From: "Rand Baldwin" To: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Cc: ; ; Subject: Moontown GTA Race Results Date: Monday, September 27, 2004 02:25 PM I've attached preliminary scores and .igc files for Moontown's Fall GTA race. Soaring conditions were weak, but enthusiasm and skill prevailed. The A class enjoyed(?) two official contest days and John Murphy earned 1000 points as the only B class competitor on Saturday. A class champ Dave Stevenson proved once again that it's tough to beat a U.S. Team pilot at his own game. Dave won both days, but Dieter Jaeger flew his ASW-27 spendidly to second place. Dieter flew almost exactly the same distance both days, 99.17 and 99.37 miles on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Francois made it around in the PW-5 on Saturday, but weak lift and a 15 knot headwind brought him down near the first turn on Sunday. He found a ride back to Moontown, then he and Dottie headed back to Ardmore with the trailer to retrieve their glider. On Saturday, Yours Truly accompanied pre-solo pilot Ivan Garcia as we flew the Blanik L-23 to Madison Co. Executive, then Frerichs Field, where we landed. Ivan made his first off-field landing and did a fine job. Thanks to Sam Hawkins for rescuing us with the Pawnee. HSC member Mark LaPlante joined me Sunday as we headed out on course in the L-13. Although Sunday's sky looked better than Saturday's, we found very weak lift and were not able to pass the first turn at Madison Co. Exec. We basically glided from Moontown to a landing at Madison Co. On the upside, we enjoyed the ambience and comfort of a brand new pilots'lounge while waiting for Herb's aero retrieve. On the way back, we released high near Moontown, then made an out and return to Madison Co. just to prove to ourselves that we *can* make it to the first turnpoint and get back home! Leo Benetti-Longhini joined us on Sunday and flew his beautiful new Silent 2 to the first turnpoint, then landed at Fayetteville Airport. He self-launched from Fayetteville, shut his engine down, then found lift (of course!) all the way back to Moontown. John Slifer flew his ASW-20 as an unofficial B Class competitor on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, John did not have a flight recorder, so his flight could not be scored. Thanks to the competitors, crews, tow pilots, FOOs, and others who helped make last weekend's race a success. Special kudos to the following... Saturday: FOO: JJ Malosse Tow pilot: Sam Hawkins Weatherman: Ted Mavrotheris Cookout: Charlotte Baldwin and Libby Garcia Sunday: FOO: John Slifer Assistant FOO: Stuart Venters Assistant Golf Cart Driver: James Venters Tow pilot: Herb Carr A&P: Ricky Weldon (for re-charging the Pawnee battery!) A special thanks is due George Myers, who owns and operates Moontown Airport, for his long-standing support and many-faceted contributions to soaring at Moontown. See you at Sequatchie! Rand Rand Baldwin 113 Southern Pointe Drive Madison, AL 35758 ---------------------- 256.837.5502 (home) 256.885.7878 (office) 256.656.3804 (cell) ---------------------- rand.baldwin@post.harvard.edu