Race Of Champions (and anyone else still hanging around)

[Paul Tjaden]

After the Flytec Compettion, there was to be another short comp with big prize money ($10K) for the top 30 finishers at the Flytec. Thing was.... many pilots couldn't stick around so some of us who didn't finish that high got a chance to compete, including me. Yesterday, (the first day) I launched early and made it out to the edge of the start circle high and ready to roll. Unfortunately, I was early and had to try to stay high and inside the start circle for 10 minutes before start time elapsed. Also unfortunately, the laws of physics were screwed up and time seemed to stop while I was blown down wind and out of the start circle with a few other pilots. There was nothing I could do but charge upwind and back into the circle and hope for the best. We were doing a "race" start which means no extra start times so I had no choice but to make the best of it. Bottom line was that as the clock finally started to move again I found myself two thousand feet below most of the other pilots as the clock struck zero. Somehow I managed to claw myself back into contention and I was only needing one more climb to get to goal but the blue hole I was in near the finish was relentless and I found myself at 700 feet, 5 miles from goal. There was a VERY small trash fire nearby that didn't look as though it would help but with nothing else available I made a desperate lung for it and found about 50' up. I hung on for all I had as I choked on the smoke and finally my 5030 told me I had goal by 400 feet. I managed to struggle across the line in 16th place. Good enough to make it into the second day but totally out of the money.

Today, I was determined not to make the same mistake again and this time I was succesful in getting a great start..... along with nearly every other pilot in the competition. I was flying well and holding my own when a VERY experienced pilot that I know and admire mistook me for someone who had been removed from the comp. While we flew side by side, he was signaling me to move to the right while I was trying to fade left to a climbing glider. I thought he wanted me to go right to another lower glider and went there only to find that , as I had thought, the glider on the right didn't have a good thermal. When I looked back behind me, my experienced "friend" was climbing high above me following the glider I had beem trying to go to originally. Later I found out that this "friend" had been concerned that we were too close and rather than give me a bit of room he decided to boss me around and I was stupid enough to fall for it.

I tried to move back under the better climbing gliders but it was too late and the lift was gone. I ended up getting scraped off and low. It took me 30 minutes to dig myself back up out of the dirt and although I eventually finished the task I was too slow and have been eliminated from the final day.

Bottom line.... I learned a lot today. I just wish I'd finish all my lessons so I can start winning instead of just getting more lessons!!!!

Paul

[mcelrah]

I look forward to studying at your feet: trash-fire thermalling! For all your humble words, it's apparent that you are operating at a whole different level from us weekend warriors. - Hugh
P.S. Do you have George and Cindi's number handy?

[Flying Lobster]

There are fires all over the place in GA and TN--we often fly pretty close to them. The hardest part is figuring out if a genuine haze dome is forming or if you're just downwind of a huge smoke plume. Good wind indicators, though.

Flew from Pidgeon Mtn to Lookout on sat and Menlo to just past Lookout on Sunday. Starting to get gains in the 8K msl range, some pilots reported getting 10K and above in the last few weeks. Lots of rigidheads here and in Arkansas.

marc

[Paul Tjaden]

I look forward to studying at your feet: trash-fire thermalling! For all your humble words, it's apparent that you are operating at a whole different level from us weekend warriors. - Hugh
P.S. Do you have George and Cindi's number handy?

Just thought I should write a disclaimer about thermaling above fires. Do NOT under ANY circumstances fly over a serious fire. I only used this because it was so small that any actual fire was not even visible. There was only light smoke going up so slowly and drifting downwind at such an angle that I seriously doubted that I would get any lift at all from it. Flying over a significant brush fire, even at great altitude can be extremely hazardous. I have heard of pilots being tossed violently upwards and coming down under canopy due to the WILD air above the flames. I also understand that it's possible to burn your sail with the hot embers flying about.

Paul

P.S. Hugh, I have the number you want and will send it to you privately.

[Flying Lobster]

Good points--not to mention the possibility of fire-fighting aircraft and local TFR's for said activities.

marc