J.D. Reed & the Beguine. Video link

[Pylon1_Mark]

Finally came back across this video that I haven't seen for the last 15 years (lost during the move from California to OKC). It's not great quality, and the audio portion isn't the best, but the content of the interview more than makes up for it.... this is one rare video. Now I'm not endorsing it or saying J.D. is telling the gospel truth, just putting it out there for everyone else to enjoy like I have.

I'm still working on part 1 of the interview where J.D. talks about his career in aviation. I'll be releasing that part sometime soon.

[wingman]

Thank you Mark -- that is an interesting video. I did struggle with the audio but the closed caption subtitles work quite well. Interesting that he says with conviction that 6 inches were removed from one wing for the pylon races. It seems that modern research has proven that that never happened...

Neal

[Pylon1_Mark]

It seems that modern research has proven that that never happened

And therein lies the conundrum... obviously JD knew that it was a crazy idea, or at the very least, something the aviation community would think as crazy. I just don't see the upside here for JD. I've learned that (in my experience) people lie for a reason, and I don't see any reason to embellish a story about one of the most infamous racers ever created or by creating this narrative would most certainly make you look the fool... and I don't know anyone who would want to be that person. There's just no upside to lying here for JD, nothing to be gained and everything to lose.

With that said, I actually think JD is telling the truth "as he knows it". BUT, I also think Walter Beech lied to him. Seems like the best explanation for this video and matches-up the facts with what we already knew. Seems more likely that Mr Beech never did the modification after the crash - he just told JD he did because he was too proud to admit he changed his mind or was convinced not to do it last minute (or something we call ego... that underlying motivation that calls out the Liar in all of us). Another possibility would be Mr Beach didn't tell JD after the restoration that he never did the 6 inches shorter mod after all. Never came up, and after the crash, too painful to talk about.

[Pylon1_Mark]

Part 1 is up