National Championship Air Races: Reno, Nevada

Stead Field, September, 2003

By Kelly Sweeney

Today on our home we call planet Earth, there are only a few examples where man attempts defying gravity in what we would call a true “racing” fashion. One of those examples takes place every September in an area just north of Reno, Nevada. The venue is the on-time Stead Air Force base in Stead, NV. Stead is now a General Aviation feeder airport to Washoe County. The area transforms once a year to host the fasted motor sports event in the world. This year was no disappointment as two new speed records were set. Dago Red, a highly modified P-51 WWII vintage fighter flown by former test pilot Skip Holm was the man. He set a single lap race speed record by flying just shy of 512MPH !! He also set a race record by flying just over 508MPH average for the 7 lap race. This is the first time in history a propeller driven airplane was clocked at over 500MPH in a closed course race.

Airplane racing: Sounds nuts and frankly is about as dangerous as I gets. Unlike auto racing it is a bit hard to pull over if you have a problem. But, just as in auto racing where the car is attempting to run on a pre-determined track, airplanes “attempt” the same thing. This is not your road course track but much like the ovals at Talladega, Homestead, Daytona or Las Vegas. Course markers or the race track or guard rails are called “Pylons.” They average 45 feet off the ground and have bright marker on the top that pilots key off of. The race rules state that no part of the airplane can be inside the pylon. If a place does so a “cut” is called by the corner workers or as they are known at the Air Races, Pylon Judges call the infraction. That is where I come in. I have been a judge at the Air Races since 1978. The pylon judge crews are all volunteers and average about 4 per pylon. Our responsibility is to watch each racing aircraft and “judge” their flight path for infractions. Our job is similar to auto racing corner workers who watch for faster/slower cars to flag instructions, a judgment call. Our corner is pylon’s Inner 6 (the slower course) and Outer 8, the last pylon before the finish line or Home pylon.

There are 6 different classes of airplanes that race. 4 of the 6 using a running start just like Auto racing. They start all abreast with the fastest qualifier closest to the center of the course, slowest on the outside of the line. The other two use a Formula one standing start. Makes for very exciting first corner nerves. Of the 6 different classes of planes racing, 4 different ovals are used. This is mostly dependant on the speed and maneuverability of the different airplanes.

The shortest course is 3.2 miles around. Racing here are two classes, the International Formula one: 100Hp single seater. They can hit close to 250MPH. Next is the Sport Biplanes where they hit in the high 190s for the most part. These are the classes that use the standing start with as many as 9 airplanes competing in any one race. Course two is the T-6 course, 5 miles in length. These big lumbering former WWII tandem trainers need much more room. Normally 5 planes race in any heat. Course three or the Sports course is another shared oval. New to Reno are racing jets class. This group still in its teething stage. This is the second year where a former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries L-39 single engine fighter trainer is used. 5 planes participated this year with speed in the low 350MPH’s were clocked but could reach over 400MPH if pushed. The Sports course is named after the “Sports” Class. This is the latest piston powered class at the show. It is made up mostly of Lanceair and Glasair general aviation type airplanes. These planes turn the 6.4 mile course in the 300MPH range with former National Champion Unlimited racer Darryl Greenamyer flying his Glasair at over 350MPH! Many say this is the future of Air Racing as it is more affordable than some of the other classes. Finally the grand-daddy of them all, the Unlimited course is an 8.5 mile oval. By rules the craft must have a piston-powerplant and be propeller driven. There are several different types of designs competing on the Unlimited course.

This year's Unlilmited winner and course record setter was Skip Holm flying P-51 Dago Red. His closest competitor was John Penny flying another highly modified WWII vintage Bearcat named Rare Bear. In additions to Skip’s plane there were 12 other P-51s, 8 British Sea Fury’s, 3 Russian Yak’s, a beautiful F7F Tiger Cat (twin engine) and one Wildcat making up the 2003 field.

If you like motor sports give the race event a shot, you will not be disappointed.