Glen,
I really do not know what to say, you are so dedicated to this club, this whole thing. I am really grateful.

I have to say now I can not make the 24th I have a shooting match in Port Colborne first of the season. Curtis we will have to arrange a way for me to get the Sherman before the Oshawa event.

tomzag wrote:

Glen,
I really do not know what to say, you are so dedicated to this club, this whole thing. I am really grateful.

Thanks


To be honest, since late last summer I have been experiencing "fatigue" from being involved with field preparation, mostly grass cutting.


The field needs to be cut weekly this time of year, which means loading up the mower and going out and spending at least an hour there.  It takes longer the evening before a meet.


This is on top of my own lawn that takes 1 1/2 hours and the other things I have to do, or would like to do.  This would not be too much of a thing if I was retired but that is at least 3 years away.


The tank field has to be cut with a hand mower, since a rider would damage the hills and other "features".


I have been the only one who has been able to consistently come out and cut the grass, for a number of reasons.  This can wear you down after a while.


I am by no means the only one who does things for the club, some others do a lot for the club, as well; to the point where it takes time from them working on their tanks, or running them at meets.




Weather Explanation


Good weather the day of the meet is not enough.


We need good enough conditions the week before the meet to allow the field to be dry enough to prepare and use; I need a rain free Thurs. or Fri. right before the meet to be able to get it cut and trimmed.


I keep track of the weather several times/day, every day for several reasons but one of them is to try to gage the ability to have a meet.


Up until late summer 2013, we became quite used to having excellent weather and it was easy to schedule and call meets.


Starting in Sept. 2013, we started getting large volumes of rain, the ground did not dry out last fall.  This was followed by a winter with a lot of snow, this melted but did not dry out before the spring rains.  We have had 2+ inches of rain this week alone, I still have pools of water on my lawn.


This is why our schedules are messed up and the unpopular decision has to be made to postpone meets.




I really hope that we see a change in these weather patterns, soon, for many reasons.

Glen,     
you are the reason why Stince come to battle day every time. hat off to both of you!!!

topher I'll mail u and we can work something out

tomzag wrote:

Glen,     
you are the reason why Stince come to battle day every time. hat off to both of you!!!

I want the club to keep going for a lot of reasons, so I normally don't mind doing the maintenance on the field.

After thinking about it, the problem for me started when we began getting larger volumes of rain last September.

Up to last Sept., I have the option of doing the maintenance cuts when it was convenient for me, because the field was usually dry.

With the wet conditions, there are fewer opportunities to work on the field and this competes with the other outside stuff I have, or want, to do; so this makes it much more of a chore.

I am hoping this period of wet weather will come to an end sometime soon, once it does, I will feel better about maintaining the field.


I want to keep things going, I can see retirement approaching in the next 3 or so years, and I plan on the hobby to be one of my key retirement activities.

Freakydude wrote:

topher I'll mail u and we can work something out

You may be aware of this but in case you are not, the club where the shoot is is east of Port Colborne, north of Hwy 3, just off Brookfield Rd. and is less than 20 minutes from the tank field.

The only thing is, if he is out on the range, back in the bush, it might be challenging to meet up.

Of course, the big "IF" in that opportunity is will the weather and ground conditions let us hold a May 24th meet.

as long as someone can give me a ride from Hamilton, I'll come out and help with any landscaping that is needed. just give me a couple days notice.

pzkpfw_steve wrote:

as long as someone can give me a ride from Hamilton, I'll come out and help with any landscaping that is needed. just give me a couple days notice.

  
Thanks

Quote :

So if wanting clear update's on the battle dates is too much to ask them I apologize.

Frank,

If you have a problem or concern with an individual, this forum is not the place for you to post your issues.  Please keep posts professional and matters of a personal concern, leave them to Pm's.


...PM sent.


Stinger

I am watching the weather for a potential meet on May 24th.

It is too early to get a good prediction for the weather but here is the site I watch;

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Buffalo&state=NY&site=BUF&textField1=42.8898&textField2=-78.8597&e=0#.U3qoHvldVL1

So far it has a favourable prediction for the weekend but my concern is that there is a potential for rain on each day, Tues. through Fri., if this is right, it will mess up the field and field prep.

Its too early to tell for sure, as they say, watch this space.

Here is the site I have used for over 10 years for our outdoor events that we merchandise at. Festivals, airshows, etc... I found it to be the most accurate. of all of them.

http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day/CAXX0143

dgsselkirk wrote:

Here is the site I have used for over 10 years for our outdoor events that we merchandise at. Festivals, airshows, etc... I found it to be the most accurate. of all of them.

http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day/CAXX0143

THX Dean but still looks like a wash  

Lets hope we see an improvement in the weather trends and that we can carry on with the June 14th Meet.

After having very good luck with weather from when we started in the fall of 2010, up to Sept. 2013, we had very good luck with the weather.

Then the bottom fell out of things and we have had to cancel an unprecedented 4 meets in a row, Oct. & Nov. 2013 and April & May 2014.



Thanks, Wayne, for doing a maintenance cut on the field last week, that was on the "dry" day, prior to yesterday's rain.


If we can just get things dried out, it will turn around for us and we can start back into outdoor meets on the field, again

I am very pleased to report that we have had great drying weather here.

Even "the swamp" in the back corner of my yard is dry enough to cut.

Things appear to be looking up, here.

I am charging batteries for the 14th  

i got my panzer4 all back together but it may be running a the tiger heart. still can't get the KT turret to turn without getting stuck

The field is in good shape and ready for tomorrow.

This is a double post, there is an identical one on the Meet announcement thread but I do not want anyone to miss the message;

We are monitoring the weather forecasts closely.

The field is being prepared today but watch this thread and the website for updates.

Website: http://canamtankclub.com/

Before heading out, check these references to avoid disappointment, the weather is changeable this year.

Wayne and I got the field ready today

sorry I am a no go tomorrow. life has booked other appointments on my schedule without my permission. Life out ranks me though so what can I do.....

Glen B wrote:

Wayne and I got the field ready today

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

Freakydude wrote:

sorry I am a no go tomorrow. life has booked other appointments on my schedule without my permission. Life out ranks me though so what can I do.....

Tomorrow or Sunday? It's been postponed

In regards to Oct. 4th, I am watching the weather forecast. We need good weather, obviously on the Sat. but also on the Fri. to prep the field.

There are some concerns, but it is early, we will have to make a call on it later this week.

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/canada/ontario/fort-erie

I gave the Can Am field its first cut, tonight.

It had got pretty wild since I last saw it about 10 days ago, it had grown like something in the tropics.





I usually cut it at a 2" setting (any lower and the wheels on the mower don't roll, the deck slides), I cut my own grass when I use it to trim at 3"; but I had to cut the field at 4", or the mower would stall.


I finished up with it looking like this;





Not great, but a starting point.

It is going to take some work to get it into shape for June.

It will have to be cut progressively shorter, and the "hay" dealt with.