Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

[taglialavore]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

John,
I realize that I wasn´t so wrong when I asked for a book about Lyle Shelton and Rare Bear, now, that he is alive. This thread is the answer. I´ve bought "Racing for the Gold" but didn´t receive it yet, and getting nervous.
I was thinking, may be were you a little bit "diverting" the attention to admit the edition of such a book because you were in some way "protecting" this one?
Not criticizing, just congratulating

[Racer 18]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

I can provide some insight to Lyle's "crash landing in New Mexico". He didn't crash the Bear. He landed it, gear down, in the desert next to a major highway. He taxied the Bear up to the highway, next a Stuckey's, and caught a bus to Albequerque.

I was called to assist with helping Lyle retrieve the bear. I was on his crew in 1969 and 1970. Lyle and myself loaded up his Cherokee with parts, tool, etc. and launched for New Mexico. We landed at a local airport, and met his crop duster buddies, who drove from Texas with more tools. Surveyed the situation and had to find a way to get the Aeroproducts prop off and replace the regulator. We didn't have the right prop wrench and had to fabricate one on the spot. Anyway, got the prop off and I oversaw the regulator replacement (Cliff Putman gave me instructions). Finally with the prop back on, Lyle ran up the Bear. No leaks and it checked out ok. Should have seen the dirt/dust thrown up during the run up! Now, how to get the Bear off the desert? It was decided to fly it off the desert. We spent several hours pulling cactus/bushes, with a tow truck, to clear a runway. I backed into a cactus bush while taking pictures, ouch! Lyle started his take off run and headed off thru the cactus and pulled the Bear off, retracted the gear and gave us a flyby and and headed to Albequerque. I jumped in the Cherokee and flew it to Albequerque, to meet Lyle. When I got there and we inspected the Bear and pulled lots of cactus out of the wheel wells, and then headed back to Calif. successfully. One of my many super memories being on Lyle's crew in the very early days... A true credit to Lyle's extraordinary pilot skill!

Randy Difani

P.S. I have a copy of the book and it was super!

[taglialavore]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

Cool stories, thank you for telling them!

[BellCobraIV]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

I can provide some insight to Lyle's "crash landing in New Mexico". He didn't crash the Bear. He landed it, gear down, in the desert next to a major highway. He taxied the Bear up to the highway, next a Stuckey's, and caught a bus to Albequerque.

I was called to assist with helping Lyle retrieve the bear. I was on his crew in 1969 and 1970. Lyle and myself loaded up his Cherokee with parts, tool, etc. and launched for New Mexico. We landed at a local airport, and met his crop duster buddies, who drove from Texas with more tools. Surveyed the situation and had to find a way to get the Aeroproducts prop off and replace the regulator. We didn't have the right prop wrench and had to fabricate one on the spot. Anyway, got the prop off and I oversaw the regulator replacement (Cliff Putman gave me instructions). Finally with the prop back on, Lyle ran up the Bear. No leaks and it checked out ok. Should have seen the dirt/dust thrown up during the run up! Now, how to get the Bear off the desert? It was decided to fly it off the desert. We spent several hours pulling cactus/bushes, with a tow truck, to clear a runway. I backed into a cactus bush while taking pictures, ouch! Lyle started his take off run and headed off thru the cactus and pulled the Bear off, retracted the gear and gave us a flyby and and headed to Albequerque. I jumped in the Cherokee and flew it to Albequerque, to meet Lyle. When I got there and we inspected the Bear and pulled lots of cactus out of the wheel wells, and then headed back to Calif. successfully. One of my many super memories being on Lyle's crew in the very early days... A true credit to Lyle's extraordinary pilot skill!

Randy Difani

P.S. I have a copy of the book and it was super!

Randy,
You are one of the guys that I meant when I said, "The early years of the Rare Bear air race team involved even then a large and unusually talented group that saw in Lyle and his project a winning team."

Remember Tony Bernard? the wingtips he made out of thin air are still the ones that are on the plane, he was a genius with metal.
John

[T.F.]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

I havent got the book YET, but was wondering- when did the Bear start hangering at Stead?

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

I havent got the book YET, but was wondering- when did the Bear start hangering at Stead?

Would have been the year the engine blew when Matt Jackson was racing her... I'm thinking that was '99. It was basically just sitting until around 2002 or so when the "Fan Sponsor Club" thing started up and many of the new, at that time, Reno based crew came on board.

Am I about right date-wise BellCobra??

