If you keep up with National Championship Air Racing (NCAR)
news during the off season, you probably have read several press releases about
the Unlimited Division of the National Air-racing Group (UD-NAG) and a Safety
Stand Down for the 2013 NCAR. This was followed quickly by the announcement of
the new Unlimited & Warbird Racing Class (UWRC). My goal in this column is
to present to you a little history and hopefully answer some questions about
the future of Unlimited Racing at Reno.
History of NAG
The National Air racing Group was founded in the 1970’s by
several Northern California air racing enthusiasts. Originally called the
Northern Area Group of the Professional Race Pilots’ Association (PRPA), they
later split off from PRPA and started their own group. This organization grew to be the largest and
most active air race organization, with over 2000 members scattered throughout
the world. A recognized member of the International Council of Air Shows, NAG
is a non-profit California corporation.
NAG offered their services to various racing classes,
basically providing them with legal protection, support with race
responsibilities and administrative matters as well as training officials,
officiating, erecting pylons, facilitating negotiations with the FAA and assisting
in designing and certifying new potential race venues.
Over time the other race classes left NAG and developed
their own associations, (PRPA for Biplanes, Racing Jets, Inc., T-6 Racing
Association, International Formula 1 Air Racing, and Sport Class Air Racing). The
Unlimited Division is the only race class still directly associated with NAG.
At some point, NAG developed into more of a Fan Club for Air
Racing, except for the Unlimited Division, which supported Unlimited Racing. UD-NAG
is the governing body for Unlimited Racing. They are accredited by the FAA to
speak for the race class. They are responsible for training and certification
of the members for their class; they have their own rules, their own technical
specifications and inspections. They operate as an umbrella organization for
Race Pilots and Race Aircraft Owners and have fought for many years for the
continued safe operations of Unlimited Racing.
How does this differ from what the Reno Air Racing
Association (RARA) does? Well, RARA provides the venue. They provide
overarching rules and structure and manage the event.
In a perfect world, these organizations would work together
to bring exciting racing and a safe environment to the racers and the fans. As
one race pilot said, “Keep the racers safe and you keep the public safe”.
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A line up of P-51 Mustangs via Rob "Phred" Miller
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What changed?
After the horrible Galloping Ghost crash of 2011, the FAA
and RARA stepped in to alter the Unlimited (and Jet Class) Race Course. The
changes were made to create more of a barrier from the deadlines, the areas
that mark the outer boundary of our race course, and to allow for a great
distance from the spectators.
The goal was to “soften” the course and to keep things
safer. What the pilots found, however, was that the course led to higher
g-forces, instead of lower. They also found the old “Valley of Speed” was being
tightened, especially as aircraft made the critical turn from pylons 7-8-9 to
home.
The other issue was a maximum altitude restriction of 250’
(or 314’ on some areas of the course). The racers felt this altitude ceiling
created an added complexity, as one of them put it – “We’re racing in a donut”.
The minimum altitude is 50’ the max is 250’ so, 8 aircraft race inside a 200’
donut in the sky. So far, so good – until you consider that the average
wingspan of an Unlimited Racer is between 40’ and 50’.
I use the example, Gold Heat 3A 2010, Strega’s average speed
was over 473 mph and Here Kitty, Kitty and Bossman – two F7F Tigercats, were
averaging 342 mph. So, as Steven Hinton in Strega was coming around the course,
he was closing in on two Tigercats, both with over 50’ wingspans, with a
closure rate of 130 mph. Pylon on the left, deadline on the right and a new
maximum altitude ceiling above – where does he go?
When I asked what a racer was to do in that situation, I was
told that “the overtaking racer should throttle back until he/she felt it was
safe to pass”. This comment comes from someone who clearly doesn’t understand
the fine line of detonation that is an Unlimited Racing Engine. We slowly move
the throttle up, but we do not adjust up and down during the race. It’s all
out, full throttle. It is unrealistic to “throttle back” – especially when
you’re coming up on traffic at that incredible speed. And then, to be able to
throttle back up – this scenario would certainly cause engine problems all over
the course. Also, the how much time does it take an Unlimited Racing Engine to slow down 130 mph - who knows.
The Issue
All the UD-NAG asked is that this wording is added to RARA’s
Rules of Competition to say:
“All racers are advised that deviations above
the maximum race altitude will not result in a rules violation or penalty if
such maneuver is deemed to be in furtherance of flying safety by the pilot in
command and if such deviation is followed by a safe and reasonably prompt
return to the maximum race altitude.”
Yep, that’s it. They wanted it to be in writing that if they
needed to go above the 250’ AGL max for a safe passing line, or to get out of
prop wash, or for whatever reason, that they would not be disqualified. They
did not want it to be left to chance, they wanted their racers to know they
could deviate if necessary, and they would not be violated. They also wanted to
have the Unlimited Class provide input to the Contest Committee in case of an
altitude deviation. The Unlimited Class knows the course, and the Contest
Committee, while a professional and significant group of individuals, does not.
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| Unlimited Gold via Rob "Phred" Miller |
What this means to racing
As UD-NAG has been saying since February, they wanted an
answer by June 14, 2013 or they would convey to their members that they do not
believe the course is safe. After safety discussions broke down, the UD-NAG
Board voted unanimously to call for a Safety Stand Down. They told their
members that the current rules proposed by RARA and the FAA may lead to an
unsafe and potentially dangerous racing venue.
Absent the requested safety deviation rule, the UD-NAG
believes the risk of another accident is too great to shoulder and therefore
RARA, the FAA, UWRC and the UD-NAG Racers are on their own.
RARA countered with announcing the new Unlimited and Warbird Racing Class. It had to be done. Ticket sales were in jeopardy, questions
about the safety stand down were flying and some kind of move had to be made.
But, what does it mean for September?
There are some unanswered questions. Is the new UWRC
accredited by the FAA? Will they fly the course as it is without any changes?
Who will be on the Board of Directors for the new
organization? The press release mentioned Bill “Tiger“ Destefani will be the
President. But, who else will be involved? Is this organization part of RARA?
If so, is that a conflict of interest?
How will the new organization certify racers? Will there be
another PRS just for the new group? Who will join, who will not. What about the
purse?
Who will be on the ramp in September? Who will stay home?
When will we know?
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| Unlimiteds being towed out via Tim Adams |
What happens next…
Right now, we wait and see. The hope is that this will all
shake out and there will be Unlimited Racers on the Ramp in September.
Stay tuned, until then… fly low, fast and turn left – but
don’t go over 250’ AGL.
Ruby Red Racing
The Pylon Place
