What Attracts Pilots to Contests?


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Ed Kettler
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What Attracts Pilots to Contests?

Post by Ed Kettler »

Yesterday the North Texas crew was sitting around waiting to see if Mother Nature was going to quit raining on our contest, and we got to talking about planning next year's LSN (never too early to start work on one of the major contests). There were some differences in opinion on what made an event attractive to pilots, so I'd like to get some input from folks so we can do a better job planning and delivering a world class event.

1. What are the key factors that makes you decide to go to a contest?

2. If you were "sitting on the fence", what would help you make up your mind?

3. What do you consider to be "the icing on the cake" versus core requirements?

4. What factors would you consider to be major turnoffs?

Thanks for your time.
Warmest regards,
Ed
Alex Treneff
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Post by Alex Treneff »

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Ed Kettler</i>
<br />1. What are the key factors that makes you decide to go to a contest?
Warmest regards,
Ed
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Distance and the number of competitors.

Six hours is about as far as I would travel for a meet, maybe 8 for a really big event.

If SSC is on 2 days, I can't go, since it takes too much time.

Also a $35 entry fee is almost double that of any other contest across the country.

A well run event without a lot of delays always makes we want to go back.

I prefer contests where 30 pilots are run as 3 heats of 10 instead of 2 heats of 7 and 2 of 8. It goes faster, and you can score more points.

Oh, and a lot of it has to do with who else is going, rivalries and stuff.... [:D]

Oh, and I would have been at the LSN this year with my dad but I had a prior engagement. I'll plan for it next year.


We're going to try out some new things (for both pilots and spectators) at the Mid-America Combat Championship next week. Head on down, this is gonna be a big one!
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o1moregil
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Post by o1moregil »

No.1 what makes me decide is the fun I always have flying combat[:D]

No.2 the first time I saw a combat meet it was in Livermore Ca. I found out about the contest browsing in this forum, I helped out judging, and what really made up my mind was seeing all the fun the guys were having, that was the first meet of the year in Livermore, by the second meet I was ready for some streamers (got second place in my first meet[:D]).

No. 3 I don't understand this question.

No. 4 ok, I hate driving by my self, gas prices(can't really do nothing about this one[:(!]), these are major turnoff for myself.
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Ed Kettler
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Post by Ed Kettler »

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by o1moregil</i>
<br />No.1 what makes me decide is the fun I always have flying combat[:D]

No.2 the first time I saw a combat meet it was in Livermore Ca. I found out about the contest browsing in this forum, I helped out judging, and what really made up my mind was seeing all the fun the guys were having, that was the first meet of the year in Livermore, by the second meet I was ready for some streamers (got second place in my first meet[:D]).

No. 3 I don't understand this question.

No. 4 ok, I hate driving by my self, gas prices(can't really do nothing about this one[:(!]), these are major turnoff for myself.


<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Icing on the cake examples: prizes, Red Bull girls, after hours social activities, mano-y-mano grudge matches
Rabbit Leader
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Post by Rabbit Leader »

Grudge matches are always cool, prizes are nice. I'm getting to the point that NPS doesn't mean as much to me as it used to. Just getting together with a group of friends and tying on streamers is cool. I like socialising too...oh yeah, talking mucho smack!!![:D]
montague
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Post by montague »

For me, it's scheduling (conflicts with other events, combat and non-combat, and time off from work), money, and drive time first. I'll go anywhere pretty much once or twice. If I have a good time, like the people, and think it's worth the money I'll go back if I can. If there are other things going on, then I might not make it, it's kind of random with me, and I can't always attend contests I'd like to.

I do put a high priority on local contests, I don't think I've missed one in the local area in years. But I'm in a position that I can often schedule my life around the contests, and many guys can't do that.
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Air Scharnell
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Post by Air Scharnell »

Ed,
IMHO........you guys put on a good show[:D]
And if pole dancer is there next time try HOOTERS girls they have someone too dance with [;)]
Prizes are nice but not that important too me.
Points are the icing on my cake if I can get them from PRIMETIME anyday.
If I cant have them just watching and judging some of the BEST pilots in the country is reward enough, and will get me too return in 2008.
drewjet
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Post by drewjet »

[quote]<i>Originally posted by Ed Kettler</i>
<br />

1. What are the key factors that makes you decide to go to a contest?

<font color="red">Distance, which classes are flown, how many classes flown, and who else will be there.</font id="red">

2. If you were "sitting on the fence", what would help you make up your mind?

<font color="red">Besides winning the lottery? Are the classes being flown ones that I like. I will fly any class, but some I like better than others.</font id="red">

3. What do you consider to be "the icing on the cake" versus core requirements?

<font color="red">Lunch provided for by the club is always nice. Prizes donated from various companies and handed out by drawing to both pilots and judges/volunteers.</font id="red">
4. What factors would you consider to be major turnoffs?

<font color="red">A contest in the middle of summer and extreme heat/humidity, or in the winter and extremely cold conditions.</font id="red">
grasshpr
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Post by grasshpr »

1. What are the key factors that makes you decide to go to a contest?

1. Location, location, location. Contests in your own area are a must. Who else and how many have signed up early on. Consistent events that you get familiar with and know what to expect.


2. If you were "sitting on the fence", what would help you make up your mind?

2. Finding one or two other guys to make the trip with.

3. What do you consider to be "the icing on the cake" versus core requirements?

3. Free goodies, prizes and food are always nice. Awards down to more than three places in a big event will send more home with something to show for the drive.

4. What factors would you consider to be major turnoffs?


4. Trying to cram too much into one day (or the whole event for that matter). Example; the Nats this year. Scale is hard enough to get people to compete in without being treated like a step child and flying all 10 rounds in half a day after 5 rounds of open B, two days in a row for both scale classes.

SSC (or any rpm limited class) contest that doesn't enforce the rpm limit with a proper tach test before each and every launch.
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