Florida Open 2008

[outerlimits]

frank never posts the stages on his site-anyone have a match book they could scan for stage 9...would love to see it and replicate it.

[rgkeller]

No match books either.

[outerlimits]

stage 9, from watching the videos, looked pretty cool...i was surprised to see chris try to engage those last three poppers thru the port on the move...IIRC, he fired 8 rounds at them. since you had to get up there to get the last 3 paper, wonder why the risk, especially since he fired 28 rounds after the re-load? but then again, i didn't shoot the match. dave...see anyone else try that?

[XRe]

I didn't see anyone else try those on the move - Chris was somewhat behind at that point, so that might've been a bid to pick up some points. Obviously, anything you can take on the move helps your time, assuming you do it sharp and get points, so...

I picked a slightly different route - I wanted a safer engagement on that target to the left that they shot on the move, as it was an awkward target to hit that way, and I knew I was going to pin up somewhere for those poppers, which were much harder targets than the first three big poppers. So, I shot that left target and the poppers from one spot, and shot the rest on the way into and from the last position...

[L9X25]

I have been made aware of the fact that approximately 40 plaques were not distributed at the awards ceremony. The names and addresses of the winners have been compiled and the plaques are being mailed out to the winners this week .

[Flexmoney]

A quick note from Big Brother :

The forum is here for all of us to learn. It the only reason it's here, really. I know we (all) get caught up from time to time, but lets remember why we are here.

If we are going to go at each other, there is no reason to leave the thread open.

Lets learn. Lets share helpful information.

- Admin.

[Flexmoney]

I cleaned out a lot of the drift. I put it into two different threads...one for the popper talk and one on reason/excuses. Both of those threads will be closed...as we aren't moving in a positive direction with them.)

This thread is back open.

- Admin.

[Kevin Kline]

Who won the open shoot-off?

If I remember correctly, SmittyFL won Limited, Kevin Insco (who I had the pleasure to be squadded with) won Production and Lesgar won Open.

Yeah! Kevin won Production. .................

I just got lucky with a few good runs.

Daniel, I told you to take the popper.

It was a blast seeing and shooting with everyone.

[Wileecoyote]

This was my 9th year (so sorry I missed the first year too) at the match, and as usual, I really enjoyed myself.

I am very happy with the new schedule format. My only semi-negative comment is on the new prize structure. Frank caters to foreigners, this match has to be one of the highest density of foreigners in the USA. That's a really nice thing for him to do, be a good host in one of the greatest shooting regions in IPSC. The problem is, all these foreigners can't take the prizes they won, so giving out a lot of guns isn't a better thing. The side effect, as noted from CWPSA is less vendors due to the more expensive cost of admission and less people for us to shop at.

I know Frank struggles with prizes and tries really hard to be fair, but I don't think this was the right route for this particular match.

I'd prefer he go to all cash, myself - like the FIPT used to do.

[Charles Bond]

It fails me why anyone thinks that "Frank caters to foreign shooters." It could just as easily be said that he caters to yankees who escape the long cold winter for a week in the Florida sunshine.

Frank speaks spanish. Frank's match is close to a major airport with great international connections. Frank is well thought of throughout the international shooting community. Frank's match is the first major of the year and comes at a time when most of America is weathered in. The average middle aged male shooter has just finished taking care of all of his holiday responsibilities and is ready to do something to get back into shooting after putting up his guns after Thanksgiving. Frank has tremendous loyality from his range staff so shooters see the same faces running stages year after year and he has the broadest vendor support in the nature (anyone else have Coke as a sponsor?). It is not hard to understand why shooters from all over the world find this match attractive.

I think it would be better to say that Frank caters to shooters as did FIPT which I recall drew a substantial amount of foreign shooters for many of the same reasons as outlined above.

[scirocco38s]

It fails me why anyone thinks that "Frank caters to foreign shooters." It could just as easily be said that he caters to yankees who escape the long cold winter for a week in the Florida sunshine.

Frank speaks spanish. Frank's match is close to a major airport with great international connections. Frank is well thought of throughout the international shooting community. Frank's match is the first major of the year and comes at a time when most of America is weathered in. The average middle aged male shooter has just finished taking care of all of his holiday responsibilities and is ready to do something to get back into shooting after putting up his guns after Thanksgiving. Frank has tremendous loyality from his range staff so shooters see the same faces running stages year after year and he has the broadest vendor support in the nature (anyone else have Coke as a sponsor?). It is not hard to understand why shooters from all over the world find this match attractive.

I think it would be better to say that Frank caters to shooters as did FIPT which I recall drew a substantial amount of foreign shooters for many of the same reasons as outlined above.

Charles, I would agree with your statement. This year the foreign contingent was significantly down compared to previous years. I would know this as I have shot all of them except the first. The format is better with the half days, and it allows you to do some extera stuff in the area instead of staying at franks all day both days. The only real negaticce this year was 3 stages had some funny requirements and would not have been allowed as shot if the match had sought uspsa sanctioning. The price he was charging the vendors I felt was a little high but its franks match and he can run it as he see's fit. I will return next year as usual barring unforseen problems.

[Wileecoyote]

It fails me why anyone thinks that "Frank caters to foreign shooters." It could just as easily be said that he caters to yankees who escape the long cold winter for a week in the Florida sunshine.

Frank speaks spanish. Frank's match is close to a major airport with great international connections. Frank is well thought of throughout the international shooting community. Frank's match is the first major of the year and comes at a time when most of America is weathered in. The average middle aged male shooter has just finished taking care of all of his holiday responsibilities and is ready to do something to get back into shooting after putting up his guns after Thanksgiving. Frank has tremendous loyality from his range staff so shooters see the same faces running stages year after year and he has the broadest vendor support in the nature (anyone else have Coke as a sponsor?). It is not hard to understand why shooters from all over the world find this match attractive.

I think it would be better to say that Frank caters to shooters as did FIPT which I recall drew a substantial amount of foreign shooters for many of the same reasons as outlined above.

Charles, I would agree with your statement. This year the foreign contingent was significantly down compared to previous years. I would know this as I have shot all of them except the first. The format is better with the half days, and it allows you to do some extera stuff in the area instead of staying at franks all day both days. The only real negaticce this year was 3 stages had some funny requirements and would not have been allowed as shot if the match had sought uspsa sanctioning. The price he was charging the vendors I felt was a little high but its franks match and he can run it as he see's fit. I will return next year as usual barring unforseen problems.

Guys, please don't misunderstand me - when I say that "Frank Caters..." I mean he gives me the impression that goes out of his way to make us foreign shooters feel comfortable at his place. He's a great host, as are his team of people. I certainly did not mean to infer that he wants us any more than his US compatriots.

And as for the prize comment, I'd go to that match if there was just plaques. I just posted the same thing that I emailed to Frank, and he did ask for comments at the awards ceremony. What he does with them is absolutely his decision, as is any MD's.