MK Grass Roots

[waveydavey]

Sadly the committee of MK Heli Club have decided not to run the Grass Roots competition for the foreseeable future. It was evident this year that there is a lack of interest in the hobby in general with comps and flyins the first to suffer. We had a reasonable turnout for 2016 but a lot of the entrants were re-entrants from years past and that there was little 'new blood' coming through.

We struggled to fill spaces even though there was plenty of info out there, forums, BMFA and FaceBook. It's a shame and we'll see if things pick up in the next few years we might rekindle it but for now that's all folks.

[Rich23]

Such a shame but understandable. A great competition that will be missed.

Rich

[milly0812]

It's a shame mate but you have to be a certain type to want to enter comps. I'm certainly not that type and fly purely for fun. I guess that's why you see the same old faces year on year. It's also pretty hard to find people with similar skill levels I mean I've seen some in grass roots that can piro flip and it kind of makes a mockery of the whole thing. If you're learning you're not going to compete against someone who can 3D

[waveydavey]

I think the level of flying has certainly grown in the years we've been running GR Don, if you think about it Connor and Peter Gray were winners of the comp. Things have moved on and there were definitely 2 levels in GR, low level inters and sports. You're always going to get that no matter what you do and it's sort of the whole point, the judges can spot an on the edge piro flip and mark accordingly. If you're comfortably piro flipping a few feet off the floor then you will be pulled from the comp. The idea was to promote the next comp flyers, the next inters to keep the comp scene alive.

[atomiccomp]

I mean I've seen some in grass roots that can piro flip and it kind of makes a mockery of the whole thing. If you're learning you're not going to compete against someone who can 3D

I think in general 3D skills have improved massively in the last 5 years with better gear, sims ect. Piro flipping at 100 ft sloppily is easy enough, however doing them low with no drift is an art form and although some in GR do it there a long way from how the Pro's do it in terms of precision and style.

[GIXERMAN]

A Real shame, I really enjoyed last one. even only spectating and camping. but was made very at home.

Thanks all at Mk

[Granpappy]

The idea was to promote the next comp flyers, the next inters to keep the comp scene alive.

Well you've just closed a door on allowing new blood to get into the competition scene at a basic level. That is not going to help the comp scene as a whole because Grass Roots is a well regarded venue and competition for aspiring flyers.

If the event is losing money then so be it, but to give up on it for reasons other than financial would be a shame. It just seems to add to the overall picture of a declining hobby when perhaps the hobby isn't really declining at all. Everything takes effort and maybe stepping up a level with regard to rounding up potential flyers through advertising and media could be a way forward. Speak to the main suppliers and try and get them to advertise the event on their web sites. They have everything to gain by doing so.

Please don't just give up because you think it's not worth it anymore. To a lot of people, it is worth it. And if you run it next year, I promise hand on heart that I will come for the full weekend.

[dillwhacker]

Dare I suggest....
Put up some gates and some cones, and have one day of 3D, and one day of quad racing?
Maybe - people are only allowed to enter both, not just the one or the other??.
No.... I don't dare suggest that !
I will be burned alive as a heretic
Which I am

[waveydavey]

I here ya Graham and thanks for the support. Trust me the decision isn't and wasn't taken lightly. I have been instrumental in promoting the competition for the last 8 years or so and haven't had to try hard to fill spaces at all. There was a low year in 2011 I think where we were down to 11 pilots but even they were new to the scene. There just isn't the buzz around the hobby and without that you have no entrants, it's got nothing to do with the money, we didn't embark on hosting it for that reason believing in what it was introduced for, Grass Roots flying.

As most know we're a heli only club (quads allowed) and we're down this year 13 members. We've never had that before in the history of the club, indeed we've normally got a waiting list to fill the 4 or 5 places that we usually lose. This year absolutely nothing. Take a look at this forum, nothing, virtually dead, even the hallowed FB nothing but a promoters paradise with some for sales groups. No serious topics, no help threads, it really is a shame but less and less people in the hobby.

Don't get me wrong, if things pick up then we may re-introduce it and I'm sure that should someone have the drive then Edders, Rob and Jason would be only too happy to help.

[waveydavey]

Dare I suggest....
Put up some gates and some cones, and have one day of 3D, and one day of quad racing?
Maybe - people are only allowed to enter both, not just the one or the other??.
No.... I don't dare suggest that !
I will be burned aliove as a heretic
Which I am

It's been suggested Trev and we may look at something along those lines, keep watching

[cjm180]

Hey Wavey

That is a shame, while i am no competition pilot, i have only recently got into the social side of the hobby, for a laugh and to help me along with my flying. And so 2017 i am looking to come along to some of these events to get to know a few more people in the hobby. I may not be at this level yet, but hopefully one day i will be!

[dillwhacker]

I'm not surprised TBH.
Some people love to practice and perfect their skills in whatever art they have chosen.
But it's nearly Xmas, and after a bottle of sherry, everybody loves a right old laugh playing with the Scalextric
That's how I see quad racing.

[Pj1969]

I had heard on the grape vine that is wasn't going ahead, such a shame, as it's such a brilliant run event and both myself and my son will miss it. There has been a dwindling amount of interest In most of the comps, but I was hoping that next year would see an increase and some of the old pilots return to the flight line, I was even going to buy a campervan, so that me and the boy could attend them all, but spending 10k to go too a couple, just doesn't seem logical.
Id like to thank all at MK for the past grass roots, you gave us novice pilots something to aim for and for that I for one am greatfull of all you have done.

[crash-test-tomo]

Shame, iv been putting off entering comps since I got into the hobby. In fact 2016 was the first year iv even attended any comps. I was hoping GR 17 could break me in gently as I know im gona be a bag of nerves with so many people spectating.. Maybe that plan needs a little rethinking now!

[waveydavey]

Apologies Dan I'm sure the Sports class at Western Park, Air or now 3D Champs would be a great alternative