Air Racing: Early entry discounts, STE sponsor, first APR entry, more PSR entries, Volunteer openings

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Air Racing: Early entry discounts, STE sponsor, first APR entry, more PSR entries, Volunteer openings
In a mere 5 days the early entry discounts will expire*. In only 78 days the first of the three National Air Races, the Wichita 300 will depart the Jabara airport. The next three days will see the prestigious Marion Jayne Air Race flown east to the Ozarks, then to Nashville, northeast to the edge of the Appalachians, northwest to the shores of Lake Michigan, north to the Upper Peninsula, west to the shores of Lake Superior and then south to Stevens Point, Wisconsin. At about 600 miles a day, the Marion Jayne is steeped in great scenery and tailor-made for fabulous hangar flying each evening. The next day the City of Stevens Point is sponsoring the Stevens Point 300 Air Race. Two days later Oshkosh (just a few miles east) gets into full swing with the GTO convention in between. Does it get any better than this?
This is air racing for everyone with a 2007 theme of “Compete to Fly the Perfect Cross Country”. YOU have a place in these competitions, whether you want to test your pilot skills in the “Pilot Skill Racing” (PSR) where aircraft are equalized with individual handicaps or whether you want to test the airplane in the “Aircraft Performance Racing” (APR) or test both.
* The free Entry Kit at www.us-airrace.org has all discounts published correctly for PSR race teams and the early entry discount is valid as long as entries are postmarked by April 30. In recognition that APR racers may just be learning they can compete, the January discounts are available if entries are postmarked by April 30. Remember that discounts for teams with less than 1000 hours, instructors bringing student pilots and teams bringing new competitors do not expire.
The City of Stevens Point continues to invest in its airport and places value on General Aviation patronage. Here is a charming city on the shores of the Wisconsin River with the pizzazz of summertime riverfront concerts. We’re fortunate to have the city sponsor our events for a second year. Perennial sponsor and competitor Maisie Stears has also made a donation for the U.S. Air Race to achieve its goals of promoting a positive reputation for General Aviation, improving pilots’ skills through competition and awarding Learn to Fly scholarships by drawing.
Aircraft Performance Racing APR is new to the National Air Races but the first entry has raced with us before. Bob and Jeanine Axsom built their own RV and will be racing in the APR competition as Race 71. They will accrue SARL (Sport Air Racing League) points as the National Air Races are SARL-sanctioned.
We are delighted to see many past race winners return for more challenges. Charles Robinson III and Maisie Stears as Race 6 are back with Maisie’s Geronimo. They are the first team to have supplied all credentials and have been awarded 5 chances each at the Learn-To-Fly Scholarship drawing. While they already know how to fly very well, they can gift the scholarships to someone who wants to learn. 2006 Marion Jayne Perpetual Trophy winners, Mike Jones and Rick Vandam will be cruising east in Mike’s Glasair to compete again as Race 10. Race 41 Shelby Bowles and Jim Reed will be charging hard in Shelby’s Cessna Skymaster as they work to repeat their 2004 Perpetual Trophy victory.
As for me, some of the jobs that I do are open for new volunteers. The volunteer positions of Chief Fundraiser and Race Director have brought over a decade of joy as I’ve met hundreds of aviation enthusiasts that are now friends and educated huge numbers of reporters on the benefits of flying ‘small’ airplanes. I’m sure I’ll miss the fun of flying the continent as I organized these events however, when the choice is between spending time with the newly retired husband or doing something else – the time with husband wins. If you would like to volunteer for either of these positions, please send me an email at pjkeefer@gmail.com … oh and it’s important to know that you would be covered by Directors and Officers insurance via the U.S. Air Race, Inc.
Reprise of Mar, 2007 news
Air Racing: First Entries, EI sponsor, PSR, APR and SARL
The Wichita Airport Authority of Wichita, Kansas – the Aviation Capital of the World – is organizing fabulous fun for all of the 2007 race teams. We have lots of great news to report. Here’s the scoop on the first entries, Pilot Skilled Racing (PSR), Aircraft Performance Racing (APR) and the Sport Air Racing League (SARL).
