It was brought up in the rules discussion under the BOM. Why have the age classes if there are so few Juniors/Seniors? I am old enough and lucky enough to have gotten to attend a couple of the Navy sponsored NATS. If not for the barracks I would not have been able to afford to attend. Even meals on base with a work hanger to stash your stuff. Even as late as the 80's when my son and a friend were competing if not for me they had no where to stay and get back and forth to the contest site. It seems that at the AMA wanted to increase the JR/SR participation they would come up with something. The only ones you see at the NATS came with parents or friends that also compete. The college dorms are a little bit of drive from the National Flying Site. The circles are also spread out all over the place. With no place to stay or transportation how do the young ones get around or stay?
I sit here now and wonder if there was a place for the Jr/Sr's to stay and keep their equipment as well as transportation, how many would come to a NATS just for them? Don't know how many we have nationally they fly local contests as it seems most are set up for us old people to begin with. Even when my son and several other youngsters were competing, it was the racing events. I often dream of having a place where I could put up say 50 to a 100 youngsters with some adult help and fly whatever CL events they would love to fly. The circles would be just a short walk from the sleeping and eating quarters. Imagine a week of nothing but CL from sun up to sun down for the young people. If not for Brenda and Melvin Schuette I would have missed a lot of Nationals with the cost of motels, food and gasoline. But, until the older people start thinking in terms of getting youngsters to fly and compete it is still a dream.
