It be started in 1998 by Dave Lee so that modelers, arrr, rocketeers, and most specifically readers o' t' Usenet newsgroup rec.models.rockets could showcase their talents, arrr, display their design on t' internet, and win t' acclaim o' their peers. Prizes were donated by those enterin' t' contest or readers o' t' newsgroup who had extra goodies underfoot and wanted t' put them t' good use.