Friday July 2, 2004
Today more trailers rolled in. Some choose to rig and go fly. The blipmaps
showed it better than it was in the local area. I launched around 2 pm and
climb was slow. Almost got splashed with a full load of water but got back up.
At 10 thou headed SW towards some higher and better looking clouds. Their I
climbed to 14 thou and headed west. I headed towards a peak, maybe some of you
know that was passed by a great soaring pilot on his trip west and a story in
Soaring many years ago, " Showdown over Gila Bend ". He flew his ASW 12 a long
distance that day, today I was flying my ASW 27b. As I headed towards the
"peak",  I passed them bat caves on my right side. Now you know where I was
heading. I climbed again over the peak to almost 18 thou, then looked west and
the sky was really working. Del City was a place once visited along time ago, 
I turned and headed back towards Hobbs. After I landed I was asked where I had
gone to, they said it wasn't a turnpoint, I laughed. It maynot be a turnpoint
for our contest at Hobbs, but when WA soared over that peak many years ago on
his way to Gila Bend, it was a turning point in my life, because that day he
choose to land at his declared goal, instead of heading father west.  From that
day I learned to set goals for myself, and complete them, so, yes, today did
bring back something I had received along time ago from someone whom I did not
know at the time. So soaring does have rewards, as we all know, that we get and
will never forget, Freedom and Goals,  are just 2 of the many. Tomorrow is our
first practice day. Pilots meeting at 10 am. Blipmaps look really good. Have a
good 4th. Thermal tight, Soar high, Fly safe. # 711 reporting.


Saturday July 3, 2004 - practice
We had a 10 am brief pilots meeting and a MAT of 1.5 hrs was called for all
three classes. The task distance was from 65 miles for Sports to 100 miles for
Standards and 125 miles for 15 meter. Out towards the west rode them very high
clouds with the chance of buildups later in the day. Lift was forcasted to be 5
to 7 kts to 10 thou AGL. We grid at 1 pm with takeoffs shortly their after. SP
and # 711  both thought they had grided towards the back of the grid, and were
the first 2 out their. All the others grided behind us, and SP and # 711 ended
up the first to launch with both 27's being loaded to the gills with water. Ya,
we circled for just alittle while in weak lift before it started to kick off. 
All classes had good flights, and after landing we were treated to a cookout by
the US Team Junior members putting on the party. These young folks are great
and its good to see them growing up in this sport. During dinner winds and yep
rain, it rained, came down for a short period and then we headed over to the
pilots meeting at 7:30 pm. It went well with the contest personel putting on a
good meeting. I know your wondering how fast we went today, and I could tell ya
somebody really blew the doors off, but your just have to wait till the scores
are posted on the SSA web site. Remember its just practice, so the real thing
starts tomorrow. Someone ran 91 mph over 146 miles. And I am not telling who.
But that 12 kt thermal to 15 thou was really great. On the safety talk tonight
we spoke of ELT's, strobe lights and O2. along with drinking plenty of water.
Keep those things in mind when you go fly. Thermal tight, Soar high, Fly safe.
# 711 reporting.


Sunday July 4, 2004 - day 1
Pilots meeting at 10 am went well. Grid time is 12 noon with pilots meeting at
12:15 at front of grid. Tasks...Standard is a MAT with a 2 hr min. of 150
miles. Turnpoints are Plains, Brownfield,  Seminole. # 927 wins the day at a
speed of 77 mph. 15 Meter is a MAT with a 2 hr min of 190 miles with turnpoints
at Crossroads, Brownfield, Seminole. # 711 wins the day at 82 mph. Sports is a
TAT of 1.5 hrs min of 125 miles with turnpoints at Lovington, Plains and
Seminole, Turnpoint radius is 10 miles for the turnpoints. 2BK wins the day at
a speed of 78 mph. The Standards and 15 meters had a big problem and that was a
giant thunderstorrn over Brownfield. Some were able to get into the turn,
others came home early and then we had several landouts who didn;t make it.
This was a dry airmass, so the storm was a surprize to all, as it blew up very
quickly, Some reported closs final glides from Seminole, several had rolling
finishes.  Tonight we had a BBQ and just finshed watching the fireworks display
that Hobbs is famous for. Charlie Spratt is not here for this contest. So I
will try and keep you updated the best I can. Thermal tight, Soar high, Fly
safe. # 711 reporting.


