While we wait for Air Racing Season to begin again, several
of our Racers are keeping busy in the off-season.
Setting Records…
The Mojave Experimental Fly-in is in its 4th year. The event started as a recruiting event for Scaled Composites during the staffing up for the Stratolaunch program. 2014 was the first year of record setting with 6 FAI weight class records set in 8 attempts.
This year resulted in 11 attempts, 7 records broken, and 6 records set. The c-1b time to climb is the fastest time to climb to 3000 meters set by a piston powered airplane in the FAI record book (Lyle Shelton’s Rare Bear record of ~90 seconds was retired due to changes in the rules and Will Whiteside ran just over 2:00 in Steadfast).
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| Elliot Seguin and Jen Whaley Partners in Crime |
Klaus Savier broke 3 records, but the C-1a 100 KM was not broken by enough to claim a new record (1%), he was less than 1 mph short of the record currently held by Smokey Young.
From
Elliot…. This is the only example I know
of that this has happened. It is so awesome that Klaus was willing to attempt a
record that he didn't have by huge margins, and speaks to the spirit of the
event. It is also awesome that Klaus spent the day flying the course over and
over again dialing in his airplane despite the uncomfortable hot and turbulent
conditions. So Cool!!
Justin and Josh Phillipson received the Best Effort award which is the judges’ favorite award.
More
from Elliot… Everyone was super excited
to get to know Josh and Justin. You could feel the crowd just excited by the
idea of a couple brothers hell bent on having the coolest thing they could
think of.
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| Justin and Josh Phillipson with their Trophy Comes with Ikea-like Instructions |
Best Build and Best Test went to Andre Prager of Andrew Findlay’s One Moment Sport Class Racing Team. Best Design went to Fred Roscher of John Parker’s Blue Thunder Air Racing.
Andy picked up the cumulative award “Experimenter of the year” for his work developing the TSIO-550 for Lynn Farnsworth’s Race 44. Andre Prager represents the first time one mod has won multiple awards and shows how awesome and well documented that work was.
All the award winners were Reno Air Racing Teams, showing that Reno still attracts the most active experimenters in Experimental Aviation. Four of the five awards went to Sport Class racers, which again shows where the activity is.
Three
of the awards went to work being done on Lancair aircraft, which made it extra
cool that Lancair showed up in a newest Evolution that they showed off to the
crowd. There were rumors that Lancair was there conducting informal surveys
about the types of airplanes that people would be interested in seeing from
Lancair. It’s nice to see where people can be optimistic about the GA market and
where we’re headed.
* I should mention that all records are considered tentative
until verified and certified by the FIA.
International Formula
1 goes International again in 2015
The Air Race 1 World Cup Series has expanded their schedule
to include 3 races this year. Several familiar names from the Reno Air Races are
on the official list of participants.
Thom Richard of Precious Metal fame has recently acquired
Brian Reberry’s racer – now called Hot Stuff (previously known as September
Fate). He will be onboard for the races.
Long time IF1 racers Philip Goforth in Knotty Girl, Steve
Temple in Madness, Jay Jones in Quadnickel and Tom Watkins in everyone’s
favorite, Pooder – will be showing their stuff.
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| Phil Goforth in Knotty Girl 3rd Paint Scheme - looking forward to #4 |
They will be joined by other IF1 Reno Racers including Stephen
“SPH” Partridge-Hicks in Miss USA, Dave Holmgren in Last Lap Player, Mike
Mundell in Second Wind (aka Slingshot), Jim Jordan is back in Miss Min and Kent
Cassels in Margaret June.
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| Mike Mundell in Second Wind Or Slingshot when it was flown by Ed Dutreaux (holding the tail) |
The first race will be in Tunisia in June. The aircraft have
already been packed up and are somewhere in transit. Currently 18 racers from six
countries will represent Air Racing in the three location 2015 Series. Tunisia,
Spain and the final stop in Reno, NV will make for an exciting year of flying
for these guys!
I can’t wait to hear the stories. Wish I could join you
guys!
Until next time… Fly Low and Fast…
Marilyn Dash
Special thanks this month to Tim Adams for the use of his
wonderful Photography!
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