Air Racing Loses A Promising Team
 Riff Raff
owner, Mike Keenum, (seated on
wing, top right) has announced
the sale of his Unlimited Race
Plane, "Riff Raff."
Citing difficulties
involved with racing the airplane
from his home base in the Chicago
area, Keenum made a tough
decision and has listed the
airplane for sale.
Like all Air Racers,
Mike has a full time job, in this
case, running his business
Orthosport, a chain of Chicago,
Illinois-area physical therapy
clinics; Mikes decision was based
on time available to deal with a
Race Plane stuck several thousand
miles from its base.
"Time is so
limited after the race because of
business, I am having trouble
getting this thing fixed and
home." Keenum told AAFO.COM
this week, adding "I can
just imagine myself watching next
year and fearing an incident that
would put me in this shape again.
That takes the fun out of
it."
The airplane, a
Hawker Sea Fury converted for
racing with the installation of a
Wright R-3350 powerplant, was
damaged during an incident (see story) at the
Reno National Championship Air
Races, held in September of this
year. It has remained at the site
of the races awaiting repairs
since then.
When we first
reported the coming of this new
race team (see story) after the
first annual Pylon Racing
Seminar, we were riding the
"high" of that event
and the prospect of a growing
racing field at Reno. No
question, Mike Keenum and the
Riff Raff Racing Team have added
color and excitement to the
annual Speed Festival at Reno.
Mike's team had a
particularly engaging brand of
enthusiasm, presenting their
airplane in spotless condition at
all times, they have always shown
the best of what "Reno"
truly is: a gathering of people
and machines and a festival of
competition at the highest level.
I know from
conversations I have had with
Mike in the past, he has the
greatest respect for the
traditions of Reno Air Racing, he
was there for no other reason
than the enjoyment of the
competition and being a part of
that tradition.
Mike Keenum, his
airplane and team will be missed.
Bitten by Reno –as only
those who compete there can be– Mike too,
will miss Reno as he has known it
for the last three racing
seasons. "I will miss the
competition and many of the good
friends I have made. [I] Will
probably still visit, but it will
not be the same."
Mike, from all of us
who follow this sport, I can tell
you that it will indeed, not be
the same! We look forward to
seeing you there, airplane or no.
Wayne Sagar
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