Race Practice

[ratty]

I was reading about a DC-7 competing in the California 1000 at Mojave in 1970, and a Super Constellation almost competing at San Diego the following year. The DC-7 came in SIXTH in a field of 20.
So, I thought I'd stretch her legs . . .

https://youtu.be/tHp-42zo63c

[CAPFlyer]

The DC-7 was fielded by the one-and-only Clay Lacy. It and the Connie did quite well despite being significantly slower than many of their competitors simply because they were both able to fly the entire event on one tank of gas, while the other raceplanes had to make several stops. These long-distance races were perfect for an enterprising pilot like Clay.

Also, it's important to note that the Super Connie never actually competed. When Clay & Al entered the DC-7 and L-1049G in the 1971 race, other pilots complained that the aircraft were not in the "spirit" of the race (which was supposed to feature pit stops and the like to make it more about strategy than just making laps) and so neither plane flew the race, although they both qualified.

Here's a short film (7 minutes) about the first race - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRMGgnFusEg

Of note as well, the DC-7 and Super Connie weren't the only heavy birds to see a closed course. The CAF's B-29 "FiFi" did several laps of the Reno Unlimited course at race altitude and speed back years ago. While RARA didn't certify a lap time, there are pictures of the plane on the course and the "official" one (which I've never seen online sadly) which designated FiFi as "Race Super 29" in the "Unlimited Super Heavy" class.

[DHenriques_]

The DC-7 was fielded by the one-and-only Clay Lacy. It and the Connie did quite well despite being significantly slower than many of their competitors simply because they were both able to fly the entire event on one tank of gas, while the other raceplanes had to make several stops. These long-distance races were perfect for an enterprising pilot like Clay.

Here's a short film (7 minutes) about the first race - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRMGgnFusEg

However, the DC-7 and Super Connie weren't the only heavy birds to see a closed course. The CAF's B-29 "FiFi" did several laps of the Reno Unlimited course at race altitude and speed back years ago. While RARA didn't certify a lap time, there are pictures of the plane on the course and the "official" one (which I've never seen online sadly) which designated FiFi as "Race Super 29" in the "Unlimited Super Heavy" class.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8ZDKc ... sp=sharing

Dudley Henriques

[CAPFlyer]

Excellent picture Dudley.

A little more history (researching it right now) -

The L-1049G was entered by Clay Lacy's long-time cohort Al Paulson (who was co-pilot on "Snoopy" in the 1970 race) and named "Red Baron". However, neither it or the DC-7 competed in the 1971 race despite qualifying because some of the other pilots complained about the aircraft not being in the "spirit" of the race since they didn't need to make pit stops for fuel or to change pilots. Funny since Clay was then president of RARA and was one of the main drivers in the creation of the California 1000.

The DC-7, N759Z, which had started with American Airlines and then flown with Zantop before Clay bought it for California Airmotive (one of several ventures Clay was involved in) ended up being scrapped in 1985 in Beirut, Lebanon.

The L-1049G, N9723C, was originally delivered to QANTAS before going through several operators as a cargo aircraft and finally ending up with "American Jet Industries" (aka California Airmotive) before finally going to "Stereo Vision International", Clay's aerial filming company. It was scrapped at Burbank in 1975.

Thankfully, most of the other racers have faired better. I'll make another quick post listing them.

[DHenriques_]

Excellent picture Dudley.

A little more history (researching it right now) -

The L-1049G was entered by Clay Lacy's long-time cohort Al Paulson (who was co-pilot on "Snoopy" in the 1970 race) and named "Red Baron". However, neither it or the DC-7 competed in the 1971 race despite qualifying because some of the other pilots complained about the aircraft not being in the "spirit" of the race since they didn't need to make pit stops for fuel or to change pilots. Funny since Clay was then president of RARA and was one of the main drivers in the creation of the California 1000.

The DC-7, N759Z, which had started with American Airlines and then flown with Zantop before Clay bought it for California Airmotive (one of several ventures Clay was involved in) ended up being scrapped in 1985 in Beirut, Lebanon.

