Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 9:17AM So, how is everybody doing after the ROCC January �ARCTIC BLAST� launch? We had our regular Jan weekend launch last weekend on Saturday the 17th. It was suggested that we name it the �Arctic Blast Launch�, which seems to fit the circumstances for the launch.
News Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 8:41AM I've put up some pictures, some from January shot by Todd, and some from February shot by Doc. Click on the Photos link to see them. Edited: Added more January pics from Todd.
News Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 3:24PM Everyone: I really appreciate the clock/plaque and the Performance Hobbies Gift Card; that was over the top. What else can I say but thank you all, that was a wonderful surprise. Like I said out there, just having someone take the role as Prez was gift enough. But this really makes it all worth it. We have the most stable membership we have ever had right now and think that is tribute to all our members. So everyone keep up the good work. We all ROCC!!!! Sincerely, Ralph "The Former Prez" Roberts
News Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 1:43AM DUE TO HIGH WIND THE LAUNCH ON SUNDAY THE 22nd is CANCELED!!! Due to projected wind conditions of 15-20mph with 30mph gusts we are canceling the launch on Sunday. We may be able to have a make up launch next weekend on Sunday - keep watching here for more news. We had to make a command decision based on the info provided from various sources. Most of the projections state winds of 15 to 20 with gusts up to 30 mph. That's the average from the different weather sources. What ever rain could also soften the runway with the freezing and re-thawing, though most of the rain should be north of us, but there's nothing we can do about the winds. Update of weather conditions posted by weather.com that further justify our call... Red Flag Warning Posted for today ... INCREASED FIRE DANGER FROM 11 AM THROUGH 7 PM TODAY... WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL DROP TO BETWEEN 20 AND 25 PERCENT. THESE CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH LOW FUEL MOISTURE LEVELS... WILL LEAD TO INCREASED FIRE DANGER DURING THE AFTERNOON. But as everyone said, we did have a great day today. Ralph got an award and gift from the club in recognition to the 6 years he acted as president with everything that it entailed when nobody else wanted to take on the responsibilities. There is a lot more to do than you might think, like making unpopular weather decisions. Mother nature may try to make a fool of us, but it just wouldn't be worth it if only a few showed up and stood around talking about how strong the wind is. FOX News was out from 1pm to almost 4pm doing a episode on the TARC team and competition and took some footage of the club and some launch's, got a list of all the different types of people who fly. Per the Camera guy the story is to air on Fox News @ 10:00 Sunday night. Keep a look at the web site for any other future information. Roy, ROCC Sec. Updated by Ralph
News Friday, February 20, 2009 at 5:50PM Note to all attendees: Drive on the edges of the field ONLY. There's been a lot of rain and we need to be careful Set-up at 10:00 AM with launch�s starting as soon as set-up is complete. Tear-Down at Dusk 5-5:30 Sat, and just before Dusk Sunday. Good to have light to put everything away by. Vendors: Performance Hobbies, aka, Ken Allen is scheduled to attend both days. Prepare to do some shopping. Food available. Charlie Ogino and family is holding a Fund Raiser for Charlie�s TARC (Team America Rocket Challenge) Competition Rocket Team during the weekend. Food will help keep you warm. They are planning on having slices of pizza (from Marios) and drinks available (maybe some baked goods) for Saturday. It should be arriving about 1:00 pm. Do come on out. I always see pictures of those Yankee clubs up north in lawn chairs sitting in the snow grinning as they do their launch�s. They can�t be that more extreme than us down south. We should be able do better than that. Read More for weather outlook....
