TAGARs! V3

(Truckee Airport Gliding Air Races! 3rd edition)

The third edition of the TAGARs! took place on Tuesday, July 4, 2006. Eleven gliders, including two two-seaters, threw themselves into the Races. And again they got joy and challenge.

Actually in this particular edition the challenge was overwhelmingly exceeding the joy, which was present all right, but not as pervasive as in previous events. The difference in joy was due to the soaring conditions, somewhat objectionable at first and slowly deteriorating with the passing of the hours. Note that the differences in joy might be positive or negative depending on how masochist a person is, and in the case of glider pilots the degree of masochism is notoriously high – elation after desperation seems to be what we get from this sport and what, in our depravation crave for, becoming one of the main reasons for us to go back flying once again.

So, eleven masochists …. I mean eleven pilots began the race, actually 13 pilots considering the pilot-passengers in the two-seaters. Right from the start it did not look easy: The pilots reported difficulties in reaching the miserable (for Truckee) altitude of 12,000’, and one of them was fighting around 8,000’. Of course we do not say names but Tony Gaechter in 1A was the one. The start was first anticipated but then delayed waiting for Tony Gaechter (we do not say names) until it was held at the initially scheduled time of 1:30 PM after all.

Unfortunately several pilots were not able to get the start altitude of 11,000’, so it was decided to hold 11,000’ as a nominal altitude, and those unable to start that high would start at any altitude they were able to achieve. Mike and Nancy Mayo (they are not brother and sister, they are married) got the starting procedure on the radio in an exemplary way. Unfortunately because of the marked differences in altitude, the line of gliders was not as straight as it was supposed to be, and the heights at the start were variable from 7,200’ to 8,800’. Indeed, Jonathan Hughes in UV (no names), being the one at 7,200’ had to go directly from the start to the landing pattern.

The rest of the race was a continuation of the start: Pilots slowly had to renounce and gliders had to land. Following Jonathan, Jim and Bryan in CC landed after turning the first turn point of Martis Peak, while Jeremy Zawodny in 1M and Hans Van Weersch in 1LV (no names please) were able to reach the second turn point of Verdi before abandoning the race. But a spirited battle was taking place between MX, L8, YD and L6 who were really close together, exchanging position at each turnpoint. 1A, after so much struggle for gaining altitude at the start, was going strong and among the best.

Other skirmishes were fought in the rear, followed by the spectators on the display map were the various animals representing the racing gliders were moved according to the position reports transmitted by radio. Looking at the board, you could see how a certain couple of gliders were racing “neck and neck”, or as better described by the ladies moving the animal representative of the gliders, “beak and horn”.

The second round saw the landing of 1PS, 1A, DL and  - surprise!  - John Fitch in L6, the winner of the two preceding TAGARs! John was able to complete the second circuit, but just did not have any more altitude to spare and had to abandon. Actually several competitors were passing the Gate at an altitude lower than the prescribed minimum altitude of 8,000’ – they just could not climb to the necessary height. They were incurring in a 10 points penalty, but just could not avoid it. Thermals weak, broken, suddenly disappearing were the norm today. Some competitors tried to gain altitude at the Red Rocks and then go back to the gate above the minimum altitude, so as to trade time for points. The tactic was useful only if the time spent looking for lift was not too long.

However, the meager soaring conditions were giving an advantage to the spectators on the ground: the gliders could be seen much closer, even the numbers on the wing could be read. And on course, we could hear comments from the pilots: “I am at the White House, and so low I can see through the windows”. And another: “Me too and I can see you through the windows from the other side of the peak”.

So only three gliders began the third round, and they finished it too. Mike Schneider in MX, Yuliy Gerchicov in L8 and Dean Aldinger in YD really got it going, really neck and neck or we can say nose and nose (of the glider). Please look at their traces, you will see what I mean. The arrival at the very end of here race was highly spectacular: We could see the three glider coming (low) toward the gate, L8 start a turn to the right, then continue, YD and MX race through the Gate at low altitude and seemingly at the same time! Really a racing finish.

Although at the time MX was declared the winner by reason of him been higher at the crossing of the Gate, the exact determination of the winner could be made only later, through the analysis of the GPS traces. Please look at the Finish. On the bottom of the image are the traces as downloaded from the GPS. On the upper part of the page is the analysis of the traces. The estimate time of crossing the gate for MX was 16:22:04.7. The time for YD was 16:33:25.0. So MX crossed the gate 0.3 seconds ahead of YD and is the computer-proven winner. Times around the course, as radioed by the competitors, is shown in the Circuit Times.

I confess an error: At the Award Ceremony I declared Dean Aldinger (YD) the second arrival and Yuliy Gerchicov (L8) the third, but that was not correct. According to the points scored, Yuliy is second and Dean is third with a difference of 2 points over a total possible score of 100. “My apoloy”. So those two guys should exchange the insignia ribbons – no, no need to exchange the mugs, which may have already been used.

This year several pilots incurred penalties. We have mentioned the penalties due to crossing the gate beneath 8,000’, a fact that had happened very rarely in the preceding edition, and that was due to the anemic soaring conditions of this day. Surprising was the high number of pilots not turning properly around the turning points, especially around the Martis Peak, a fact which can be seen well in their traces. Maybe the turnpoint coordinates are not correct, and the pilot is turning around the point, which can be seen clearly, instead of looking at the coordinates. But, for the turning to be properly executed it must be made around the coordinates of the point. For the first time in the history of the TAGARs! I assessed a penalty of 1 point per each tent of a mile (10 points per mile). Please see the Penalties table. However, these penalties are small and did not affect the final standing of the competitors. Please see the Scoreboard and Final Results.

The three finishers Traces are spectacular to see. Watching them in SeeYou, they show the closeness of the competitors, their adventures and drama. Especially interesting it is to place all three together in the same display, and watch their different choices, that took them to be together at the finish anyway.

All pilots reported how they had to fight to fly until they could not continue any more – one of those days in Truckee, albeit exceptional for July 4. All reported though, that it was fun (read the comments about Dr. Masoch above and also, consider that glider pilots sometimes are plain lying, or if you prefer, plane lying).

Many volunteers helped the successful running of the event: Radio announcers Mike and Nancy Mayo, animal-movers Millie Alton, Connie Sanford, Ann Fitch, Rebecca Archie, Irina Gerchicov, coordinator Karol Hines, clock loaner Jim Alton, gazebo loaner Rich Pearl, powerful radio loaner Midge Aldinger (yes both the radio and the loaner are powerful), and the expert and dedicated staff of Soar Truckee: For this year, we have “singing line boys” from the musical My Fair Lady, a rare find in gliderports – and they feel pretty.

The next edition of the TAGARs! will be called TAGAR! (without the “s”). It will still mean Truckee Airport Gliding Air Race. The evolution of the event is, that it will be a CH handicapped race. So, anybody can win, not only those guys with long wings and motor! (No names). It will take place on Monday September 4, Labor Day. Do not miss it, and if you cannot make it, please pass the word to somebody who can come, either to fly or to watch. Pass the word even if you can come! Pass the word, that’s it!

See you there!

Sergio