Some old Reno pics

[Jan]

Great images Neal. They look as good to me as today's digital photos or better. No, not quite as sharp but richer somehow. Anyway, that's my take.

Terrific history John. Good stuff on "Z". Dad had the connection to drag racing but you illuminated it further. Eric and I have always like a plethora of motorsports including drag racing. If you haven't done so already, read Tommy Ivo's book - TV Tommy Ivo: Drag Racing's Master Showman. It's terrific.

Interesting to have a bit of insight into how Z worked and how the people he brought on - Nixon, Scoville, etc - operated. I guess the egos there, like the talent, could have been pretty considerable. Cool to know how Zeuschel acted as a springboard for other folks' careers.

Also very interesting about Larsen, Shaw and Foxy Lady. Somewhere among Dad's taped interviews is one with Burnstine. I remember hearing it decades ago. I doubt there were many people that actually interviewed him at the time. He had an interesting way of speaking and was a joker/humorous.

Since the last photo showed Foxy Lady before it was fully "Foxy Lady", here's another as it was getting its full artwork in the pits at Reno 1974. No Hebrew Hornets here, just the (mostly) naked lady... (Photo, John Tegler)

[RAD2LTR]

This thread is made of the stuff that makes this site awesome. Thank you to all who are participating here. I'd love to see more threads like this.

thanks again,
Will

[Russ Craig]

DITTO!!

[Jan]

A fast racer making a transition to something new.... in Eufala, Alabama, 1974. That should give y'all a clue... (John Tegler photo)

[Jan]

The same fast racer getting closer to completion in Eufala, Alabama in 1974.... (John Tegler photo)

[Jan]

One of Mac's first flights in the repainted racer, Eufala, Alabama, 1974. Now you know what it is.... (John Tegler photo)

[Jan]

Mac in-cockpit with Zeuschel reclining on the wing and George Roberts looking on. George gave me and Eric our first Mustang rides in "Cripes a' Mighty" in 1977. Btw, George never-ever wore socks... (John Tegler photo)

[BellCobraIV]

A fast racer making a transition to something new.... in Eufala, Alabama, 1974. That should give y'all a clue... (John Tegler photo)

The ad in Trade-A-Plane said beat Shelton, Beat Greenameyer, Gunther sold the Roto-Finish Special and later it became the Red Baron.... Trivia question who owned her between Balz and the Red Baron Air Racing team.

[Sparrow]

Ol "no socks George". 1st time I met him was in Cape May NJ in about 89/90 when he was flying Talichet's NL3333 Mustang. He and Cap'n Jack were having a rather heated conversation about safety wire at one point, was rather amusing to watch!! Last time I saw him was in the pits @ Reno with girlfriend "Toots" (seriously, he introduced her by that) selling parts outta the trunk of his car!! He was quite a character by any stretch...

[wingman]

Somewhere I have a photo of George taxiing along in Lefty Gardner's Mustang eating an apple. A character indeed.

It was long before my time, but I know Jack Sliker owned #5 for a while after Balz. I didn't know they worked on it back in Alabama. I'd assumed it was all done in California.

[Jan]

The ad in Trade-A-Plane said beat Shelton, Beat Greenameyer, Gunther sold the Roto-Finish Special and later it became the Red Baron.... Trivia question who owned her between Balz and the Red Baron Air Racing team.

John Wright... finished 3rd in the 1973 championship race, 38 seconds behind winner Lyle (with a new race record speed of 428.16 mph) and 18 seconds behind Cliff Cummins in 2nd.

[wingman]

John Wright... finished 3rd in the 1973 championship race, 38 seconds behind winner Lyle (with a new race record speed of 428.16 mph) and 18 seconds behind Cliff Cummins in 2nd.

My impression has always been that John Wright never owned the airplane, but flew at Reno 1973 as part of the effort to sell the airplane. Sliker apparently did buy it, and quickly sold it to Ed Browning -- the rest becoming history. Having said that, it did go fast in 1973 but like some other efforts over the years a great performance was eclipsed by an even greater performance by another team...

Neal

[Jan]

You may be right about that Neal. My two cents there was simply that John Wright flew "Roto Finish Special" in 1973. Whether he owned it or not, I don't know. But I think I could find out - that is unless Slack can enlighten us both first.

[wingman]

Well, I looked it up (an innovative approach) in the RARA database and in the notes below the qualifying speeds it says that John Wright was chosen to race The Roto Finish Special for Gunther Balz after Gunther decided to retire from racing.

[wingman]

There were some serious raceplanes at that race. This one was just coming into its own. Dr. Cliff qualified 3rd at 412 mph -- very fast for the time. He finished 2nd in the Championship Race (behind Lyle so hardly noticed) at 417 mph -- a speed faster than Gunther Balz's record speed the year before.

A very fast airplane...

This is a great look at the low profile scoop replacing the Mustang doghouse. This was a huge first, and set a template followed by several other Championshio Mustangs over the years following. The radiator was revised and mounted higher in the fuselage and a P-51H heat exchanger used to cool the oil. Also, the rear of the doghouse was completely recontoured and extended right to the tailwheel door. All this airframe stuff was the work of a master metalworker named Frank Sanders. We would hear from Frank again a decade later when Dreadnought arrived on the scene.