Hi Randy,
Yes, you're right. It would be nice to go back to the original concept, but it isn't going to happen with out something else, like this challenge occurring first.
We all hashed this out several years ago, and more than once, but the last opinions expressed on the idea were, to paraphrase a little. "Well, try it out, and if it works, or is accepted, we'll consider the idea."
No one has picked up on the idea yet.
There's no reason why a group cannot have Classic at their contest with a rolling cut off date. All they have to do is spell it out in the contest notice. No one yet....
So at least Bills challenge might make someone try something to get the ball moving.
I agree with you that the fears about cookie cutter designs, or more modern designs pushing out the older classics is not really an issue. I also agree that a lot of good classic designs are out there, later designs as you've mentioned, but since there's no special venue for them to compete in, they're not being built and flown.
Having new ships show up at a classic contest is, and I hope, always should be, something to look forward to each year.
Last year, Gordy and I built a pair of All American Eagles for VSC. I have no qualms about flying mine in PAMPA classes. With a good, modern, power plant, it'll fly well enough for me to look respectable in my class, flying against modern designs. I would expect that it would do just as well against any other designs that might show up at an expanded Classic venue. I believe that many, if not most, other good currently, Classic designs will do about as well, so fear of the older designs being displaced is whooey, IMNSHO.
The challenge, is to get someone to start the ball rolling. If it works, perhaps then, we can have the vote you, and others, including myself, would like to see.