Reno Racing
by Michael Brown
RACING GETS my blood pumping. It doesn't matter what's being raced; any close competition will do it. I remember racing scat cats for the first time and how exciting it was.
If you're like me and want to get your blood pumping, fast is what you need. I suggest full-scale air racing—Reno, Nevada, style. It's the fastest motorsport in the world, and the sound that goes with it can't be beat; it fills you up better than a Reno buffet.
I was honored to attend the 2009 Reno Air Races as a photojournalist. I not only got to capture the event, but also the pilots, their crews, and spectators. I was even allowed to take pictures from several of the pylons. Valerie Miller, director of marketing and public relations, does a tremendous job of getting access for photographers.
That was the 46th National Championship Air Races, held September 16–20. It also marked the 100th year of recorded air racing history. In 1909, Leon Delagrange was crowned the first air race champion—at a respectable speed for the times of 21 mph.
Patty Wagstaff, a three-time World Aerobatic Champion, was a featured air-show performer at the 2009 Reno Air Races. She's the first woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic Champion and one of the few people to win it three times.
Since that early contest (in which only four aircraft flew and none finished the course), air racing has earned the title of "the fastest and hottest form of motorsports in the world," with speeds in excess of 500 mph.
Along with the contest, there were several aerobatic performances with Patty Wagstaff as the headliner. The military had several exhibitions, ranging from the huge C-130 and its parachute jumpers performing for the opening ceremonies to a C-17 tactical demo. The Blue Angels Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron was back at the races to top off the military's show, and they did not disappoint. I also witnessed the last JATO (Jet-fuel Assisted Take Off) to ever be done by Fat Albert: the show team's huge transport aircraft.
The theme for 2009 was "Wings of Honor": a dedication to the courageous men and women who dared challenge the laws of nature and revel in the unparalleled feeling of flight.
Each fall, hundreds of thousands of spectators converge on Stead Airport in Reno to witness the seven classes of aircraft racing. In 2009, the stands were packed, as always, for the Gold races.
The biplanes are the first to race in the mornings, followed by either Formula One or Sport. You can hear the airplanes coming from the pylons, then see them appear over the top of the sagebrush, flying fast and low. It's exciting!
As the week progresses, the faster airplanes enter the Gold Medal group, the next slower fliers make their way into the Silver Medal cluster, followed by the Bronze Medal lineup. All others are done for the year.
Classes of Reno Aircraft
Biplane
- Course: 3.81 miles.
- Typical aircraft: Pitts Specials, Mongs, Smith Miniplanes.
- Standout: The highly modified Mong Sport called "Phantom" is the one to beat; it qualified at 249.884 mph.
Biplane racing often produces close, exciting heats.
Formula One
- Restrictions: Exactly 66 square feet of wing area, minimum empty weight of 500 pounds, fixed landing gear, fixed-pitch propeller, and a Continental O-200 engine.
- Course: 3.12 miles.
- Typical aircraft: Cassutts, GR-7, Arnold AR-6 ("Endeavor").
The fastest Formula One aircraft reach almost 250 mph. The 2009 Gold went to Thom Richard in his Cassutt Invictus, at 241.046 mph.
Sport
- Course: 6.37 miles.
Sport class speeds exceed 350 mph and the racing is fierce. In 2009 the Glasair was the top qualifier at 357.863 mph, with a Lancair close behind at 350.520 mph. David Sterling won the Gold in his Lancair Legacy "Race 8" with a top speed of 352.662 mph.
AT-6
With emphasis on strategy and skill rather than raw horsepower, the AT-6 category often offers some of the closest racing. AT-6s typically fly just over 220 mph; their radial engines create a body-thumping sound and you can see every detail as they thunder by.
In 2009 the top qualifier—Six Cat—was 239.350 mph and the top finisher peaked at 237.557 mph. Last year five airplanes qualified within 10 mph of each other; the six in the Gold race were within 11 mph.
Jet
- Started: 2002 (by invitation only).
- Typical jets: L-29 Delfin, L-39 Albatros, de Havilland Vampire.
- Speeds: Current speeds exceed 500 mph.
In 2009 Curt Brown (Viper) was two seconds faster than Mike Mangold (L-29 Euro Burner) in qualification. Curt qualified at 538.052 mph; the Jet Gold winner recorded 513.521 mph.
Unlimited
- Eligibility: Any piston-driven aircraft with an empty weight over 4,500 pounds.
- Typical types: Stock or modified World War II fighters such as the P-51 Mustang, F8F Bearcat, and Hawker Sea Fury.
- Speeds: Approaching 500 mph.
Steven "Stevo" Hinton won the Breitling Gold race in 2009 at 491.822 mph. During the race he actually slowed his P-51D—most likely to protect the engine—since he was well in front of competitors.
Race Week and Highlights
In most of the early-week races it seemed there was a clearly faster airplane, so the real battle was often for 2nd and 3rd places. Pilots pushed their aircraft to qualify for Gold races.
I spent time with Jeff Lo and his biplane race team—Miss Diane. It was interesting to watch the aerodynamic tweaks they made to gain speed. In one heat the airplane went 180.686 mph but needed more. After waxing the aircraft, covering every seam and rivet with 2-inch clear tape, and adding a thin piece of stainless steel across the aileron hinge gap to reduce drag, Jeff won the Silver race at 185.558 mph.
The AT-6, Unlimited, and Jet classes are a different experience: AT-6s rumble and feel powerful up close; Unlimiteds fly close to 500 mph right on the deck and have an even stronger sound; Jets are faster still but have a cleaner sound and generally fly a bit higher.
Sunday is the final competition day. In 2009:
- Biplane: Tom Aberle dominated his Phantom by almost 20 mph and 24 seconds.
- Sport and Formula One: Nemesis and Invictus in Super Sport and Formula One respectively finished nearly the same time; real contests were mostly for 2nd and 3rd.
- AT-6: Five airplanes finished within about five seconds of each other—spectacular to watch and hear.
- Jet Gold: Eight airplanes raced; Curt Brown won with 513.521 mph after a close battle with Mike Mangold.
- Unlimited Breitling Gold: Nine airplanes lined up in front of the grandstands amid thunderous cheers. Steven Hinton's Strega, powered by a 3,600-horsepower Rolls Royce Merlin V-1650, was the favorite after winning every heat. Voodoo suffered cockpit smoke and pulled out, allowing Rare Bear to challenge Strega, but Hinton led the field to the checkered flag.
At age 22, Steven Hinton became the youngest Unlimited champion in Reno Air Racing history. Rare Bear team members congratulated him while promising upgrades—so the competition will be fierce in future years.
Final Notes
The event takes on the air of a huge sporting spectacle: teams, roaring engines, and devoted fans. I can't wait to see the next Reno races. Care to join me?
—Michael Brown [email protected]
Sources:
- Reno Air Racing Association
- (775) 972-6663
- www.airrace.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
