Thoughts on 2008

[Hans Oberev]

Re: Thoughts on 2008

It can't be the 20 miles north of Reno. As stated, Burning Man gets alot of attention and it is much further away. Hot August Nights, Street Vibrations, The Ribfest are great events but there are other similar events taking place all over the country. The Reno Air Races have been around longer and don't share any competition. This is it on the planet and it has an international audience. Seems like a no brainer to me, so why doesn't the city embrace it more.

I agree, the Tiger cats, the bombers and the FA-22 flights were great!!

[spacegrrrl]

Re: Thoughts on 2008

I am Spacegrrl and I endorse the various directions this thread has taken! :-)

So Red Bull "racing" is a legitimate variation of air racing. I would compare it to SCCA Solo as compared to other multo vehicle car races. That said I love Reno racing way more than the Red Bull thing. Actually I like Red Bull Flugtag more than their "racing"!

Now the rocket racing league seems like a misguided idea, I'd sooner see the canards raced with normal engines on a normal course than that weird event.

Spacegrrrl

[Skyracer]

Re: Thoughts on 2008

Some questions...some answers:

What's with RGJ (Reno Gazzette-Journal)? Their coverage was horrible. Very little about what was actually going on at Stead, day after day of repeating non-news about the tragedy on Saturday, more column inches dedicated to editorials about nearby residents inviting friends over to party for the week and watch the races from their backyards than there was to the entire week of racing, and daily schedules that were so far from reality they should have been in the "Brain Teaser" section.

Thunderbirds rock but take way too much time. Took advantage of the time (along with others) to get out of the stands, walk around, have lunch, etc.

Raptor was KEWL!!!

The daily jet parades (err...races) were a total bore.

Airshow - Loved Warren Peich in the T'cart. Paid attention to the radical stuff but was bored with it by the second day. (FYI - I contacted RARA several months before NCAR about a top notch airshow act that would be available to perform. I was told that due to monies spent to bring in the Thunderbirds, there was no budget for other airshow acts and ONLY sponsored acts could perform. I was also asked if I had a sponsor for the act. In response to "How much does a sponsorship cost?" I was informed that they start at $10,000. So, unless I was lied to by RARA, can the speculation about invited and paid performers, they've got to pay to be there. On the other hand, airshow performances are a lot of bang for the advertising buck.)

Unlimited's were awesome. T6's showed their usual close racing with higher speeds across the class. Some close racing in the Biplanes and Formulas. Sport and Super Sport showing more muscle as the class matures.

Announcer(s) need to get/keep things interesting. The incesant droning is irritating. Would help if they had a clue about what was really going on.

Didn't miss the Saab demo team.