- JG300-Stoopy

- JG300-Dan736

I'm guessing that either you won the night,got taken out or ate a pylon,in that order.

Close on two out of three! I won the race, but lost the race....

My time around the pylon course and under the FOUR bridges (three of them with little teensy-weensy archways as you've seen) was apparently the best of the group. Since we all went one at a time and everyone could observe each others run, I appear to be the only one that didn't "blip" his engine when going through the bridge section...full-out all the way, go big or go home, y'know?

However, the event was timed from the start of takeoff roll to the stop of landing roll, and that's where I lost the race. We had agreed that lightly damaging your aircraft on landing, like getting a broken prop, was acceptable, however when I came in for my landing I put it down right on the money but a little too hard, bounced up, ballooned, then held the flare off trying to slow down, pancaked in from about a foot high, just enough to make her slowly tip over on her nose and end up flat on her back. Stupid, considering I shoot touch-n-goes in that damn Dr.I every other night...in hindsight I was looking for ways to bring 'er to a stop quickly, and I gambled and lost.

Of about 13 pilots, 7 finished the course, the other 6 with much better landings than mine (all upright) and 6 guys smacked the bridge, pylons or hangars during their attempt. There were no do-overs.

They were kind enough to not consider my landing a failure as stated by the rules and they went ahead and awarded me the best time and declared me the winner...however it really gnawed at me the whole rest of the day that my landing was so pathetic and not up to the standards of the other fliers who completed the course. Certainly not up to the standards of how I like to represent myself and this squad in front of others. So, I've requested to rescind my victory and that the prize and winner status be awarded to the next fastest pilot (whom I don't remember who it was).

It's the right thing to do given the very hospitable and community-oriented atmosphere over there. I'm kicking myself for not having acted sooner on that decision that evening.

Was fun though and we'll get 'em next time!