THE HISTORY OF V.A.R.M.S The Annual Diary 1990 - 2009

62
current time and being mainly fibreglass construction.
CLASS 1 CLASS 2
1. Colin Collyer Golden Eagle 1. Murray Wills Fauvette
2. Murray Wills Jasolka =2. Robert Goldman Foka 4
3. Robert Goldman Spallinger =2. John Copeland Fox
3. John Copeland ASH 26E
There was also a prize given to the highest placed person with a kit model, this went to Greg
Voak from Perth with a DG 500.
After the prize presentation many people departed, as they had to work on the Monday,
however, for many of us we had a very pleasant meal at a local historical homestead. For myself I
had Kangaroo steak and Emu sausages and it was an experience. It was only later pointed out to me
that I had been eating both animals that appear on our Australian coat of arms!! With the
competition having finished on Sunday afternoon, Monday was a free day with many people flying
their treasures under far less prying eyes.
Now for some statistics on the Regatta:
- Over 1500 tows, possibly closer to 2000, Chris Carpenter did over 270.
- 12 tow planes, smallest using G62 engines.
- 46 litres of fuel used.
- 103 gliders on the flight line with at least another 20 assembled in the hangars or in trailers.
- 110 at the dinner on Saturday night.
- 60 registered pilots plus "ring ins" on the day.
- Over an hour of Radio Air Time.
- 2 weeks of TV commercials = 150 airings.
- Every state represented.
- Brief visit for longest journey, Geoff Fox from Canberra for dinner and Sunday morning
.....3200kms.
- Most fun. Ian Moreland and Alexis Scott, after prozac and vallium.
- Don Berry with the only pilot induced crash.
- One other crash with flight pack failure.
- Two props broken by John Gottschalk.
- Three new members on the Weekend.
- Biggest give away prize at any flying meeting, $3,000 of prizes.
- Most models by any one registered pilot. Colin Collyer with a hangar full.
- Loudest laugh, David Nash after a 40 minute flight with Condor.
- Biggest mistake, Bordertown and Kieth Gliding Club running out of bread for hamburgers.
- Oddest look, Chris Williams when asked if he wanted an Emu sausage at the BBQ.
- Most often quoted saying, "Australia for the World Scale Sailplane Championships".
- Most diplomatic person, Colin Collyer when explaining 40 Mhz.
- Most emotional, Ian Moreland when getting a bottle of wine at a frequency debrief.
- Best scale sailplane pilot - EVERY ONE of the 60 who registered.
And on a final note again many thanks must go to the Scale Soaring Association of Australia
for organising a truly remarkable Regatta, the event sponsors and the judges who gave their time
over two days (they 'flew in" a Grob 109 motor glider to the event)
Geoff Hearn (signing off from the Scale Glider event of the Millennium).
Note: After returning to Melbourne with Geoff and Frank, Chris Williams provided a Lecture &
Discussion night the night before the usual VARMS meeting, then attended the brief General
Meeting/Auction the following night and followed that with a "Get together flying session" at
Brigg's field the next day.
December 2000 - Martin Weberschock (German and world class exponent of F3B glider & F5B
electric) also visits Melbourne for lectures and flying demonstrations.
Purchase of a Slasher to complement the new tractor and mower arrangement.