What Gipson Needs to Remember: Grand American Handicap

The Grand American Handicap (GAH) must not be allowed to lapse, but it need not continue in its present form.

The GAH is just one event. It's a big event, but it's still just one event. "The Grand" has grown to include other events preceding the GAH, but these other events do not necessarily need to be shot at the same time as the GAH, if at all. The only true championship the ATA has is the GAH. No Singles and Doubles event is recognized as a clear champion in the way that the winner of the GAH is.

Gipson needs to remember that the GAH could be tacked onto the program of any major shoot, preferably at either Elysburg, Cardinal, Linn Creek, Vegas or Tucson.

Being a single event, if the major facility is already handling a large shoot, the facility can be reasonably expected to handle the GAH.

By adding the GAH

 

If it were in OH there would be 3,500 in the event alone. A bunch would go to PA as well but obviously you have not been there. Few would go to Linn Creek, Vegas, Tucson, or Texas in the summer.

 

Let's try this, again. The original post didn't contain everything I drafted.

The Grand American Handicap (GAH) must not be allowed to lapse, but it need not continue in its present form.

The GAH is just one event. It's a big event, but it's still just one event. "The Grand" has grown to include other events preceding the GAH, but these other events do not necessarily need to be shot at the same time as the GAH, if at all. The only true championship the ATA has is the GAH. No Singles and Doubles event is recognized as a clear champion in the way that the winner of the GAH is.

Gipson needs to remember that the GAH could be tacked onto the program of any major shoot, preferably at either Elysburg, Cardinal, Linn Creek, Vegas or Tucson.

Being a single event, if the major facility is already handling a large shoot, the facility can be reasonably expected to handle the GAH. If an event is operating without hordes of schoolkids, so can it operate without such labor with the GAH on the card. Looking at the GAH as a single event removes the need to place it in the dead of Summer requiring a mass of cheap labor and allows it to be moved closer to the end of the calendar year where it makes more sense and participants can be handicapped more accurately.

By adding the GAH to a card, the Autumn Grand, for example, would lose the "Autumn" designation and become the GAH, with other events as an undercard.

 

And what some "need to remember" is the "Grand" was a shoot, and now is a cash-cow. What need would there be for a six-figure 'employee' for a "tag on event" ????? And now many 'others' are paid to 'work' at the Grand.

The Sparta Grand is the bastard-child of incest driven by greed .... looking at it as an event for shooters is pointless.

 

The glitter of the Grand diminished a long time ago, even before the relocation to Sparta, Ill to dim the attraction even more ... The ATA, EC, ED, and some of the BOD feel its the Big One (Lizbeth "Fred Sanford") but the majority of shooters who shot, used to shoot,and some that still do attend are less than impressed ... The ATA EC, ED, and some of the BOD use it as their play time and a gathering paid for by the members under the guise of "Official Business" , which in todays world of technology could just as well be done on a conference call ... The EC, Ed, and BOD should be made to mingle with the people they are supposed to represent, not just the chosen few ... The grand as most of us know it is gone but will probably never be forgotten ... If the shoot is not moved for the betterment of the shoot itself it will only die a slow and agonizing death in time ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

I wonder if the Vandalia Site can be Reopened with the help of the Dayton Ohio & Vandalia businesses along with the BBB
and Cooperation of the Dayton Airport, It would require trimming down the events, do away with Preliminary days.
Hold Singles Championship a 100 bird event, Doubles Championship 100 bird event, Handicap Yardage Championship 100 bird event, Grand American Handicap Event 100 bird event. One event per day, and this is a 4 Day Shoot.
Day 1 Singles Championship

Day 2 Doubles Championship

Day 3 Handicap Yardage Championship

Day 4 Grand American Championship

Shoot Starting on Tuesday

Monday is all traps open for practice only, some set up for Doubles

Businesses contribute Trapshooting items for prizes, Businesses combine monies for major prizes.

This allows lots of travel time for long distance shooters to attend.

This 4 day event allows your average shooter to play all 4 days of shooting, I personally believe attendance will be great, could be greater than ever before. 5 days of shooting, Monday Practice, just like the big Golf Tournaments, one day for all the marbles of that event.

