Mickey Rupp's Racer#5 - OLD CROW / SAMURAI
This year's exciting unveiling of Jack Roush's incredible Malcolm Hood canopied P-51B razorback Mustang in the colors of WW2 Ace- Bud Anderson's 'Old Crow', deservedly-garnered a huge amount of media attention worldwide. Anderson's D-model 'Crow' has also been a popular subject for Mustang restorers previously, to a lesser-degree.
As this wonderful forum's primary focus is 'air racing', it's surprising that there's been scant mention of Mickey Rupp's P-51D Unlimited Air Racer of the past- #5 OLD CROW (NL551MR), & a.k.a. it's followup renamed- SAMURAI.
So, I'd like to hereby submit a mini-archive photo gallery of both versions of Mickey's Mustang racer, to hopefully remedy this oversight a wee bit, and for the edification & enjoyment of AAFO site goers.
With that spirit in mind, I must add that watching Mickey race his P-51 during its' brief tenure, provided some of my most favorite fan experiences in following air racing events over the past 34-consecutive years. What a stick man Mickey was out on the racecourse!
Had Rupp's team encountered better luck & fewer major mechanical setbacks, they might-well have won themselves at least one Reno Unlimited Gold trophy during their highly-competitive campaign, which displayed continual innovative development & refinement of their formidable Mustang, to make it go faster every year. A 'BIG Thanks' goes out to the Rupp family & team members for all your efforts, which added much flair to Unlimited Air Racing's colorful history.
DBD
Top row photos (L-R):
1. Nose art of WW2 Ace- Bud Anderson's P-51D fighter- OLD CROW is prominent in this Reno '91 shot.
2. Mon. 9/19/88: Mickey Rupp taking-off, on his post-event departure from Stead Field, for return flight back to his Florida home base.
3. Sun. 9/18/88: Rupp drives OLD CROW down Reno's fast West Chute during the Silver Race for a 5th-place finish for the rookie racer @ 385.809-av/mph.
4 & 5. Sun. 9/10/89: Race #5 arrives at Reno '89 ready to race, with a spare race Merlin engine loaded inside the team's equipment trailer.
Middle row (L-R):
1 & 2. Thurs. 9/14/89: OLD CROW bores down along the V-O-S past the W. Guide Pylon during UNL HT-1A to finish 4th. Note #5's clipped wings w/Hoerner tips.
3. Sun. 9/17/89: Rupp turns Outer 8 Pylon during the Bronze final, and finishes third, but is moved to last for low flying.
4 & 5. Sat. 9/7/91: OLD CROW in profile, following her arrival at Reno '91, sporting new race mods, including new prop & spinner, and new wingtips. Qualifying in the 8th-slot, #5 joined the '400 Club' by posting a speed of 419.196-mph.
Bottom row (L-R):
1. Sat. 9/7/91: L/H gear door detail listing crew names, which includes some air racing notables.
2. Fri. 9/13/91: OLD CROW gets a sunset test run of her new replacement race Merlin, following a motor swap required after throwing two rods out the side during Thursday's UNL HT-1A Pace Lap.
3. Sun. 9/15/91: Mickey flies The CROW past the W. Guide Pylon during the Silver Race to 2nd-place @ 409.125-av/mph, during a super-duel throughout w/leader Gary Levitz's P-51D #38 Miss Ashley.
Mickey Rupp & #5 OLD CROW came back strong during Reno '92 competition - posting 420-430 av/mph race speeds in all their heats, w/a 5th-place in the Gold Final, and establishing the team as serious championship contenders.
As this wonderful forum's primary focus is 'air racing', it's surprising that there's been scant mention of Mickey Rupp's P-51D Unlimited Air Racer of the past- #5 OLD CROW (NL551MR), & a.k.a. it's followup renamed- SAMURAI.
So, I'd like to hereby submit a mini-archive photo gallery of both versions of Mickey's Mustang racer, to hopefully remedy this oversight a wee bit, and for the edification & enjoyment of AAFO site goers.
With that spirit in mind, I must add that watching Mickey race his P-51 during its' brief tenure, provided some of my most favorite fan experiences in following air racing events over the past 34-consecutive years. What a stick man Mickey was out on the racecourse!
Had Rupp's team encountered better luck & fewer major mechanical setbacks, they might-well have won themselves at least one Reno Unlimited Gold trophy during their highly-competitive campaign, which displayed continual innovative development & refinement of their formidable Mustang, to make it go faster every year. A 'BIG Thanks' goes out to the Rupp family & team members for all your efforts, which added much flair to Unlimited Air Racing's colorful history.
DBDTop row photos (L-R):
1. Nose art of WW2 Ace- Bud Anderson's P-51D fighter- OLD CROW is prominent in this Reno '91 shot.
2. Mon. 9/19/88: Mickey Rupp taking-off, on his post-event departure from Stead Field, for return flight back to his Florida home base.
3. Sun. 9/18/88: Rupp drives OLD CROW down Reno's fast West Chute during the Silver Race for a 5th-place finish for the rookie racer @ 385.809-av/mph.
4 & 5. Sun. 9/10/89: Race #5 arrives at Reno '89 ready to race, with a spare race Merlin engine loaded inside the team's equipment trailer.
Middle row (L-R):
1 & 2. Thurs. 9/14/89: OLD CROW bores down along the V-O-S past the W. Guide Pylon during UNL HT-1A to finish 4th. Note #5's clipped wings w/Hoerner tips.
3. Sun. 9/17/89: Rupp turns Outer 8 Pylon during the Bronze final, and finishes third, but is moved to last for low flying.
4 & 5. Sat. 9/7/91: OLD CROW in profile, following her arrival at Reno '91, sporting new race mods, including new prop & spinner, and new wingtips. Qualifying in the 8th-slot, #5 joined the '400 Club' by posting a speed of 419.196-mph.
Bottom row (L-R):
1. Sat. 9/7/91: L/H gear door detail listing crew names, which includes some air racing notables.
2. Fri. 9/13/91: OLD CROW gets a sunset test run of her new replacement race Merlin, following a motor swap required after throwing two rods out the side during Thursday's UNL HT-1A Pace Lap.
3. Sun. 9/15/91: Mickey flies The CROW past the W. Guide Pylon during the Silver Race to 2nd-place @ 409.125-av/mph, during a super-duel throughout w/leader Gary Levitz's P-51D #38 Miss Ashley.
Mickey Rupp & #5 OLD CROW came back strong during Reno '92 competition - posting 420-430 av/mph race speeds in all their heats, w/a 5th-place in the Gold Final, and establishing the team as serious championship contenders.
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