it from ~10 chances to a one is an intriguing idea, and as an infrequent visitor, I love it. I don't think it will increase flights, though -- just the opposite. I'll get mine in the air, though 😉

J

I'd love to do the SSS, but I'm stymied by the no-tracker requirement. Today I just lost a 38mm rocket (Blue Ninja) on an F, in almost zero wind, despite a day-glow pink parachute, because I didn't fly it with my tracker. I can't imagine how I could find a good SSS attempt without a tracker. (long story)

Chances are you couldn't.

Which is why mine, along with a Perfectflite Alt15k, has been sitting out on the prairie for almost a year now undiscovered.

I think for 2008 I'd like to drop the "No Tracking" rule. It makes little sense aside from making it harder to return ANY altitude. I believe it has done something to cut participation.

Warren

Actually, the no tracking rule was designed to ADD participation. It was an attempt to level the playing field and bring more folks in. There are a lot of flyers w/o tracking and they wouldn't / couldn't play, because someone with a tracker would win every time.

Y'all know me. I track everything that I can. That said, there were some who understandably felt that those with tracking had an unfrair advantage. This morphed into the two contests... one w/ tracking, and one w/o.

I believe the prohibition of tracking adds a really cool twist. You realize someone could go out with a 4# rocket in December and win the whole SSS kitty? that is if there IS a launch in December. It is a giant game of chess and I personally like that aspect. Figure out which risks you want to take when, with the caveat that you have one swing at the plate. It is a brilliant contest. It would serve us all right if someone lobbed a shot to 800' and took all our money. It would NOT happen 2 years in a row, though. I say leave SSS as no tracking, and allow it for SSSS.

j

Actually, the no tracking rule was designed to ADD participation. It was an attempt to level the playing field and bring more folks in. There are a lot of flyers w/o tracking and they wouldn't / couldn't play, because someone with a tracker would win every time.

That makes sense; I figured it was something like that....if it wasn't just a shameless attempt to appease the Prairie Goddess by providing periodic SSS offerings...

Maybe the right SSS bird would be dual-deploy with a 48" day-glow main.

Several folks have said that the lack of tracking basically leaves them cold and that is one of the reasons they never flew. They don't like the idea of losing a rocket.

Warren

Several folks have said that the lack of tracking basically leaves them cold and that is one of the reasons they never flew. They don't like the idea of losing a rocket.

Warren

I could sure go either way. It does add a real twist, though -- someone can pooch one up and win it all this year. Wouldn't THAT be a lesson to all us old folks 😉

So I take it no one grabbed some really low-hanging SSS fruit this weekend? Geesh, given the big $$ in the kittty, I can't believe someone hasn't flown a 4# rocket to 300' to win it all!

Still one more launch this year... even if there isn't, any two or three NCR members could get together to fly. A G80 powered bird and it's attendant weight and altitude possibilities mean no waiver required... A "coyote hunt" opportunity perhaps over the Thanksgiving weekend? I could have an SSS bird ready for that... as well as the F and G record birds I've built. All I need is a tower to launch from.

W