Luck of the draw...
- Two years ago, I requested 36 and the plane ahead of me was assigned 36, which he didn't want, and I was assigned 27. The yakkity controllers left no time for pilots to speak up. Then again, there are always the idiots who get on the radio 10 miles from Ripon and ask for instructions...
- Several years ago, I requested and got 18. Took all of the 40 degrees flap on the Cessna to get down where I was requested.
And then... two years ago, I was following a Swift, mis-identified by ATC as an RV. Downwind to 27, really, really tight in, he turned base, but didn't turn final to 27, but aimed for 36, against traffic. There was fur and feathers on frequency as they steered him out of harm's way. Looking down at the "tower," I could see four sets of eyes watching the Swift, the frequency was congested, so I just went ahead and landed on 27 and turned off into the grass. Before I got off frequency, I heard the tower folks say no, you're doing it again...
A few days later, I was talking to a Pink Shirt (Oshkosh controller) and told him my story. He said that I had done the right thing, and that this happened a few times every year.
So be real careful! Know the NOTAM cold, have it in the cockpit, and be able to fly the most amazing traffic patterns you've ever attempted while all around you may be doing spectacular things, and not in the good sense.