Monday, July 5, 2004 - day 2
I think we have about 25 or so in both the Standard and 15 Meter Classes. Well,
we had 12 landouts coming out of Big Springs, I think 7 were at the Maybe
Ranch. Everyone is accounted for , thats good news. I saw 3 that made it around
in Standard, speed of about 58 mph. The Standards and 15 Meters were given the
same task at the last minute. With Big Springs and then Jal as turnpoints. It
was a 2.5 hr. TAT with Big Springs at 10 mile radius, and Jal at 20 miles.
Going towards Big Springs was good, but about 25 miles out fron the turn radius
the airmass changed and we saw ourselves gliding down to a much lower and
weaker cloud base. Like from 14 thou down to maybe 5 thou. Ya, yikes, and the
leg back to Jal was into the wind. Double yikes. It took time, so much time and
if you pushed alittle to hard you would miss a 2 knoter and the places to land
are  a tripple yikes. ZL, Dave Leonard did a great job by going North after he
made his turn at Big Springs where he found the going alittle easier. Like a 3
knoter. Dave won the Day in 15 Meter with a speed of 72 mph over 217 miles.
What Dave doesn't know is the Alien has appeared in Hobbs, This guy is green
and sits in your cockpit over nite. Dave will wake him in the mornin, cause""
the Alien be with him"". Our CD is also the scorer and the sniffer. Hes working
around the clock and maybe I can get more scores to you shortly. The NSF Pawnee
ate a valve so we are down to 4 tow planes. Jo Ann Ditter is doing a great job
and tonite the ladies put out free ice cream for everyone.  Folks, it was a
hard day with many of us low over unlandable terrain and it was hot, very hot
in the cockpits. You had to be patient and when we finally got back to the
other airmass, things Ka Boomed to 15 thou and the final glide home was done
with very few bumps. Several landed out at Enuice, and Lea County Airports
because of a wind shift that caught the final glide short because it changed
from a tailwind to a head wind. Yikes, yikes, yikes. Thermal tight, Soar high,
Fly safe, # 711 reporting.


Tuesday, July 6, 2004 - day 3
Today was a struggle to get up to 4000 agl for the start. Thermals were choppie
and the lift in the Hobbs area was simply lousy. A MAT for all classes was
called with Jal the first turn, but that was changed to Seminole as the first
turn for all classes. Sports got a 2.5 hr time, Standard was 3 hrs. and 15
Meter was 2.5 hr. Sports lauched first followd by Standard then 15 Meter, First
launch was around 1:30 pm as I said it wasn't booming. Everybody hangs on and
no relights. Large gaggles go out on course. We have to glide to Seminole for
the clouds. As soon as we get thier, lift comes good, bases go to 11 thou, and
now we are havein fun. After Seminole as the first turn people part their ways.
GW runs hard and wins the day in 15 Meter. But Steve Lenoard flying his Zuni
does a great job and comes in 3rd. Hes heard saying" only if he had a 27".  All
get home in all classes, and I believe that scores are getting posted on the
SSA web site. Tonight  big storms surround Hobbs, and alot of folks are putting
back thier gliders in the boxes. 3 days down, so we have a contest, but 4 days
to go. The line ops is running smooth, with the average time the towplane says
on the ground is about 75 seconds. Fast turns. It was hot today, alot of
moisture in the air. After Seminole I ran straight to Andrews without turning,
but when I turned to head abck to Denver city, them clouds disappeared and
getting back up in choppie lift caused problems, not only for me but others,
Some said the thermals were one sided, one side strong up, the other was
sheared.  We will see what tomorrow brings, but tonight we have a light show
going on outside.The green Alien is crusing the ramp tonight, where he ends up
" The Alien will be with them." Thermal tight, Soar high, Fly safe, # 711
reporting.


Wednesday, July 7, 2004 - day 4
Well, what the blipmaps have been saying and what has been happening are too
different things. The last several days it hasn't been anything like the
forcasts the blipmaps have been giving. We started launch at a little after 1
pm. Our tasks were for good soaring conditions. Well, the tasks were changed in
the air as we had relight, and we could only get to 8 thou MSL. Lift was broken
and choppie, winds were to be light and they were out of the south at 15 to 20
kts. When the task were changed they became a MAT of 2.5 hrs with Plains as the
first turn. When the start openned it was dead silent as no one headed out on
course. When the lift would cycle you would sink down back into 100 degree
cockpit temps and start another slow climb. Well, around 2:20 people started
out on course. Climbs were slow, and yep, you guessed it. A very large overhang
starts drifting in from the West, very fast.  Soon the contest area is without
sunlight, some land outs start and some just come home early. Like over a hour
early, with final glides and rolling finishes. Some of us make it to a edge of
sunlight and just hang on till things bake off again. This shakes up the
standings, so tonight this is what we have after 4 contest days.  In Sports
class, VA is 1st, LY is 2ond, BAD is 3rd, Z is 4th.  Standard Class, 927 is
first, 9L is 2ond, 1X is 3rd, V2 is 4th and 9U is 5th.  15 Meter, # 711 is 1st,
ZL is 2ond, 7F is 3rd., MD is 4th, BV is 5th. The top point spread is close, so
we 2 days to go. Tonight we had a cookout and it was very good. The SSA office
staff came over and put it on for us. The weather has not been what has made
Hobbs famous as a race site, but the racing we are having is a real test of
soaring skills,  rule knowledge and when to start along with where to go. We
have had all MAT's so far with only one TAT. I guess the old P.O.S.T. is still
alive when the CD and advisers cann't think of a area to race in. They have
been trying hard, very hard to come up with tasks, but it seems within a few
hrs the weather changes and all the plans just splash. Thermal tight, Soar
high, Fly safe. # 711 reporting.


