Levin

1. Slooow downnn 2. Trade in the sports car or 4x4 3. Get a cheaper older car 4. Get your spouse and kids off your policy 5. Shop around 6. Liability only 7. Security device 8. Driver's Ed. yep them darn lawsuits make everybody's premiums go up. but I doubt everyone's stupidly high premiums are only high because of everyone else's law suits.

trying to grasp that new bumper but I just can't seem to see it for all that FREE $MONEY$!! if you really fight against frivilous lawsuits everyday then surely you can come up with a better analogy than that. funny though all european drivers should definetly have to sign a waiver. That way they can't sue the highway department when they wreck with just themselves.

He should have played dead. Just fall over on the horn or something and try to keep a straight near death face. Insurance companies pay 2.5 - 3.5 x's the cost of medical bills. If the ambulance ride cost $400 then the insurance company would have paid $1000 - $1400 just for the ambulance ride. After paying the ambulance bill that would have left him with $600 -$1000 just for riding in an ambulance. Then there's the ER bill and the chiropracter. Alot of ambulance chasing lawyers have crooked chiropracters on retainer. Easily rack up a few more thousand. May be a little dishonest, but on the other hand it's 4 digits and the first one usually isn't a 1. Had he been able to keep the other driver at the scene and had the person been drinking (may have ben since they took off) the settlement would have been 5 digits and your college student nephew wouldn't be starving anymore. Even though he missed the jackpot, all may not be lost. If your nephew has PIP he may be able to collect $2500 from his own policy.

I'll be there too! I have an original classic bird-man suit that will be available if anyone wants to jump it. Only thing is the suit is white so ya gotta be able to stand up your landings. No more grass stains. It'll fit anyone around 5'8" and a 130-150 lbs.

freestyle is from a tailgate. dunno about the rest.

g.) weightvest/belts

$5 a minute but you have to pay for at least 10 minutes. cya this weekend!

QuoteHey buddy...do you really think I am that stupid? reply] that's the thing. nobody does. add to that your young, bold and talented and you have a recipe for over confidence that can lead to poor judgement. so, yah, i was alarmed. would have gotten back to this earlier but we've been without power for 2 days. yall missed some pretty cool storms. we'll see about that ball jump next time I see ya.

Long time no talk. I'm back out at Skydive Houston this weekend and I heard about this post from 4 different people. I think that's interesting considering the date you made it. I think people that know you have taken this seriously or are at the least a little concerned. Kinda funny listening about it the third time. That's when it all of the sudden dawned on me that that's my wingsuit. I had to take a short break from jumping. Way back then, Ted had my suit. I can't remember how or when you got it, but I told Brit that I didn't mind if you jumped it (airplane). For the number of jumps you have, you are a very talented freeflyer. However inlite of this post I think you are an very ignorant BASE jumper. I don't mean that in an ugly way, just what I think is an obvious truth. I don't think I have spoke to you since last October and that was before you started BASE jumping. Therefore I can't understand why what you wrote reads the way it does. According to the way it reads "his wingsuit" can only refer to me. I would like my suit back as soon as possible. Not just because I'm all of the sudden having trouble trusting you with it, but also because since I'm back to jumping again; I might need it. I'll be at the DZ thru Monday. Looking forward to some freefly jumps.

Cool picture on the cover of skydiving magazine. Levin vSCS#3 www.freeflyers.com

It's my understanding that last year alchemy did not submit their speed round because they realized they were the ones that worked hard to produce those dives and the videos and when they gave them to the omniskore people , they didn't get anything in return. Omniskore on the other hand makes the Nationals video with everybody elses videos and then keeps 100% of the profits. That's why you didn't see Alchemy's speed round on last years Nationals video. I expect this years Nationals video will be even less complete. Levin vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com edit: typos

Congratulations! Wow, you guys progressed a very long ways in such a short time. I can't wait to see the video. Good Job! Levin vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com

I understand where you are coming from. A new system would be easily accepted and implicated if it was sponsored by the USPA. However there are several serious problems with this suggestion. IMO, the difference between self-regulation and over regulation is when unnecessary regulation can be enforced or made law. USPA’s role is best left limited to student training programs and instructor ratings that pertain to training students only. I think any interference by the USPA in the actual disciplines that experienced skydivers enjoy will only have a negative effect. Once of the student program or past the ‘A’ license, we do not need USPA telling us how to go about our skydives. We can tell that for ourselves; which keeps our disciplines self-regulated. For example, say you had just a couple of hundred jumps and some freefly skygod saw you trying to learn headdown. Suppose he came up and told you not to be trying headdown until you’ve reached a certain level of proficiency in your sit. You’d probably laugh in his face. Now, what if USPA told you the same thing. Instead of laughing you’re now pissed thinking that’s bullshit and a non-group member DZ suddenly sounds all the more appealing. As far as skyballs are concerned, they are only legal if they are retrieved. USPA will not endorse a test that uses them. Not only because of FAR’s but also because if they say spaceballs are okay and then somebody gets killed by one on the ground, the USPA could possibly be held liable to some degree in a lawsuit. In regards to marginalizing Olav’s influence/control, he completely dumped his AD system over hear and moved to Europe. Thru the active role he is taking hear in the states, it doesn’t appear he has any influence/control. I haven’t seen the systems for the UK and the French. If you have them available, would you post their systems or a link. Levin vSCS#3 www.freeflyers.com

i was actually just poking fun at the belly fliers that won. they are heavy enough that they naturally fall faster. but in answer to your question, yes, if they want to wear weights they can. but to my knowledge no one that has entered so far has worn weights. Levin vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com

