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The Pylon Place: Reno Air Races 2015 Recap – Part 1
By Marilyn Dash
The sun coming up on Strega. This was her year. (Anthony Taylor)What a great time! What a crowd! What amazing racing! This was the best year in a long time!
The week started out with great weather but lots of smoke from the many fires in California. When the wind blew in, the smoke blew out – but the winds brought a new set of issues. The wind was so bad on Sunday, several classes had to stand down from their allotted course time because the winds were above their limits – as addressed in the Rules of Competition.
But by Monday, everyone was back on the course and qualifying began in earnest. The Unlimiteds had two sessions for qualifying each day. By the end of Monday, Stevo Hinton had put up a time of 464.246. Not the fastest he’s ever gone, but the fastest of the day. Each class has their own rule, so in the Unlimiteds you can requalify if you want to better your time. Hinton probably thought this would hold, and if not, he could easily go back up by Wednesday to put a better number up.
Reno Air Race Report 2015
By Pete Shirk
Strega, Race 7 flown by “Hoot” Gibson. (Pete Shirk)Throughout the years, air racing at Reno has been a variety of aircraft and competitors. Races have ranged from wide-open competition to predictable win-by-predominant favorite. This year was wide-open competition, and although ultimately taken by a familiar pilot and machine, the combo was different than in the past.
Reno air racing has been interesting in the last several years with musical chairs being played by some of the top pilots who have rotated between various machines. Steve Hinton Jr. (“Stevo”) made racing history by winning at the age of only 22 in 2009 flying Strega, then following it up with wins in 2010, 2012, 2013 all in Strega, and then 2014, but in a different aircraft (Voodoo). Historically, top pilots have not moved around much. It has become interesting to see how someone who was a winner in one aircraft did when he went to another aircraft and a different team. There is a fair amount of “team chemistry” involved.
This year’s competitive scene saw the emergence of five top aircraft flown by highly experienced pilots. However, not all the machines made it to Reno.
The Pylon Place - October 2012
The Return to the Races
By Marilyn Dash
We expected it to feel different, and it did. We expected it to be more difficult, and it was. But we never expected it to be so cathartic. At least I didn’t.
The week started out earlier than usual. Racers were to be on the field by noon on the Saturday before the races. This is by far the earliest we were told to be there. But we were there and we were together.
It was good to see some of the new aircraft, new paint jobs, new owners, etc. And, of course, it was good to see all the new rookies and our old friends. Lots of hugs were exchanged and stories were shared about the off-season and how most of us were absolutely certain we wouldn’t be standing there – but we were.
Before I review the races, I wanted to share a quote from Tim Cone, rookie Sport Class racer, “What do they call the pilot who places LAST in the Bronze heat of a Reno Air Race? An Air Racer!” – And he’s right! Congrats to all the racers and especially the rookies.
Editorial: Reno Air Races 2012: Remembering a Tragedy and Experiencing a Rebirth
By Nicholas A. Veronico
The highly modified P-51D Strega has been in the winner’s circle 11 times, seven times with owner Bill “Tiger” Destefani at the controls and since 2009 with Steven Hinton at the stick. Here Strega awaits its pilot for the 2012 Unlimited Gold race with the class trophy gleaming in the afternoon sun. (Nicholas A. Veronico)The tragedy of 2011’s air races was still fresh in the minds of those in attendance at this year’s Reno National Championship Air Races. Others were visibly angry one year later, directing their hostilities toward the Galloping Ghost’s pilot, the air race organizers, and the sport of air racing in general. However, the majority in attendance sought to remember those that were lost while at the same time looking forward to years of safe air racing.
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) held solemn ceremonies in remembrance of the victims and in honor of the first responders. RARA also recognized the relatives of those who lost their lives, enabling these family members to achieve some semblance of closure. The majority of those in attendance at the races gave RARA high marks for how they handled this emotional anniversary.