[Hans Oberev]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

thanks John for replying. sorry, I poor choice of words. yes he made an emergency landing in New Mexico. Crashed thru two barbed wire fences not before jumping one ravine!!! Cool stuff! Did u see the worlds fastest indian movie. I could see the same type of movie about Lyle. I just completed an 8000 mile road trip in 24 days originating from Reno, to Terre Haute Indiana, back thru New Mexico then to Tucson to Puerto Vallarta Mex and then back to Tucson, San Diego and up 395 to Reno. Read the book on the way. I'm a slow reader, lol!! I stayed in Santa Rosa, NM. Thought of the Phoenix races while making the trip on I-8, thought of you towing RB down from the desert north of 4 corners and again of you doing that speed trip to get Dreadnaughts spare engine. The story of Lyle and Rear Bear and all of the guys is so cool. How come we can't get more interest and sponsors?? I had an idea while driving all those miles. Unification like the IRL and CART. Get Red Bull and RARA to pool their resources. Just a thought!!

[Racer 18]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

Randy,
You are one of the guys that I meant when I said, "The early years of the Rare Bear air race team involved even then a large and unusually talented group that saw in Lyle and his project a winning team."

Remember Tony Bernard? the wingtips he made out of thin air are still the ones that are on the plane, he was a genius with metal.
John

John:

I felt privledged to have been a part of the first few years of Race #70/77 Able Cat. Yes I do remember Tony. He was a true artist with sheet metal. I knew Tony throughout the years, when I lived in So Cal, and he worked on T 6's at Dennis Buehn's Warbirds West. Also, Pete, Harry, Cliff, George, Bill Hickle, Bill Kentz, Dennis and the rest were great to work with. I learned so much from these truely talented folks. I even remember you and your mom, when I think you guys lived in Los Alimitos.

I was just a young new college grad, who was driving by Compton the summer of 1969, one day, and did a quick U turn, when I saw a large funny warbird in Hangar #F8. I stopped by and started talking to some guy stripping the paint off a Bearcat part. I asked him if he knew anything about the airplane and he said he owned it. It was Lyle. Anyway, I volunteered to help and the rest is history.

I'm pleased to see you've taken such a great interest and have been intimately involved in participating in taking the Bear to the next level over the years that Lyle owned and raced it. Anyway, nice to hear from you..

Randy Difani

[BellCobraIV]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

John:

I felt privledged to have been a part of the first few years of Race #70/77 Able Cat. Yes I do remember Tony. He was a true artist with sheet metal. I knew Tony throughout the years, when I lived in So Cal, and he worked on T 6's at Dennis Buehn's Warbirds West. Also, Pete, Harry, Cliff, George, Bill Hickle, Bill Kentz, Dennis and the rest were great to work with. I learned so much from these truely talented folks. I even remember you and your mom, when I think you guys lived in Los Alimitos.

I was just a young new college grad, who was driving by Compton the summer of 1969, one day, and did a quick U turn, when I saw a large funny warbird in Hangar #F8. I stopped by and started talking to some guy stripping the paint off a Bearcat part. I asked him if he knew anything about the airplane and he said he owned it. It was Lyle. Anyway, I volunteered to help and the rest is history.

I'm pleased to see you've taken such a great interest and have been intimately involved in participating in taking the Bear to the next level over the years that Lyle owned and raced it. Anyway, nice to hear from you..

Randy Difani

Randy,
I mentioned your post to my mom and dad on Saturday. They were glad to hear you were posting good memories about your time with the Bear. There were a lot of really great people over the years at many different times.

[Racer 18]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

John:
Sent you a Private Message.
Randy

[taglialavore]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

I know very well I´m nobody but a fan in the unlimited air racing world compared with the people that is deeply involved and that post here, but many years ago (1969-70) I got a brochure, and in its last page shows this:

[taglialavore]

Re: Racing For The Gold: The Story of Lyle Shelton and The Rare Bear

Well, finally I´m enjoying the reading of Racing for the Gold. I received it three days ago and it swallowed me. It is not signed by Lyle Shelton but it´s a nice reading, I´m learning about activities Mr. Shelton did during his full active life in the air racing. Without doubts he is one of the best leaders unlimited air racing have had, if not the best. That´s why he is in the motorsports Hall of Fame. All what he has done for this sport!
By the way, I´m joyfull to see the name of my relatives in the book.
Now, I´m waiting to receive the aafo´s calendar and I´ll be satisfied.
OK, I betterI leave this, I must go on reading Racing for the Gold.
Thank you to Mrs. Dell Rourk who took her time to write it and we can enjoy