Rare Bear Landing

[tjyak50]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

That is where I saw the puff of black too, right in front of the pits, then a slight pull up.

I was at Stead this morning and got to be a "fly on the wall" while John Penney and Dave Cornell were debriefing and discussing the airplane and race. They were at times speaking very openly, but I will honor the privacy of their conversation just in case it wasn't meant for public.

Basically, Czech/Moore/Smoot were pretty close to a Reno 2007 1st place Gold afternoon.

I got to make a pretty detailed examination of the engine, exhaust, cowl, intake and such. Seemed clear that a broken exhaust stack on a lower right rear jug overheated the cowl, separated the aviation cowling filler, which sucked into the intake, through the scat tube and into the carb / blower / engine probably causing that black puff we saw and the other issues to follow.

Would love to see a Carbon Fiber cowl similar to Voodoo on the Bear.

Great end to a really bad week.
Tj

[marada mx3]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Did anyone see Lyle Shelton at the races? I haven't heard his name mentioned in any of the posts the past week. If he was in attendance, was he in da Bear's pit?

Just curious!
Thanks!
Tommy

[Stevo]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Lap 2 or 3, right in front of the pits, big black puff.

Thought they were done.

Crap photo but it's the only one I got (of the smoke) that shows anything.

[Nick]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Crap photo but it's the only one I got (of the smoke) that shows anything.

Not my best shot, but the only one I got also. And also a shot as she came by the grandstands and you could see the chunk of filler missing from the cowl in front of the right wing...

It sure shows the big trail of smoke that scared the piss out of me! Wasn't sure how long she was going to last after that, but glad she lasted long enough to take the win.

[DWYER]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Man o Man that was one fast Bear... It's been a while since I have seen it run that good. The team deserved that win. They have been working night and day to prepare for the gold race. The paint wasn't even dry yet. You could smell it as it was tugged back to the cave. No wonder the painted surface on the right side came apart. It was a great race. It just doesn't do it for me to see someone walk away with the gold. It's not a race without the competition. The Bear is Back!!! And guess what?? Believe it or not September Fury will be back. Just talk to the crew. Next year is gonna be another "can't miss". My vacation is already scheduled....
P.s. Sounds like we are gonna get to see Dago "RUN" again.....

[Peashooter]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Not my best shot, but the only one I got also. And also a shot as she came by the grandstands and you could see the chunk of filler missing from the cowl in front of the right wing...

It sure shows the big trail of smoke that scared the piss out of me! Wasn't sure how long she was going to last after that, but glad she lasted long enough to take the win.

To quote the Bob Hoover character in FS Reno, "Back off on the nitrous..."

[BellCobraIV]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Did anyone see Lyle Shelton at the races? I haven't heard his name mentioned in any of the posts the past week. If he was in attendance, was he in da Bear's pit?

Just curious!
Thanks!
Tommy

Lyle wasn't at Reno this year, his back is bothering him to the point that walking around on the ramp all day wasn't an option, he had a fishing trip to baja planned but will probably go fishing later in the month.

[turneight]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Nice pics..and Probably get smacked for this one, Some times the spray bar makes the plane look like it's done for. Hearing the crowd gasp when the pilots flip that switch sure gets the adrenalin pump'n.

[alanco]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Bondo now is very flexible and bonds extremely well. For it to come off like it did, shows that it did not bond to the metal. However it should not be used as a thick filler, the panel should be worked to within a quarter inch before filler is used.

In any case, it is what is used today on autos, and should work well on planes.

Alanco

[David E. Wells]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Could that Puff have been a Shot of Nitrous? Looked like a big shot of Acceleration at the same moment!...D.

[tjyak50]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

No nitrous used for the Bear.
That was "All motor" according to John Penney and several other sources.

Man... what a race.

[hattend]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Seeing Mr. Penney sitting on the Bear hugging his grandchildren brought tears to my eyes. I've done more crying this week than I have in the last year - good and bad.

Rachel

Here you go:

[440_Magnum]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Was just wondering by the tone of somebody else's post: It doesn't hurt a round engine motor to shut it down with power on in flight does it?

ANY air-cooled engine can suffer some thermal stress after an abrupt cut in power while (relatively) cold air is still blowing over it. But when there isn't a choice, the engine just has to tough it. And a sudden shut-down probably hurt it less than swallowing filler and running hard enough to stay ahead of 232 in the first place.

For all the talk of how "fragile" the Merlins are it sure seems like both the souped-up Wrights came out pretty well trashed this year... even the winning one.

[shute]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

Matt

Would you object to my passing along some of your jpgs to friends and family? I write a very informal "report" on Reno every year, and would like to include some of your pics.

Thanks

Tom

[MMPerk]

Re: Rare Bear Landing

I can't speak for the others, but I don't mind at all...

Lonnie