Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

[AAFO_WSagar]

I've been going to RENO for a lot of years, I've felt like I "roughted it" a few of those.. (let's share those experiences later in the thread LOL!!)

Lots of us have camped or just hung out late at RENO "After Hours" For sure, there are lots of "early hours" moments that we could share in this thread LOL.. post em up, if warrented, we'll start a morning thread!

I've got a few, but I only started being there late in the late n 90's! I've experinenced a few Warlock Parties, at least one very memorable "Smoke Oil Party"... Dispensed a LOT of Pacific NorthWest Fort George Beer that was generosly sent down with us a few years running.

Sooooo...

Let's start a new thread!!! It can be in your camp, or on the ramp.. (LOL)

I'm sure a lot of us are heartsick missing this year..

What'cha got!

[Lon Moer]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

I can remember going to Smoke Oil Parties, but I do not remember what went on during or afterwards....

[Leo]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

I camped there from 1979 on, the first 2 years I just slept in my car overnight (sat and sun).
Everything from tents to motorhomes.
The evenings were a blast. We (or I) would always make our way into the pits after hours, the guards back then were accomodating after the races were over for the day, and get a lot of info on what was going on, watch the tug races, etc.. The evening flights were a big reason for being out there instead of in town. I particularly remember one evening, after a rain, the Super Corsair and Dreadnaught playing tag through the clouds. The sound!
Wandering around the campground after flying stopped and we had cleaned up and eaten was a joy. Always got you a few beers offered and some great hanger flying.
I started taking my son when he was 3 and he still asks me why we don't drag the trailer out there for the week! I am too used to creature comforts now to want to and can see most of what I want from the backyard, but miss the experience too.
Mornings, Wayne, were another thing entirely...

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

Yes I did it all from sleeping in the car doing the Tent & later the Motor home @ the Catholic Church. Of course many years of doing the Wed. All Goss "Warlock" parties including Mary Dilda "Two of Hearts" leading a 150 person Congo line. Those were fun times. I still have a "Strega" T-Shirt that has been signed by "Tiger" since 1985+ being signed 1 year by "Stevo". As I have said before" I've spent all my money on Beer & Reno Air Races & the rest of it I wasted"

[beachboss]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

I've been going to RENO for a lot of years, I've felt like I "roughted it" a few of those.. (let's share those experiences later in the thread LOL!!)

Lots of us have camped or just hung out late at RENO "After Hours" For sure, there are lots of "early hours" moments that we could share in this thread LOL.. post em up, if warrented, we'll start a morning thread!

I've got a few, but I only started being there late in the late n 90's! I've experinenced a few Warlock Parties, at least one very memorable "Smoke Oil Party"... Dispensed a LOT of Pacific NorthWest Fort George Beer that was generosly sent down with us a few years running.

Sooooo...

Let's start a new thread!!! It can be in your camp, or on the ramp.. (LOL)

I'm sure a lot of us are heartsick missing this year..

What'cha got!

That Was some delicious beer to be had !!! Good times !!!

Beany

[supercub]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

Some one mention the name Mary Dilda.............what ever happened to her? What is she up to these days?

[Guest]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

I started as a pylon judge in 2003. Judges have a campground to themselves just west of T-hangars. Started in a tent 1st year. Froze my butt off! But I also brought my 3000W Honda generator...so we could charge our phones! Yeah...I was THAT guy! Rookie...

As years passed graduated to renting Class A RV. As we were "All Access, Baby!", I must say its likely we may have some responsibility for the subsequent increased restrictions on the Pits...if you catch my drift. Good times were had by all.

Miss those times...

[planecrazy2]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

Judges have a campground to themselves just west of T-hangars.

Ah yes. My Dad, Howard Merritt was a pylon judge on outer 3 from 1992 until he passed in 2014. Throughout the 2000’s I would fly up with my two children on Thursday night and we would spend the rest of race week camping at the Judges lot in the motorhome. Those wonderful passes allowed my kids to become huge air race fans. Always up in time to see the F1 and biplane heats. Walking from one end of the field to the other a couple times a day. Snapping those magic hour dawn and dusk pics was a 200 yard walk to the pits day and night. Waking up to the sound of fresh engines starting at dawn after an all-nighter by one of the crews. Running over to the results shack to see the latest heat results being posted. Deciding what my two, or three, or four annual race team t-shirts would be. Seeing those amazing air show skies filled with tumbling, looping low level aerobatics by the best pros in the business. The races were just magical. Being able to share the experience with three generations at once was a real gift. And even though it meant the week was over, I loved the "exodus" of all the aircraft leaving Stead on Sunday evening. It was a grand parade of many of the static displays, most of the show teams and lots of racers literally flying off into the sunset.

