| Rolls-Royce Air Race
Engine Guru - Building Engines Again Reno
Air Races Update
July 14, 2003
By: Wayne Sagar
The
Doctor Is In The House
 Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine
Guru Dwight Thorne is back in the saddle
and producing racing engines again at his
Gilroy, California shop, Mystery Aire.
Dwight’s current
project is a completely rebuilt
"Mouse Motor" for the Dago Red
Air Racing Team, who are in preparation
for another run at the gold at the 2003
Reno National Championship Air Races,
held this year, September 11-14 at the
Reno Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada.
Thorne was temporarily put
out of action early this year when he
had, what was called at the time, a
"massive stroke," Dwight had
been in rehab for several months after
the event. He is currently recovering
very well, in good spirits and his
comments today to AAFO.COM via a
telephone interview were more than
encouraging.
Our initial call to Mystery
Aire was received by John Slack, who
along with Steve Bartholf is assisting
Dwight with the Dago Red "Mouse
Motor." Never one to divulge much
information to pesky reporters inquiries,
Dwight’s answer to John, when asked
"are we allowed to tell Wayne Sagar
what we’re up to here, or will we
have to electrocute him over the
phone?" was a good natured…
"we’re awash in Mouse
Milk"..
We then spoke for a few
minutes with the very busy engine man;
Thorne sounded in very good spirits and
had this to say about the upcoming races
at Reno… "We’re just
finishing up the Dago motor right now,
that’s our focal point.. you can
tell everyone, we’re going to be at
Reno."
Of his stroke, Dwight told
us "we are expecting a full
recovery." If his alertness and wit
during our conversation today are any
indication of his recovery to date, it
sounds like this is a good bet!
Dwight Thorne participated
in a Q&A session with visitors to
this website last year, that we called
"Ask
The Doctor." With scant weeks left
before "Reno 2003" the news
that "The Doctor" is
recuperating well is icing on the cake
that this year is shaping up to be!
For tickets and further
information about the National
Championship Air Races, visit the
official web site for the event, http://airrace.org/
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