News Friday, February 20, 2009 at 12:03AM On February 17, 2009 the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted the motion that we filed on October 1, 2008 for a hearing on our long-standing lawsuit against BATFE. We requested this hearing to provide an opportunity for Judge Walton to clarify with all parties whatever facts may have been impeding his delivering a decision on this case. The hearing has been scheduled for 1:30 PM on Monday, March 23 in the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, DC. We will probably not know more until after this hearing, but will keep our members informed as soon as it is held. Ken Good President, Tripoli Rocketry Association Trip Barber President, National Association of Rocketry
News Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 1:45AM To My Rocketry Friends in Charlotte and Orangeburg: As you may know by now, I have relocated back to California for work reasons, and started at my new position in Fresno on Janaury 5. The decision to leave my home in Charlotte was a difficult one, and I have struggled with this choice for the last two years. The move was particularly hard because of the many memories and great times that I have had with all of you over the past six years. In fact, I cannot think of a better place in the world to live and fly high-power rockets. When I first moved to the Carolinas in 2003, I had a tough time adjusting to my new surroundings. But lucky for me, high-power was alive and well there, and with my first launch--the Freedom Launch in 2003--I soon felt welcomed by each and every one of you. You taught me that there are no strangers in high-power rocketry. And since that time we have together survived countless flights and launches--both good and bad--and along the way we also helped run one of the best NSL events ever. All of the Freedom Launch events, the one and only Sci-Power, the winter and spring flying under sunny skies in both Orangeburg and Charlotte--all of these great times will remain with me forever. My last flight in the Carolinas was in the rain, and it was almost dark, at Charlotte in December. But it was as much fun a launch for me as my first high-power rocketry launch more than thirteen years ago. I am sorry I did not get a chance to say goodbye to each and evey one of you. I think I was always hoping that I wouldn't actually leave. But now that I am here, I wanted to send you this message and let you know that I hope to be flying with you again some day down the road. In fact, you can count on it. In January I launched a rocket on an M1315 here at my old home club of Tripoli Central California. It was fun, and fortunately it was a good flight. But it wasn't Charlotte or Orangeburg. In fact, they have a lot to learn out here--I guess I will have to teach them how we do things out in the Carolinas! If there is anything any of you ever need out this way, please let me know. Your friend, Mark Canepa A return Thank You from Ralph Roberts - Tripoli Charlotte Prefect Mark: I am sure I speak for most if not all, that your influence on both clubs was tremendous. The many articles you wrote in the national rocketry magazines showed the rest of the rocketry world how well we did things in the Carolinas, even tough you took way too many pictures of Todd. Your good nature made everyone feel welcomed and when you were at launches you were always lending a hand and I thank you personally for that. You will be missed but your mark on Carolina rocketry will live on and you are welcome back at anytime. Good luck back in California. Sincerely, Ralph
News Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 4:30PM Setup/Tear Down Crew Standard Winter Hours - Setup at 10am and flying at 11am or sooner as setup permits. Tear down at dusk (5pm) Vendor Confirmed Ken Allen has said he will be attending the launch on both Saturday and Sunday. Food Fund Raiser for TARC Team Keegan & Charlie and their families will be trying to raise money for their TARC team at the next launch. They are talking about bringing pizza, drinks and baked goods on Saturday and baked goods and drinks on Sunday. No word on pricing yet but help them out if you can. Scratch Contest Hopefully both Ralph and Doug will be able to show off their creations and give Sandy a run for his money as the Scratch Build King. (We really need a trophy or crown for this...) Sincerely, Brad Shea ROCC President roccprez@rocketrycarolina.org
News Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 7:03PM Dudes: This is a dream come true!!!! Mark Wilson, a landowner of a huge field down near the South Carolina border off HWY 522 (the field lies between Plyler Mill Rd and Gus Eubanks Rd) called me out of the blue today to invite the club officers down for a look-see at his field to see if we would want to use it. Steve Haring, the Hobbytown USA, Monroe owner, gave him my contact information and he called. Now, after hearing is story he is looking to lease the land out for monetary gain, this won't be a freebee but who cares if the field works. They originally set up the field for steeplechase events in the mid 90s and it has power and water and camper hook-ups. It has a lot of potential. I would have posted sooner but Linda has been extremely ill today with the bout with the high fever again. Anyway, if everyone (current club officers and Orangeburg regulars) could free up some time next Saturday or Sunday to go take a look, he is awaiting us to call back to get this scheduled. If nothing else we could use this as a summer field or as a possible venue for NAR Sport Launch or dare I say an LDRS or other regional TRA event. We need to get a GPS reading on the field to check distance to the Charlotte and Monroe airports, as that will be the trick to get a descent waiver. Please let me know when you all are free and lets set it up ASAP. Thanks, Ralph "Can you believe this" Roberts
News Friday, January 23, 2009 at 1:34PM Makeup launch - 1/25 SUNDAY:
Due to the ever changing wind and weather forecasts we have changed our minds and are moving the makeup launch date to Sunday rather than Saturday. This avoids the rain and more importantly it sidesteps the predicted winds on Saturday. Ralph once again has given me the benefit of his wisdom and experience and concurs with my decision.
Standard Winter Hours:
Setup at 10am and flying at 11am or sooner as setup permits.
Waiver:
Doug was calling in the waiver for Sunday this afternoon.
Vendor:
Ken Allen indicated he might be able to make it on Sunday.
Sincerely,
Brad Shea
ROCC President
roccprez@rocketrycarolina.org
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