World Champs Report?

So, here we are on Tuesday. Is there any report on progress at the WCs? Apart from hearing that the Chinese may not be there (or are not there depending on the report) and the loss of Paul's No.1 plane, I haven't heard much.

>So, here we are on Tuesday. Is there any report on progress
>at the WCs? Apart from hearing that the Chinese may not be
>there (or are not there depending on the report) and the
>loss of Paul's No.1 plane, I haven't heard much.

Just started flying today, for real. Ted was #1, no doubt as a sign of respect. Did a pretty good flight, and just barely made it on both starting points and flight time: 59 seconds and 6:57. We had to let the engine sit in the pits and it cooled off, making it take a few flips to get it going. It was a solid flight with a 2778, which as of about 45 minutes ago, was third place behind Billy and Yuri Yatsenko, and ahead of other notables such as Nogome. Paul and Rob fly tomorow. Ted and Billy are up again on Friday.

Air is moderately windy, and Ted and I were pulling for it to remain so, since he seemed to be well ahead of the game in bad air. There was some reasonably nice air in th emid-morning, but it was getting pretty brisk by the time Billy flew.

We watched some combat and team race today, and that was much more spectator-friendly. Those T/R diesels are pretty fussy little critters.

The report on the Chinese team would appear to be accurate (USENET b.s. once again proving to be just that) - they are expected late afternoon today, and the organizers are bending over backwards to accomodate them. We'll have to see how that goes over, I suppose. They missed their processing slots, and some flight slots today. The Chinese junior showed up on the steps of the AMA HQ last night at 9 pm, all by himself, and Dave Brown took him home and put him up for the night.

Brett,

Great report. I'll be anxious to hear more and hopefully to see some pictures.

So here is one.

Thanks so much Brett for taking time out of what we know is a very busy schedule, to keep us updated on affairs. I am on the edge of my seat reading your reports. The drama with the Chinese team is exciting to say the least.

Thanks again
Milton Graham\Proparc

"I don't know about this tuned pipe business. I practiced on that thing until my lips turned blue, and I still can't play a stinkin note."
"Homer J. Simpson"

>The drama with the Chinese team is exciting to say the least.

Let's just hope no one has a difficult time leaving the country - as the Kiev WC proved to be.

Hi Brett.
I am a Norwegian...
If you should happen to note how my Norwegian friend Clamer Meltzer is doing, please drop a word or two.

While it's not being there, it's great to hear the progress. I too am on the edge of my seat.

>Hi Brett.
>I am a Norwegian...
>If you should happen to note how my Norwegian friend Clamer
>Meltzer is doing, please drop a word or two.

I know Clamer, but I haven't seen him yet.

Well.. wish him luck from me if you see him...
Norvald Olsvold

YEA TEAM!!!

I just hope that the Chinese team gets into the show and that we can manage to beat them fair and square!

Go get em boys!!

Bigs

" What constitutes the dignity of a craft is that it creates a fellowship, that it binds men together and fashions for them a common language. For there is but one problem - the problem of human relations."

FWIW: At the '79 World FF Champs at Taft, CA, the Chinese had similar drama about their attendance. A fair amount of that seemed to be US$ related. They stayed at the local Motel 6, many to a room, and there was a mysterious toyota pickup truck with a gas cooker in the bed that provided meals for them in the motel parking lot. The chow was good, I heard, available for cash at reasonable prices. Another fine memory was at the banquet in Bakersfield. At least one Chinese team member was visibly staggered by the alcohol consumed, and I'm not particularly good at spotting drunks. I also speculated that they had probably never had such a big chunk of beef in one sitting... surprisingly big and good for a banquet, if a bit cold, right Dave? In Australia, in '83, there was again some question about if the Chinese team would arrive or not. They did. I believe they keep the time abroad at minimum to cut costs in foreign currency, also to reduce the exposure to other cultures, and chances for sudden disappearances. I think they will be there, fashionably late. Steve

Hi Steve,
Yep, that was a memorable banquet, one of the best - I think. Some of the details are a little, well, hazy..... We had a medal to celebrate for F1B, after all. Personally, I was celebrating my worst result in a w/champs ever.

