'BUCK SHOTS'

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

THX Jarrod! 'Ditto'- it was neat to meet up out at the stick this year, though I regret there wasn't enough time to get better aquainted. Hopefully we can both make it to PRS in 2011. As I mentioned- I'm a big fan of your photography & hope to see more great stuff online soon. Keep up the good work!

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"THE GALLOPING GHOST!".......

RACE: Sat. 9/18/10-UNL Silver HT-3B- Jimmy Leeward drives Race #177 past the East Start/Guide Pylon, w/his high-mod scoopless Mustang's race engine & radical boil-off system working flawlessly. Leeward had no problem winning this final 6-lap heat @ 373.284-av/mph to bump GG up into Sunday's UNL Gold.

But alas-fate & the weather gods intervened w/strong gusty winds sufficient-enough to force the cancellation of Reno 2010's big final showdown & thwarted any chance f/an upset victory by this darkhorse P-51 racer. Maybe next year? Air race fans will just have to wait & see .......

DBD

[sierra fox]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

Best shot of the Ghost this year

between 3 and 4?

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"Achtung! . . . Focke-Wulf!"

One of Reno 2010 NCAR's real surprises was the rare & special treat of seeing a Flug Werks FW-190 entered to race in the Unlimited Class f/the first time ever!

Here's veteran warbird pilot- John Maloney qualifying Rudy Frasca's P&W R-2800 engined Race #14 on Tue. 9/14/10 going around Outer 7 Pylon.

Though the replica Butcher Bird wasn't all that fast, she was- TOTALLY- COOL & exciting to watch turning the sticks out there on the racecourse.

A HUGE thanks goes out to the Frasca Family, the Chino Gang & everyone responsible for making this amazing air racing happening possible!!!

DBD

(I was personally stoked about this, as the FW-190 is my second personal favorite WW2 fighter,-behind the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Would like to see some air-to-air portraits w/this bird in the future: like a WW2 ETO capture escort w/the FW-190 & P-38, P-40, P-47 & P-51 in authentic OD/NG combat color schemes, -w/maybe a Spitfire thrown-in for good measure too...OH YEAH!!!))

[Leo]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

I've had a soft spot for the German fighters. They were not very pretty but sure looked efficient (typically German). Being the first FW I had ever seen in the metal, I was impressed by how compact it was. Also, seeing it up close shows how simple the shapes are, not near as complicated as say a mustangs relatively complex curves. Looks like it would be a lot easier to crank them out with low-skilled labor.
It also looks like you wear it, like a 109, rather than sit in it!

[Ken from PG]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

What a great time I had running around the ramp with Bucky during Monday departures.

In the last shot Bucky is sporting a big smile and a thumbs up. You (Tim) notice he is holding a Nikon!

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

Ditto, Ken! Great to meet another of my favorite aviation photogs & have a swell time hangin' out on the Stead ramp together after all the madness subsided. Ya know, come to think of it-we might've been the 'Last of the Mohican' air race photogs there that day (along w/our fearless webmeister).

The actual reason I'm grinnin' like a coon dog & givin' a thumbs-up, is 'cuz I thought I'd just received my first Nikon as a 'donation' incentive to finally make the big switch-over from Canon.

But honestly, Ken- your photos are always so excellent (w/such razor-sharp clarity)-that I'm actually seriously-considering the idea!

Here's a shot of Ken (sans his signature shades) & The Ghost + one of me point-shooting a closeup of him f/good measure... (Thx Linda/aka-'Beer Nazi' f/shooting US!).

DBD

(I know, I know...desert dust clumps everywhere - no time to tidy up the image files at the moment )

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

KUDOS BEER NAZI!!

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"ARMY vs. NAVY"......

RACE: Sun. 9/20/10-UNL SILVER Final- An example of the age-old military service rivalry plays-out again over on the E. side of the racecourse, w/Doug Matthews' dark navy blue F4U-4 Corsair Race #24 trying v. hard to get by pilot John-Curtiss Paul's P-40N #17-"Parrothead", to no avail. (Last place is always such a drag...)

Here's a series of long-lense sequence shots capturing some of their duel. Viewing L-R, if my lap count is correct f/this 7-lap Silver, first shot is Lap-3, the motor-driven trio of pics is Lap-4 & last pic is Lap-6.

The 6th, 7th & 8th-place Silver finishers respectively, were: Dan Martin-P51D #30-"Grim Reaper" @ 324.968-mph, John Curtiss-Paul-P40N #17-"Parrothead" @ 324.544-mph & Doug Matthews-F4U-4 #24 "Corsair" @ 324.460-mph.

Now that's some- "GREAT RACING!", guys!

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"The Mighty BEAR!"

