Rat Bait: Never Say Never

My first trip to the Rat Race was several years ago when I was not a pilot, nor even thinking of becoming one. I thought anyone who jumps off a launch called Crazy Mans, well, is crazy, and I am not doing that; no way. I followed Big Island Ike over to Oregon just to hang out with a great group of pilots who were also eager to have me there … for retrieve.

Back then, the launch at Woodrat Mountain was clean and open, and the sky was big. The landing zone was a large cow pasture below, owned by the Hunters, a local ranching family. The other LZ was Longsword vineyard, serving wine out of a shack on the side of the driveway with a few picnic tables. Alex had given me a t-shirt that he had designed for Team Hawaii which I felt honored to wear, and it made me feel like part of the gang. I wore that shirt for 3 or 4 days while launching and picking up pilots from all over the world. I was offered money for it a few times. No way: it's mine.

I had a blast on that trip, and kinda got bit by the flying bug, after seeing what launches could really be like. A few weeks later, Ike pushed me off Cactus with Quentin. So much for saying I will never fly, and you all know what that has led to: ADDICTION.

So this current trip is my first trip to the Rat Race as a pilot, though definitely not as a competitor. Some things have changed here at Woodrat. The event has become very popular, drawing in huge numbers of new competitors in addition to the big boys that we read about: Josh Cohn, Nick Greece, Brad Gunnuscio, Matt Beechinor, Eric Reed, Marty Devietti, Dean Stratton, Nate Scales, Rob Sporrer and Jeff Huey, to name a few. Not to mention local top guns Paul Murdoch and Hayden Glatte, who I have gotten to hang with and learn from for days. Our great pilots Alex & Nikki have returned. And JK is here doing his first comp, and making goal both on the first and on the last day. The most important mention I have saved for last: Reaper, who along with many other volunteers, has selflessly donated his time and knowledge to ensure safety at launch and to perform heroic retrievals. Without Pete, our buddy Tom Chestnut, and the entire launch crew, the scene at launch would be chaos.

The HQ has been moved to a large site with a volleyball court, a balloon cannon, a pool, and a meeting room, at the home of Gail and Mike Haley, the organizers. These people are more crazy than my wife for the invasion they allow onto their property. It is so well organized that you just feel honored to be a part of it all. As pilots, we owe these unbelievable hosts an immeasurable debt of gratitude.

The launch has not changed, but the LZs have changed slightly. Hunter LZ is only to be used as a bail out, but the owners have been very accommodating, allowing us to land there in great numbers during this event as necessary. The winery LZs have grown to two: we now have Fiasco Winery, which is a little tight for landing, and is owned by a fellow pilot. Longsword Vineyard has evolved from a shack to a nice building. They have added umbrella covered picnic tables with views of launch, and they have cleared a field with a big "X" for spot landing. A glass of wine is still complimentary for all pilots who land there.

The people here are the best. Kalei and I have been adopted by the Murdochs, whose legendary hospitality is Hawaiian style. Kalei is loving all the farm animals, as well as her mainland mom Laura, her Auntie Hailey and her cooking coach Dorothy.

Now for the flying. My first day here, I was tired, and I met the crew at Longsword. My second day, glass off got too strong, and the task got cancelled while our guys were in the air. The third day was the charm: I was relieved of fluffing duties early and launched. The air was pretty active, but I could never seem to break 4k. I noticed that not many others were getting very high either, as Nikki and JK shared some thermals with me. I ended that flight at Hunter LZ.

While waiting for a ride, Oregon Travis asked me if I was going up for glass off. I was not sure, but when he said we could easily make Longsword, I jumped in his van.
I laid out my own wing and got fluffed by Mr. Chestnut himself. I looked to my left, and there was Motorhead Paul, a wayward monkey who has long since moved to the mainland. I was so psyched to see him launching next to me. I had picked up Paul and Ike after their first XC to Hygienics several years ago, and now I was going to get to fly with him. Awesome. He said, let's head out to Longsword. I agreed, and said, show me the way.

I got up to 4.5k with ease, and boated over to the dreaded antennas, which weren't that bad, at this moment. I had heard the area could be ratty. I pointed to Longsword, not sure how much I would need to get there, and arrived with way too much altitude. I burned off a bunch, too much actually, and found the wall of wind getting into the field was intense and rocky. Scrappy was already there and said, get on speed bar, or you're dropping right there. Way short of my "X" target. I was sitting on my speed bar: somehow it had got wrapped up in my seat while launching or flying, and I could not reach it at this time. I landed and had a beer with the gang who watched me land.

The next day, after fluffing duty, I got another flight to Longsword. That might be my last flight here until next time.

Yup, that's right: next time. I have been bit by the Rat, and while I have always said I would never do comps, I will be coming back here next year, though I am still on the fence about competeting. Alex says, just do it. Well, he is the President. Darn it, I just might have to.

Never say never: it may bite you in the arse. I know it has been a long time, but it's gotta be … Time to Fly, Get Your B1 Nav and Go!