Your'e right about the Chinese at Taft though, they had some hardship - maybe that was the first time they had entered a FF w/champs?

I do however remember buying you lots of beer as a thank you for your retrieval efforts and the use of your trail bike!

One thought about the Chinese, though. I believe that they usually select the team at pretty much the last moment - I read somewhere that once they had 2 teams at a w/champs & selected the flyers to actually compete the day before or just before processing. If they left it really late to select their team, that might explain the problem.

Wish I was there with all this excitement!
Cheers, Dave

Brett,

Thank you so much for your report!

Last I heard (8pm Muncie time from Andrew Robinson at the site) was that the Chinese were due at Muncie 9pm and would be scheduled for the next days flying.

Look here for the full e-mail message
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clnz/message/1346

A.

Hi Ash,
Can't access the message, any chance of a post or forward? - on second thoughts, if it was written by Bryce, better not to post it.
Cheers, Dave

Here's the email NOT from Bryce.......

Phil.
--------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2004 13:08:51 +1200
Hi all,

Day one is now over, it is 8pm here. Today was 30°C in the
shade & 60%. The hotel swimming pool was really great after
flying!!!!!!!

Brief Results:

F2A Speed - Rd 1 33 entries, 18 flights posted.

1. Luis Parramon Spain 295.6 km/h
2. Pete Halman UK 292.3 km/h
3. Ken Morrisey UK 286.5
4. Paul Eisner UK 286.2

10. Bill Bell NZL 278.1 km/h
18. Brian Howser NZL 261.0 km/h

F2B Aerobatics - half of Rd 1, 63 entries, 28 flights done
today

1. Serge Delabarde France 2892.5 points
2. Andre Yatsenko Ukraine 2876.0
3. Bill Werwage USA 2861.0

24. Kevin Barnes NZL 2375 points

Paul & Owen fly tomorrow, Paul is 3rd up at 8:20am

F2C Team Race - Rd 1 30 Entries, 21 times posted.

1. Shabashov/Ivanov Russia 3 min 15.9 sec
2. Surugue/Surugue France 3m 17.7s
3. Picard/Perret France 3m 17.7s
4. Yushchenko/Yugov Russia 3m 21.7s
5. ROBINSON/SUTER NZL 3m 22.4s **********

That is a Personal best and a new NZ heat record.

F2D Combat - Rd 1 61 Entries, 30 bouts today.

Chris Renton (NZL) Vs Timo Forss (Finland)
RESULT - Won by 2 cuts to 1 & ground time.

Glen Lewis (NZL) Vs Chris Wong (Singapore)
RESULT - Won by ground time.

Bryce Gibson (NZL) Vs Mike Willance (UK)
RESULT - Lost, 2 cuts all and ground time.

Mike Wilcox (USA) the defending champion was beaten in the
first round by a Frenchman who Bryce has to fly against
tomorrow.

The Chinese F2B team has landed in Indianapolis and will be
here in Muncie bu 9pm tonight. They will be processed at
6am and will be allowed to fly in the second half of round
1 of the Aerobatics contest.

Thats all from hot and sunny Muncie

Cheers, Andrew.
(NZ team manager)

More info we hope will be found at
http://www.2004clwc.org/
http://www.noclassmac.com/reports/World_Champs.htm

Phil & Brett.. Thanks for the updates. We are all on the edge of our chairs waiting for the reports.

I am glad to hear that the Chinese have made it and will be able to get the 1st round in. It will be interesting to see how they do, and the year long comments that will be made later on!

> Just started flying today, for real. Ted was #1, no
>doubt as a sign of respect.

What does this mean? Respect? I thought it was a randowm draw???? I also remember that David was one in China I think and they all said it sealed his fate. Then he drew 1 again. Bummer.

How is 1 a good thing this time?