Reno Air Races 2005

Just returned from a 2500 mile trip across 4 states to shoot this event. What follows are a few photos taken in Reno. Larger images can be found here on my Events Gallery - Reno Air Races 2005.
650 miles into trip, heading towards Mt. Shasta in Northern California. Shot taken on Interstate 5 north of Yreka.

USAF Thunderbirds performing on Saturday. Classic diamond configuration.
Purchase this Image

Full USAF Thunderbirds team passing over the airfield.
Purchase this image

Rare F-7F night fighter. Despite the museum quality of the restoration (and being only 1 of 6 still flying) this aircraft also races in the Unlimited racing class.
Purchase this image

P-51 Mustang hot on the tail of another warbird above the Nevada desert.
Purchase this image

Hawker Sea Fury making a high speed run down the front straight.
Purchase this image

A pair of P-51 Mustangs exiting the Valley of Speed, running towards the last pylon to enter the front straight.
Purchase this image

Crewmember preparing "Conch Fury" to run an Unlimited Gold qualifier heat on Saturday.
Purchase this image

Two more Sea Furies lined up before the Unlimited Gold qualifier heat.
Purchase this image

F-7F banking onto the front straight over Reno Stead.
Purchase this image

Unlimited Gold racers banking into the front straight.
Purchase this image

Unlimited racer "Dreadnought" starting up the massive P&W R-4360 28 piston radial engine. (Note: Thanks Tim for pointing out my original error.
Purchase this image

Piper cub missing some important parts of the right wing. This guy puts on a great show every year.
Purchase this image

Very rare Super Corsair (also known as the Windowmaker) flight demonstration. Only a handful of these aircraft were ever built.
Purchase this image

Business jet making a few laps of the race course prior to start of the Gold Unlimited championship race.
Purchase this image

US Navy Heritage flyby. It's a rare exception for civilian and military pilots to fly in close formation such as this.
Purchase this image

WWII warbirds lining up for Unlimited Gold pre-race ceremony.
Purchase this image

The Conch Republic Air Force ("Conch Fury") also came to face and promote forien relations with thier norther neighbor, The United States of America.
Purchase this image

The only P-51 Mustang calls MAYDAY after losing it's engine 3 laps into the race. The pilot was able to land the aircraft safely on an emergency runway.
Purchase this image

"Conch Fury" banks into the last turn trying to keep up with the leading plane.
Purchase this image

Record setting "Rare Bear" blasting it's way to it's 7th Reno National Air Race Championship win.
Purchase this image

US NAVY Bearcat ("Rare Bear") makes the final run to the finishline at nearly 500 MPH.
Purchase this image

Reno Air Races 2005 planning.

The Reno Air Races will soon be upon us again thus time to make final plans for my trek to the best, more exciting and dangerous motorsport in the United States. Aircraft pylon racing with super-charged, nitrous burning WWII (and now jet!) aircraft buzzing the deck at speed exceeding 500 MPH!!! 4 straight days of high-test burning, ground shaking excitement.

Most years I've flow in and the few occasions where I drove I was still living in California so the journey was not that long (about 260 miles from San Jose, CA to Reno Stead airport). This time the journey, if I do decided to ride it (and I don't see why not) will be just shy of 750 miles taking approximatly 13 hours of saddle time.

This would not be a personal record (distance wise) for me by any stretch. My personal record is 970 miles in 16 hours on a Honda VFR. My record for (sheer insanity) proving something to myself was 870 miles in the same time from Modesto to Bremerton on a Ducati 998 superbike. Many said I was nutz but I enjoyed it very much and then backed that up with another 250 mile joyride to the Olypmics. So.. 750 miles in the very comfy Cagiva should not be much of a challenge unless it breaks down which will be more challenge that I really care to have. :p


The route I planned out using Micro$oft Streets and Trips is the one I had envisioned before even checking the maps. Making a super-slab dash to the California border, over the mountains and then heading east though the Sierras and finally across the border into Nevada. 4 states in 1 day.

However, I might extend this little journey into two days just so save myself, my equipment AND to give my camping gear (OK and myself) a REAL test. It will be interesting. Really looking forward to the time off, time on the road and time with my good friends. My hope is that I can put it together and make it all work.

New video and still camera mount development

On Monday, September 5 I tested out the new video and still camera mount at the Bremerton Sports Car Club Solo II event held at the Bremerton Motorsports Park in the south county.
This system is the most stable one designed but it's a simple prototype. A second more refined design has been inked and the maching work should be done this weekend.

Here is a test video that I shot at the event on Monday. BSCC - Round 6 (46 MB 8 min.). The video is large and is set to music (you can still hear the motor and announcer during some of the quieter transitions).

I plan to make a test with this mount using the Canon 20D still camera late on this weekend. Stay posted to see how that works out.