The Pylon Place - March 2012
Records and Racing
By Marilyn Dash
Progress is being made, say officials for the Reno National Championship Air Races (RARA). Last month, RARA met with the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) to discuss obtaining the permits needed to hold the event at the Reno-Stead Airport in September.
RTAA is the owner and operator of the Reno-Tahoe International and Reno-Stead Airports. It is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees.
In this meeting, Mike Houghton, president of RARA told the airport officials that he is “totally satisfied” with the direction the board is taking in considering the permits.
Only two people spoke up against RARA at the RTAA meeting, both having had previous anti-RARA episodes. One of their stated concerns was the NTSB will not complete its probable cause report before the planned September 12 start of the 2012 event. This is quite standard; the NTSB generally takes up to three years to investigate such an accident.
The permits from RTAA are just one of the hurdles RARA needs to manage before the Pylon Racing Seminar in June and the Races in September can be held.
The next hurdle is the Air Racing Waiver from the FAA. This allows us to create the airspace necessary to hold such an event. Waivered airspace allows us to exceed the normal speed limits, fly in “close proximity” to other aircraft, etc. These two key items are essential to holding the event. But, they are not the only things on the task list.
The Pylon Place - August 2011
The Race for the Races
By Marilyn Dash
The P40’s - the usual suspects will be there, plus a few exiting new entries. (Anthony Taylor/Warbird Fotos)Each year around this time, all of the race teams are fervently working to get everything ready for September. This year is no different, and if possible, seems even more active. As always, things change quickly – so what we are going to discuss today is what we have so far. Things may change – you never know!
There are new planes and old friends joining us this year. The Unlimited Class will have a full field for the first time since 2007. New entries include Odegaards’ newest Corsair, #74 with the massive R-4360 powerplant. This aircraft was owned and raced by Cook Cleland back in the Cleveland Air Race days. This will be the second F2G the Odegaards have restored and raced. Many of you will remember the Super Corsair, #57 from a few years ago. This one is beautiful and should not disappoint any of the Corsair fans out there.
The Pylon Place - April 2011
Gratitude and Gossip and News
By Marilyn Dash
Writing this column is a labor of love and has brought an enormous amount of joy. When I receive a letter from a regular reader, who is a fan of the Air Races and knows me through my racing and my column – it really adds something and makes the effort each month worth it.
I received just such a letter after last month’s column about Women Air Racers at Reno. A gentleman from Modesto, CA named Bill Rose reminded me of a group of women I had forgotten. He also enclosed a wonderful letter and a wealth of information which I will go into in future months – but first I wanted to say “HELLO!” and “THANK YOU!” to Bill Rose. He and Gary Williams from Phoenix, AZ both have contributed to my knowledge and passed along their firsthand accounts of the early days. And, I appreciate the sharing enormously.
The Pylon Place - September 2010
Are You Ready for Some Reno?
By Marilyn Dash
As I write this, we have just a few weeks to go before the racers, crews, friends, family and fans migrate to the desert to watch the 47th National Championship Air Races at Reno, Nev. Since we covered the entries in detail last month, I wanted to share with you a few points of interest for this year, some guesses and a bit of trivia for the long time fans.
The Pylon Place - May 2010
Rare Bear Creator, World Record Holder and Motor Sports Hall of Famer Lyle Shelton has Gone West
By Marilyn Dash
Lyle Shelton after Rare Bear’s Gold Win. (Jan Peters)The Reno Air Races community is mourning the loss of yet another legend. Lyle Shelton died last month after a long illness.
You could say that Lyle Shelton became an air-racing champion because of a missed flight. Shelton was a Naval Aviator in 1964 when he took a month’s leave intending to travel around the world via space available military transportation. But, while in California after missing his flight to Hawaii, he came across an article in a magazine saying there was going to be an Inaugural Air Race in Reno. The idea of air racing intrigued him enough to abandon his journey and hop a ride to Nevada. He must have liked what he saw, because less than a year later he flew in his first air race.