Lots of time for the shooters to Vendor Buying/Vendors to offer good buys w/deep discounts!!!!!!

And socializing at Soda/Beer Tent!!!! Chicken/Fish Fry

What do you guys think of this Idea?

PS. This could be open to any gun club that has enough traps/camping/motels/hotels/etc. that has businesses involved

Gary Bryant..............................Dr.longshot

 

On Monday of the above there could be an event for Army/ Navy/ Marines/ Air Force/ Coast Guard/ teams, high 5 man team from each Military Organization Shoot off for Championship, I like this for our military, this would include active military and former military men/women, w/help of that military organization, to allow active members to compete, like the ARMY/NAVY/AIR FORCE/MARINES Football Games.

Gary Bryant.......................Dr.longshot

 

There would be no need to go to all of the expense of re opening or rebuilding the Vandalia site, they have Cardinal Center ... TSA would have a field day with any event that would include guns that close to an airport ... The ATA feels the need for additional rather not less events and more trinkets to please those who attend ... If they (ATA) are on top of things they won't put the year or president of the ATA's name on them anymore so they can use them year after year until they are gone ... If the ATA stays in Sparta the attendance will continue on its down word spiral and either the State of the ATA will be picking up the tab ... The Illinois Governor stated there will be Major cuts that a lot of people will not like before he agrees to any budget deals offered, per the States web site ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

All this negativity! The best will continue to be the best regardless what program you devise and the location means very little to them. Just look at the shooter quantity and the states they represent. Moving it farther away from the shooter base will only reduce the participants even farther. Everyone would like to have it nearby their location but that just can't happen. The day of shooting for the title and a new car are gone forever. Just be happy that you can participate & hope it's your day to put your name in lights!.

 

and then Jack you continue your own brand of negativity.......

Jack.......a lot of us think positive changes can be made. Some are trying to bring the sport back. I think it can be done. Maybe not with this org. Not with our flag shoot in Illinois. Not with the present morons in the EC. Not with cowards as delegates. Not with trap shooters drinking the ATA kool ade.

 

It seems pretty obvious that there is a movement to completely restructure the ATA from the broom pushers to the top of the heap. I personally do not know all the nitty gritty and would refrain from making a decision at this point. It's not my function to ruffle feathers but if I can get under your skin with that little paragraph, just think what will come in the future from the masses. The only method to make positive changes is to elect the type of leadership you feel will provide it for you.

 

Too late. In ten years you could have the right people make it thru the ata matrix. Start over.

 

The problem is the Monopoly and the way the ATA has the EC structured to push forth the agenda's without the use of common sense, logic, and reasoning ... They look at today and maybe tomorrow but not beyond that which has become obvious as of late ... The EC tells the BOD how to vote, not why or with any explanation and they are off and running ... The ATA has become the EC and some of the BOD's cash cow ... I have asked for a P&L , or financial statement to see exactly where the money is going and get no response ... I have been informed that the Association has been reported to the Ill Attorney General and the Feds so we will all see what happens if and when that comes about ... You will never get the right people in the right places because the existing EC and most of the BOD (standing in line to get on the EC) will never let it happen so it all gets exposed to the general membership ... The time will come and when it does I hope they pay and pay dearly ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Lynn (the Talking Head) Gipson seems to be awful quiet and no comments on any directions as of late ... What gives ..? WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The ATA and Lynn (the Talking Head) Gipson feel the grand is owed to the members and is not something that should not happen for the sake and the good of the shooters ... What they are actually saying is the ATA needs (wants) the show to go on so the grand can generate money for the ATA even if the State of Illinois adds to its deficit, which if has for the past 11 years by over 23 million dollars ... They (ATA and ED) talk about amounts of money (20/30 million dollars in the region) (10 million in the local economy) generated that have never and will be be reached if the grand stays there forever or goes anyplace else for that matter ... If the ATA rents the facility to keep the grand going they are going to lose a lot of members money based on the attendance records since the move to Illinois (Sparta) ... The situation the State of Illinois in in and faced with regarding the States Budget far exceeds the importance of the grand to the State Elected Officials, so this will be interesting ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Lynn (the talking Head) Gipson is being paid just under $2500 per week in his position.


Gary Bryant.........................Dr.longshot