WIX Archives

Reno Monday

Posted by Chuck on Mon Sep 16, 2002 06:48:05 PM

I realize that I didn't post any info yesterday after the races. I was on the remp from 0600 to 0900 and I was beat. I went out to the airport before sunrise this morning and photographed the racers as they preapred to leave for home. It was a great opportunity to get close to the planes and get great shots. John Bagley's P-63 and P-51 "Old Yeller" flew by for a photo pass on the way out. I wound up meeting the pilot of the Firefly and got to talking to him for a bit. I helped him wash the dirt off of it which took about 4 hours. The restoration is 101% and the Firefly is just an awesome airplane! Later he let me take cockpit photos and get some great shots of the plane. Anyone jealous? It was a great morning. The Firefly took off for a photo shoot with Michael Oleary in the B-25 "Pacific Princess" for a Air Classics cover and center spread for a upcoming issue.

Yesterday started out like a normal Reno day. By noon the winds were howling and the sky was brown with dust. By the time of the Gold unlimited race, the winds were 25mph gusting to 50mph. Sometimes it was very diffucult to look up at the racers going by for getting sand in your eyes. The Bronze race was won by Jimmy Leeward in his P-51 "Cloud Dancer". The Silver race was a mes because of several racers cutting pylons and having time penalties add to their finsh times. The 4360 powered Seafury "Furias" came across the finsh line first but Joe Thibedoe's Seafury "Sea Hawk" won by default. Strega had won the Silver race on Saturday and bumped up to the Gold for Sunday. Sundays race was short lived for this racer as she only made two laps before blowing the newly installed engine and deadsticking the plane onto the runway. Tiger Destefani did some amazing flying to get the Mustang down with the severe crosswinds and without power. The race was dominated by Dego Red who won for the 4th time in a row this year. Dego flew an avearge speed of 468mph. Michael Browns Seafury "September Fury" placed second at 455mph and P-51 "Voodo" placed 3rd at 435mph with a stock engine. Everyone made it down safely with the high winds and it was a great race.
More pictures soon.
Chuck

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