We already have three teams that have entered all three National Air Races. The teams are each unique in their composition. Race 1 is returning Shreveport 300 winners, Harlon Hain and Charlie Daubs in their 260 Comanche – as 2 of the 90 original SR-71 pilots – they have thousands of hours flying fast and precisely. The second team to enter is Race 9, Angus and Chloe Watson in the Schaumburg Flying Club 182S – they did well in their first 300 race in 2006 and are back for more. Angus is the business executive pilot with 210 hours. Chloe is the home executive and is just as excited as Angus to try their hand at all three races this year and they are eligible for the Best team with under 1000 hours award. . Race 11 is the ying and yang team – Mooney Ranger owner Dr Henry Punzi has about 600 hours and co-pilot Bill Vorderbruggen has over 20,000 hours – this is the third time Punzi has entered … stymied in 2005 with starter trouble and then held back with bad weather in 2006, I’m
betting he will race in 2007. More entries are on the way with Renaissance 300 winners Maisie Stears and Charles Robinson III in Maisie’s Geronimo partially entered and a new team from my old hometown, Palatine, Illinois has also said they are coming. Join the fun!
The free entry kit is at http://www.us-airrace.org/entrykit.html
Mac Speed and Electronics International is once again a Silver Sponsor – check out their good stuff at www.buy-ei.com
Some folks have already noticed the broadening of the racing we offer. Pilot Skilled Racing (PSR) is the handicapped speed events we have held for years. We have added Aircraft Performance Racing (APR) for those folks who just want to see how fast they can fly their planes. RV builder Bob Axsom is considering this category. It is a different type of competition that still requires smooth pilot techniques but also rewards those who can tweak engines and airframes to the best advantage. APR teams will race the same course with full panels but without handicaps and will compete for awards that are commensurate with participation. We are actively working with the Sport Air Racing League (SARL) and have agreement in principle today – when the final details are firm, we’ll formally announce how teams can participate and earn SARL points. More details are below.
Reprise of Jan, 2007 news
Air Racing: Fresh Start and Flying the Perfect Cross Country
Happy New Year and welcome to the Fresh Start part of 2007. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to have a Fresh Start to flying – to have more fun flying … not to fly to just keep current or to get maintenance done but to truly go someplace different and fun. The routes for the National Air Races by U.S. Air Race, Inc. fit that resolution and I’m putting them on my calendar now. This is your personal invitation to join the fabulous flying July 15-20, 2007.
Our theme this year is “Air Racing: Compete to Fly the Perfect Cross Country” and the free entry kit is now available at http://www.us-airrace.org/entrykit.html just in time for you to make your own Fresh Start. You did make a resolution to fly more, didn’t you?
There are a number of incentive discounts on the entry fees. To encourage instructors, student pilots and teams with less than 1000 hours, there are entry discounts. Those teams that enter early get the same amount of fun at a lower cost. Those that have raced with us in the past and bring in a new team to join the fun also receive discounts.
We have dovetailed our schedule to join the Jones Publishing GTO™ (Gateway to Oshkosh) Convention. We are fortunate to have both Jones Publishing and Arthur T. Mott Realty returning as Top Gun sponsors. The City of Wichita Airport Authority is also a 2007 Top Gun sponsor. The Wichita 300 will be flown Monday July 15. The premiere 1900-mile Marion Jayne Air Race will travel east across the Ozarks, over the scenic Ohio river valley, north along the east shores of Lake Michigan, into the Upper Peninsula and then south to Wisconsin. The third National Air Race will be the Wisconsin 300 on Friday July 20. The free entry kit is at www.us-airrace.org and has more details. We hope that you'll join with us too and enjoy the fabulous camaraderie that develops with shared flying adventures.
You can fly one, two or all three of our events. Participants will receive an estimated $25,000 in custom trophies, cash, completion plaques, prizes and the all-important bragging rights. Teams may compete in cruise or speed divisions in the 1900-mile Marion Jayne Air Race. Custom divisions with or without handicaps (such as, all RVs, Glasairs, Lancairs, all 172s or turbos) are possible for five or more teams. The events are open to all qualified pilots and planes. Flying will be done under Federal Aviation Regulations in daylight, VFR conditions of 1000’ and 3 miles or better. In PSR – Pilot Skilled Racing, planes are individually handicapped which makes the events a test of flying skills. In APR – Aircraft Performance Racing Division of the Marion Jayne Air Race, there are no handicaps. The Cruise Division is flown at cruise speeds and the team who most closely estimates their flight time, wins. Our goals are to promote the sport of General Aviation and the events’ proceeds
will benefit aviation endeavors. As always, participants have the opportunity to dedicate an aviation scholarship. Scholarships will be distributed evenly among men and women and awarded by drawings in Wichita and Wisconsin.
