Author Topic: Contest Preferences; Feedback Please (Read 2585 times)

Brian Massey · « **on:** February 12, 2012, 10:24:40 AM »

When flying at a contest, what type of surface do you prefer; grass, or a hard surface such as asphalt or concrete? I’m looking at possible alternate sites for the Golden State and thought a poll of sorts might help me. The choices would be limited to:

1. Everyone flies on asphalt (Sorry Beginners)
2. Everyone flies on grass (Sorry Experts)

So far I haven’t found a site that would offer both options. This is my first serious involvement in a stunt contest, so feel free to add whatever comments you might like. Be warned, “I’ll be back” . . . with more questions.

Current status of the 2012 Golded State Stunt Championships can be found at: http://www.californiacarclubs.com/gssc.htm

Brian

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2012, 12:18:42 PM »

i guess I would prefer a well groomed grass circle from the stand point that it is a bit cooler when flying in the summer months. I would venture to say that most experience fliers would say the same thing, with the exception being for those with a model with wimpy landing gear. Beginners have the usual fear of pavement because they thing the grass will be more forging in a crash but that ground can be just as hard as pavement in the summer. The results will be interesting to see, and I'll bet it will be grass being favored by a heavy margin.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Bill Little · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2012, 01:28:19 PM »

The actual surface doesn't matter much to me. As long as it is very smooth and no problems in take offs and landings. A good grass site can be as good as a paved site. Well I "might slightly prefer a paved site but not by much.

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

Terrence Durrill · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2012, 01:33:08 PM »

I will take a grass flying surface any time, any place. A grass surface has been my favorite for 58 years, having started this great hobby in 1953. Why change now?

Larry Fernandez · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2012, 02:06:28 PM »

Paved.

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

Brett Buck · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2012, 02:08:26 PM »

Quote from: Brian Massey on February 12, 2012, 10:24:40 AM

When flying at a contest, what type of surface do you prefer; grass, or a hard surface such as asphalt or concrete? I’m looking at possible alternate sites for the Golden State and thought a poll of sorts might help me. The choices would be limited to:

1. Everyone flies on asphalt (Sorry Beginners)
2. Everyone flies on grass (Sorry Experts)

I would prefer pavement, but *well-groomed* grass on a good underlying surface would be just as good.

Brett

RC Storick · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2012, 02:22:37 PM »

Not that I am coming so my opinion doesn't count for much. I like pavement but wouldn't bitch to flying off a putting green.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2012, 02:25:50 PM »

Quote from: Dan McEntee on February 12, 2012, 12:18:42 PM

i guess I would prefer a well groomed grass circle from the stand point that it is a bit cooler when flying in the summer months.

The contest is in late October.

dankar · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2012, 04:03:36 PM »

Pavement no dew from grass in mornings. Any junk on field can be spotted easily. Better roll out etc. You can use narrow lite wheels/pants etc. Gee back in 53 did they even have pavement??

Nice close cut grass field is cooler and more comfortable. Contest.... pavement goes to head of the class.
Dan

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2012, 04:37:50 PM »

Grass...well groomed grass has been a fixture at the Golden State Meet for years...admittedly some years it is more well groomed than other years but none the less, I hope that doesn't change.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2012, 05:03:06 PM »

Quote from: dankar on February 12, 2012, 04:03:36 PM

Pavement no dew from grass in mornings. Any junk on field can be spotted easily. Better roll out etc. You can use narrow lite wheels/pants etc. Gee back in 53 did they even have pavement?? Nice close cut grass field is cooler and more comfortable. Contest.... pavement goes to head of the class.
Dan

We have the vast majority (if not all of) the local contests including Golden State, on grass. I suggested that given the outstanding conditions of the 600x600 pad in Muncie, that we move the contest down there because it was cooler. But in October in California it's not much of a problem for heat - chances are about 25% that it will be 52 degrees and raining, otherwise, it will be 75-80 degrees, clear, and dead calm.

The problem with grass is that getting the kind of grooming you need on a temporary site has proven very difficult at times. You have, generally, a lot better chance with pavement being acceptable and not tearing up the airplanes. Worse comes to worse, it's a little broken up and you have to blow it off with a leaf blower or hire a street sweeper.

Brett

Howard Rush · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2012, 06:14:13 PM »

Perhaps a more important consideration is price. I'd rather have free pavement than $500 Clovis North grass.

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2012, 06:20:44 PM »

Pavement/blacktop is my first choice. A putting green is a close second.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2012, 08:04:04 PM »

Quote from: Howard Rush on February 12, 2012, 06:14:13 PM

Perhaps a more important consideration is price. I'd rather have free pavement than $500 Clovis North grass.

I wonder if anyone would be interested in maybe $400 Mission College pavement.

Brett

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2012, 10:07:19 PM »

I kinda like Clovis, don't care much about grass or pavement. Wouldn't mind Gilroy, either. How many circles would there be on the pavement in Santa Clara? Four would be nice, 3 minimum? Any chance of a Muni Airport, like Shafter?

Steve

Brian Massey · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2012, 10:45:11 PM »

Quote from: Steve Helmick on February 12, 2012, 10:07:19 PM

I kinda like Clovis, don't care much about grass or pavement. Wouldn't mind Gilroy, either. How many circles would there be on the pavement in Santa Clara? Four would be nice, 3 minimum? Any chance of a Muni Airport, like Shafter? Steve

Steve; For some reason I really thought your prime concern would be the availability of hot dogs.

Brian

Larry Fernandez · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2012, 10:51:22 PM »

Quote from: Brett Buck on February 12, 2012, 08:04:04 PM

I wonder if anyone would be interested in maybe $400 Mission College pavement.

Brett

Mission college would be great.
I cant help but wonder how nice it would be to set up a contest at Moffat Field. The base has almost become a ghost town with a lot of open pavement.
Just thinking out loud.

Larry, Buttafucco Stunt Team

Howard Rush · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2012, 11:03:31 PM »

Most anywhere in California is fine with me, but the SoCal guys worry about not having snow tires or something, so not many of them will go north of Fresno. I'd look into Castle AFB.

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #18 on:** February 13, 2012, 12:58:49 AM »

At Brodak there are asphalt (or is it concrete) take off pads. Sometime there's a need to hop it off, inelegant, then there is the need to miss the pad, or hit the pad near the beginning, when sticking a landing. The rest of the circle is leveled and groomed grass. Nice thing about grass is that generally if you loose it, even from 65' up, the engine stays in once piece. I guess the best judgement of landings and takeoffs requires smooth asphalt.

peabody · « **Reply #19 on:** February 13, 2012, 05:59:20 AM »

I prefer SMOOTH pavement....but grass is okay too.....
The concrete pads ala Brodak and GSCB work for takeoff, but become issues (tearing landing gear off) if hit while landing.

The Smith Brothers contest via the Tampa Bay Wire Flyers had beautifully manicured circles, one with a concrete pad and the other all grass....about as close to "putting green" as I have ever seen....

I think smooth is the key....

Have fun!