Credit where it's due

The man is too humble to toot his own horn but I think credit should be given where it is due.

Last week-end our friend Brett Buck for the first time in a head to head, no holds barred, even steven shoot-out with his two Bay Area multiple Walker Cup winning competitors, came out on top.

At the Woodland/Davis Flying Club's annual Stunt Contest Brett decisively won both rounds of the expert competition making both current Nats Champ David Fitzgerald and past Nats Champ yours truly follow him to the winner's podia.

Although I never like to lose, this particular loss was kind of different. For many years now Brett has been working his you know what off to break through the virtual stranglehold on Northern California contests that David and I have held for, literally, a couple of decades or more. That his perserverence and talent have finally been validated "in the lists" is a tribute to those skills and his unwillingness to say "it can't be done".

It's probably not my place to be "proud" of Brett...but I am.

Ted Fancher

p.s. This does not, of course, mean he's gonna be allowed to do so again!

Buck 1, Fancher/Fitz 1000,

Doesn't really surprise me much. I have told Mr. Rocketeer before elsewhere he could take the Walker and the WC too someday if he just just believes in himself and his abilities enough.
I'm just a Sport flier dude, and don't care about competition PA, so nobody listens to me anyway. Oh well...
Enjoy it Rocketeer.

JK

>I have told Mr. Rocketeer before
>elsewhere he could take the
>Walker and the WC too
>someday if he just just
>believes in himself and his
>abilities enough.

Luckily he's been practicing too.

All the practice in the world won't do you any good if you don't first have the mental attitude that you are going to come out on top, no matter what the rest of the world thinks of you.

Congratulations, Brett. It ain't because the other two are slacking off. I saw them at the Nats, and they were awesome.

Always taught that it's harder to be a "good loser" than a "good winner." Unfortunately with the little league teams I played on, the latter didn't happen often. Anyway, great to see someone praise another flyer. Good luck to you all.

KOOL....Ted great post. You guy's down south are so fun to be around. I hope that we'll get to see you and the NW Regionals next year. Progress is going very well for the Albany Oregon site. Hay Brett..not rocket science......lol

>Congratulations, Brett. It ain't because
>the other two are slacking
>off. I saw them
>at the Nats, and they
>were awesome.

Them guys is pretty tough, alright. I think this falls into the "even a blind pig finds an acorn" category. Ted had flown about 6 different airplanes that weekend, and David was trying to keep track of Eric all day. I hadn't slept in a few days, so I had the advantage of being so tired I didn't "overthink".

But I'm not gonna give the trophy back...

Nice going Brett!

I knew you could do it after watching just one of you flights at the 98 Nats. Now it's time to make that 1/1000 ration a little closer to 1. Just go do the same thing in Oct at the Cal State contest. (But sleep just a little more!) By the way, did Paul make it to Woodland? Hope he is overcoming his experience well.

> By the way,
>did Paul make it to
>Woodland? Hope he is overcoming
>his experience well.

Yes, Paul was there. It was his first outing since he left the hospital. He did alright, and even flew. Had to keep the sun off, and he got tired pretty early, but he made it through.

What happened to Paul? Whatever it was, I'm glad he's OK.
Nils

Nils,

I will E-Mail you the sordid story!

Nils,

I'm having trouble with my E-Mail getting out right now.
Essentially, Paul was seriously burned and his wife Evelyn was killed when they drove off the road in thick smoke into a brush fire that someone had carelessly started along the road in front of them.

>>Essentially, Paul was seriously burned and his wife Evelyn was killed when they drove off the road in thick smoke into a brush fire that someone had carelessly started along the road in front of them.<<

This is aweful. I hadn't heard anything about this. I'm saddened to hear about Paul's wife.

Brett,

From a rank beginner to a proven expert - congratulations!

Don't underestimate your accomplishment - you and those like you help ensure the survival and growth of the hobby (sport) by giving hope to those of us just starting out that with hard work and dedication, it is possible!

Kudo's, and don't "Buck" the trend! (sorry, I can't help myself sometimes...)

Brett,

Hey, I've seen you fly many times and even had the privilege of judging you once. No big surprise you're in the "Company of Giants". Just shows you what talent, hard work and, <cough>, sticking to a design can do.

Way to go Brett! Your dedication to the sport is paying off. It's nice to read a post about somebody "breaking" through. Most of us have hopes and dreams of doing the same.

Congratulations Brett on your contest win! I would also like to take this opportunity to thank You, Ted, & David for helping my son Jon trim out his Medic at the nats.It was hot, and you could have been practicing with your own plane ,but you took the time to help a 9 year old. Thank You!

Jim DeYoung

>I would also like to
>take this opportunity to thank
>You, Ted, & David for
>helping my son Jon trim
>out his Medic at the
>nats.It was hot, and you
>could have been practicing with
>your own plane ,but you
>took the time to help
>a 9 year old. Thank
>You!

You're welcome! I actually enjoy doing stuff like that more than flying in the contest.