Reprise of Nov, 2006 news
Air Racing: Marion Jayne Thanksgiving and 2007 National Air Races
Each of us has several families. We have the family that we were born into and the families we acquire throughout life. Folks receiving this email are part of the aviation family and perhaps the air race family. Yesterday as I watched the Mayor of New York talk about the absolute joy of flying during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, it reminded me of how Mom, Marion Jayne, spent her Thanksgivings. My first memory of Thanksgiving was traveling. We were dressed in our good clothes as the family traveled to Grandma’s house where Mom’s sister, her family and other relatives gathered. A few years later the gatherings moved alternately to our house or Mom’s sister house which was just around the corner.
The third iteration involved traveling again. As we children married, Thanksgiving revolved around job schedules and in-laws. It was harder to gather as a family but Mom had a solution for that. At times we had Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday in two different cities. Mom always set the table the night before, labeled the serving pieces with the planned contents and set her alarm clock. She’d get up early, put the turkey in the oven and off she went to the airport. She’d fly to wherever one of her children and their spouse were, pick them up and fly home. The family gathered and gave thanks for all manner of blessings – including the flying travel that enabled us to gather as a family.
As I savor yesterday’s memories and leftovers, I look forward to making more great traveling memories in 2007. Before we leave 2006 let me once again say thank you to all of those who made the 2006 National Air Races possible: the Race Boards, the many volunteers, the wonderful sponsors at http://www.us-airrace.org/sponsors.html and especially our Top Gun sponsors of Arthur T. Mott Realty, City of Hutchinson Kansas Airport Authority and Jones Publishing.
Shortly the web site will be updated for the 2007 National Air Races by U.S. Air Race, Inc. where all pilots and their friends can enjoy “Air Racing: Compete to fly the Perfect Cross Country”. Save July 15-20, 2007 for fabulous flying. The entry kit will be available January 1. We will dovetail our schedule to join the Jones Publishing GTO™ (Gateway to Oshkosh) Convention. We are fortunate to have both Jones Publishing and Arthur T. Mott Realty returning as Top Gun sponsors. The City of Wichita Airport Authority is also a 2007 Top Gun sponsor. The Wichita 300 will be flown Monday July 15. The premiere 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race will travel east across the Ozarks, over the scenic Ohio river valley, north along the east shores of Lake Michigan, into the Upper Peninsula and then south to Wisconsin. The third National Air Race will be the Wisconsin 300 on Friday July 20.
I hope that your Thanksgiving holidays were and are filled with marvelous memories and pleasant plans for the future that include flying the perfect cross country in one or more of the National Air Races.
The bookend renaissance-style 300-mile races are where pilotage and precise flying reign supreme as teams compete with only a compass and sectional charts for navigational aids across a mystery route. The Marion Jayne Air Race is where the full panel is used with weather and aircraft knowledge being added to the competitive equation. After 3 days and 1800 miles of cross country flying, teams will be honored awards. The results of the three national races will be combined to determine the winner of the stunning Marion Jayne Perpetual Trophy.
The U.S. Air Race, Inc. was founded by famed race pilot Marion Jayne. Jayne is the only U.S. pilot to have raced twice around the world. She placed second in the 1992 race and won the FAI Gold Medal in 1994. Marion has been honored as one of the century's 100 Aviation Heroes along with the Wrights, John Glenn, Eileen Collins and others at the 2003 Centennial Celebration. Her personal success, her two races around the world, her life before flying were cited as well as her entrepreneurial spirit in founding 4 air races - three of which are still run annually. The National Air Races honor her memory and contributions.
Our ‘Safe, Fair and Fun’ catch phrase was coined at the 1995 inaugural event and characterizes how we work together as organizers and participants to have successful flights. Our teams have flown over 507,607 miles with a perfect safety record. For first-time participants a special briefing is held and new teams are given an experienced event buddy to make sure their rookie experience goes smoothly. Come join us for the fun flying, the camaraderie, the cruising and/or the competition. You’ll have hangar flying stories for years to come!
Wishing you Blue Skies and Tailwinds,
Pat
Patricia Jayne (Pat) Keefer
President, U.S. Air Race, Inc.
National Air Races and Air Cruise
www.us-airrace.org

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