Stunt Handicaps

We frequently combine skill classes in Stunt Events where there is low entry.

We have always tried to fly and trophy Beginner as a seperate class. Intermediate, Advanced and Expert are handicapped thus:
Early in the year, add 100 points to Intermediate score. Add 50 to Advanced and Experts are scratch.
After the Nats, Intermediate flyers still get the 100 points, and Experts are still scratch, but we close the margin for Advanced to 25 points. Reasoning is that the Experts return to form earlier
than Advanced, and Intermediates pretty much confuse us.

Is this sound logic? We might use it more frequently if we fly Mary's semi-scale event?

See Ya

With all due respect, I have never been an advocate of handicaps when combining stunt skill classes. It's just too easy to seperate the skill classes at the tabulating booth.

Of course as you say, and for obvious reasons, Beginner is and should be flown seperatly from any combined class flying. The pattern is different, and will be scored differntly.

I like Mary's idea, but am even more in favor of the Warbird event as posted on another thread. I like the combination of scale and stunt judging.

I'm wondering why everything is spinning around?

Our Experts want 25pts bonus if they have to fly against that PW-51 Mustang guy, and it may not be enough. Our current solution is to buy a 1st place trophy for each class (7x9 solid walnut plaque from AMA for $17.25, shipped) and have Dave Gardner make fancy computer generated certificates for 2nd & 3rd, and have his friend in Colorado send us nice/cheeep frames for them from Wally's World.

At our Wright Bros. Centennial Trimming/Coaching Clinic/Contest, we just gave out Participant Certificates (they were very cool, IMHO). At that, we made about $33, after the burgers, dogs and such, with $10 entry fee. Everybody seems to like the contests/clinics/fun-flys with the free grub. I suspect it's not just the food, but the simultaneous shut-down of activity so everybody can sit and chew and chat with Danny Dirt. Steve

Got to remember, we that fly expert have two classes already.
"The PW-51additionpursuit47moonbareski" and the rest of us. Were already 50+ points behind.

Scott(like that)Riese

Steve,

I thought it was 2 Expert classes around here. The "you've won a national champioship/qualified for the Worlds" class, and the "your a local guy that was foolish enough to get too good for Advanced" class. The first has 3 or 4 guys in it and the second has the rest of us.

The only reason for handicaps for this event is due to the fact that it has never been done at our contest. I wanted to test the waters and see if we would have participation from multiple classes.

We had no beginners. I was counting on our 4-H kids to bring out their Busters, but they were not able to make it. We had 8 or 9 entrants in the combined classes.

I like Steve's idea of just 1st place trrophies and certificates for the rest. As we made the trophies anyhoo, it would not have been a problem to do certificates. On the other hand, if you are paying real entry fees, you should get a real trrrophy, Win, Place or Show.

The Warbird event is fine, but in Scale, many entries are warbirds. To open the competition, we allow any scale-like model.

I am very pleased with the new event and I think we'll repeat it next year.

Well, let me congratulate you and the club for what seems to be a great inagural showing for a new event.

Teething problems are always present, and it sounds as if you went a long way to solving many of them. I'm sure next years will be evenbetter, and enjoyed by more folks.

A tip of my hat goes to you and your helpers.

As for Warbrd Stunt, I've decidedto do something along that line in the future. Sktchy details in myrecent post to thewarbirds thread here on the forum.

I'm wondering why everything is spinning around?

I think the flyer should have to wear a blue card with a little white wheelchair on it around his neck.

Alan

AMA rulebook, Sanctioned Events, "7. Handicaps. Unless approved by AMA, scoring handicaps are prohibited." Seems to me that skill classes are a backdoor form of handicapping, so I'm not particularly upset about using a handicap system when you combine skill classes for logistic reasons. However, we should also review the rules on 'Cancellation Due to Low Entry' on page 2, just to make sure we are fair and open on what will happen at the contest.

Jim: We fly these screwball events as non-rulebook. They are fun.

See Ya