[Desertdawg]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

West end along fence (Redrock)

These 2 never had a complaint, better than a day in school.

The dirt was perfect

[Pete]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

25+ years I’ve stayed in a family ski house in Truckee. At 6:30 am it’s an easy 40 minute drive. Usually pretty beat by the time we go back. It’s been good, but we sold the place.

Last year I rented a travel trailer from a guy in Reno and had it delivered to one of those dirt lots near the pits Wednesday afternoon. Comfy bed, adequate shower, thermostat. DVD player for watching Thunder over Reno. Make my own coffee before a 3 minute walk to the pit gate. 3 minute walk back to the trailer for a nap. Early morning airplane noise. Late evening airplane noise. Desert sunsets. Frosty mornings.

I’m doing the on site thing again next year.

[Guest]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

Great take on things, everyone. I'm going to get sentimental here so bear with me...

Spoiled by camping next to TWY A every day from day one.

Waking up in the middle of the night headed for the head, stars out in full force, aroma of sage, lights from pits glow above the T hangars...quiet calm. Knowing full well all hell is gonna break lose in a matter of a few hours.

Waking up for good to an incredible sunrise, the aroma of sage now mixing with the sweet smell of AvGas and Jet A. Half awake, waving to the Dawn Patrol as it taxi's in front of me.

Starting many years ago I began playing "Time Stand Still" from the band "Rush" while driving from the PJ campground to Home Pylon. The timing of the song matched the drive time perfectly...and the lyrics are so poignant and meaningful.

To this day when I hear that song, I stop and reflect...on Reno, the event, but more than anything..it's the people and friends.

I turn my back to the wind
To catch my breath
Before I start off again
Driven on
Without a moment to spend
To pass an evening
With a drink and a friend

I let my skin get too thin
I'd like to pause,
No matter what I pretend
Like some pilgrim
Who learns to transcend
Learns to live
As if each step was the end

Time stand still
I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
Time stands still
See more of the people
And the places that surround me now
Time stands still

Freeze this moment
A little bit longer
Make each sensation
A little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away
Time stands still

I turn my face to the sun
Close my eyes
Let my defenses down
All those wounds
That I can't get unwound

I let my past go too fast
No time to pause
If I could slow it all down
Like some captain
Whose ship runs aground
I can wait until the tide comes around
Time stand still

I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
Time stands still
See more of the people
And the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment
A little bit longer
Make each sensation
A little bit stronger
Make each impression
A little bit stronger
Freeze this motion
A little bit longer
The innocence slips away
The innocence slips away
Time stands still
Time stands still

I'm not looking back
But I want to look around me now
See more of the people
And the places that surround me now
Time stands still

Summer's going fast
Nights growing colder
Children growing up
Old friends growing older
Freeze this moment
A little bit longer
Make each sensation
A little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away
The innocence slips away

Enjoy every moment, ladies and gentlemen...it does, as always, slip away...

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

Great Owen. You outdid yourself. Yes "Time Stand Stil" takes me all the way back to the 1946 Cleveland Air Races & a little Bell P39 Aircobra flown by Alvin "Tex" Johnson winning the Thompson Trophy race. Its been a long road with bumps included.

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

Great Owen. You outdid yourself. Yes "Time Stand Stil" takes me all the way back to the 1946 Cleveland Air Races & a little Bell P39 Aircobra flown by Alvin "Tex" Johnson winning the Thompson Trophy race. Its been a long road with bumps included.

Bob, Owen, we are SO VERY LUCKY to have people like you here in the forum! I mean, where else do you have someone who was at Cleveland, as well as someone who has such inside experience at the Reno event....

[Guest]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

Bob, Owen, we are SO VERY LUCKY to have people like you here in the forum! I mean, where else do you have someone who was at Cleveland, as well as someone who has such inside experience at the Reno event....

Happy to be here, my friend. Thank YOU for keeping this sandbox up and running!

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Camping At The Reno Air Races: After Hours - Post Your Experience

Thanks to you Wayne for having this website. I'll give you a set of my 1949 B&W photos when I see you in 2021 Reno.