Posted on Facebook page…
Hello Race Fans!
This email report was sent out 2 days ago, but for some reason doesn't seem to have been received, and I don't know why. So here it is again with no photo this time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This report is coming to you from the Drachten airstrip in Holland (Netherlands). Your reporter is here in attendance as the Assistant Team Manager for the 2023 USA Pylon Racing Team. What am I doing here? Well with Team Canada taking a pass, I was asked by USA Team Manager Will Naemura to come & help out. The USA has one of the largest teams with three F3D (6.5cc gas powered), three F3E (electric powered) and one Junior F3D pilot. It's a big job to look after two different teams (Gas & Electric ) at the same contest. I've also been asked to write the daily "color commentary" reports much like what I've done for the previous two World Championships. My laptop has been experiencing trouble with downloading photos, so I sure hope I can get this resolved by race time.
The opening ceremony took place this morning ay 0900 outside in the pouring rain... Fortunately, the speeches were kept short! The only guy with proper footwear was Matt Fehling from Florida who wore flip flops. (He's very familiar with rain squalls).
As this first report is a test of my computer and correct email addresses, it will be brief. For a start, below is the championships schedule (now missing) . The weather report is looking grim with intermittent rain the whole week. I'm calling for F3E pilot Otto Dieffenbach and we were the only electric fliers to get is flights yesterday. Otto (being a full scale pilot) is a master of reading the rain fronts and established our presence by getting in 5 test flights in between the rain, hail & lightning. We had the F3E course to ourselves, as no one else would venture out into the wet conditions.
I just ordered a rain coat from Amazon and their one day delivery service is simply amazing. SOoo Wednesday... let the games begin!
Official practice starts today but was delayed by rain. It briefly abated & the Japanese Team went out first. It's 11:00 & a pounding rain squall now. It's hard sometimes to even hear each other inside the big tent. I expect the teams out testing will return like drown rats...poor guys, UGH! Yet we persist, because the show must go on.
Anybody wanting to be added to this list, please drop me a line. My address book shows up to 3 email addresses for some of you, so I've made a 'best guess' as to which one to use.
If you do not wish to receive these email reports, please let me know and I'll remove your name from the list.
Cheers,
Paul Assistant Team Manager , Team USA