The L-1049G, N9723C, was originally delivered to QANTAS before going through several operators as a cargo aircraft and finally ending up with "American Jet Industries" (aka California Airmotive) before finally going to "Stereo Vision International", Clay's aerial filming company. It was scrapped at Burbank in 1975.

Thankfully, most of the other racers have faired better. I'll make another quick post listing them.

This was also about the time Clay came out with that crazy "Human Fly" routine. Later with a DC8 ! You had to SEE that one to believe it ! LOL
DH

[CAPFlyer]

Miss Merced - Sea Fury - N878M - Airworthy, based Kenosha, WI. Restored 2000 back to "Miss Merced" configuration with clipped wings but with an R3350 and 4-blade prop instead of Centaurus and 5-blade prop it had originally. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/furyregi ... wg567.html

miss R.J. - Mustang - NL7715C - Crashed/Airworthy. miss R.J. became "Red Baron" with a Rolls Royce Griffon and contra-rotating prop. Crashed in 1979 at Reno due to an engine failure and loss of oil pressure while being flown by Steve Hinton (who survived). Parts of the aircraft were used in the restoration of P-51D "Wee Willy II" which flies today as part of the Planes of Fame fleet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Baron_(racer)

"232" - Sea Fury - N232J - Airworthy, based in Texas. Aircraft was rescued from a field in Texas by Frank Sanders and restored with its original Royal Navy markings. Raced infrequently during the 1970s and 1980s, it spent most of the 1990's in the UK. It returned to the US in late 1999 and became a stable mate to September Pops, another well-known race Sea Fury. Renamed "September Fury", the aircraft is still racing today. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_Fury

"Blue Max" - Corsair - N33963 - Crashed. Flown as a racer from 1970 into the late 1980s when it crashed near San Diego in 1987 while on a post-airshow flight. The pilot and passenger were both killed. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/corsairr ... 33693.html

"Miss America" - Mustang - N911R - Airworthy, based in Oklahoma City, OK. Flown as "Miss America" since 1969, it is one of the few that hasn't seen a change in name or scheme since. It's a 5 time Reno Unlimited Champion and set a LA to Washington record for a single engine piston aircraft in 1969 making the flight in 6 hours, 21 minutes at an average speed of 412 mph. http://www.warbirddepot.com/aircraft_fi ... -hisey.asp

"Roto-Finish Bearcat" - Bearcat - N9G - Airworthy/Static, based at Kalamazoo, MI. Flown as a racer from 1968 -1977. When the owner got a Mustang he felt comfortable modifying as a pure-bred racer, he donated the aircraft to the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum where it was repainted into navy colors and has been there since. Had a forced landing in 1995, but was returned to flight in 2001. I don't think it's been flown in a few years. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f8fregis ... 90454.html

"Bardahl Special" - Mustang - N2869D - Airworthy, based in American Falls, ID. Raced until 1982 when bought by current owner and restored to full warbird configuration as "Section Eight". http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-84390

"Race 4" - Invader - N2852G - Static, in Santa Teresa, NM. Was flown as a "fog dispersal" aircraft during the 1970s. Changed hands several times afterward and eventually ended up unpainted and registered as N576JB at the War Eagles Air Museum. Recently, volunteers have been working to polish the airplane. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/a26regis ... 35493.html

"Double Trouble Two / Race 38" - Lightning - N345 - Static, in Santa Teresa, NM. This aircraft is somewhat unique in that it's one of the last remaining F-5G "Foto Lightnings". After WWII, it was used as a survey and weather research aircraft before being bought by Gary Levitz of Dallas, TX, and being flown as a racer. Was damaged in a gear-up accident in 1983 and sold. Was restored and changed hands several times before ended up with the War Eagles Air Museum. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p38regis ... 27053.html

"Golden Products" - Mustang - N576GF - Airworthy, based Half Moon Bay, CA. Flown for many years as "Race 97" by the Love family. Traded hands several times later until ending up with the late Eddie Andreini in 2010 and restored as "Primo Branco". Still airworthy and owned by Andreini's widow. http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-73079

