What would you change?

[BUD_XXX]

Re: What would you change?

No advertising, will result in no attendance!

I have not seen any Reno Air Race advertising for a few years... nothing on TV, Newspaper, Billboards, nothing...

Yet I have seen advertising for the Wings over the Wine Country/Santa Rosa Air show numerous times just in the last two weeks...I bet more people attend the Santa Rosa show than attended Reno...

Sad!

What ever has transpired with RARA/FAA/Wahoe Sheriff and Fire, for my group, the Thrill is Gone. I don't know we'll ever go back. If it's on LiveAirshowtv next year, I think we will just have an internet party.

Lyle, John, Bob, Matt, Gary, Art, Lefty and many others, we miss you!

[JMS]

Re: What would you change?

A little off topic, but related.

Below is information regarding the Oregon International Air Show coming up this weekend.

I live in Oregon and I wasn't aware that the show was moved from August to September. (Poor marketing?) I first noticed a segment on TV yesterday regarding the upcoming show. According to the clip on TV it appears the same Raptor Team from Reno will be participating. (AK) To me it's outstanding the show was able to pull in the SnowBirds. In response to other comments I wonder what Harry Reid is doing to help promote the Reno Air Races. He carries a big stick! Maybe as fans we need to contact his office to do more to promote the air races and the Reno economy.

Oregon International Air Show

Sept. 19th - 21st, Hillsboro, OR

Canadian Forces Snowbirds

US Air Force F-22 Raptor

US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier

US Army Golden Knights

Jet Waco "Screamin' Sasquatch"

Team Oracle and Sean D. Tucker

Smoke N' Thunder Jet Car

Just to name a few.

[SkyvanDelta]

Re: What would you change?

More internet coverage. If you've been to the races many times, you know what it's like. If you cannot attend the races, the internet is the closest thing there is to being there in person.

Have mandatory multiple onboard cameras per plane and in the pit areas with all the digital date being stored somewhere accessable and usable by anyone. Hold a daily contest for who can produce the best 1-2-3-4-5 minute video highlighting what happened that day. Allow the viewers at home the ability to pan, tilt, zoom the pit cameras.

Build fast carbon fiber one design airplanes, from small to unlimited classes and allow pilots to rent them. Similar to the old IROC Camaro racing that went on years ago where the racers drew a number for a car and that was there car for the race. They are all one design anyway so there's supposed to be little difference between them.

Build planes with 2 cycle engines with tuned expansion chambers. Make them sound like madness is going on.

Get more sponsors involved like the Casinos, Beer Companies ie Budweiser, Miller, Coors, Candy Companies ie M&M's, Airlines, Consumables ie Tide, like the NASCAR people do to their cars. https://www.google.com/search?biw=16...JoHkoAT55oKAAw

Instead of stopping the races at 5pm, hold a parachute swooping pond contest from 5-9pm with cheap food, rock and roll bands...

Motorcycle trials events where they don't have to go fast to compete. Have them climb up and down big blocks.

There is plenty of space out at Stead and there could be multiple things going on at one time. They don't all have to be related to aviation. If you get tired of looking at airplanes, go 200 feet that way and you can see motorcycles. Tired of looking at airplane and motorcycles? Go 200 feet that way and you can shoot a gun on an indoor range. Tired of doing that? Go 200 feet that way and there's a swimming pool. Tired of that? Go 200 feet that way for some inexpensive quality made food. Tired of that? Go 200 feet that way and there's an internet café. Make it all quality stuff that's inexpensive so people can bring their entire families and there is something for everyone.

[GRNDP51]

Re: What would you change?

More internet coverage. If you've been to the races many times, you know what it's like. If you cannot attend the races, the internet is the closest thing there is to being there in person.

Have mandatory multiple onboard cameras per plane and in the pit areas with all the digital date being stored somewhere accessable and usable by anyone. Hold a daily contest for who can produce the best 1-2-3-4-5 minute video highlighting what happened that day. Allow the viewers at home the ability to pan, tilt, zoom the pit cameras.

Build fast carbon fiber one design airplanes, from small to unlimited classes and allow pilots to rent them. Similar to the old IROC Camaro racing that went on years ago where the racers drew a number for a car and that was there car for the race. They are all one design anyway so there's supposed to be little difference between them.

Build planes with 2 cycle engines with tuned expansion chambers. Make them sound like madness is going on.

