Reno 2008 updates
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Following photo is dad, Bill and team enjoying the fire-engine ride following Friday's win in the Unlimited Bronze.
 
Photos from Taichi
 
   
 
Photos from Damien and Judy
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Day 9 (Sunday):

Dad finished 5th in the Silver, but was bumped back a couple slots due to a pylon cut. Overall, this was a wonderful conclusion to the week – a finish in the Silver in stock configuration is terrific.

The T6 Gold race was notable – the favorite, Nick Macy, may-dayed out during the first lap. He pulled up and immediately lined up with Runway 8 on which he made a perfect dead-stick landing. His pit crew cheered as wheels touched down. Ken Dwelle went on to win the race at a record speed of 244 MPH (compare this speed to 203 MPH which would have won you the gold 30 years earlier).
The Unlimited Gold turned out to be another great race. Dago Red (favorite) pulled ahead and kept the lead for several laps. But then Strega pulled forward from third place, blew past the leaders and pulled well ahead. Rare Bear pulled out with a blown engine and came down smoking – terrific landing on runway 14.

Trophies were received during the awards banquet. Tiger (Strega) announced his retirement.

Bob is heading back to the office with another Archimedes beauty.
 
Day 8 (Saturday):
Archimedes raced in the T6 Bronze Medal Race and finished in 5th place at an average speed of 209.154 MPH – the 2nd-fastest medal-race speed for the plane. Overall, a good race week for the T6.

The Unlimited Gold Race was one of the best races I have ever seen. Dago Red flown by Dan Martin chased down and passed September Fury. But suddenly and unexpectedly Dago slowed down and was passed and looked like it may fall way back in the pack. But over the next couple laps, Dan pushed it up to re-take the lead. He won the race by several plane lengths… but… kept racing. Dan continued racing while his crew was repeating over the radio, “Dan, you won the race! Dan, the race is over! Pull up!” But around Dago kept flying – the whole thing became comical as his crew kept yelling over the radio while Dan kept the plane at full power and turned the pylons. He finally pulled out.

Turns out that his canopy slid open in the middle of the race. Imagine the wind and noise at that speed. So of course he could not hear anything over the radio and never knew the race was over.

Dago Red finished at 472.772 MPH touching out September Fury at 471.132 MPH. Strega and Rare Bear were not too far behind.

Rides Saturday Evening - Taichi's daughter Sayoko in back seat.  Right break over the pits for landing... good times! 

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The following photos were pulled from Curtis Fowles’ site mustangsmustangs.com. My favorite, of course, is the first shot where I am on the inside and leading 2 other T6’s.
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Race #30 Archimedes in the lead.

 

Breaking right out of a low pass for landing.

 

Merlin's Magic

 

Merlin's Magic


Day 7 (Friday): 
Dad raced Merlin's Magic to a photo finish (literally) to win the Bronze. He edged out Race 57 by one-tenth of one second. I suspect the picture will make the paper tomorrow.
   

 
Archimedes finished where it started in 5th place. Still more work to do in tomorrow's last race for the T6.
 
Couple of exciting moments today. During the Unlimited Silver, CJ Stevens in "Argonaut" may-dayed out - smoke and fire pouring out of the stacks. He came down safely, but that was about as frightening as it gets.
 
Next - after the Unlimited Gold finished, John Penny flying Rare Bear announced over the radio that he could not get his gear down. Indeed, his left main appeared to be down while his right was still up. He circled the field for about 10 minutes. Just before we all braced for what seemed to be an inevitable disastrous landing, he managed to get the gear down via some high-G turns.

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Bobbeee arrives and heads straight for the wifi room.

 

Crew goes to work on Merlin's Magic following 1st Place in the Unlimited Bronze.

 

Pilot Stu Eberhardt walks past Merlin's Magic as it is further insected.

 

Screens pulled and checked for metal - all clear.

 

Rich pours in water for the next race.

 

New Zealand Judy busy selling Merlin's Magic wear.

 

Paul Regier posing in front of the broken motor turned artistic table.

 

T6 Archimedes crew.  And to think they received a 100% pay raise this year.

 

Finally caught them by the plane... but unalbe to catch them working.



 
Days 4 (Tue - Part II):  T6 finished today's heat race in 5th place, 209.466 MPH.  Rumor has it that Archimedes always finishes in 4th, so I have some work to do this week.
 
Not much more to report today.  Merlin's Magic did not race.  Archimedes is parked tomorrow and will race again Friday.
 
In the media room I met Gerhard Schmidt.  If you want to practice your German, you can check out http://www.airventure.de/ and click on the "Reno Air Races" link.  Following are some photos from past races.

 

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Archimedes (good-looking plane down low) with the Red Knight in the chase (2005)

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Merlin's Magic (2003)

 

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T6 Start - Archimedes down low on inside (2007)


Days 4 (Tue - Part I):  T6 Archimedes qualified at 211.172 MPH - a satisfactory speed for the airplane.  This is enough to put me in the field.  Click [here] to see all T6 qual speeds.  Following the qualification run, some slight damage was found to the wheel-well seal on the left main gear (see photo). 
 
Click [here] to see the qual speeds for the Unlimiteds.  Merlin's Magic is comfortably in the middle of the pack - good results for the plane in stock configuration.  Note the similar speeds of the top 3 qualifiers.  As of now, Rare Bear (last year's Gold winner and favorite for this year) has not qualified.
 
The races continue to progress "normally".  Very windy Tuesday - shut down much of the flying for the afternoon.
 
Possibly the most exciting moment occurred in the evening.  Two pilots found the keys for a highly modified Rousch Mustang (identical to photo below, retails for upwards of $100,000).  They burned rubber up and down the ramp with the pit crews looking on.  The driver eventually lost control and slammed the car into a concrete barrier doing considerable damage.  The pits erupted into loud cheers.
 

 

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Tuesday - Gusty Winds

 

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Merlin's Magic Concessions and Food Area

 

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T6 Crew Chief Rich Ferdon repairs the wheel-well seal on the left main gear.


 

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Rousch Mustang - Almost identical to the one crashed the evening before.

 

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Rousch Mustang

                                                       

Days 1, 2, 3 (Sat, Sun, Mon): 
This is the 45th year for the Reno Air Races.  Following last year's deaths, the FAA was accused of not doing its job here... so they are out in force.  The emphasis is on flying conservatively. 
That said, there has already been one death - female pilot broke the wings off her formula-1 plane during her flight check.
 
Saturday - Flights into Reno were smooth and uneventful for both Merlin's Magic and Archimedes.  Good weather, gentle tailwinds. 
 
Sunday started with hours of briefings and then pulling the planes apart for tech inspection.  Merlin's Magic flew a few laps.
 
Monday - T6 flew both sessions and turned about 208 MPH - felt slow.  We finished up the afternoon by taping up the cockpit and other panels.  Will qualify in the morning.
Bill qualified Merlin's Magic at an impressive 372 MPH.  Not sure if dad will try to top that before the races begin.
 

 

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Merlin's Magic resting and waiting.

 

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Archimedes pulled apart awaiting Tech Inspection.

 

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T6 Crew Bill (left) and Larry (right) "working".

 
 

To see footage showing the blown engine at Reno 2006, click on this you-tube link: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAPFTUi4Vr8


 

August 30, 2008:  Adding a photo showing the start of the T6 Bronze race. Archimedes is in the #2 position on the bottom left.

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August 29, 2008:  Check out the work by Paul and Dave Regier.  You may remember - they were the high-bidders for the broken case and have turned it into some fancy furniture. 
 

 

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