Reno Air Races News December 13, 2004 "I'll Be Back" By: Wayne Sagar

Sometimes the toughest part about writing up a report for this web site is to nail the title of said report! Having struggled with this one for the better part of two days, at least, both the chosen "I'll be back" and the second place choice, "I'm done" are proven true in this report! Other choices which crossed our editorial minds in this process were along the lines of, "no easy win for 2005" and "fans dancing in the street after announcement by Bill 'Tiger' Destefani," might well have fit this story.

Title confusion not withstanding, we are pleased to be able to tell you that all of the potential headlines are true. Reno favorite, Bill "Tiger" Destefani will return to for the 2005 competition with his beloved red and white raceplane, Strega!!!!

A reporter is only as good as his sources and before going any further with this story, we would like to give a heart-felt thanks to those hidden individuals who make us look good. The so-called "highly placed source" who shall always go unnamed. Without whom, we would never be able to find and report great news such as this is. To those unnamed parties, whomever and wherever they may be... THANK YOU!

Let's get on to the details! In a conversation with Tiger on Saturday, December 11, our tip was confirmed, when a very modest Tiger Destefani told us "Yea, It's no big deal... we decided last year to come back". Hummn... "No big deal...?" Makes one wonder if Tiger knows just how well loved his racing efforts have been over the years (he doesn't seem to). The former race pilot and his airplane have a huge following and I don't think "fans dancing in the street" is very far beyond what many people will be doing upon reading this very "happy holiday" news!

As those of you who follow air racing know, "Tiger Bill" finally left air racing after a mechanically frustrating year at Reno in 2002, following the equally, if not more frustrating September 11, 2001 cancellation of the races kept him from racing "one more time" as he had said he would do when he announced his plans to retire.

Announcing "I'm done" after pulling out of the 2002 gold race, Destefani had made good on his word, racing his sleek airplane one last time. Future plans for his highly modified North American P-51 Mustang were unknown at that time. Although after he initially announced his upcoming retirement from air racing, Tiger had indicated he would consider campaigning the airplane with someone else at the controls, speculation by fans regarding the fate of "Strega" ran rampant over the past two years since his departure from the sport. Many fans have feared that the airplane would be returned to stock configuration.

No more rumors, no more speculation... It's official now!

Tiger will return Strega to Reno this coming September with not one, but TWO, Mike "Sparrow" Barrow prepared fully race prepped Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. Taking over the stick as pilot of "The Witch" will be Astronaut and accomplished air racer, Curt Brown. L.D. Hughes will remain as Crew Chief for the racing team. Engine assistance will be provided by NASCAR's Jack Roush.

Strega's return will make an already very interesting Gold contender mix even better. Perhaps better than it has ever been in the history of the sport! With Terry Bland's Dago Red's five year dominance broken this year by the newly returned and finally competitive Lyle Shelton's Rare Bear, the competition at the front of the Unlimited Gold pack was already starting to look like it might well be better than it had been in years. Add to the mix up-front, Tiger Destefani's Strega and we have three airplanes with no less than nineteen Reno Gold Unlimited Championships shared between them. In our memory, Dago Red, Strega and Rare Bear have never all been healthy and racing together in the same Gold final on Sunday at the same time and date.. could this be the year?

There are also some very capable "ladies in waiting" nipping at the heels of these top contenders! Keeping things honest at the front, we have the highly modified aircraft Mike Brown flying his "Super Sea Fury" September Fury, Sherman Smoot, flying John Moore's Yak, Czech Mate and the Sanders brother's R-4350 powered Dreadnought. To further add to this mix, the wolf in sheep's clothing crowd, Dan Martin flying his Ridge Runner P-51, Brent "Doc" Hisey and his colorful Miss America P-51... not to mention a host of other potential winners, any of whom could nab the title of Champion. We feel compelled to repeat an old term, "it could be anybody's race!"

Destefani, a southern California farmer, recently sold his land holdings, giving over to progress as the land development around him moved ever closer. Of his farming, Tiger added "I'm not done" and of his sale, "I've got the best of both worlds" as he was able to continue his right to farm the land until it is developed, parcel by parcel. Tiger also kept a piece of his long owned family farm and he indicated he will continue in agriculture, growing grapes and opening a winery called Palazzo Wines on the land.

I think we can speak for everyone who has an interest in this sport when we say... "Welcome Back Tiger!" May we all lift a glass of Palazzo wine someday and toast a great competitor and great racer and great winemaker who has brought much to air racing for many years!

All photos clickable for enlarged view with captions
Photos and captions by: Mark Kallio and Wayne Sagar