Get more sponsors involved like the Casinos, Beer Companies ie Budweiser, Miller, Coors, Candy Companies ie M&M's, Airlines, Consumables ie Tide, like the NASCAR people do to their cars. https://www.google.com/search?biw=16...JoHkoAT55oKAAw

Instead of stopping the races at 5pm, hold a parachute swooping pond contest from 5-9pm with cheap food, rock and roll bands...

Motorcycle trials events where they don't have to go fast to compete. Have them climb up and down big blocks.

There is plenty of space out at Stead and there could be multiple things going on at one time. They don't all have to be related to aviation. If you get tired of looking at airplanes, go 200 feet that way and you can see motorcycles. Tired of looking at airplane and motorcycles? Go 200 feet that way and you can shoot a gun on an indoor range. Tired of doing that? Go 200 feet that way and there's a swimming pool. Tired of that? Go 200 feet that way for some inexpensive quality made food. Tired of that? Go 200 feet that way and there's an internet café. Make it all quality stuff that's inexpensive so people can bring their entire families and there is something for everyone.

Holy crap!!! Congratulations, this is the first post that I have seen that has totally brand new ideas, and some of them really have the potential to work. Sometimes people do get bored of the races and I think the motorcycle trials and indoor "rent-a-gun" shooting rage is a great idea!! Other favorite is the night-life. I'm going to the miramar airshow in a couple weeks and their night show is INCREDIBLE!! Wall of fire, awesome airshow acts, and a fireworks display! For a show happening once a year (Reno), and many people are pretty sad when it's over, I think that lengthening Reno as much as they can is a great idea. Maybe have a night show Friday and Saturday with a well-known band (which I thought they were doing this year??). Another thought if we ever get a big demo team is to have them after the Unlimiteds. A majority of people come to see the Blues or T-birds so make them wait til the very end after the Unlimiteds. That also opens up another 30-45 minute session in the middle of the day for 1 or 2 performances such as the CAF warbirds demo or maybe another Red Bull mock race? We need to expand this show outside of just air races and performances. It needs to be an awesome festival that everyone wants to attend even if they don't necessarily like air racing.

One more thing I thought of just now. People know of the Red Bull races since they're televised and happen more than once a year. If we get a large enough sponsor to step in, I think the possibility of having one or two more events (which can be televised) is not out of reach. Don't bring in the Unlimited Gold stars until September, but have the stockers race for a bigger pot, have some other classes race too all leading up to the big show in September. I can already see it now while families are watching Air Biscuit and some Yak duke it out on the TV in their house… "Wow honey check this out, apparently these guys are going 300mph and the fastest go near 500 in September!!! Maybe we should check it out!"

Exposure, exposure, exposure,

Thanks Skyvan, awesome thoughts.

[lowpasskid]

Re: What would you change?

who gets tired of looking at airplanes?

[BUD_XXX]

Re: What would you change?

who gets tired of looking at airplanes?

Our Wives!

My Father's wife (Mom) tolerated his aviation interest for 45 years... My 'late' wife tolerated it for a couple years...my current wife ...she's done "right out the gate"...

[Desertdawg]

Re: What would you change?

Our Wives!

My Father's wife (Mom) tolerated his aviation interest for 45 years... My 'late' wife tolerated it for a couple years...my current wife ...she's done "right out the gate"...

Oh you poor souls. Maybe trade in the wife

Or good excuse to go have fun with the guys

Air race guys should have this included in their wedding vows for the wife to be "I promise never to complain when September comes along, you can attend the Reno Air Races with all your friends for the entire week"

[Desertdawg]

Re: What would you change?

duplicate post

[Idaho_cowpony]

Re: What would you change?

...."I promise never to complain when September comes along, you can attend the Reno Air Races with all your friends for the entire week"...

That just deserved another quote...

[lowpasskid]

Re: What would you change?

I told my bride to be I go to Reno no matter what. been divorced for 13 years now and she still checks with me in September to make sure child visitation does not interfere. new girlfriend was told second date and watched liveairshow with me at her place and didn't complain, think I got a keeper!

[Reno_Steve]

Re: What would you change?

Many people say that they would like airforce jet displays which I see as a nice touch but as Reno is much more than just an air display I would not spend much money on this at the expense of the races. If it brings in more crowds and thus more money, it is good if it pays for itself.
There are many air shows around the world but currently there are no other air races like Reno. People from all over the world will fly to Reno for the races but not for a normal air display.

