Re: This is Air Racing???
Like many others here, I'm not a fan of RRL. That said, let's not rush to judgment on the concept. Like it or not (and I'm a bit in the latter vein), all this new-fangled techno-stuff has us living the land of "1"'s and "0"'s and that's right up the alley for the iPhone crowd.
There's nothing like the sights and sounds of rounds (and in-lines!) and here's hoping we continue to enjoy that rush form many years to coming the desert north of Reno however; there's likely a place for all of these to co-exists and, somewhat reluctantly, I support their efforts and applaud their efforts to get the younger set involved.
May not be a great analogy but I recall the days when the Unlimited Hydroplane racing teams started to experiment with turbine powerplants instead of the Merlins, Allisions, and Griffons. Folks said it would ruin the sport...no heart-pounding pistons swapping cylinders and exploding hydro-carbons that could be heard miles away. To some degree, those folks were correct...the APBA Hydroplane circuit stuggles to survive, but one thing is true...the truly competative piston-driven boys are all long gone.
ee
Let's not dismiss the RRL quite so quickly. If the RRL gets the younger set involved in aviation to any degree, we are all the better for it. Don't see the RRL drawing fan base away from NCAR...quite the contrary. The RRL folks who are exposed to the sport for the first time may just show up at Stead in September as well..and that's a good thing! Frankly, my concern is NCAR is aging sport with aging participants and fan-base. Younger blood is required to survive. If a cetain percentage of those folks happen to be RRL fans as well, I say "Welcome Aboard!"
Like many others here, I'm not a fan of RRL. That said, let's not rush to judgment on the concept. Like it or not (and I'm a bit in the latter vein), all this new-fangled techno-stuff has us living the land of "1"'s and "0"'s and that's right up the alley for the iPhone crowd.
There's nothing like the sights and sounds of rounds (and in-lines!) and here's hoping we continue to enjoy that rush form many years to coming the desert north of Reno however; there's likely a place for all of these to co-exists and, somewhat reluctantly, I support their efforts and applaud their efforts to get the younger set involved.
May not be a great analogy but I recall the days when the Unlimited Hydroplane racing teams started to experiment with turbine powerplants instead of the Merlins, Allisions, and Griffons. Folks said it would ruin the sport...no heart-pounding pistons swapping cylinders and exploding hydro-carbons that could be heard miles away. To some degree, those folks were correct...the APBA Hydroplane circuit stuggles to survive, but one thing is true...the truly competative piston-driven boys are all long gone.
ee
Let's not dismiss the RRL quite so quickly. If the RRL gets the younger set involved in aviation to any degree, we are all the better for it. Don't see the RRL drawing fan base away from NCAR...quite the contrary. The RRL folks who are exposed to the sport for the first time may just show up at Stead in September as well..and that's a good thing! Frankly, my concern is NCAR is aging sport with aging participants and fan-base. Younger blood is required to survive. If a cetain percentage of those folks happen to be RRL fans as well, I say "Welcome Aboard!"
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