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Experience Adds Up
On a cold, rainy February morning, the National Championship Air Races seem very far away. Now is the time for dreaming and scheming and planning for those nine magic days in Reno each September. I ask my husband the usual question. “What are you planning to race this year?” “I’m not sure yet” is his typical response. He usually races more than one plane, in more than one class. But often we don’t know what plane and what class until the entry deadline looms near. Reno 2005 marks Dave’s 26th year of racing at Reno where he has competed in five classes and 149 races. I know because one night last week, he came home and told me a neat story. Ellsworth Getchell walked into Jerry Gabe’s hangar at Hollister, CA and said, “Guess I’m gonna hafta’ be nicer to you boy. Read you got more races than anybody in the history of Reno.” Dave replied, “Oh yeah? Where’d you read that?” “I don’t remember if I read it or somebody told me. In either case, that’s quite an accomplishment. Congratulations”. We never did find the source so I ran the numbers on every pilot who has ever raced at Reno*. Thought you might enjoy seeing the results of our most experienced racers in the history of the Reno Air Races. Congratulations to all the racers who fly the pylons but especially to those pilots who thrill and inspire us year after year. Top Ten Reno Racers of All Time (updated 7/14/06) * This information provided courtesy of the Reno Air Racing Association on-line historical database with special assistance from Mark Johnston, the Webmaster. And thanks, Getch, for bringing it to our attention. |
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