Cirruses have been racing quite literally since before they went into production, if you count the V-tailed prototype which flew in the 1967 German Nationals. The so-called "Cirrus B" has  enjoyed a splendid record in both World and U.S. National championships, and is still raced in Regional and Sports class contests over 30 years after its introduction.  Highlights of the competition record are given below by year:

The first year of the Cirrus in North America saw only one flying in the 1968 U.S. Nationals, and that was Gleb Derujinsky, flying No. 4, N1194. He placed 5^th overall in the contest, flown at Elmira, NY, and won the second contest day, on July 4, in a 104 mile out-and-return flight.

1969

The 1969 U. S. National Soaring Championships might be considered the high point for the Cirrus in competition on this continent. No fewer than eleven were entered, and they placed first and third!

1970

In June, the twelfth World Soaring Championships were held in the U.S. for the first time, in Marfa, TX.  Seven Cirruses competed, but curiously NONE were from the United States!  George Moffatt, who'd won the Nationals held in Marfa the year before, had moved from the Cirrus into the Nimbus - - and won the Worlds!

The Cirrus in the 1970 World Championship Marfa, Texas

In August,1970, Open Cirruses were down to seven in the U.S. Nationals, held at El Mirage Field, and the highest placed machine was only third, when "Big John" Brittingham flew No. 15 to third place for the second year in a row!

1971

By 1971 Cirruses were still very competitive in the United States, but the "hot" pilots had moved on to other ships.  While Robert Chase flew No. 25 to fourth place overall, he finished in the top ten only once!  Soaring magazine's coverage dwelled on the famous names of some pilots and tended to ignore the performance of two of the top five finishers.  (Gleb Derujinsky, the colorful pilot of No. 4 back in 1969, finished dead last in a Concept 70.)   One exception in the coverage with Dr. Ed Steinhoff's performance (finishing 60^th out of a field of 65) in No. 44; he made one finish with a straight-in glide that stopped with his nose about 6" over the finish line! Note that John Slack, who'd crashed in the 1969 Nationals and finished dead last (82^nd), demonstrated "come back power" in 1971 by not only continuing to compete, but finishing a decent 34^th.  One would think there still are some good stories here!

The Cirrus in the 1971 U.S Nationals

1972

Because the 13th World Championships were held in Yugoslavia at the same time the U.S. Nationals were being held in Minden, NV, several of the U.S. big names (Ben Greene, George Moffatt, Dick Johnson, and Andrew Smith) were in Europe rather than at the U.S. Nationals. That could explain why relative newcomers to the competition scene were flying them in the U.S. Nationals, and perhaps why they placed no higher than eleventh.

The Cirrus in the 1972 World Soaring Championships

The Cirrus in the 1972 U.S. Nationals