How do you motivate people to race?

[dave]

Our club, which has a very broad based number of home built planes, seems reluctant to try any form of air racing or rally. Last fall I presented the Sport Air Racing template to the members which, at the time, was greeted with enthusiasim. Now that the snow and -30 temps are a distant memory members are reluctant to commit to a race. Any suggestions?

Dave.

[Supervee]

Hi Dave......That's hard to say....I have been interested in all forms of air racing for over 40 years, and I find that it is hard to hold even the smallest group of racing enthusiasts together even today. My experience with trying to start Supervee Air Sports proves that.
People may not realize that it does not take a P-51 or exotic Formula one to 'race'.....A few Aeronca Champs together, flying a X-C course, could be 'racing'...
Back in the '70s I flew in a couple of English Style handicap races, great, low cost fun....
Competing today for a persons 'spare' time is more difficult, with the distractions of the computer age, etc. If people realized that a 'rally' to determine the aircraft's efficiency could be had for little cash outlay, maybe they would jump in and get involved.
Perhaps a local airport cookout, with an 'out-and-back' timed 20 mile X-C rally could be organized. That may get the ball rolling.....ED

[Supervee]

Time to bring this up again...Question....Where are we going?....There is little activity any more with anything 'Supervee' related. Projects that were being worked on are now dormant, and people are not contributing to this venue, or to content in our snail mail newsletter.
After over 8 years of voluntary newsletters and OSH forums, I am now beginning to believe that we are not going to succeed. You can't push a rope, and I don't see the enthusiasm from the majority of members. What should we do? This is YOUR organization...We need a half dozen flyable Supeervees and current pilots to even think about going to airport commissions and FAA for waivers........ED

[n84tw]

Ed,
Keep the faith. There is a "vain of gold" to be found. I remember exciting times in my day with Formula V. There are like minded still to be found.

[dmar836]

I think if the burden isn't too great we keep as is(easy for me to say). Members will simply have to come alive somehow though modern technology can make us activity smart and application dumb. If the love isn't there, or the excuses too great, we can't instill it. Pushing the galkers will just frustrate you and those few who are actually working in the background. I really believe the Internet has many who were once motivated to become passified by the accomplishments of others. A few of us pushed hard and bounced back a bit. I hope those will pick back up again.
I'm sill pecking away. FB was a convenient place to post but I pretty much quit FB for many reasons including the above technology risk. About to finish the last of the right cowl bump so my wings can come off for final covering. Hope to build the engine at home this winter. Hoping it will start falling in place as the to-do list shrinks. Then it will be the "air racer frenzy" to get it up and going.
Dave

[Supervee]

Thanks Tom and Dave.....From my own view, I need to concentrate on getting the new hangar built, so I can take the Veebee and Beetlebomb out of storage and start working on them again.
Also from my own view, I need to just let other builders come to me when they are ready to compete. Dave, You have made steady progress since day one of your ownership of the V-Witt. I am grateful you are in the group. We need 5 Daves!!!
I will put out a spring Supervee Update, hopefully several builders will contribute information as to their progress. I do not know if Oshkosh and forums are in the cards for me this summer.
I remember the 'teething problems'' in the early days of Formula Vee....but they didn't last 8 years!!!!

[mhflyit]

Ed - it is easy for us to say stick with it...I'm just trying to get some flight time on 685L which is starting to get more regular. Racing sounds like a great development of flying skills and challenges but the reality is making a commitment. I was at Sebring for the historic 12 hours earlier this month and having a Supervee demo event or a gathering there next year crossed my mind. Its actually a 'cars and props' event but the props don't race! A good venue and a good opportunity to create some interest in air-racing. I really enjoy receiving your snail mail newsletter and appreciate the time and effort you put in.
Can anyone commit to being at Sebring next year? They may welcome VW related aircraft involvement.
Matt

[Supervee]

Hi Matt, Thanks for the kind words. Your idea of Sebring brought back many memories of Sebring, unfortunately, most not good. I lived for 3 years on the Sebring airport, and myself have attended two of the 12 hour auto races. I approached the airport board 10 years ago with a plan to try a FV gathering there and was flatly turned down.
If the airport authority head and manager is the same one I dealt with , there will be no way to penetrate into a venue such as what you described, The U.S. Aviation expo had great problems dealing with this situation.
Maybe things have changed since I left, and if so, You have a great idea...However, we need airplanes , pilots, tech crews , etc, before we can go to an airport authority with a plan.

[dmar836]

Once we have flyable planes showing at such events we could drop hints to the other attendees. It's those little hints that would be cumulative and eventually leak into inquiries and maybe even local interest that, with our official requests, will make it happen. I'm afraid it will be a slow process even when we have the planes ready. It will take actual members to fly or trailer their planes to such events and that will be like work.
Not trying to put out a negative tone just that it will be a lot of labor like Ed has been putting down for years.
Dave

[Supervee]

We welcome comments to Dave and Matt's comments here..........

[dmar836]

I did see a "smack talk" comment on one of the FV videos on YouTube - a fellow with an S-1(I think) that wanted to race. Don't know if he joined here.

Dave

[Supervee]

Dave, Have not seen that video, But wonder how many people we have with us any more....I am getting little feedback from people on which direction to go.
I will not be holding a forum at OSH this year unless I hear from many people.

[dmar836]

Naturally, I'd like to see one but I can't blame you. You can't keep "entertaining" others. I'd suggest we set up a meeting for lunch or some throb for those here who want to catch up.
I think without the social media stuff there would be more personal initiative. Nobody wants to show up at OSH having made no progress. Social media fills the void for many.

[mhflyit]

Ed, thank you for taking the time to produce the latest newsletter. Your commitment and enthusiasm IS infectious.
How about starting something small like a gathering of 'race planes' at a regional airshow? This could be Formula V, Sport etc. no racing but an exhibit of sorts. Or a similar informal 'race plane' gathering not associated with an airshow.
Matt

[Supervee]

Matt, Thank You. We had hoped last year at OSH and the year before that , to have Supervee racers lined up in a special row, but No airplanes were there, other than Jeffs #64, which is always parked with the Airventure Cup racers.
This whole thing starts and ends with needing to have finished flyable airplanes that can all meet up at a specific place and time, even if its just a static display, with no competition......