"Race 9" - Mustang - N5480V - Status in Question. I'm 99% sure of this registration, but can find no other supporting documentation other than the film to confirm this. All other variations on registration come up to not P-51s. However, all resources list this aircraft as having been in Haiti during 1970. So, who knows. If registration is correct, then it'd be this airplane - http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-73079

"Maroon Mustang" - Mustang - N6523D - Airworthy. Aircraft painted purple and gold, nearly identical to Clay Lacy's "Race 55" which didn't fly in the California 1000. Not much history on this one. Mr. Perez has kept it quiet over the years and repainted it silver only about 10 years ago. http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-74483

"Yellow Race 81" - Mustang - N6519D - Airworthy, based Kalispell, MT. Flown as "Race 81" until the 1974 when it crashed after takeoff while under the control of Steve Hinton (then 22). Plane was at the time sponsored by Rockwell International and has caused some confusion in the years since because it looks very similar to R.A. "Bob" Hoover's Mustang. Went through long restoration and is now flying in military markings. http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51/su ... l/44-74012

I know that's not all of the participants, but it's all I could get info on because there's no definitive list online that lists all of the participants.

[CAPFlyer]

This was also about the time Clay came out with that crazy "Human Fly" routine. Later with a DC8 ! You had to SEE that one to believe it ! LOL
DH

Yeah, seen that film too. Clay still likes to tell the story too. Heard him tell it in person when he got elected to the CAF General staff whenever that was. I think out of all he did, he considers that one to be the "most fun".

[DHenriques_]

This was also about the time Clay came out with that crazy "Human Fly" routine. Later with a DC8 ! You had to SEE that one to believe it ! LOL
DH

Yeah, seen that film too. Clay still likes to tell the story too. Heard him tell it in person when he got elected to the CAF General staff whenever that was. I think out of all he did, he considers that one to be the "most fun".

Rick Rojatt was the guy's name. I believe he was Canadian. The stunt was amazing but it beat him up pretty bad.
Last I heard he had a motorcycle accident doing a stunt and literally disappeared completely from public life.
DH

[Lewis - A2A]

wow fascinating stuff, amazing tadbits of history, thanks for all the information and links, more fun to be had in the sim

[FAC257]

I watched that race with the DC-7 on TV back then. I believe it was ABC's Wide World Of Sports. At the time I thought it was an incredible feat.

Many times over the years I have told the story of seeing someone on TV racing an airliner. I finally stopped, when I realized that it wasn't believable unless you actually saw it.

Cool to see a video of it.

[DHenriques_]

"Miss America" - Mustang - N911R - Airworthy, based in Oklahoma City, OK. Flown as "Miss America" since 1969, it is one of the few that hasn't seen a change in name or scheme since. It's a 5 time Reno Unlimited Champion and set a LA to Washington record for a single engine piston aircraft in 1969 making the flight in 6 hours, 21 minutes at an average speed of 412 mph. http://www.warbirddepot.com/aircraft_fi ... -hisey.asp

Let me update the world record data for Miss America since I managed the event for Howie Keefe.

Howie and I got the record together in the year following the Cape May Race disaster where we lost friends in the T6 race. Strangely enough, our reason for doing it was to have a reason for Howie and I and two friends, Tony Minges and Jere Snyder, to all get together again. Both Tony and Jere had lost their husbands in the T6 catastrophe on June 6 1971.
With our meeting in mind, Howie and I planned the record attempt. It would coincide with the opening of Transpo 72 at Dulles.
We contacted Cox Models to sponsor the attempt and they agreed. Cox at the time was sponsoring Miss A anyway and they were happy to come on board with us.
So the way it was setup, Howie would fly the event, I would manage Miss A at Dulles, and Ben Garret from Cox would represent their company at Dulles. Bill Ottley, Chairman of the Sport Aviation Council of the NAA arranged the official timing and verification for the flight so it would be sanctioned.

The record wasn't set in 1969. It was set on May 27th 1972. The official time was 6 hours 18 minutes and 5 seconds from LAX to Dulles. We made a fuel stop at Wichita Kansas that was supervised by Cessna test pilots Milt Sills and Jerry Jenks.
We planned the record to be flown at 21 thousand with an estimated TAS of 420mph.

So there you have the complete story.
Dudley Henriques