TURTLEDECK'D P-51 AIR RACERS
Something about a turtledeck-modded Unlimited Class air racer that evokes images of those iconic speedsters from Air Racing's pre-WW2 Golden Era, and makes a plane just look- 'FASTER!' , (& w/this mod it usually IS!). When further modifications include custom-designed low-profile canopies, clipped wings w/special tips, enlarged v. tail, special cowls, scoops, strakes, fairings, fences & fillets, etc., along with a big paddle-blade prop & a flashy, colorful RACER paint job,..... you've added alot of extra airspeed just in looks!!! (And we ain't even started talkin' 'bout what's under the hood! <g>)
To supplement the perpetual hangar-flying roundtable discussions over the merits & trophy-winning potentials of air racers - past, present & future, and their various bells 'n whistle speed mods..., I thought it might be interesting and fun to run a series of photo comparisons for reference.
We'll launch here with a side-by-side photo roster of famous turtledeck P-51 racers, including custom (non-military stock) 'razorback' versions, that most air racing buffs are familiar with:
DBD1. #69 Jeannie (N79111) - Turtledeck mod debut at Reno '73 as Cliff Cummins' #69 Miss Candace. (9/81 photo - Skip Holm arrives at Reno '81 to successfully defend the Wiley Sanders Team's 1980 Gold Championship won by Roy 'Mac' McClain - Jeannie's 1979 driver.) This modified Mustang racer's success inspired the creation of three 'Jeannie-clones': Dago Red, Strega, & Voodoo - w/Bill Destefani being instrumental in their modification.
2. #4 Dago Red (N5410V) - Debut at Reno '82 w/turtledeck. Fielded by co-owners Frank Taylor & Bill Destefani & flown by Ron Hevle to win the Unlimited Gold as a rookie aircraft entry. (9/14/00 photo - Terry Bland/owner & Skip Holm/pilot). Dago & Strega represent the two World's-Fastest P-51s, with the most Gold Trophy wins by Mustangs.
3. #7 Strega (N71FT) - Debut at Reno '83 w/turtledeck - owned by owner Bill Destefani & raced by Ron Hevle thru 1985, w/Tiger Destefani taking over the controls in 1986. What a Hot Rod! (9/16/00 photo).
4. #5 Voodoo (N551VC) - Ex-#55 Pegasus/#55 Voodoo Chile (N6525D). Debut w/turtledeck mod at Reno '97 - qualified by Bob Hannah & raced by Sherm Smoot that year. Wing strakes added for Reno '98 & deleted for Reno '99. Currently undergoing boil-off radiator mod. (9/17/99 photo)
5. #6 Sumthin' Else (NX51VC/N51VC) - Racing debut at Mojave '74 as Ken Burnstein's #34 Miss Foxy (N70QF) replete w/Jim Larsen-designed airframe racing mods that included an elegantly-sculpted custom turtledeck & racing canopy. Purchased & raced by John Crocker, who won Reno '76 Gold - but was disqualified for pylon & deadline cuts, & went on to win Gold at Reno '79. Last raced by Crocker at Reno '89 & Texas '90 Air Races. Rebuilt as TF-51D, w/racing canopy going to present Galloping Ghost modification for Jimmy Leeward. (9/18/88 photo)
6. #84 Stiletto (N332) - Debut at Reno '84 w/turtledeck & radical racing mods, including belly-scoop removal ('ala-Anson Johnson' Post-WW2 Thompson Trophy era). Fielded by Alan Preston and Dave Zeuschel w/Skip Holm as pilot, she won the 1984 Gold as a rookie entry. Despite numerous valiant attempts thru 1992 for a repeat championship win w/ Holm, Scott Sherman & Matt Jackson driving - Stiletto never reached her true potential as a Gold racer. Converted to TF-51D. (9/16/84 photo)
7. #19 Vendetta (N91KD) - Sole race outing was its' ignition gremlin-plagued debut at Reno '88 as exotic Lear 23 jet-winged turtledeck P-51 'Learstang', owned & flown by John Dilley. Qualified too-slow to make the racing field & subsequently bellied-in after engine failure at an airshow appearance. Converted to TF-51D, with airframe racing mod parts going to Bill Rogers' Miss Ashley II project. (9/11/88 photo)
8. #5 Red Baron RB-51 (N7715C) - This legendary racer's history warrants a book! First raced un-named as Race #5 at Reno '66 by Chuck Hall, who dubbed her Miss Marta II for 1967. Chuck debuted #5 as a high-mod custom razorback at Reno '69 (Jim Larsen-designed aerodynamic refinements) as Miss R.J. - one of the most potent P-51 contenders (w/Chuck Lyford's Mustang #8) against Bearcat racing domination during the modern Unlimited racing era. Became Gunther Balz's #5 Roto-Finish Special for Reno '71 & won Reno Gold in '72. Raced by John Wright & Jack Sliker at Reno & Mojave '73. Became Ed Browning's #5 Red Baron for Reno '74 w/Roy McClain as pilot & won Mojave that year. Debuted as Griffon-powered RB-51 'Mix-master Mustang' conversion w/turtledeck mod at Mojave '75. The RB won Gold at Mojave '76 (P-McClain), Reno '77 (P-Darryl Greenamyer) & Reno '78 (P-Steve Hinton), Miami '79 (Hinton) & set new World Piston-engined/Propeller A/C Speed Record in 1979. Destroyed in crash-landing following 2nd-place finish during Reno '79 Gold final. (Reno '78 photo)
9. #09/#38 Precious Metal (N5483V/N6WJ) - Don Whittington's beautiful World Jet Griffon-powered Mixmaster P-51 debuted at Reno '88 - showing great potential by qualifying 5th in a very fast Unlimited entry roster at 453.437-mph. Engine gremlins jinxed #09 in all its' Heat appearances & forced Whittington to belly-land on Lemon Valley's dry lake bed not far from the RB-51's final resting place. Rebuilt, PM returned as #38 to race at '95 Phoenix 500 & Reno '95 with better results. Raced in recent years by Ron Buccarelli thru Reno '07. (9/11/88 photo - Note: Not to be confused with the original Merlin-pwd PM)
10. #38 Miss Ashley II (N57LR) - The magnificent Rogers-Levitz 'P-51R' custom-built Griffon-powered Mixmaster 'Learstang' debuted at Reno '97 & showed steady-improvement at Reno '98 before its' tragic loss w/Gary Levitz at Reno '99. Arguably the most beautiful of all exotic high-mod Unlimited Class air racers ever. (9/21/98 photo)
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