Reno

[NICKYPOO]

This is for safe keeping as Sparky's PM box is full.

Perfect. 4 days at the races is more than enough for most people. Thurs.-Sun.? If your coming down for the races, you have to stay for Sunday. If you did want to drag your boat down, you can always park it at my place. Water levels are always a question at that time of year anyways so...

Pit passes- Get 'em. All of 'em. You can't come to the races and not go in the pits. I'll do my best to get what I can. It's too bad you have to buy a gen. admin. to get to the pits as I usually head straight for the pits and stay there until its time to head out to the fence. Although, if you don't like standing all day, get a reserved seat. Lowest possible letter in the last row. Am I getting ahead of myself here?

Accommodations- I like the Grand Sierra. Just remodeled last year, fat arcade for the kiddies, big bowling alley, driving range, go carts and a couple of thrill rides and it's closer to the races than down town. I honestly haven't been to any other casinos in a quite a while. Eldorado and Silver Legacy are nice for down town. I've spent a lot of time at Harrah's but, that was a long time ago. It was always solid. Peppermill is nice although its the furthest away. What's 5 more minutes?

This is sounding good. Let's get it together.

Sparky only- Is your boy planning on racing again this year?

[da.bell]

Do you know the dates of the event? I'm too lazy to google it right now..

[da.bell]

Found it...

http://www.airrace.org/indexJS.php

[NICKYPOO]

Oh, well, there you go.

Blue Angels this year! I'm not usually one for airshow acts but, the Angels are always cool.

[NICKYPOO]

September is almost here. The boys are out practicing this week.

[NICKYPOO]

So is Sparky the only one making it to Reno? Ya'll are missing out.

[da.bell]

Ya, have other plans with the kids that weekend.

[Joeprunc]

I'll be up in Tahoe, maybe I'll catch a few fly-byes.

[NICKYPOO]

I'll be up in Tahoe, maybe I'll catch a few fly-byes.

Keep your ears open.

[Jetrey]

I think I'm gonna try to make it, always wish I would have gone after its over. My 12 year old lives and breathes planes. especially old warbirds, his favorite is the corsair, mine is the p-51 we fly and have awesome dogfights, rc of course. thurs.-fri. is all I would be able to go, is it still worth it? any tips to make the trip more memorable, let me know.

[NICKYPOO]

I think I'm gonna try to make it, always wish I would have gone after its over. My 12 year old lives and breathes planes. especially old warbirds, his favorite is the corsair, mine is the p-51 we fly and have awesome dogfights, rc of course. thurs.-fri. is all I would be able to go, is it still worth it? any tips to make the trip more memorable, let me know.

It is absolutely worth it. Get some reserved seats and some pit passes. You can get right up next to all the aircraft and ask any question you want to the crews. Air race crews are notoriously nice and willing to talk about their planes.

Bring some cash for a t-shirt or two.

[Jetrey]

Thanks, I am def gonna go, my boy is stoked. we went to a fathers day fly in at columbia, ca it was awesome 4 p-51's were there. the pilot of one let us climb in and get some pics, super cool guy, dan martin out of hollister, ca. what would be a good place to stay for a dad and 12 year old boy, any non casino places like holiday inn express or somethin'

[Jetrey]

nick, is that corsair in the pic. gonna be there?

[NICKYPOO]

Yep, this will be his first year.

Here is a list of this years Unlimited field.
Pilot Name Aircraft Type
Cabanas, Fred American Beauty - Race 52 F-51 Mustang
Camp, Thomas Air Biscuit - Race 2 FM-2 Wildcat
Dawson, Stewart Spirit of Texas - Race 105 Hawker Sea Fury
Dieckman, Ray Sawbones - Race 71 Hawker Sea Fury
Eberhardt, Bill Merlin's Magic - Race 22 P-51D Mustang
Gordon, Rob Speedball Alice - Race 31 P-51D Mustang
Hinton, Steven Jr. Strega - Race 7 P-51D Mustang
Hisey, Brent Miss America - Race 11 P-51D Mustang
Jackson, Matt Dreadnought - Race 8 Hawker Sea Fury
Keenum, Mike Riff Raff - Race 99 Hawker Sea Fury
Leeward, Jimmy Cloud Dancer - Race 9 P-51D Mustang
Leeward, Jimmy Galloping Ghost - Race 177 P-51D Mustang
Maloney, John Sneak Attack - Race 18 P-40E
Martin, Dan Ridge Runner III - Race 20 P-51D Mustang
Matthews, Doug Race 24 F4U-4 Corsair
Matthews, Doug The Rebel - Race 12 P-51D Mustang
Morss, Dave Polar Bear - Race 25 P-51A Mustang
Pardue, Howard Bearcat - Race 14 F8F-1 Bearcat
Pardue, Howard Fury - Race 13 Hawker Sea Fury
Patterson, Robert Lady Jo - Race 81 TF-51D Mustang
Paul, John-Curtis Parrothead - Race 17 P-40N
Penney, John Rare Bear - Race 77 F8F-2 Bearcat
Seghetti, Brant Sparky - Race 44 P-51D Mustang
Smoot, Sherman Czech Mate - Race 86 Yak 11
Stephens, CJ Argonaut - Race 114 Hawker Sea Fury
Thibodeau, Joseph Sea Hawk - Race 21 Hawker Sea Fury
Wallace, Bruce The Bear - Race 133 T-28B Trojan
Whiteside, Will Steadfast - Race 33 Yak 3U
Whiteside, Will Voodoo - Race 5 P-51D Mustang

So far as lodging, just go to any of the travel sites. From what I understand, there are plenty of rooms left. The casinos aren't too bad for kids at all if that is all that is left though. I'd probably stay away from down town if your not staying at a casino. There are a couple of Residence Inns on S. Virginia that are pretty new. Holiday Inn on 5th is not in the best part of town although one of the best breakfasts in town is across the street. All I can really recommend are the major casinos. I don't travel here much so it makes it kind of tough to recommend anything not food or special event related. Sorry.

[NICKYPOO]

Dan Martin is a great guy. Too bad his whip got sold. He had been piloting Race 4 Dago Red, the first Unlimited to break the 500mph average. It has been recently been bought back by it's original owner/builder Frank Taylor and is undergoing a complete rebuild and will not be there this year. It's nice to see him (Dan) bring Ridge Runner back out though. Don't know if he'll have a race motor or not. He had one a few years ago and it was amazing to see an otherwise stock Mustang running 450+. He is a helluva stick.