1. I think it's a great idea that would open up at least one race to the many folks who aren't up to/for the Robe race.

2. Is there a legal precedent out there that would deem anyone who suggested that it would be fun to gather and run the Cooper as fast as possible in timed-pairs is an event-organizer and legally liable as such? If not, I wonder if making the thing totally informal and outside the parameters of permitted/insured racing wouldn't be a better way to go for at least the first year.

As I said I'm no lawyer, so I have no idea if simply drawing up a statement saying that "There will *not* be an informal timed-pairs race on the Cooper on July XXth at 12:00PM, we will not need volunteer timers at the start and finish and safety crews at Norms, S-Turn, and Sharks-Tooth, so interested parties should not show up at the takeout at 10:00 for a pre-run meeting and be at the put-in and ready to roll by 11:15...." would pass muster and keep whoever published it from being sued into oblivion if anyone was killed or seriously injured during the race. I hope so, but probably not - so it's probably a terrible idea....

Grass roots is this: meet at the take out. One take out timer and last racer does their own start time as well as start times for all others. The only people that need to know are those who may or may not show up to boat down the river when someone happens to be keeping track. This is how many grassroots races operate. I vote for the weekend of the 12th, but there may not be enough water.