Fred is staying home this year

Ron
Got bored so went through some of my recent threads and see that your response was one I meant to comment about but forgot

Time is interesting... Fort Hood '94 and you were just starting you military career as I was finishing up mine. I called it quits in 1996

I think we first met here on CEF 2010~2011 ----and of course we all know you did your time and retired from the Air Force!

And I like to think some of my suggestions is why you landed in a (sounds to me) pretty good DA Civilian second career

Since Kim is a nomad, and I can stand up to 6~7 hour trips and you are relatively close in Tuttle ----we need to arrange at least one venue to meet at

Acknowledging your TDY schedule is a bear to manage

I have no plan for SMALL this year (2017) but a bucket list trip

I do a yearly pilgrimage to Lubbock TX for the James Mears Memorial Combat weekend--- usually held first weekend of Sept
This year 2nd and 3rd (Sat/Sun) will also include Nostalgia combat probably Sunday after awards

Bobby Mears Combat Museum tour and dinner on Saturday evening is worth the trip

For Kim and Ron ( or any others near enough)

This event should be added to you to do list for a few reasons even if you have no intention of ever flying F2D .15 fast combat

Most every one of the living world champion Combat guys attends as well as their very interesting wives
Riley Wooten and some of the other 80+ past NATs champions are there judging
It is a true international event with combat pilots from Mexico attending and they are a fun bunch of guys
Rooms for one night are from $89 to $159
No need to spend Friday, Sat, and Sunday unless competing...

Arrive mid day Sat, watch great world class combat for 3 or 4 hours, follow every one to Bobby Mears Mansion, drink soda or beer and tour the most interesting Combat Museum
And be fed a good Texas smoked meat and all the fixings meal...hang out with and chat up a lot of old 60~90 year old combat guys and their spouses

All is included with entry fee..... but since I do not compete, but spectate, I have always been welcomed to the tour and meal for free....but that is not me--- so I find Bobby Mears wife Arlene (who does most all the work) and I donate a $20

You have a desire to have Wooten designed plans signed buy the Man himself...he is very accommodating and a just real nice old guy...I have my Demon and VooDoo plans signed by Riley

Last year I met
Chuck Rudner and wife Muffy
Riley Wooten and his girlfriend Hope
Wayne and Wanda Welch
Bently Page  
Larry and Pat Driskill
Andy and Jan Mears
Dennis Salyards and his wife Polly
Chris Hess was circle marshal

Lots of others there that I met but these were at the table I just jumped in and sat at

Since I did a lot of military brat and active duty in Europe it was fun to talk with these folks as they had great stories about attending world championships from '60s to 2000s...some of the venues behind the Iron Curtain

Cribbs74 wrote:Don't forget Lowes does a Military discount...

If you register or modify your registration on-line, you can get military discount with on-line purchases now.

fredvon4 wrote:I do a yearly pilgrimage to Lubbock TX for the James Mears Memorial Combat weekend--- usually held first weekend of Sept. This year 2nd and 3rd (Sat/Sun) will also include Nostalgia combat probably Sunday after awards. Bobby Mears Combat Museum tour and dinner on Saturday evening is worth the trip. For Kim and Ron ( or any others near enough). This event should be added to you to do list for a few reasons even if you have no intention of ever flying F2D .15 fast combat.

I live 2 hours from Lubbock (Clovis NM, 95 miles away). I saw that ad last year but had a conflict. Might see if I can give it a shot this year for Saturday as a spectator.