Critical Mass: Thanks Taz!

[AAFO_WSagar]

We've been waiting for permission from Tom to post his email to us yesterday but since I see that it has been posted elsewhere, I'll make the assumption that it's cleared.

Message from Tom Dwelle yesterday..

Hello to all:
We just aborted our trip to Nellis AFB with Critical Mass. Scott &
Mark were taking the truck & trailer down, Chris & Peggy were flying on SWA
and Charlie Neel is driving. In fact he is arriving as I write. We finally
got our bird fixed and code 1. I went down to test fly B4 launching to
Nellis, and felt too bad to fly. Ken & I both have the flu bigtime. To
make matters worse, Peggy's Mom had a suspected heart attack, for the 2nd
time in a week, so that finished us off. I am so sorry that we couldn't do
this trip. They were paying us a bunch of money and it would have been
great to be back with the USAF. This is the 50th anniversary of the
Thunderbirds and an Unlimited & Formula one demonstration air race. In
fact, the weather looks bad for the weekend, and I don't need that. Blowing
Quonset huts and even snow around the hills of LSV.
Everything else is cool! We didn't hurt the airplane at Reno, and
best of all, we didn't hurt anybody. We are turned around and code1 (no
maintenance items outstanding). I will now retire and won't race again.
I've raced for 16 years and consider myself lucky that I'm still around to
talk about it. We came a long way (baby) to get to where we got to today.
It was a great experience, a lot of fun, and we escaped with our skins
(mostly). We all lost some now & then, but it always grows back. Sometimes
it is a little stubby, but that goes with the territory. We raised a bunch
of kids, and influenced a big, big bunch of others, in a totally amazing
environment. We led & taught by example that if you have teamwork, honor,
integrity, dedication & focus we can establish a goal and achieve it...in
spades. Together we went to a place where no single one of us would even
dare dream about. I guess that's the essence of leadership & teamwork.
Some people fell out along the way, but that's OK as "Wictor" would say. I
found out that it isn't necessary to find a bunch of rocket scientists to
make our deal work...we only needed one! We could take a smart person, who
is not an aircraft mechanic, and teach them to do a critical job. Scotty
is a classic example of a logistics "dude" and became a first class mechanic
& deputy assistant Crew Chief..
"We" ended up with a classic airplane. It looks more like a racer
than any other and it's fast! Jimmy & the "Tiger Team" did an awesome job
of building & rebuilding the aircraft over the years. I never did open it
up with the big engine. I think I ran a couple of laps at 470 mph, using
about 3500 hp. I still had about 500 hp that I never used. I finished
third this year, and had enough power to stay with the Bear & Dago Red, but
they were trying to melt each other down and I wanted no part of that. Had
Mike Brown been in the race, I would have used it all. I know that we have
the only big radial that can run "flat out" all week. Nobody else has
figured out how to do this without "melting down". Thank you David
Cornell. We still have the nitrous oxide system that I never installed. I
figured I had enough ways to blow the engine up without nitrous. We are
ready for that now, but not on my watch. Crew Chief Ken is the most
dedicated and focused person I have ever known. Go for it "Wiz". You guys,
& ladies, made us proud...and everybody knows it. As Charlie Neel once
said: "we have arrived...and are they ever pissed". No other team had
someone always on the ropes to answer questions. The fans appreciated it.
You made me proud. Thanks,
TAZ

[AlisoBob]

Thanks To Tom and Family......

Tom and his family are a super "class act" and are a great asset to Air Racing in general. MANY would have hung it up long ago when faced with the trials Tom and company endured. You wont be forgotten any time soon, thats for sure.

Critical Mass turned into a real contender during Tom's watch, hopefully it will win it all during the next portion of its life, if Tom decides to part with it.

Thanks Tom for providing all of us with a third team to cheer for during your time behind the stick...

Some years it was Dago and the Bear
Some years it was Strega and Dreadnought
Other years it was some one else......

But always Critical Mass was in the thick of it.

You have everything to be proud of in what you accomplished at Reno.

[hattend]

Dang,

Tom, We're going to miss seeing you and CM at the races. It's been quite a ride.

Good luck in your retirement.

First Strega and now Critical Mass. The flightline is getting empty.

I hope to see you still around in the pits Tom, how else will I get my Critical Mass R/C plane autographed when I get it done.

Don Hatten

[Chris300s]

This makes me want to cry.
When I was 13 I went to my first air race and was awestruck by Blind Man's Bluff. A huge, fire breathing tempermental beast that looked like a 1930's racer on steroids. I learned who Skip Holm was, and got to hear a real, honest to god test pilot talk to me about why it would go fast, and why that modified Yak needed some streamlining to go fast, just like my models. I got hooked on air racing right then and there and had every pilot I could find sign my program.
When I was 19 I picked up my connecting flight (in Dallas) and was surrounded by all of these pretty blonde girls about my age wearing airplane shirts. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Then when I got to the races, there they were, in front of the most beautiful airplane that I'd ever seen. It was so beautiful that I forgot all about those pretty girls. I got to meet a really nice guy (Tom) who didn't make me feel like an idiot when I couldn't find something interesting to talk to him about.
When I was 25 a horrible thing happened right before my eyes. I realized at that moment that you've got to strike a balance in your family, your work and your passion, not forsaking your life for your work. I didn't know Gary Levitz but I hear that he lived that way. My favorite plane had some trouble but Tom was optimistic, "Just wait n'till next year."
When I was 27 my American flight was stopped in Dallas because terrorists attacked the United States. Determined to get there anyway, we rented a van and drove 7 people 30+ hours non-stop to Reno. Mostly because after some bad luck, this was going to be the year for my favorite plane.
At 29 I introduced my girlfriend to air racing. "Which one is Critical Mass?" she said. "Oh wait, I see it. Wow, that's bright!" We bought cups and shirts and hats to be ready on Sunday (although my T-shirt from '96 and the polo shirt from '99 are still pristine). On Sunday my favorite airplane went like hell and everyone said "wait n'till next year".
I turn 30 in 4 months. In addition to a proposal and a new home, my goal by then is to finish my flight training and get my ticket. I need a garage to build a Cassutt, I need to learn to fly it and I need a girl who'll support me even though I may never get on the course at Reno. But I'll try, and you know why.

Thank you Tom,
Chris Brewer

[Unregistered]

Everyone:


I too would like to thank Tom Dwelle and the entire Critical Mass crew for their hard work, dedication, and "never quit" attitude. True racing people! I noticed that Tom Dwelle said he was retiring from racing not Critical Mass. Mr. Dwelle also stated "Go for it Wiz". Since Ken just started racing T-6s, it seems logical that Ken take over the piloting job of Critical Mass. Didn't Tom Dwelle move from racing T-6s to the Unlimiteds?



Just my 2 cents,
Keith Doyne

[Race 29]

C-Mass has been one of my favorites since I first rode my motorcycle up to Tom's hanger (skunk works) at the Auburn airport in the off season several years ago. Tom was still rebuilding her, after acquiring her in a trade for his T-6. She still had the Blind Man's Bluff paint on her. Everyone on the crew made me feel at home, even though I'm sure I was being a pest! Everytime I've talked to Tom, Ken, Peggy, everyone, they have been warm and friendly. The Critical Mass crew has been a class act! Being a true air race fan, I've always said so and so is going to win, but always found myself rooting for C-Mass, and saddened when she didn't make it to the Gold race. Ever since that day at the hanger, C-Mass has had a very special place in my heart, as I'm sure it has had in many hearts. Tom, and your crew will be sorely missed! You deserve a good retirement. Thank you for all the years of joy and excitement.

Race 29