I'm sorry I didn't let you know sooner. Kinda hard to plan for it after being re-scheduled twice. I made a quick decision between that weekend and another after Nationals with shorter and colder days. You'll have most likely 5 chances to compete next year. I think it's interesting to note... 2002 1st place - Thomas 292mph - freeflyer - 165 lbs 2nd place - John 250mph - style jumper -250 lbs 2003 1st - David - 320mph - bellyflyer - 250 lbs 2nd - Thomas - 310mph - freeflyer -165 lbs 3rd - Doug - 307 mph - freeflyer - 160 lbs 2 freeflyers, 1 stylist, 1 bellyflyer. I think that definetly says you don't have to be a freeflyer to go fast. But on the other hand if your not a freeflyer, extra weight may help. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCS#3 www.freeflyers.com

When and where is yalls competition? What I have in mind is a state league consisting of probably 5 meets with the majority of the prize value going to the overall league winner. Dallas and Houston are 5 hrs apart. I think anymore travel time than that would be less practical for competitors to travel to 3 of 5 meets. I agree that in the end the best way to achieve an ultimate goal is to work together. But for what I'm trying to do, I think the complications would outweight the benefits of integrating one of the "Fastest Man" competitons into another that is out of state and structured slightly different. But I will stay open minded to the idea as well as any other suggestions. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com

or mismatched or not properly fitted. i know which guy your talking about. i was under the impression that the pouch on his rig was too big (or pilot chute too small). IMO, if it happened once it'll happen again. Instead of getting the problem fixed he continued to jump it. Since the problem was first indentified due to incident, I think if the rigger failed to see the problem then he should have asked another rigger. Therefore, I don't think it's entirely fair to place all the blame for the second premature deployment on the manufacturer. Instead place it on the jumper (and those on that dive that knew) for a little bit of complacency that could have resulted in tragedy had someone been above him. not trying to rant, just giving another perspective to your story. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCR#17 http://www.freeflyers.com

Glad you had fun Marc. It's going to be even better next year. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com

I used max speed last year and it worked pretty well. Thomas wore 2 on one jump and they both read the same (270mph). Mark VanDyke wore won for fun on a freefly jump to see if a max speed was possible from a lower altitude. Although not entirely safe, at 7k feet he shot down away from the dive and achieved his best speed of 295mph in just a few seconds. Since there were only 8 competitors this year and only 2 had tried a speed dive before I figured max speed would be more fun. The software would be helpful for the contest but I didn't have a copy available. Next year the "Fastest Man" contest will be a state wide league with 4 or 5 meets. It will be modeled similar to what the folks across the pond are doing. 2 Pro-Tracks, average speeds, Jump-track software, more prizes including $$$. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCS#3 www.freeflyers.com

1st place was Donald McDavid with a max speed of 320mph. Donald won a plaque, free Pro-Track, Free pair of Firefly freefly pants and free full day of jumps at Skydive Houston. 2nd place was Thomas McDow with a max speed of 310mph. Thomas won a plaque, free Pro-Dytter, 50% off a pair of Firefly free pants and 5 free jumps at Skydive Houston. 3rd place was Doug Dickie with a max speed of 307mph. Doug won a plaque and 3 free jumps at Skydive Houston. Thanks to the sponsors for the prizes. Glad everybody had a good time. Be looking forward to something even better next year. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com

not quite yet, but check back soon. i'll try not to keep ya waiting much longer. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCS#3 www.freeflyers.com

Spaceland's annual Fly Free Festival is somewhere around the end of March. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com

just to clear up any confusion. contestants supply their own audible altimeter for use in their helmet as an audible altimeter. Pro-Tracks used to record contest speeds are provided by L&B. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com

just to clear up any confusion. contestants supply their own audible altimeter for use in their helmet as an audible altimeter. Pro-Tracks used to record contest speeds are provided by L&B. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com

My tube is 20 inches in diameter and designed with a two leg attachment system. I haven't jumped the other system so I can't say what I would perfer to fly. For deployment I think a double attachment is best. My tube attaches in between my feet. I deploy with my legs straight out. With my legs straight the attachment system angles the tube 45 degrees to the ground. Air enters the tube and inflates it 6 inches behind my feet giving my canopy more clearance during opening. Levin AeRodeo Freefly vSCR#17 www.freeflyers.com