July 20th, 2019 60" Man on Man race

[Konrad]

It looks like there may be a 60" M.O.M. race this Saturday at the slot. I didn't see any notice on the NCSS site but I hope there will be a race.

Event Calendar – NorCal Slope Soarers

If you can find the time please come out and race or help. Running this kind of race does take some man power.

If we don't get enough pilots or workers the field is often opened to sport flying. The site (The Slot) is worth the trip just for the sport flying.

So please come out and bring a slope glider. No powered thrust from electrics motors allowed. Please gliders only at the Slot.

 

[Konrad]

Well this was a bust. The race was canceled for lack of participation.

The day was not lost as the conditions were fantastic. Spent most of the day sport flying at the slot.

Man on Man racing is a lot of fun and very thrilling. I have to ask why there is so little interest in this format?

I suspect it is that racing $300 to $600 ship with the higher than normal risk of mid airs is the culprit. In the 60" class as raced at the Slot (NCSS) the RCRCM Sunbird is very popular as it is in the lower cost bracket and competitive in the carbon configuration.

I'm thinking that it might be time to make this a one plane event, where the plane is a fast build, low cost and can handle the high winds at the slot.
I like the idea of Ahi racing. But the Ahi can't handle the high winds.

I'm thinking the Blejzyk Spin might fit the bill. It is a rather low cost ship. The only downside it that is does need a bit more work to set up than the molded 60", but not a lot more work. I'm sure the Spin can handle the winds, as I was flying the light Mefisto (but fully ballasted) just fine in the high winds. I also like that the Spin would allow for some customization such as V tails or cruciform tails, 4 servo verses 2 servo wings.

Spin 1.5m Sailplane

The Spin by Blejzyk is a high quality glider capable of impressive performance.

alofthobbies.com

All the best,
Konrad

 

[Wayne]

You know they had converted that race from a one design using the Speedo.

Some folks I talk with just don't like to race, they rather fly where and what they like. Slope pilots in general like to do their own thing, they are not used to structured flying as there are rarely any clubs involved for slope.

Hope you had a good time and didn't melt any planes in the heat. I flew electrics locally and had a good time. Got the prototype orange electrics into the air and was very pleased with it. Need to dial in the CG a bit and make a little battery tray, but she had good speed and with a bit of camber slowed down and thermalled well for a 1.5m warmliner. Out thermaled the foam planes I was flying with.

 

[Konrad]

You know they had converted that race from a one design using the Speedo.

Some folks I talk with just don't like to race, they rather fly where and what they like. Slope pilots in general like to do their own thing, they are not used to structured flying as there are rarely any clubs involved for slope.

Hope you had a good time and didn't melt any planes in the heat. I flew electrics locally and had a good time. Got the prototype orange electrics into the air and was very pleased with it. Need to dial in the CG a bit and make a little battery tray, but she had good speed and with a bit of camber slowed down and thermalled well for a 1.5m warmliner. Out thermaled the foam planes I was flying with.

No, I didn't know about the Speedo. Actually I don't know what a Speedo is. How does it compare with the Spin, in cost , assembly time, and speed. I think we may need to dial down the cost of M.O.M. racing.

If this is it, is it still available somewhere? Or is that why we are racing modies.

2Ch RC EP 1.2M Speedo Pro Mark II Glider - Red / Gold Carbon Front Edge (US Warehouse) Review

***Other Colors available here *** 2 Channel RC EP 1.2M Speedo Pro Mark II Thermo Glider - Red / Gold Carbon Front Edge Model Number : rcpl71016 in RC Airplanes

www.rcmodelscout.com

Good point about Slope flyer being lone wolfs at heart. In the 70's I started out flying with clubs and by nature like to compete. So I'm comfortable flying to a set of rules.

We need pictures and more data on that orange warmliner!

