by Larry Ludwig » Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:55 pm
Thanks Reichard... sorry to hear about the future empty spot on the wall after your next future Champion boat climbs down.
If *I* were king....
I would require the Nationals to be held in a place that had access to <u>two seperate ponds </u> (for radio seperation) where the boats could be split into 2 fleets and race for a period of time (whatever it takes... probably half the event) and then re-organized into an "A" fleet "B" fleet.
If it is good enough for the Hobie nationals........[;)]
There can be a seeding system if desired... to place say.. the top 5 or maybe even the top 10 from the previous year... or throw 'em all in and let the chips fall as they may. I don't mind seeing slots made available for guys that travel in... and for you Kermie, ANYONE that is willing to come across the pond should be automatically in REGARDLESS.
I am not trying to disuade or discourage anyone... just the opposite. I want to see the attendance GROW. What cheeses me was seeing last year at the Vic nationals (No... don't have one, don't want one) a LOT of local club members were not allowed to race the Nationals held by their own club... because there were only so many slots for the local guys (10 I think).... So... because they were not allowed to race, none of them showed to even help run the regatta. BOO![:(]
I am proud of the EC-12, the AMYA and the whole ball of wax.. and I want to see it grow into something bigger and better. I want to see our people going over to Kermie's Pub and racing on HIS pond (if he lets us)[:p]
Unitl there are enough races to make a points system viable... having skippers attend "points" races to reach the min needed to attend the Nats... I think everyone that is willing to make the trip should get a shot.
Now... there were a couple of shots in there... about me travelling... well.. I have been travelling for a lifetime, but I never got to pick WHERE.
OK... I have a brand new trailer now with 5 J boats, 6 EC-12's, an AC-15, 2 S/B's, M, and a partridge in a pear tree, and all the other boats in the shop at home, a brand new engine in the Bronco getting 14MPG and we are travelling now by golly. Goofballs that sign up but don't show up... and rip off nice old guys for $1,600 cash and never deliver the boat but keep the cash... well... consider the source... and NEVER EVER give the money before you get the boat. (unless you get it from ME [:D]
I say... EVERYONE race. Split the fleet and you knock a fair amount of the freq problems down right there. If you still have them when it is time to put the fleet back for "A" and "B", work them out as best you can... but if there is a deadlock... higher points to date gets the freq. I bet if Kermie comes over from UK Land he brings a bag full of freq's with him[:0]
If you are willing to invest in this hobby.. boat.. hotel, and everything else... a few extra freq's is nothing... and if you show up at an event bringing 40+ guys and only 2 freqs in your box... shame on you.
Oh.. and if *I* were STILL King... I would make one race a day be a "LeMans Start" which for all you young guys out there... the drivers were forced to stand on the opposite side of the track... and when the flag dropped... they had to sprint across the track and fire up the engine on their machine and get after it. I think that everyone should have to carry their boat BY THE HATCH OPENING... <u>NO SLINGS..</u>.. 100 yards and put it in the water and start from shore. The sound of cracking balsa decks would be deafening...[xx(]
Oh... and the Nats will fill up in 48 hours, watch and see. The only reason it would not is because people don't know about it the moment it comes out. I predict.. you could get 75 if they could handle it.