STEAD (Sept. 9) – With Monday’s second session of Unlimited qualifying canceled the heavy iron brigade got busy Tuesday morning. This gave them some insurance incase some problems had to be settled or in one case a racing engine installed.
Steven Hinton guides VooDoo back onto the ramp after setting the fastest lap for the Unlimiteds at 479.234 mph.
Stewart Dawson taxies out to make his qualifying run in Rare Bear. He posted the second fastest speed at 476.856 mph.
Posting the third fastest speed, 456.234 mph, in Tuesday’s Unlimited qualifying was Sherman Smoot flying Czech Mate.
Many time Unlimited champion Tiger Destefani was handicapped by only having his ferry engine in Strega but he still posted a speed of 381.048 mph.
Everyone lined up in the first qualifying session and two of the most anticipated runs were by defending champion Steven Hinton in Voodoo and Stewart Dawson flying Rare Bear.
First off was Strega with many time champion Tiger Destefani at the controls. Despite having to qualify with his ferry engine, he posted a speed of 381.048 so he’s in the show.
Now Destefani is awaiting the arrival of his racing engine that’s coming from Texas.
Next Dawson took the Bear up and whipped off a speed of 476.856 mph. A bit later Hinton climbed aboard Voodoo and after a couple of laps called timing to put him on the clock for one flying lap.
He ripped around the course and posted a speed of 479.267 with a time of just over one minute to cover the 8.0851 mile course. A bit later Sherman Smoot clocked a speed of 456.234 in Czech Mate.
One anticipated Unlimited is Precious Metal but pilot Thom Richard had to make an emergency landing during his afternoon run. Hopefully it’s nothing major as there is only one more qualifying session for the Unlimiteds.
Only three jets posted times and Mike Mangold clocked a time of 414.556 mph around their 8.1025 mile long course.
Topping the speed charts for the Sport Class was Jeff LaVelle, who posted a speed of 409.812, and was one of three pilots to set a new record. Next fastest was John Parker in his Thunder Mustang with a speed of 383.009.
At the end of Tuesday’s runs Dennis Buehn was the fastest T-6 clocking speeds of 243.177 and 242.509 mph. John Lohmar was second quick with a one-lap speed of 242.004.
The next pilot to set a new course record was Steve Senegal when he flew his Formula 1, named Endeavor, to its fastest speed of 267.289 on its first lap. Second quick was Steve Temple in Madness posting speeds of 242.119 and 242.334 in his two laps.
In the biplane field Tom Aberle set fastest lap of 274.091 mph, another class record, followed by Jake Stewart with a speed of 237.089.
Once the morning ends the fields will be set for the 51st Annual Reno Air Races and some of the classes will run their first races.
The fastest Unlimiteds will have their first race on Friday afternoon.
For further information on schedules and speeds please go to, www.airrace.org.
