Not a Wiener, but WINNER!

The events were challenging, the 4 competitors were relentless, and the wind was calm but variable from all directions.  We began flying at 9:45 AM and were done by 1PM.  Bob Bevens ran a good show in the face of constant challenges from the competitors.  Tempers flared at times, but in the end we all got prizes and cash and went home mostly happy, lol.  Before the flying began I just told myself to rely on my comfort with the planes after flying them frequently the last couple weeks, and I challenged myself to not make dumb mental mistakes, and to get less than 100 points in deductions from the 500 total we all initially start with.  My competitors left the door cracked on a couple events where they all flew beyond the end lines and thus were not eligible for the 25 point bonus AND forgiveness of all point deductions attained on that flight. That meant all I had to do was not pass the end line on landing for those tasks!  I was able to do so, luckily, even as my engine ran too rich and slow on the last two tasks.  I made no unforgivable mistakes for the day, and ended up winning per the scoresheet:

Here is a link to coverage of the event at our club website: http://www.krosswinds.com/Filecabinet/VCF2013.pdf

And finally here is a pick of the victor and his spoils, haha.  That is $90 cash, a NIB H-9 RV-8 ARF, and the trophy to hold another year.

I garnered the victory flying the SNAFU for all tasks except Task 3, for which I flew the electric Star.

The following is boring to all but the most mentally disturbed folks; it is the rules and description of tasks for the VC:
Fellow club members: I have updated the rules  for the last time, I hope,
and since this is our club event, you may still join in Saturday morning.
The cost is $5 to enter. There will be a pilots' meeting at 9:30 AM and
flying starts at 10 AM sharp. We will go over all rules at the pilots'
meeting. If I have made a mistake on any task or there needs to be something
added, give me an e-mail. Thanks, Bob Bevens.








VALLEY CHALLENGE

                                                            2013



Task #1

Don't be early, don't be late.



Start your motor, taxi out to take off position. Time starts when the judge
says ok. When wheels move, time starts. Take off left to right, make left
180 degree turn, then perform one loop, one roll, turn around after you pass
east end of runway and perform one roll. Then, after passing west end of
runway, turn around again and on your way back, do one loop and then land.
Time stops when wheels touch ground and airplane makes a successful landing.
Ok, now you will be given your time and you have to duplicate it as close as
you can. Points will be deducted this way if you arrive too early. One point
per second if you arrive late, two points per second if you arrive early,
and the pilot with the closest time will receive an extra 25 points added to
his or her score, and, that's a good thing. Bad thing, the rest of the
pilots will have their points deducted from their score. 



Task #2

Hop and stop



The hop and stop starts out by pilot taxiing to end of runway. Wheels must
be on grass at east end. Ahead of you on runway is a row of balloons about
93.5 feet and further down, another row of balloons. Distance between both
rows of balloons is 106 feet. The object of this task is take off and lift
off before hitting any of the balloons in the first row. Now make two passes
around the field and set up for a landing between the two rows of balloons.
Motor on gas planes must be running after landing. On electric planes they
must be on their wheels and upright. Landings must be straight ahead, no
ground loops. One other thing, no adding power after touchdown. The reason
for that is there will be measuring done. The pilot that stops closest to
the balloons without breaking one, or, going past the line, gets 25 points
added on. If you go past the second line of balloons, no winning
measurement. 50 points off for all broken balloons. Plus for every foot past
two points off per foot. One point off for each foot on the short side. Over
the six inch mark  

measurement will be rounded up to the next foot. Glow motor stop 100 point
deduction and electrics must be on their wheels or same deduction.  

Task #3

Quick up short stop



Pilot taxis to east end of run way, wheels must be on grass. Ahead is a row
of balloons, beyond that a second row of balloons. Object of task is to take
off, clear the balloons in the first row, and land before hitting the next
row of balloons. Motor must continue to run on glow and on electric must
stay upright and on their wheels, no adding power after touchdown. Once
again, measurements will be done. Closest gets 25 points added on. If you go
past the second line of balloons, no winning measurement. 50 points off for
all broken balloons. Just like before, two points for every foot past and
one point for every foot short, rounded up at the 6 inch point. 



 Task #4


Narrowing center line



Pilot or helper will place airplane on east end of runway centerline for
takeoff. At this point the runway is 15 foot wide and narrowing to the west
end, and 12 foot wide at first row of balloons. The next row of balloons the
runway will be 8 foot wide and at runway's end, it will be 6 foot wide. The
object of this task is to start takeoff roll, at east end after passing the
second row of balloons, you may lift off and not before. Make two laps
around the field and prepare to land. On the landing rollout, come as close
to the second row of balloons without going past. As in all tasks we will
measure for the closest to the line without going past. Closest gets 25
points added on. All balloons broken, 50 points off. Same as the last two
tasks, long or short points deducted.






Read please



All pilots start with 500 points. In each task if they break balloons, 50
points off for each balloon and for each measurement deduction on the tasks
not won. A pilot may bring as many planes as he or she wants but if you
start a task with a certain plane you must finish with that plane for that
task. If at any time your motor quits or you crash, you are done for that
task, and a non complete 100 point deduction. On the narrowing runway task
#4, if you do not take off within the balloons at the designated takeoff
point, a 50 point deduction, and if you do not land between the balloons,
you are disqualified and a 100 point deduction.  At the end of all tasks the
pilot with the most points wins. Depending if other clubs join in, we will
send the top 3 pilots to the finals on August 17th.. If no other clubs
enter, there will be 4 pilots from our club who will compete on the 17th.
Our club will have its fly off on August 3rd.

We will pay the top four finishers and the top three will pick one of the
donated ARF kits. First place picks first, then second and third. Fourth
will only receive cash. Entry fee is $5, where $2 goes to the club's
treasury and the other $3 goes in the pot for the top four pilots. Plus,
Keizer RC is adding $200 more to be divided among the top 4 pilots. All
events will start at 10:00 am, weather permitting. Any questions call or
e-mail Bob Bevens at bj4648@gmail.com or call 503-393-7721. I hope to see
you there. Bob Bevens. This event is AMA Sanctioned. There is an attachment
showing runway layouts for the events.  

NOTE:  A 5th task was added for the finals on Aug 17.  For this task, there were 6 rows of balloons set up across the runway at basically 40' intervals.  A pilot rolled a die.  The number rolled determined the row of balloons that the pilot had to land his plane on.  A measurement from the spinner of the plane to the rolled row determined points deducted from his score.  I rolled a 3 which was good because it meant I had ample room before my row to land upon and rollout.  Broken balloons in lower rows were not counted.