Making Geezer TARC a little more interesting...

This past week I was petitioned to amend the rules to allow second flights for Geezer TARC participants, just like the top teams at the National Fly-off in Virginia. The altitude goal for this second flight is different than the 775 foot mark required to get into the top 100 for Nationals and the first round flights. This year, those that are granted a second flight must hit 800 feet, a switch from past years where the second altitude goal was always lower than the first. At first, it seemed like overkill for our little Geezer competition, but after some consideration, I thought "Why not?" So, in the interest of providing a little variety this year, let us make a new addition (denoted by bold italics) to the 2017 Geezer TARC rules:

Geezer TARC begins with the announcement of the 2017 rules in May and ends with the contestants’ rockets being launched at a single event (date TBD, but well before school starts in late summer).

Each contestant may enter up to two rockets. These rockets may not fly before the official launch date, and the first round score shall be determined by the first flight of each on that date. The contestant's score shall be the better of the two flights, or the score of one flight if only one rocket is entered.

Two flyers with the best scores will then be granted second flights, with the new altitude mark being set to 800 feet. If two rockets were flown, then either model may be selected for this second round. The winner of Geezer TARC will be the flyer who has the best score in this second set of flights.

Any commercial altimeter may be used to determine altitude. However, reflights are not allowed if there is an altimeter malfunction; in this case, the flight will be disqualified (So choose a reliable altimeter). As per the 2017 rules, the rocket may contain only one altimeter, though the use of a Jolly Logic Chute Release is permitted.

There is only one rocket per design, and there are no test or sub-scale flights permitted for the design. Its merit will be judged solely by the rocket’s performance at the contest launch. If two rockets are entered, they must be of substantially different design - different number of motors, fins, or something major - an inch shorter or taller does not constitute a substantial difference, nor does the same design at a different scale (e.g., BT-70 versus BT-80 versions).