Sorry for the absense of any posts lately... I had to attend my favorite Aunt's funeral, and before that I had spent a week off of work to go up to help a squadron-bro~ qualify his Harmon Rocket II up at the Reno Air Races (http://www.airrace.org/). Spent several days up there enjoying myself helping "Coach" & his "X-Ray" to qualify to race at Reno.

I was also able to spend a couple of days with some friends/blokes from the UK; Martin, Mitch & sons Mark & Ben. They flew all the way from the UK just to spend 3 days (weekend) watching the races - what a trip! Both Martin & Mitch "Race" their stock general avaition aeroplanes in the UK, but using the handicap technique. Handicapping is where you determine the slowest to the fastest and allow the slowest to takeoff first and the fastest to takeoff last and, in theory, if all the aircraft flew the same line, would all cross the finish line together - sort of a mad dash at the end. Conversely, racing at Reno is the opposite of the handicaped style where everyone starts together and they get strung-out over the course so the fastest one wins.

Check out Mitch & his boys' website at: http://theflyingmonkey.co.uk/

Here's the overall winner for the Unlimited Gold race at Reno 2005 (there were mostly Sea Furys, one Bearcat-"Rare-Bear", and only ONE P-51 that blew up it's engine on the last race/heat)

RARE BEAR!