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The Pylon Place: Pylon Racing Seminar 2016
By Marilyn Dash
The International Formula 1 PRS 2016 Class (Anthony Taylor/warbirdfotos.com)In 1997, it was decided there should be a better way to help prepare pilots for the National Championship Air Races held each year in September, in Reno, Nev. Previously, hopeful race pilots may arrive a few days early in September and be taken through a series of air maneuvers the weekend before the races. As the races started to attract more classes and more racers, a better, more structured training became necessary.
This June marked the 19th Pylon Racing Seminar AKA Rookie School. And—for the fourth year in a row—a record number of participants were in attendance. Between the six race classes, 79 airplanes and 130 participants from all over the world made their way to Stead to practice, qualify, and have fun.
The Pylon Place: 2014 NCAR Review
Part 1
By Marilyn Dash
The 2014 National Championship Air Races (NCAR) will be remembered for several record-breaking moments. Let’s get started in Part 1 of our two-part review
International Formula 1
Steve Senegal in his Record Setting Racer, Endeavor (Anthony Taylor)IF1 already had a great year. They were able to add a race in Spain earlier this summer with a handful of our racers heading over there to race and monitor the event. It seems there will be even more races for them in 2015. That is great news for a truly competitive class with a reasonable financial entry point. (Hint–to all those wannabe racers out there!)
This year at NCAR, the racing was amazing as always. So many of these race planes are evenly matched, which creates close, competitive racing.
Steve Senegal in Endeavor set a course record with 267.289 mph, beating Jon Sharp’s old record of 263.188 set in 1999. Senegal also took the Gold on Sunday for his fifth win. Congrats to Steve and Team Endeavor!
The Pylon Place - April 2014
Saving the Reno Air Races
By Marilyn Dash
T6s battling it out on the racecourse. (Bruce Croft/20 West)What can be done to save the Reno Air Races? This is the question posed to me by so many air-racing fans. We know changes are being made – but – are they enough? Are these changes coming too late? What are the signs we should be looking for to see if the changes are working?
RARA has made several announcements lately – including the dismissal of Michael Houghton, the President and the paring down of the paid staff to six individuals. Recent news adds a reduction in the Board of Directors from more than 20 members to a total of seven.
The Pylon Place - September 2013
50th Anniversary of the National Championship Air Races
By Marilyn Dash
It’s that time again. The crews are making the final touches on the race planes and the pilots are testing and growing more focused every day. The drama that is Air Racing is ready to play out in front of our incredibly loyal fans. Let’s take a look at who will be there and what to expect.
Unlimited
At this point, we have 16 aircraft on the roster. While not the largest number of entries, the fans should be pleased with the caliber of racers. Let’s take a look at what to expect…
Voodoo is back. Yes, after a year off, Bob Button decided to come back in a big way. He decided to put together his dream team and go for that elusive win. Stevo Hinton will be flying Voodoo this year. And Kerch is back as the team adviser, in what we are affectionately calling, “Yoda and the Kid.” They are having fun, they are focused on winning and they are the team to beat right now.
Button’s Voodoo is Back – with Yoda and the Kid (Anthony Taylor/Warbird Photos.com)
Rare Bear has made the trip to Texas and back for a tweaking by Nelson Ezell and his crew of warbird whisperers. A wave of their magic wand and maybe the Rare Bear will be back to her winning form? With Stewart Dawson in the seat and a hungry owner in Rod Lewis, is this their year?
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.
The Pylon Place - September 2012
Reno Air Racing Prep - 2012
By Marilyn Dash
Keeping up with the news surrounding the Reno Air Races this year has been exhausting. Racers and fans alike have so many questions, i.e., are we racing, what changes will we see, who will be there, who won’t, will the fans notice any changes? These are all good questions. I hope that I have, through this column, helped everyone understand what the process has been following the horrific event of September 16, 2011. I have tried to listen to the questions the fans have been asking and answer them here.
The Pylon Place - July 2012
Rancho Murieta Airshow is BACK!
By Marilyn Dash
Argonaut with the smoke generators - always exciting to watch. (Ken Linde)Twenty-five years ago, the Rancho Murieta Airshow was legendary. This small privately owned airport southeast of Sacramento was centrally located to several military bases. Because of this proximity, during their heyday they were able to attract military acts from Mather, McClellan, and Beale to name a few. Pictures from those days show U2s, B-52s and even an SR-71 making appearances to the delight of crowds.
