AHPRA Bowling Ball Loft, LDRS 2004

I'm in!

-- Drake "Doc" Damerau

Having flown with Geoff Elder for about 2 years now...I have come to respect his techniques. I don't dare compete with that! 8lb bowling ball, 3oz rocket:-D

My bet is on him...prove me wrong?

I suppose that's my goal. ;-)

See you at LDRS!

-- Drake "Doc" Damerau

Competition weenies like Irvine and Kaplow are excluded from TRA BBL by virtue of their TRA memberships being on permanant rervoke status despite mere 3 year revokations.

Jerry

True, but second, third, fourth, and who knows what ever place, all get cool stuff.

So I might even give it a try.

Yep! I'd even try it myself, if I was going to be at LDRS. They always have LOTS of great prizes, and everybody gets something.

Let me call you a Wahhhh-bulance.

Skooter

This year may be thin on the vendors. I've heard that they are charging from $200 on up to $500 for vendors. I also heard it's $400 to $1,000 if the vendor wants to pay in prizes.

-- Drake "Doc" Damerau

What has the cost been for a vendor at previous LDRSes?

I'm suprised they would take prizes in lieu of cash since there are real expenses to running a big launch like launch equipment, porta-potties, and garbage removal.

Brian Elfert

Doc wrote:

Clarification: My TRA membership was not revoked. Bruce refused to accept my renewal. Something that he (nor any one else in TRA) did not have the power to do. Of course TRA officials acting in a manner that violates TRA rules is NOT something that gets you in trouble...

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD" >>> To reply, remove the TRABoD!

What's the situation on towers? Does everyone need to bring his or her own? Will there be any available for general use? If so, are there any specifications that can be made public?

thnx

I ran the 2003 NSL. I charged $75 for all three days as a vendor fee. I got "hate mail" (some polite emails) from vendors that were outraged at charging them $75. In addition to the $1,500 I had to pay the land owner, there were over 1/2 dozen porta potties at $100 each, the 20 yard dumpster and tons of other costs. I thought $75 was reasonable. It turned out that the prize donations were our saving grace. Raffle tickets were a large income for us.

I'm just guessing that the LDRS fees are going to drive away several vendors. Especially in the current HPR economic climate.

-- Drake "Doc" Damerau

It's all about lining the pockets of TRA so they can afford to pay for travel for the BOD to functions.

NAR travel is 100% voluntary.

The links I read below "suggest" you have your own if you don't want any slipups.

If you need a tower bring it. I am flying in from AZ and TSA might notice me carrying a rocket launcher onto the plane. This year there were rockets that depended on someone else's tower and it was damaged by the first launch. They had to find other methods. Most have used the Blacksky type rail lugs. There were several out of a tube launcher. In the past we used 1/2 rods but never again, not a one has gone vertical. At

AHPRA solicits prizes separately from the host Prefecture, we are no way connected to the vendor fees. We get most of our prizes from vendors that cannot make the launch due to travel, time or other concerns. This year, which was probably bleaker than next year, we got slightly fewer prizes but still had a very good prize base. Every year so far all who entered got good prizes, even those who crashed. In '04 we hope to continue the tradition of all entries getting something but we will see how the number of entries stacks up against the number of prizes. Historically it is about 4 to 1 those who say they are entering to rockets on the pads.

Mark

Doc Comparing a National Sport Launch to an LDRS is hardly fair. We've had two NSL's here and they are not the same. We are looking to have 70+ pads on 4 seperate ranges; at least a dozen porta potties for 6 days, cleaned daily; 3 large dumpsters for 6 days and the amount we'd like to give the landowner is around 3 times what you mentioned. Everyone of these things costs money. We are charging the flyers. Why shouldn't we ask the vendors to share in some of the expenses..........especially since they are going to benefit so much from them? Vendor space is somewhat limited and a few spots are better than others. The $500 cash fee is for the best spots and came about because we had a couple of vendors tell us that they would be willing to pay that much to get a reserved spot AND a prime location. We will see.The rest are on a first come and space available basis. The $400 and $1000 (list prices) in alternate, material donations are based on a somewhat standard markup of %50. Frankly, we'd just as soon have the material donations as they will go in the raffle (where WE should net most of our money from, too). Finally, you say that you charged Vendors $75 for 3 days. That's $25 a day. LDRS is a 6 day launch. To equal your charges.....our fee should then be $150 ($25 x 6). Based on ALL the added expenses an LDRS causes.......I really don't think that an extra $50 is that much to ask:-).

Lloyd Wood BRS Secretary LDRS Launch Director/RSO Level lll

I didn't mean to suggest that I thought you were "ripping" anyone off. I heard that it was to much for many vendors and they wont be joining us. Perhaps it is, but as you point out, you need to make the most of the space you have.

Please accept my most humble apologies if I have caused anyone to think I meant that you guys were doing something bad.

-- Drake "Doc" Damerau