GENEROUS HANDICAP TO AIRRACE WINNER GIVEN IN ERROR

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30401, 28 March 1964, Page 14

GENEROUS HANDICAP TO AIRRACE WINNER GIVEN IN ERROR

The aircraft which, won the 1964 Christchurch to Masterton and return Rothman air race early this month did so because it was unintentionally given a generous handicap after a misinterpretation of information. This is disclosed in the latest issue of “Planesman”, newsletter of the Canterbury Aero Club. The club makes it clear, however, that the owner of the winning plane—a Vieta 100 Airtourer —was in no way responsible. This comment in the newsletter is in reply to criticism levelled at the club over certain aspects of handicapping for the race. The newsletter says handicapping was done by reference to manuals or to advertising brochures. Where neither of these was available, telephone calls were made to owners or agents. “Much suspicion and dissatisfaction were directed by entrants at the organisers that race entrants may have been re-handicapped at Masterton. Many openly expressed their intention of merely coasting their way to Masterton and making a race of the return journey only. This of course could have led to a farcical situation and therefore the decision was made to cancel the arrangements to handicap.” This having been announced at the pilots’ briefing no reversal of the decision was possible, says the newsletter. As a result of its experience the club makes the following suggestion for the benefit of whichever club controls next year’s race: entry forms must be accompanied by a copy of the owner’s manual or other official publication giving performance details of

aircraft; entries accepted must i be only those which conform i basically with makers’ stan- 1 dards. i

The club considers the aim should be to handicap aircraft accurately on their performance at 75 per cent power, at suitable altitudes

so as to give pilots greater scope to demonstrate their worth in navigation, knowledge in meteorology and other local conditions. It also recommends sealed

fuel tanks so that an accurate check can be made to ensure that not more than 75 per cent power is used. This could

be done for two reasons, says the newsletter. It would place emphasis on pilotage- and navigation rather than on aircraft type and it would avoid

the tendency of some pilots to “throttle bash” which, as a training organisation interested in conserving aircraft motors, the club should actively discourage.