One event I would like to see is a "modern unlimited race" where the aircraft and possibly the engines have to be newer than say for instance 1990 or 2000.
This will then give incentive for new designs (similar to the Sports class) but with out the other rules of the Sports class impeding development of one off aircraft. The warbirds in the unlimited race will remain as the main draw card still for many fans hopefully for many years to come, but this race will open up a future for the Reno air races after all the war birds have been retired.
I also see the possibility of a turbo prop class as has been mentioned by many people before. I would also like to see a class for multi-engined aircraft.
Basically what the fans want to see is fast, loud aircraft racing as fast as they can ,whilst maintaining safety.

[Desertdawg]

Re: What would you change?

Right now the most important thing RARA can do to improve 2015 attendance is be proactive and carry through with a positive theme regarding 2015.

The last 3 years there was little to no early news/promotion.

There was however a lot of negative news/rumblings about whether there would even be races. This my friends is what is partially responsible for killing attendance, the uncertainty.

I did notice that last week RARA did add the 2015 dates to the website, thats positive. The countdown clock is still at 0. I think last year that didn't get reset until early in the new year?

Other things that need to improve are more warbirds in attendance and an increase in prize money.

This years announced car drop and after event concerts were a great hit

[Fence Sence]

Re: What would you change?

My wife knows where I'm at for 10days every September. I've been dragging her out since we first met. She would do her homework in the back of my truck out on the Fenceline. I broke her in right. It pays dividends now. She is Strega fan first and foremost. This year she didn't come out but one day but, the important thing was that she brought our two week old son out. He was there for SuperStang Saturday. Now he can forever say that he has been to one more air race than than years he has been alive. Just like my daughter. There is a new generation of fan. They are there every year even though they don't spend that much yet.

Things I would change:

1) More money for the racers. They are the heart of the event. That's why we're there. They are the ones hanging their ass on the line. I think they deserve every penny that can be mustered and then some.

2) The announcers. Enough already. The wild inaccuracies, the asinine comments, and constant "witty" banter. Enough already. I almost starting heckling FKS. I really, REALLY wanted to. It would be easy pickings. Too easy. For the sake of other fans, I decided not to.

3) The music. Why is there music going all day long? In the concession areas sure. Fine. Pumping in the grandstands? Why? The people in the stands are watching the races and the show. We're not there to listen to music. The airplanes provide the sounds we want to hear. Take the money spent on the sound system and give it the racers. They sound better anyways.

4) You should be able to purchase pit passes without a general admission. There are a lot of fans that are there all week that don't need to go to the grandstands or concessions stands or static displays every day. People camping across from the pits could just be in and out of the pits and that's it. If they want a seat, they can buy one. I spend the vast majority of my time inside in the pits. As do a lot of hardcore fans. Not a huge deal but, it would be nice.

5) RARA license plate parking. There is a special lot for folks that have RARA Air Race license plates. It's in the back 40. I've never used it because I can find closer parking for free. It's annoying that huge fans of the event who show their support all year round and pay the fees to have these plates get the ****tiest, furthest away lot they got. Real nice show of appreciation.

6) This is just an idea but, why not broadcast Race Control on an FM freq so that nobody needs to bring a scanner. It doesn't eliminate the chance of some yahoo sitting on the transmit button of his transceiver but, it could cut it down. Just a thought. Feel free to discuss why that would or wouldn't work.

[thunderstangfan]

Re: What would you change?

they (rara) have had 50+ years to figure it all out... the change we need is a new organization that can run the show like they actually want it to last, and be better than the year before!
money is the issue, you cant act like a not for profit organization and be able to pay the talent (racers) the kind of money people are talking about, they treat the racers like a source of revenue instead of the thing the fans are actually there to see.
like other people have suggested, let a representative of each racing class do the basic introductions and then let the planes do the talking... these sideshow clowns doing the announcing need to go.

[Warbirds45]

Re: What would you change?

The Reno Air Races are, one of a kind. The racing classes need to be restructured, 350MPH to 400 MPH class 400 to 450, and 450 to 500, even up the competition.

Promote aviation, have 10 Glasair III's a lottery system would determine the pilots who fly the planes. Who is the better pilot?

Have time to climb events, 5, 10, and 20,000feet!

A duel between Strega and VooDoo all out race between the 2 fastest racer's!