All the best,
Konrad

 

[Wayne]

Your group ALREADY did the Speedo thing and they are done with them. It is a garbage plane, but used to be dirt cheap. Sadly as time went by the manufacturer raised the prices and lowered the quality. Not only that, but they would change the wing design nearly every batch so it ended up being a stupid one design as they kept tweaking it to be able to lower the quality further. LOL

I think the 60" class is a good concept. Unless others in the group are mumbling.. They had considered the SPIN or ELF in the past, but decided to go with the 60" instead. I think it is a good move as you have a lot more planes to pick from and can switch out based on conditions.

 

[Konrad]

I'd have thought so too, but the participation level is saying otherwise. With a carbon* Sunbird going for $450 before shipping this is putting a dampener on the event.

Yes, it was a point of discussion at the last non-event.

* I won't buy a glass RCRCM unless it is almost given to me. And then I'd have to think about what it would cost me when it comes to the limited storage I have here in San Francisco. With the cost of real-estate in San Francisco, the cost for a few square feet of storage space would add thousands of dollars to the annual cost of the model.

 

[Diceman]

In my opinion, most slope guys like to race...….but for fun. The politics and the strong emotions that come with all the variables in the competition make it a stressful place to be especially if money and reputation is on the line. Once you eliminate both these factors, it becomes the sport you want to do, to go out and relax from a hard stressful week at work.
There is no printed hardcore rule book for MOM, ISR or F3F racing which makes whoever putting it on in charge of how the outcome will be.
I definitely love the idea of these races, and I think they are great. They Just need a lot of tuning in my opinion.

 

[Wayne]

I will say that I always learn things at the races. Heck usually learn something just getting together with other pilots.

 

[Konrad]

Jeremy, All our RC toy racing is for fun, or should be! I have yet to race for money so I'm sure my status as an amateur if firm.

Your concern with politics has me very concerned. I know that the racing I've seen has been above board. The NCSS 60" MOM is rather straight forward. There are a few (very few) set of safety rules, like don't fly past "X" line. etc.. There is a procedure as to how to start the race. Also how cuts are dealt with. If the public thinks there is some old boys, back room deals then we need to be more clear in the pilots meeting as to what is expected.

As to competition that IS the goal, to prove that person X and his equipment are better at whatever than person Y and his equipment. But this needs to be done on a level flying field transparent to all. This has to be done with respect for all the participants and the organizers, this is what I think you are getting at with ego and reputation.

I find a good hard fought race is very stress relieving even if a come in last. Organizing a race not so much but actually flying them, I love it. Yes, I break into a cold sweat often get trembling hands and my stomach turns before a race but that is all part of the excitement!

"There is no printed hardcore rule book for MOM, ISR or F3F racing which makes whoever putting it on in charge of how the outcome will be."
Not sure what you are getting at with this. But the outcome is known. The participant that puts in the time to develop the skill will most likely win. Yes, there is a bit of chance but it really is only a small part of the equation. I can tell you it took me 4 years before I won a race.

I love to see a guy flying well and pulling away from me in the heats. I also like being smart enough to take advantage of when he makes a mistake. I'm sadden maybe even pissed off when I make a stupid mistake.

I too like a well defined set of rules. Fun fly, (free for all) really are nothing short of a day fun flying. A rigid set of rules is what makes racing racing.

Now I'm really concerned that there is a feeling that the field is not level for all participants. It might not be level but that should be as a result of the efforts put into the endeavor by the participants . Not by any back room deals made with the organizers.

All the best.
Konrad

P.S.
I'd like to give an example of how supportive the guys are in our area. Last Sunday I flew my first F3F race. I had no intention of flying the race. I came to help work the event. Everyone to a man was more than willing to help me learn what F3F racing was all about. The results were easily predicted. I came in dead last of those that did not loose a ship. This was because I had not prepared for the race. I had no idea how an F3F race was flown. And my sport ship was not set up as a racer. I had a great time and a lot of help moving my time down from a 101 down to a 59 second time. I know if I spent some time practicing actually flying like I was flying an F3F race I can get my time down to the low 50's with the same equipment. But it will take a commitment on my part to get down to that low a time, like 2 years of work. Luck will have no bearing on that.

 

[Konrad]

I will say that I always learn things at the races. Heck usually learn something just getting together with other pilots.

That is the power, secret of clubs. We all learn from each other.