Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

[Bill@Interstell]

Now that was a race!

People will be debating who crossed the finish line first for years to come. It doesn't look as close from the fenceline as it did from the grandstands. I don't don't care what the contest committee says, Strega did not finish last.

http://youtu.be/4OPr7ZF3zg8

[wingman]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

You know -- I've been wondering ever since that Saturday whether Tiger was carrying nitrous and gave it a shot of gas at the end. He was not gaining a huge amount all the way through the VOS or around pylon 7 and had already done most of his dive. Then between 8 and home there just seems to be a very significant new acceleration with a just a bit more dive, and he's zooming past Steve.

Any thoughts or information??

Neal

[supercub]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

I think he was flying formation till the end.............the reason I say this, as I mentioned in another posting, he told a group of us, right after getting out of Strega at the end of the runway, he still had a little left. So I dont' think he ever had full power. Of course, maybe Voodoo didn't either. he was probably just carrying enough power to stay ahead of Strega.
Brian

[Ken Adkins]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

Wow, this video really shows how much higher Tiger was flying than Stevo. Did Tiger fly that high in any of the previous heats? Was the DQ for one particular point in the race or was it for flying that high throughout?

[ChrisMX105]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

Wow, this video really shows how much higher Tiger was flying than Stevo. Did Tiger fly that high in any of the previous heats? Was the DQ for one particular point in the race or was it for flying that high throughout?

I believe it was for the 7-8-Home stretch, as the Feds figure airplanes rubbing bumpers at low altitude is safer than having plenty of room but higher....................

[Bill@Interstell]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

Tiger was very high in the first heat race as well, but no DQ. I haven't looked at the video I shot of that heat yet.

While I saw some posts on the internet after this race (3A) that showed actual race times with Voodoo and Strega about 15 thousandths of a second apart, they were quickly replaced by the DQ info. It says only "DQ by Contest Committee for not maintaining course altitude". There is no indication of where. Does anyone have the original timing data?

Although Tiger flew much of heat 3A at a pretty high altitude, I didn't see anything unsafe about it. The new course is less safe particularly where they pinched it horizontally between the West "show line" and pylon 7 where it was also pinched vertically. The legal space there is 819' wide by 200' tall now. Not much space for multiple planes to use going 500 mph. Tiger was certainly above 250' AGL around pylon 7 on some laps.

NOTE: all the information about race rules, course outline, show lines etc. is under Event>Racing>Race Rules on air race.org

I saw good racing during the event. We know, or at least can debate, who won this race, and who finished 3rd in the gold. Too bad the purse money didn't match actual finishes.

Actual racing appears to have outgrown this venue but finding another is problematic. Maybe if I win the lottery...

[flyingjibus]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

please upload your videos in 1080p!!

[boomtown]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

Tiger was very high in the first heat race as well, but no DQ. I haven't looked at the video I shot of that heat yet.

While I saw some posts on the internet after this race (3A) that showed actual race times with Voodoo and Strega about 15 thousandths of a second apart, they were quickly replaced by the DQ info. It says only "DQ by Contest Committee for not maintaining course altitude". There is no indication of where. Does anyone have the original timing data?

Although Tiger flew much of heat 3A at a pretty high altitude, I didn't see anything unsafe about it. The new course is less safe particularly where they pinched it horizontally between the West "show line" and pylon 7 where it was also pinched vertically. The legal space there is 819' wide by 200' tall now. Not much space for multiple planes to use going 500 mph. Tiger was certainly above 250' AGL around pylon 7 on some laps.

NOTE: all the information about race rules, course outline, show lines etc. is under Event>Racing>Race Rules on air race.org

I saw good racing during the event. We know, or at least can debate, who won this race, and who finished 3rd in the gold. Too bad the purse money didn't match actual finishes.

Actual racing appears to have outgrown this venue but finding another is problematic. Maybe if I win the lottery...

This is from bikenuttys post so he gets credit for its preservation. This was after the race before the DQ was announced.

[Box A35]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

There is little official debate about who crossed the finish line first. Here is the brief "unofficial results" from Saturday.

(lifted from Strega Air Racer fan club on facebook)

[Bill@Interstell]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

please upload your videos in 1080p!!

I'd love to but unfortunately my Canon XL2 does not shoot 1080. Even if i upscale on export, by the time YouTube gets done compressing it the resolution sucks. Looks good when I pipe it directly to my big screen though. Sorry

[Jason S.]

Re: Unlimited Heat 3A from the Fenceline 9/13/2014

Great stuff Bill!! I know what you mean about the quality looking good straight out of the XL2, but by the time it gets to YouTube it's half the quality, even my 1080p footage from my camera to YouTube is a little off. About the DQ, I'm pretty sure they got him for his altitude during the pace lap (lap 1), he was waaaay up there so he could have a clear and safe area to pass all the other planes.

Jason