U.S. Scale Masters TP3 Testing

Greetings,

I attended my first qualifier this weekend at the '49er Scale Masters Qualifier at Woodland/Davis and very much enjoyed the experience.  A special thanks to the CD Jeff Lovitt, the judges and the members of the host club for running the event.  It was especially nice to meet some of the people that I had only previously known through this forum.  I also learned a lot and will be better prepared for the next qualifier.

At this qualifier I entered the Advanced Class and did not qualify.  This morning I was considering whether at the next Qualifier I should enter ProAm/Pro, or possibly take two planes and enter both Advanced and ProAm/Pro.  At least one contestant at the '49ers Qualifier entered both Advanced and ProAm/Pro, so this also seems to be an option.  Except, I just happened to glance at the 2013 Competition Guide and it states on Page 6, Paragraph 4, "Contestants may enter the ProAm/Pro category provided they have not previously competed in Expert, Team Scale, or Advanced."  Having now once competed in the Advanced Class at a Qualifier, am I forever barred from entering Pro/Am Pro?  In case anyone is wondering why I entered the Advanced Class at my first qualifier, it is because I built my own plane and wanted to experience the full static judging. 

-Ed B.

Ed I have confirmed with Mike Peck that Pro Am Pro is open to all contestants. So that means that yes you can compete in both if you like or at least that is how it was explained to me. Not sure why the guide says this and looks like it may need an amendment.

Mike Peck thoughts?

Randy

Hi Randy,

It was nice to see you this weekend.  Despite my lackluster result, I still a good time and am not discouraged.

Nice to hear that the ProAm/Pro Class may be more open than stated in the rules.  I also wondered whether the intent was for the prohibition to apply only at the Championships and not at qualifiers, but the prohibition is in the section that describes the Qualifying process, so it wasn't clear.

Cheers,

-Ed B.

I do know that two entry fees will go with it though. I am sure that Mike will give us an official reply. I am glad that you are still with us. I think some less rolling resistant wheels in your case would of helped you a bunch. First contest new plane you still did well don't beat yourself up too much.

Randy

Hi Ed,

I think you are working with a slightly older version of the guide. We just recently made a chance to that, which had been overlooked in the initial discussion of changing Open to Pro/Am Pro.  Sorry for the confusion.  You might want to download the guide again to make sure you have the newest.

Glad you had a good time.. spread the word!

From the qualifier standpoint, it is up to the local club on handling entry fees. 

At the championships, this would be the first year the someone would be able to enter in more than 2 categories beyond team being one of them.  But for the champs, depending on your membership level,  Non member $65.00, Classic is $25.00 and Champion is $0 for fist entry, each entry after is $25.00.  Should prove interesting. 

Based on the way things are now...  You could (based on if you qualify in those classes) You could enter in:
Expert - Team - Pro/Am Pro
Adv - Team - Pro/Am Pro

See-ya
Mitch

Hi Mitch,

I indeed had an outdated version of the rules.  I didn't realize that another version was published in April.  The description of the classes is much clearer to me.

I also received my new member package in the mail.

Thanks,

-Ed B.

Thanks Mitch

Good..

Not a problem.. hear to serve!.. Just ask Curtis... hahaha

I wish I could have gotten to this reply a bit sooner, but things have been hectic lately.  I don't know about an "official" comment from me, but I can tell you that Pro/Am Pro was considered a true open class which anyone can enter when it was discussed by committee personnel that established the new 2013 qualification scoring criteria. And while there have been concerns by some individuals in committee (and some ScaleMasters officers) that this might result in so-called trophy hogging by the better pilots competing in Expert, Team, or Advanced, the overriding need was felt to be to insure this year's Championships have a decent turnout so that the ScaleMasters program does not slip into irrelevancy.  Thus the Guide was written to allow Pro/Am Pro to be an open entry event and that includes the Championships.

The good news is, that if this becomes a problem that a lot of members do not like, the Guide can be modified in the future.  Hopefully we will keep an open mind and see how it goes at the Championships at Davis without too much commotion.

Mike

.....written to allow Pro/Am Pro to be an open entry event....

What's meant by "open entry event"?

No restrictions on acft type or pilot skill/experience.

So:

Based on the way things are now...  You could (based on if you qualify in those classes) You could enter in:
Expert - Team - Pro/Am Pro
Adv - Team - Pro/Am Pro