From: cdt@sw.stratus.com (C. D. Tavares)
Newsgroups: rec.models.rockets
Subject: Re: Insuring your events
Date: 16 Sep 92 01:43:55 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.

In article <19920915173233.Roger.Wilfong@umich.edu>, Roger.Wilfong@umich.edu writes:

> > By the way, after 1992 the AMA will be holding the rocketry world 
> > championships instead of the NAR.  In accordance with their philosophy, 
> > expect them to be allocating yet another chunk of your money to subsidize 
> > these events as well.

> What does that mean?  The last time the world championships were held in the
> US was 12 years ago.  The majority of the world championships have been held
> in eastern European countries. 

Perhaps I shouldn't have typed "holding," but "participating in."  Although
I expect they will "hold" one -- if they retain interest long enough.
Whether you're participating or hosting, the financial drain and effort is
about the same.  Actually, when you're hosting, the financial drain can
even be less (except for the AMA, who has a philosophy against doing this).

> Is the AMA planning to field (and sponsor) a US team for the '92 
> championships?  

Read it again:  I said AFTER 1992.  We already HAVE a 1992 team.
In fact, they're flying as we speak.

> Is the AMA going to start holding FAI rules rocket contests?

That's the theory, isn't it.  How many of us think it will happen other 
than once a year, and then in some foreign country?

> Actually, holding FAI rules contests is not entirely a bad idea.  I'll 
> borrow Andy Tomash's soap box for a moment and say the NAR is not serious
> about 'world class' competition (what ever that means).  If it were, it would
> not have a different set of competition rules from the rest of the world.

I can only speak for myself.  I think FAI competition rules are stodgy and
unimaginative.  If I were to get serious about competition, it would not be
FAI competition.  The FAI has NINE, count 'em, NINE events -- and we had to 
force feed them the ninth one back in 1980.

> Now back off the soap box.  I am not an advocate of FAI style contests.  Most 
> NAR contests are fun - make that 'FUN'.  They are low key, low pressure (try
> pylon racing or C/L combat if you want pressure) and a good excuse to get out
> side, fly rockets and see old friends.

Who here is willing to give up Egg Lofting?  Helicopter Duration?  Spot
Landing?  Plastic Model?  Super Roc? 

We now have a Rules Revision procedure that ensures that the membership has
a democratic vote as to what it flies in competition and how.  I don't see
any tremendous grass-roots movement towards S1A (yawn).

At the most recent Board meeting, I floated the idea of an alternative
international rocketry presence.  You've all seen those cruises or tours
where the idea is to go to exotic foreign ports and play golf at each one, 
or something of the sort.  What would you think of a package where anyone
who wanted to fly with foreign modelers could sign up on such a tour and
be part of an international exchange sport launch with them in their country?
And have them come here to do the same thing?  There's a service program 
that could satisfy many more than just a dozen people once every two years.  

And just think -- you could stay in a quaint Japanese inn, Austrian hostel,
or Sydney hotel instead of a cold-water barracks in Czechoslovakia.

The FAI might find out REAL fast that they're not the only game in town.
-- 

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