Thursday, July 8, 2004 - day 5
At the pilots meeting today, the CD pushed back grid time to 12:30 and the
pilots meeting in the front of the grid to 12:45. This is a big help to all as
we do not launch so early and grind around for several hours with 100 degree
cockpit heat before the start. Yesterday the high alitude was around 8500 msl,
only a few got to 9500 msl. And its not mich cooler up their.  Nascar racers
have cool suits and they only go for several hours. We have been going with the
practice day now for 6 days and this heat and gridding early is wearing
everybody down.  Regionals in my thought are not a Nationals. and a rest day
should be put in them rules somewhere, someday.  Todays weather sounds like
this place could really boom this afternoon as we are sitting under a low
pressure. Again, this is a test for all the folks here as this is not normal
Hobbs weather. I guess as I sit here in the cool of my Land Yacht I might be
just needing to cool down and just understand some days are just like this. 
Some folks have emailed me about all the penalties given out. I won't comment
on these as its best that I don;t. But that green alien could be coming up with
a big brick if it continues and what you don't want is " the  Green Alien
against you."  I will post more tonight. Thermal tight, Soar high, Fly safe. $
711 reporting.

Launch was pushed back till 1:45 pm. Lift was light and the cd, errrr the
sniffer whos the CD, was not climbing well. The task for Standards and 15 Meter
were changed to a MAT of 2 hrs. with Tatum as the first turnpoint. 927 is in
first place in Standards with a flight around 148 miles at 58 mph. In 15 Meter
ZL, Dave Lenoard is in First, 711 is in second and MD in 3rd. Some landouts as
final glides were hard on several folks due to the late starts and the day was
not the best. Lift toppped around 8000 msl and 3 kt climbs were average. Heres
something you need to write down, thats your start times. Cause I reset by
accident my IPAQ, and I thought I started at 3:28. But I started at 3:20, and
came home at 5:31, which is 11 minutes over on a 2 hr task. Which costs you big
time, errr, speed that is. I will write it down next time, all the time.  The
Sports had Abannoed which is 11 miles away as their first turn with a 1.5 hr
window. Again, with the landouts I didn't see any scores as of yet, they should
be posted on the SSA web site real soon. The SSA office says they are getting
alot of emails about nothing being posted on this great racing site. Well, its
best to let them know how your feeling. Some of the penalties were changed from
the first 2 days, now things are running smoother. Bill Hill, Mr. Z, had a
start gate penality the first day and now thats been changed and he got his
points back. Oh, Mr. Z, he landed out today. Yep, watch out for that green
alien, cause he will get ya. He was last seen on the flag pole overnite
drinking a brewster. Hey, thats whats told me. Someone said he was seen leaving
Wal Mart, and he was somewhere else, something about web cams and places they
are put. So you Standard class guys and girls need to keep a eye out. Cause "
The Green Alien maybe with you " in a few weeks. Thermal tight, Soar high, Fly
safe, # 711 reporting.


Friday, Jyly 9, 2004 - day 6
The weather, like it has been changing and changing. Today we grid again at
12:30. Pilots meeting at 12:45 at the front of the grid. Bob D. lands the
towplane after a climb to 8 thou msl. The pressure has increased a 1/2 inch and
thiers a big inversion. The task was set to a AST to Wink and then bacl to
Tatum. The wind is blowing about 15 or so from 165. A SSE wind, The CD and
advisors go back to the shack after a suggestion of a TAT to Tatum and then
Andrews with turn radius of 20 miles for the FAI Classes. They come back at
1:15 and announce the task as that one. with a 2 hr window. The sniffer is
launched and shortly after.1:55 the tows start. The Sports class is on a TAT
also with Lovington and then Seminole with 8 mile radius. The Winner for the
day is Z with a speed of 46 mph. The 1st pace winner for Sports Class is BAD,
W. Kaewert, in a Nimbus 2.  In Standard Class, the daily winner is 927. The 1st
place winner for Standard Class is 927, G. Willat, Discus 2AX  The 15 meter
daily winner is # 711 with a speed of 52.5 mph. The 1st pace winner for 15
Meter is ZL, Dave Lenoard, ASW 27. The leg from Hobbs to the turnpoint Tatum
for the FAI classes was pretty straight forward, climbs of 4 kts to 8500 msl.
But when you turned and headed to Andrews it was into the wind and took along
time which knocked down speeds. Tonight we had the awards and dinner party. Now
this was good, I mean really good. Alot of folks showed up and this is good for
our sport. The contest went well considering the weather, which was more like
Kanas as I was told by one Zuni driver. Never have we gone so long with so few
clouds in a contest at Hobbs. Now about that green alien. This is what has been
told to me from a source, he was last seen in a port=a =pottie on the truck
ramp, something about he was excited as he had found a tub of babe ruths, and
was installing a web cam to protect his pot of gold. So you all be careful as "
The green alien could be a snickering when your watering." Thermal tight, Soar
high, Fly safe. # 711 reporting.


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