This year the new airport owner, Bradley Beer, along with Air Boss, Mike Smith joined together with local businesses and airport tenants to bring back the glory days in celebration of Armed Forces Day. With only three months to plan and put on the show, this was a great event all around.
NTSB Provides Investigative Update and Issues Recommendations to Increase Safety at Air Races
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provided an investigative update on April 10, 2012, on last year’s crash of a highly modified P-51D airplane at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nev. On Sept. 16, 2011, the pilot of the Galloping Ghost experienced an upset while turning between pylons 8 and 9 on the racecourse. The airplane crashed on the ramp in the box seat spectator area. The pilot and 10 spectators were killed and more than 60 others were injured.
In addition to the investigative update, NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman announced that the agency was issuing a total of seven safety recommendations to make the National Championship Air Races a safer event for pilots and spectators alike.
“We are not here to put a stop to air racing,” said Chairman Hersman. “We are here to make it safer.”
The Pylon Place - May 2012
State of the Races
By Marilyn Dash
Waiting for September (Mike Arnold)On April 10, the NTSB presented their preliminary recommendations during a well-attended Press Conference at the Reno Tahoe Airport. Unable to attend in person, I was able to view the on-line version. I will say, the first time I really believed we were racing in September was after I heard the words of NTSB Chairperson, Deborah Hersman, state, “We are not here to put a stop to air racing, we are here to make it safer.” With those words, I saw a bright light at the end of this long, dark tunnel.
During the conference, several recommendations were addressed. I will review several here and give my comments.
Reno National Championship Air Races introduces Blue Ribbon Review Panel; Announces Dates for 2012 Event
In a press conference to discuss the future of the National Championship Air Races, the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) announced on Jan. 4 the formation of a Blue Ribbon Review Panel to study the event. The panel will examine any possible changes or modifications that could be made to enhance the already high level of safety established by the FAA and existing RARA procedures.
RARA also announced that, despite many challenges in the near and long‐term future, they are planning to hold the 49th Annual National Championship Air Races at the Reno‐Stead Airfield, Sept. 12 – 16, 2012.
The Pylon Place - January 2012
Off Season Racing – The 24 Hours of LeMons!
$500 doesn’t buy you much when it comes to race cars. (Photo courtesy of Craig Driver)
By Marilyn Dash
Fans ask me all the time what we do in the off-season. We spend so much time getting ready for the Air Races in September. We generally get together in June and for many weekends each year for testing. Then we spend about two weeks together during September. But what do we do about the rest of the year? Well, this year, Team Ruby hopes to have a much better answer to the question.
The Pylon Place - November 2011
What Happens Next?
By Marilyn Dash
(Tim Adams)It’s just over a month since the horrible incident which ended the 2011 National Championship Air Races at Reno. My email has been filled with requests for information about the future of Air Racing.
To tell you the truth, I don’t know – yet. But, I will tell you what I do know.
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has been putting together a top notch event for 48 years. This is over twice as long as the Cleveland Air Races. They have seen other competitive races come and go through the years. In good times and bad times, they made it work.
RARA has leaned heavily on the use of volunteers. Very few people are actually paid employees of the Races. Many volunteers are highly trained, including the timers, pylon judges and scorers. The contest committee is led by a retired USAF General, Ron Fogleman. The board is filled with retired military and local business leaders. At one point I heard they use more than 1,500 volunteers each year to make it work.
The Pylon Place - July 2011
Air Racers 3D - Force of Flight
By Marilyn Dash
The phone rang. A voice on the other end of the phone asked me if I would be interested in taking part in the Air Racers 3D IMAX movie being filmed about the Reno Air Races. Would I? Really? Of course I would! More phone calls, more emails, small moments of hysteria, and I was on my way to Reno to take part in the project.
From the press release: “Through the eyes of first-time competitor and rookie pilot Steve Hinton Jr., son of champion air racer and acrobatic pilot Steve Hinton, the film will chronicle the preparation for and competition in the world’s fastest motor sport: the legendary Reno National 
IMAX filming in preparation for the Air Racers - 3D movie (3D Entertainment)Championship Air Races. The film will be in IMAX 3D and 2D theatres in the US beginning in the fall.”
The Pylon Place - November 2010
Part 2
Reno Air Races : The Lesser Known Stories
By Marilyn Dash
Last month we looked at some of the highlights and lowlights of the 2010 National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nev. This month, I wanted to look at some of the lesser known stories and answer some of the questions being asked by the fans.
There is some amazing racing going on, but not always for the Gold. How many of you were able to catch some of these epic races hidden away in the background.