#KeepGrassRootsAlive

[shades]

Following on from this thread :-
http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/compet...ass-roots.html

I personally entered Grass Roots at MK a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the experience.
If we let the event disappear from the calendar then it may prove more difficult to get it added again in the future.

Today "Central Model Helicopter Club" held its AGM, and as a club we have voted and agreed to offer our club facilities as a potential future base for the "Grass Roots" competition.

Its up to the pilots if this event carries on into the future.
We have no expectations on the amount of entries but just want to keep the event going if we can help.

If we can get a date agreed, judges on board & pilots wanting to compete then we can offer our venue as a host.

Based at Husbands Bosworth Gliding Centre and Gliding Club we hopefully can provide a central location to allow easy access to all pilots.
Over the last couple of years we have hosted various AHA events, and the Gliding Centre has actively worked with us to provide the facilities that we can offer.

Onsite accommodation, Licensed bar, and excellent food from the "Flying Pan" cafe.

This would be the first event organised solely by our club members, so we would welcome any help an suggestions from previous organisers with any contact numbers and information etc that may help us to keep this event on the calendar.

Thank you to MK Heli club for hosting previous events, without them we would not even have this dilemma.

Its over to you all....Its up to the pilots to "Keep Grass Roots Alive" !

[waveydavey]

Good for you Neil and Central Heli Club

[Mike Sanders]

I should be pleased to come along and assist with some unskilled labour. I am good at moving chairs and hammering metal stakes into the ground.

[waveydavey]

Neil, in the first instance I would contact Rob Turnbull, Jason Platts and Edders. They can give you the low down on whats required.

More than happy to help if you've got any questions, or you're not sure about anything.

[cjm180]

Hey

I have never been to one of these, but wanted to come along to one in 2017. Tell me i am being stupied, but what about a section for people to do A and B certs. And also a tips and tricks corner, where some of the better pilots help some of the beginners. Maybe even i bit for help with setups / FBL tuning?

[Mark_T]

I have never been to one of these, but wanted to come along to one in 2017. Tell me i am being stupied, but what about a section for people to do A and B certs. And also a tips and tricks corner, where some of the better pilots help some of the beginners. Maybe even i bit for help with setups / FBL tuning?

If you have room for a completely separate flight-line and sufficient volunteers then it could be possible, but otherwise, the flight-line is pretty much occupied all day.

[Sheldrake]

Hey

I have never been to one of these, but wanted to come along to one in 2017. Tell me i am being stupied, but what about a section for people to do A and B certs. And also a tips and tricks corner, where some of the better pilots help some of the beginners. Maybe even i bit for help with setups / FBL tuning?

Hi it is not a stupid idea! Obviously we need to look at what people want from an event and what is achievable by the volunteers available to help.
interestingly the idea of a skills day for people to see the achievement scheme and to take the tests was a key point at our AGM today!

We all need to come together and look at this from a fresh perspective, find out what people want and work together to keep this great hobby alive.

#KeepRCHelisAlive. #KeepGrassRootsAlive.

Sorry just my two penny worth!😄

[DaveJones]

Hi it is not a stupid idea! Obviously we need to look at what people want from an event and what is achievable by the volunteers available to help.
interestingly the idea of a skills day for people to see the achievement scheme and to take the tests was a key point at our AGM today!

We all need to come together and look at this from a fresh perspective, find out what people want and work together to keep this great hobby alive.

#KeepRCHelisAlive. #KeepGrassRootsAlive.

Sorry just my two penny worth!��

i like the idea too especially if the number of competitors is low, perhaps start with some demos or coaching then book people in for the test if they are deemed competent enough. Wonder what the record is for the number of certifications at a club in one day? Definitely a stretch but having some experts on buddy boxes for some coaching could be great

some other random thoughts:

Make it a team event, might be less intimidating for folks to turn up and compete representing their club

Break it up a little by dividing various moves into classes say an A class featuring moves from the A cert, B class featuring moves from the B cert and a C class for the crazy stuff. Have people nominate the class they will be flying

Publish the format and expectations well in advance, I have no idea what format the event has taken in the past, the level of flying expected or the marking scheme.

i would not be against bringing multi rotors into the event, both competition and demo. Could be fun going for an FPV ride and bringing the two groups together could foster interest in Heli's from multi rotor guys who have never really seen what they can do and vice versa.

I think it would be good to consider the keep RChelis alive theme and how this event can support it as I believe that's what grass roots should be all about.

[waveydavey]

Guys just a thought if you're taking over the format from 3D Champs then you need to speak to the 'owners' of that format as it's sort of set in stone, only they can underwrite a change to it.

If you're thinking of using your own format then knock yourself out

[shades]

Personally I think we should be sticking with the Grass Roots format.

If as a club we can successfully keep Grass Roots alive then we could look at hosting another event or fly-in in the future.
Little steps first !

[cjm180]

i like the idea too especially if the number of competitors is low, perhaps start with some demos or coaching then book people in for the test if they are deemed competent enough. Wonder what the record is for the number of certifications at a club in one day? Definitely a stretch but having some experts on buddy boxes for some coaching could be great

some other random thoughts:

Make it a team event, might be less intimidating for folks to turn up and compete representing their club

Break it up a little by dividing various moves into classes say an A class featuring moves from the A cert, B class featuring moves from the B cert and a C class for the crazy stuff. Have people nominate the class they will be flying

Publish the format and expectations well in advance, I have no idea what format the event has taken in the past, the level of flying expected or the marking scheme.

i would not be against bringing multi rotors into the event, both competition and demo. Could be fun going for an FPV ride and bringing the two groups together could foster interest in Heli's from multi rotor guys who have never really seen what they can do and vice versa.

I think it would be good to consider the keep RChelis alive theme and how this event can support it as I believe that's what grass roots should be all about.

I think all that is a great idea. Especially the buddy box system.

I am trying to think what some of the barriers are? I know it can be very nerve racking flying infront of lots of people. but with the buddy boxing that helps with that.

As mentioned its also down to what the volunteers can / willing to do. But to help that is to spread the load a little between various clubs people to help with this. It is the life blood of our hobby to get new people in, so i would be willing to help out as much as i can for the prep work!

Kr
Craig

[_tj_]

I do wonder how many didn't enter or attend due to Helifest being the weekend after.

Not sure if it was the same every year.
But when I noticed Helifest was the week after.

It made it a bit harder to attend another weekender so close.

[gazmk2]

I do wonder how many didn't enter or attend due to Helifest being the weekend after.

Not sure if it was the same every year.
But when I noticed Helifest was the week after.

It made it a bit harder to attend another weekender so close.

I found that grassroots gave me a nice weekend of very valuable practice for Helifest.

[_tj_]

That's a good point.
I was only thinking of it from a spectator point.

D'oh

I'd of loved to enter.
But my nerves probably would get the better of me.

Kept telling the Mrs I'd enter if it weren't for the shakes haha.

[gazmk2]

I thought I'd be a dribbling mess the first time I entered it, but it's such a chilled out and friendly place the nerves soon went and I was just itching to fly.