Bardahl Special 2023?

[Bigfoot]

"If" Bardahl has the performance that Ridge Runner had a few years ago (quite spectacular) and with the hard work and commitment of the Miss A group we could just have a couple of Mustangs to give Dreadnought a run. Actually, on paper both of them should be faster if it all pans out. Personally, I just hope our 2023 Sunday Unlimited Gold race is a memorable one. It would be a great way to close this chapter

BigFoot

[RAD2LTR]

I have a feeling nobody is going to recognize Bardahl this year. There will be a new superstang on the ramp, hopefully wearing last years paint scheme.

Will

[Race5]

I have a feeling nobody is going to recognize Bardahl this year. There will be a new superstang on the ramp, hopefully wearing last years paint scheme.

Will

It won't have a turtle deck or anything. Should be the same scheme, although I question whether they can keep the wrap on it at those speeds. One of the jets learned that the hard way. Will be cool to tee the same air frame win the first and last Reno Unlimited Gold though.

[RAD2LTR]

It won't have a turtle deck or anything. Should be the same scheme, although I question whether they can keep the wrap on it at those speeds. One of the jets learned that the hard way. Will be cool to tee the same air frame win the first and last Reno Unlimited Gold though.

I've heard that they are doing ALL the tricks to the airframe, so the turtledeck is kind of a must. Perhaps I'm wrong, can't wait to find out.

Will

[Race5]

I've heard that they are doing ALL the tricks to the airframe, so the turtledeck is kind of a must. Perhaps I'm wrong, can't wait to find out.

Will

If so, they must have built one from scratch. I don't see them drilling Voodoo apart quite that far. I'm guessing they do everything but that. The biggest piece I am curious about is whether or not it ends up with Voodoo's wing on it.

[RAD2LTR]

If so, they must have built one from scratch. I don't see them drilling Voodoo apart quite that far. I'm guessing they do everything but that. The biggest piece I am curious about is whether or not it ends up with Voodoo's wing on it.

That I don't know. I guess we'll find out. I don't think they will put Voodoo's wing on because there is no reason. It was speculated that the airfoil mod actually made it slower through the turns, and since most of the course is a turn, this wouldn't make sense. Now, clipping the wings and replacing the leading edge so its smooth? That I could see being done.


Another dark horse, Barbara Jean aka Georgia Mae... Anyone know whats going on with that bird? I highly doubt it will show up in full race trim, but Jim does like to go fast, and Georgia Mae was fast for what it was back in the day. It still has the clean wings as well.

Will

[Plane Nuts]

I am wondering why parts are being taken off of a proven race ready airframe to put on a stock airframe. Voodoo + race engine = Winner!

[GRNDP51]

I am wondering why parts are being taken off of a proven race ready airframe to put on a stock airframe. Voodoo + race engine = Winner!

I would say you answered your own question. The owner of Bardahl doesn’t want Voodoo to win, it has before and it’s not his plane. He wants Bardahl to win.

[Race5]

I am wondering why parts are being taken off of a proven race ready airframe to put on a stock airframe. Voodoo + race engine = Winner!

Because the Bardhal air frame won the very first Reno, and they want it to also win the last Reno.

[Bigfoot]

"Because the Bardahl air frame won the very first Reno, and they want it to also win the last Reno".

Sorry Race5, I don't want to sound like a total smart*ss but the current Bardahl has clearly gone through some radical airframe changes over the years. The first unlimited winner in 1964 was a Bearcat flown by Mira Slovak. In fact, Bearcats won all the way up to 1970 when Clay Lacy was the first to win in a Mustang, Miss Van Nuys

[100 Octane]

More information on the 1964 finish...

1964.Unlimited.Report.pdf (airrace.org)

[Bigfoot]

I stand corrected. Bill Stead and organizers had originally used the format from Unlimited Hydroplane racing with a similar points system. I remember it well from when I was very young from my Seattle days. My father was one of the "co-owners" of Miss Burien (perennial "also ran"). The points system didn't work well for airplane racing (too complicated}. .

But you are correct...due to the points system Miss Smirnoff was the winner even though Bob Love in Miss Bardahl was much faster. So even though Mira Slovak won, Bob Love should have been the winnerI I have always thought that for the fans a "winner take all" final is simpler and more exciting. It hasn't happened lately but I remember more than once in Unlimited Hydroplane racing that after the final heat fans were asking, "WTF"?

I wasn't there but I can imagine air race fans at that race were also asking, "WTF"?

BigFoot

[T. Adams]

Some pics are out on FB. No more wrap, it's painted white.

[RAD2LTR]

Pics on FB show very smooth glossy white paint, no scoop, wingtips, gear doors, wiring hanging out of the gear doors, or just aft, clipped horizontal stab, Voodoo's prop, stock canopy, but no glass. Lots of work to be done, not a lot of time to get it done, and do testing. Lots of work done, but they seem to be cutting things very close.

Will

[Race5]

Pics on FB show very smooth glossy white paint, no scoop, wingtips, gear doors, wiring hanging out of the gear doors, or just aft, clipped horizontal stab, Voodoo's prop, stock canopy, but no glass. Lots of work to be done, not a lot of time to get it done, and do testing. Lots of work done, but they seem to be cutting things very close.

Will

Not a clipped horizontal, just has the tips off. The vertical, and possibly horizontal, are Voodoos'.