Fred,
Interesting idea about the pavement fund. We'll discuss it within the club. I did try to invoke a divot fee--anyone who knocked a chunk out of the pavement by smacking it hard enough with their crank should throw a buck in the pot. I got a lot of pushback on that. But we could have used that as a conversation starter for more serious repair efforts. There are other considerations in our case that would have to be worked out with the city, too.
Bill,
Actually, we've had enough "incidents' that the names keep changing and it's getting hard for me to keep up. And I don't show a Phil McCracken on our club roster, so he must be one of our "down low" flyers? The currently used nomenclature is as follows:
--Just past the preferred takeoff spot we have the "gulf of Lally." It is believed that there is still an aluminum landing gear down there...and unfortunately Jim may still be looking for it.
--Right in front of the normal landing touchdown point is Kitze's Canyon. It was the first of the aveo-fatali, crackus majorus we encountered. It became de rigueur to drop a wheel into this obstacle which was always the beginning of another gymnastics contest.
--On one side of the pilot's circle marking we have Deep Leg Ravine. Several shoes have gotten stuck, so full lace-up boots are now recommended. We hope that full hip boots will not become required in the future.
--On the other side of the pilot's circle we've come to think of it as the Lost Foot Range. Anywhere along the Great Center Divide (from Deep Leg to Lost Foot) you're at risk when you try to cross. It's somewhat akin to Death Valley--many have tried crossing it, but most regretted it, but only for a very short time
--On the backside of the circle, deep to the southwest, there is a series of (somewhat) smaller cracks that form our nacent Selpuveda Triangle. No one is sure how many airplanes have been lost in there.
Most of these monumental features of nature are now 6" wide and growing continuously, and thru the full thickness of the pavement, seemingly around 4". After packing some 20 bags (60 lb each) into the most notorious locations last year, we believe that another 100 bags might be needed.
I will note this, that the racing pilots generally can land clear of the cracks, but take higher risks along the Great Center Divide since they never just plant and rotate. The stunt pilots much more often hit the sides of the canyons a la Evel Knievel-style, with similar results. Also a factor is that racers whip by walking forward, while stunties invariably try to whip by backing up. So they have no chance of seeing the canyon they are about to fall into. One consequence is that for many who are trying to stretch the glide "out of the badlands," so to speak, is that airspeed is bled off until you get "ploppage." The ploppage has accounted for some elongated holes in the gearblocks, some sprung legs, and other mayhem.
So if you find asphalt oligarch down your way, be sure to give him our address....
Thanks!