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On June 2, 2005, racing history was made when the first annual Tunica (Mississippi) Air Races officially opened for multi-class competition. The brainchild of Nashville resident Jeff Landers, the opening of Tunica as a valid venue for Air Racing perhaps marked a new beginning for this surprisingly little known faction of the world of motor sport. Formerly a once a year championship held at Reno, Nevada, the addition of a new location could mark the beginning of a racing "circuit" with multiple events annually.

A report about Air Racing should probably be full of blow-by-blow reports about the competition. Who led during the hottest laps? Who broke? Who finished first? To be sure, there was competition at Tunica for the first running of this new venue and that is really what the event was all about. But the true story of "Tunica" is about dreaming and doing, which is exactly what founder Jeff Landers and his dedicated supporters did in this mid-south gambling casino community.

When Landers announced to the world early in 2005 that he planned on holding a race early in June at the resort and gambling Mecca located a few minutes south of metropolitan Memphis, Tennessee, most people, including some who became his most loyal supporters, thought he was very likely "nuts".

Landers spoke of his initial announcement: "When the news came out [in February] we knew that the event would be a challenge to put together in just over four months. Everyone said it couldn't be done but it was done." Adding, "Hard work and some tenacity paid off."

Indeed, to say that most people involved within the sport itself were quite skeptical would likely be a major understatement. How in the world anyone could bring off such a complex event as an Air Race, coupled with the necessary Air Show to stitch it together, within less than five months?

The genial southerner answered this question modestly. "First I want to thank our staff and the city of Tunica, Mississippi. The CVB, Chamber, Tunica County all the police, fire fighters and the good people there were behind this effort 100%." Truly modest about the success of this first effort, Landers also publicly recognized the immense efforts of his Air Boss, Steve Dilda at the awards dinner following the last race of the event.

"The event was a great success on many levels.  The pilots were treated to southern hospitality not seen in air racing ever.  The parties that were hosted by our casino partners, Horseshoe, Gold Strike and Fitzgerald’s were a huge success and showed our commitment to making this an annual event." Said Landers.

As a watcher and recorder of this sport, I went forth with a wary eye aimed towards this event. That said, I wanted it to happen successfully with all of my "true-blue-dyed-in-the-wool" race fan being! Also deep in that part of myself, I simply could not see how in the world it could happen successfully!

It now appears that June has become a month that Air Race fans must mark solidly as taken on their annual event calendar. Landers speaks of the future of Air Racing in the Mid-South. "We are currently planning our 2006 races here and will be bigger, better and in many respects simpler.  We've learned a lot of valuable lessons during this first year. We have several sponsors that have already ponied up for next year's event and others on the way.  We hope to add the sport class to our event for 2006."

(Editor’s note: Subsequent to our conversation with Landers, the dates for the 2006 event have been set for June 1-4)

Looking back now, some two months after the event, I’m proud to say that not only did he (Landers) do it, but that we were there to witness and record this historical new race as it unfolded. Judging by the reactions of the fans, journalists in attendance and most of all, the racers who put out a huge effort to be there in competition, the first annual Tunica Air Races and Air Show was a grand success and only the first of many annual events to come!

For more information about the Tunica Air Races and Air Show, visit
HTTP://WWW.TUNICAIRRACES.COM