Air Racing: Tailwinds, First Entry, Press and Sponsors

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Air Racing: Tailwinds, First Entry, Press and Sponsors
Where is an air race when you need one? Today I had 55 kt tailwinds at 3,000’ in the DFW area. Too bad I was only exercising the engines and pilot skills and had to return with the corresponding headwinds. The racing juices were flowing as I certainly did enjoy watching the GPS speeds for part of the flight!
I am happy to announce the first entry for all three of the 2006 races is Mike Jones from Fullerton, CA. Mike and his yet to be named co-pilot will be flying Mike’s Glasair lll as Race #10. This is the same number he uses when he competes in the Reno Air Races. Even though this is the first time Mike will race our events, with his credentials, I expect him to have fun and take home some hardware. There are another 11 teams in the process of entering and they fly 172s to Barons. The entry kit is posted on the web site at http://www.us-airrace.org/entrykit.html. With folks like Mike you can see why our theme this year is "Air Racing: Where it’s all about the Pilots". OK, there are gorgeous airplanes too and fabulous scenery and … well, you get the idea.
The Cessna Owners Organization and the Pipers Owners Society (in alphabetical order) have published their 16-page guides to their 2006 Convention and Fly-in. The U.S. Air Race events are featured and our ad graces the back covers. Their convention dovetails with EAA’s AirVenture at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We call this Oshkosh made easy. Here is why. The race teams will arrive in time to enjoy that event and take advantage of their excellent and easy transportation to AirVenture. So if you were planning on going to Oshkosh anyway, here is a great chance to have a huge amount of fun in getting there. By the way, we have been assured that pilots of all aircraft types will be welcome. Beech Bonanza owner and 2005 Marion Jayne Perpetual Trophy winner, Marv Guthrie, plans to join the fun.
The City of Hutchinson and Airport Advisory Board are sponsoring the first event which is now named the Hutchinson 300 Air Race. This will be my fifth trip to Hutchinson (HUT) and I still haven’t seen everything at their fabulous Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. Wells Aircraft is sponsoring the trophies for the Hutchinson 300. Hutchinson’s hospitality when it was a stop on the race route in 1997 and 1999 was so good that Race 54 is flying in from New Jersey just to enjoy it again. By the way 60 kt tailwinds were recorded during the 1999 race here. Check them out at www.hutchchamber.com
Arthur T. Mott Realty is again a Gold Sponsor for the John Dawson Division of the Marion Jayne Air Race as well as funding the Arthur T. Mott Library of Loggers. This technology will be in each aircraft and improves timing and scoring. Arthur’s perennial sponsorship is a generous tribute to his love of racing. By the way, we are looking for a pair of folks with Excel knowledge, a laptop with lots of memory and storage, an airplane and IFR capability to fly along and score the races so if you are interested, let me know.
Mac S. Speed of Electronics International, Inc. is a Silver Sponsor for the first time so look for the hot link to his web site under the sponsor tab at www.us-airrace.org or go directly their now at www.buy-ei.com.
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 races: the exciting cross country 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race from Hutchinson, Kansas to Wisconsin, the Hutchinson 300-mile Air Race in Kansas and/or the Wisconsin 300-mile Air Race in Wisconsin. A cruise at your own speed division is also available. These fabulous flying events will be held July 16-23, 2006. Participants will receive custom trophies, cash, completion plaques, prizes and the all-important bragging rights.
Teams may compete in cruise or speed divisions in the 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race. Custom divisions (such as, turbo or all RVs) 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. Race planes are individually handicapped which makes each event a test of flying skills. 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 Kansas and Wisconsin.
We are excited to bring you a projected route abounding in scenic splendor and clear of nearly all special use air space. The route begins in Hutchinson located in the middle of Kansas on the Arkansas River. You’ll follow the river valley towards the eastern plains of Colorado and then fly north in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains to the scenic Badlands and the edge of the Black Hills in South Dakota’s Rapid City where teams may remain overnight and see the fabulous evening Mt Rushmore presentation. Then it is off to Montana and the Missouri River. Turning east, you’ll follow the Missouri River a bit until it is joined by the Yellowstone River to create beautiful Lake Sakakawea. Still heading east, you’ll cross North Dakota and Minnesota just south of the boundary waters and then turn southeast and fly just over the tip of lake Superior and finish in mid-Wisconsin. As in the past, legs are about 300 sm and with an easy two-legs-a-day strategy, you’ll land in time for all th
e fun on the ground. The free entry kit is at www.us-airrace.org and has more details.
The 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 2006 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 480,145 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 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
P.S. If you would prefer not to receive information about the U.S. Air Race events, please let me know.

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