Longer course at the classic.

[Kurt Bozarth]

Dan T: “Suffice” means good enough.

[MikeyD]

Drone @50ft on pylon 1

Real time video feed and records.

[GaryS]

Drone @50ft on pylon 1

Real time video feed and records.

I’ve been yelled at for breaking plastic pylons. I’d consider a drone an additional challenge!!

[MikeyD]

Probably should have clarified. Drone hovering @50ft straight up from Pylon 1 judging table.

[rocket]

Probably should have clarified. Drone hovering @50ft straight up from Pylon 1 judging table.

That’s right in Schmidt’s wheelhouse. He’ll get yelled at for sure.

[iamtom]

Disregard.

[GaryS]

Probably should have clarified. Drone hovering @50ft straight up from Pylon 1 judging table.

That’s right in Schmidt’s wheelhouse. He’ll get yelled at for sure.

50’ is pretty high, but I can make it work!

[Bob_T]

[Greg Doe]

THANK YOU!

[dwc1]

I've read through most all of this, and would like to put my thought down as well. I agree with Ray. I found it difficult to call normally at PHX. I was forever looking for lights that sometimes came on when my pilot was already back to 2. I never got in a comfortable routine. As a caller, you don't have time to stand around waiting for a light to come on. There's too much other stuff going on.

I have always been in the camp of if you cut, you should get the cut. That is what's fair to everyone involved. Your team made the mistake of turning too soon, whether it be the caller's fault, or the pilots, your team caused the problem. Everyone on here freely admits they do not use the lights to tell them when to turn, so saying you got a light is not an excuse for having cut and being awarded a cut. If you are allowed to cut because you get a light, you get an unfair advantage over other teams by being allowed to fly a shorter course.

After reading through all of the comments, there are other issues that have been defined as well, that I agree with regarding one pickle pusher being better than another. How do you standardize these issues so each lane is as fair as the next? I think Lee's on to something, but logistics are tough there.

I'm starting to think eliminating the turn lights may be the best option. This would allow you to run with 1 or 2 judges at pylon 1 just as we do for 2 and 3. The judges are there only to call cuts as they see them, and report them. Then, all 4 lanes get the same judges across the board, with the exception of the stop watch/lap counters. Makes it easier to host a race as well.

I have 2 clubs that want to host races in Texas this year. I am currently trying to work out the best dates for them. I'd be willing to be a guinea pig for running at least one of the races without pylon 1 lights to see how it works, but I don't want to negatively effect turnout. Would you be willing to come to a race without lights at 1?

[Von Der Hey]

I would definitely attend a contest that did not have turn lights. However I am biased because I have had the experience of running contests without lights. Contests with the no lights format ran much quicker with little or no conflict.
Von Der Hey.

[craigfarthing]

Lights or no lights, If there is a race in Texas, I plan on going.

Cf

[rocket]

I’ll be there too.. let’s rock some “no lights” pylon.

[RBG]

Let's do no lights and have some fun.
All for a drone over the pylons to keep all honest. Having no lights is just like practice at your field. Just my thoughts.

Bob Greer

[kane]

I've read through most all of this, and would like to put my thought down as well. I agree with Ray. I found it difficult to call normally at PHX. I was forever looking for lights that sometimes came on when my pilot was already back to 2. I never got in a comfortable routine. As a caller, you don't have time to stand around waiting for a light to come on. There's too much other stuff going on.

I have always been in the camp of if you cut, you should get the cut. That is what's fair to everyone involved. Your team made the mistake of turning too soon, whether it be the caller's fault, or the pilots, your team caused the problem. Everyone on here freely admits they do not use the lights to tell them when to turn, so saying you got a light is not an excuse for having cut and being awarded a cut. If you are allowed to cut because you get a light, you get an unfair advantage over other teams by being allowed to fly a shorter course.

Dennis, kind of talking out of both sides of your mouth here. You never got comfortable calling in PHX? Looking for lights? Why are you looking for lights if you don't use them (they don't mean anything) and what made you uncomfortable?

If you cut, you cut, you had no business looking for lights.

I don't want to argue any of this and I agree that what we have is not good.

This is all being addressed for one lane. The problem with all of this is if lane 1 is calling cuts and lane 2 is being a little loosey goosey, lights no lights doesn't matter. The problem is having it fair for all lanes.

No lights, is great for all of us that think we know what we are doing. Not sure how this helps the new guy or new caller. This is truly a tough situation. They also run no lights in Minnesota, and have forever.

DK