I have a surprise!!

[Peashooter]

Re: I have a surprise!!

Oh man Alisobob, you just opened a can of worms! IMO, standardization in a cutting edge environment kills innovation. I went to the Indy 500 15 years straight -- until IRL came around and mandated motors and chassis choices.

Secretive development and incremental leaps in perfromance are what it's all about in my book.

Teams don't share innovation because they want their ideas to prove superioir in use. They want to drink the champagne, to be the big kahunas, to stand ALONE in the winner's circle. Once their innovations are known, then it's up to the competitors to equal and surpass the best guy's work -- if they can.

Comapre the work that's gone into Reno unlimited racers over the last 20 years and the quantum leap in qualification and race speeds. If you didn't have private, proprietary innovation, there wouldn't be a Tiger vs. Lyle, or a Dago vs. the world at Dago's peak.

On a grander scale, sharing vs singular, proprietary innovation can be compared analogously to capitalist vs. socialist societies. Who won the cold war? Where would you rather live?

Give me the freedom to create, innovate and win in the private sector, anyday! If I have to share my work right away, I have a huge dis-incentive thrown on my efforts. (Ah heck, let's go drink vodka, instead!)

Next...

[AlisoBob]

Re: I have a surprise!!

Who said anything about curbing creativity?

All I'm saying is when Kerch ( or some one like him) walks by , takes a look, and says:

" If thats the size of ADI solenoid your going to run, you better run 4 of them to get the right amount of flow area"

That could mean the difference of someone running 470, or sitting the weekend out.

Go to Bonneville, very similar to Reno... Very specialized machines running at top performance, once a year, costing a fortune to win nothing but bragging rights..

Those guys are all over each others cars...

Reno could learn something.

[Peashooter]

Re: I have a surprise!!

I sailed competitively for many years and there were two choices: 1) custom designs set against a "rule" (e.g., America's Cup measurement rules); and 2) One Design racing where all boats, sails, etc. were normalized. The latter relies on raw steering, boat handling and tactical talent -- in theory. But even in one design, the class bosses have to stifle innovation via tight class rules on materials, etc. There's good close racing in the Olympic racing classes (e.g., 470s), but the real excitement is in the new and innovative found in the custom classes. You would be amazed at how technically advanced sailboat racing is -- and there's no prize money at all, only bragging rights.

The innovations do eventually find their way to the open market, but after someone has expended personal resources to "beat the other guys."

I understand your point about mutuality at Bonneville. But there, it's more about all teams pushing the absolute limits, and doing so safely. That latter point is the key to the mutuality you describe. It's there in sailboat racing too, but usually only when a guy goes overboard at night -- the competitors close by drop out and lend to the search to save lives.

[Model44]

Re: I have a surprise!!

No offense Bob but you are trying to take the competition out of very competitve people. Eventually all secrets are learned but part of winning is having the innovation and the crew to take you there.

I think that most of air racing isn't seen in the week that we spend at the races. The most important part is during the rest of the year.

No, they aren't competing for enough money to cover their costs but they are still competing. To be able to say that you have a team that is smart enough to put together a racer and have it last throughout the week is saying something.

I personally don't want to see a softer, gentler side to air racing. If anything I want to see more competition. If anything competition spurs more innovation.

Nick

[AlisoBob]

Re: I have a surprise!!

If anything I want to see more competition. If anything competition spurs more innovation.

Nick

A 3350 Bearcat, vs. a 3350 Seafury, a 3350 Yak on alcohol vs. a 4360 Fury, vs. 4 different Mustangs all running over 460+ IS competition.

Watching ANY racer go out there , Willy / Nilly, blow their stuff up and ground loop out and sit until next year isnt.

All the "innovation" in the world wont pack the stands.... close racing will.

Empty stands = Everyone loses.....

[Mluvara]

Re: I have a surprise!!

2. Everyones plane is so different and unique.... not much could be transfered , even if you wanted to.

Not quite. There's a lot of things that do transfer over. Some obvious and some hidden. But I've been told by many that even if you they see it, some will still copy it wrong...

If Kerch wanted, and was allowed, to work on EVERYONES plane..... I GUARANTEE that the compitition would be much closer ( everyone would be between 460 and 490) and WAY fewer maydays would be called.

Kerch will be the first to candidly tell you that it isn't him who makes an airplane win. It's the crew and talented people behind the effort. A pretty profound statement in life is that some of the most successful people in life aren't those that do all the work themselves. Not that they couldn't. But they are successful because they can recognize, manage, and harness talent that works cohesively together towards a common goal. There are quite a few examples of this at Reno.

Having a fast airplane is one thing. Being able to keep on top of the engine, systems, and package is another... They are quite time consuming.

Michael

[kiwiracefan]

Re: I have a surprise!!

I believe the 3350 powered yak would be Mr Awesome/Red Heat, more info here, http://www.aafo.com/racing/news/rheat.htm

[AlisoBob]

Re: I have a surprise!!

My point was that you can have all kinds of diversity, and still have great racing if everything is running strong and clean.

Kerch is allot of things... one of them is humble.

Yes, a great crew is needed to win, but they must listen to the one calling the shots.

Kerch is the 'Patton" of Reno..... Can win with any platform, and get the best effort from any crew.

nuff' said...