Mon. 9/13/10-Reno NCAR-UNLTD Qualifying & Practice- John Penney & Race #77-"Rear Bear" are officially- "On-The-Clock" -going by Outer 7 Pylon during their one lap Q-Run for the timers. They posted a speed of 445.728-mph, which was good enough for 3rd-fastest in the Unlimited Class this year.

DBD

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"Lucky Rapid Traveler!"

Flying his gorgeous super-modified Thunder Mustang- #75-"Rapid Travel", hard-chargin' Super Sport Class race pilot- George Giboney really put forth an amazing display of competitive racing efforts all week long @ Reno 2010 NCAR.

After qualifying 4th-fastest in class on Tue. 9/14 @ 345.828-mph, George gave top dog Mike Dacey & his Questair Venture #71-"Bad Intentions" a run for his money every time they met up on the racecourse. Giboney was 2nd behind Dacey in Thursday's SS HT-1A @ 367.983-mph, and then beat him the next day in SS HT-2A w/an race average speed of 373.733 f/the 5-lap event. George & #75 weren't able to start Sat. HT-3A, but they were back in the game to challenge Mike Dacey & the rest of the competition in Sunday's SS Gold Championship final.

The Gold Super Sportsters got launched f/the start amid fierce windy conditions. Leader Dacey & his pursuer-Giboney battled it out for 3 v. intense & exciting laps, before Rapid Travel's engine faltered-forcing George to execute an emergency mayday race exit. Things went to hell-in-a-handbasket PDQ f/Giboney & his striken raceplane in the extreme gusty crosswinds, resulting in a spectacular crazy cartwheel crash-landing, w/#75 headed towards the Jet Class pit area!

Thankfully, to everyone's joy & relief, -the T-Mustang's momentum ceased when the racer broke into several sections & came to a halt in the desert before any harm was done, w/a very lucky pilot-George Giboney-exiting his wrecked aircraft to wave to all he was OK. (Whew! THAT was a real knarly close-call if there ever was one! Definately had a Cleveland-era dramatic flavor to it... ))

Here's a couple pics from Sunday evening's NCAR Awards Banquet, w/Giboney receiving his trophy from presenter- Ms. Melinda Cowan-2011 Miss Reno Rodeo, showing George is indeed A-O-K & happy to be at the party.

George- sorry 'bout your beautiful raceplane, but we're REALLY thankful & glad to have you still with us & hope you return to race again in the future! On behalf of your fellow racers & fans - BIG THANKS for being such a fabulous pilot & air racing competitor & we've really enjoyed your efforts & accomplishments to date. "BRAVO!" - Rapid Traveler!

DBD

[wyhdah]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

I'm really glad I got to see George and that plane race.

[Ken from PG]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

Here's my shot of Rapid Travel ver.2.0 as it was heading around Pylon 4 during the Sunday Gold race. When it didn't come around the next lap we knew something was wrong but had no idea that it was in the process of being destroyed.

Big dittos on Bucky's last paragraph in his last post!

[sierra fox]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

Beautiful shot Ken......WOW!!!

[BuckyD]

Re: 'BUCK SHOTS'

"TRIBUTE".......

Reno 2010 NCAR hosted some mighty fine tributes to air racing's late & great ambassador & T-6 Gold Champion- AL GOSS:

On Wed. nite after the end of qualifications (9/15)- The annual- Warlock Party was again staged by Al's family & crew in the pits f/a big crowd of party-goers w/the original- Warlock Band led by Rick Ruhman, Fred Stevens & Kenny Price Jr. playing & singing up a storm. It was a real hearty celebration held in Al's memory w/lots of food & libations & good company, and some- 'dancing with the stars' goin' on.

On Saturday, a T-6 Missing Man formation flypast was staged in Al's honor, along w/others we've lost over the past year (did anyone get a good picture?).

Formula One race pilot/owner Phil Goforth REALLY went the extra mile to pay tribute to Al Goss by having his F-1 Stratocaster #69 N262SW repainted ala-Goss' T-6 "Warlock" to race it this year as- #75-"Knotty Girl Tribute", in company w/his Cassutt F-1 Gold entry #1-"Invictus". BIG Compliments to Phil & his painting crew f/pulling-off a super great job at making his 'Girl' a real fitting flying tribute to Al Goss & Warlock, w/the family's blessing. (Can you think of anyone else but Phil who'd have been inspired & creative enough to do such a thing? - I certainly can't! Totally AWESOME! )

At Sunday nite's Reno 2010 NCAR Awards Banquet, a big entourage of Goss Family members & Warlock crew veterans went up on stage to be recognized and say some words of remembrance & appreciation to the crowd of attendees. They pledged their continued involvement in future air racing events, noting we'll see 'em crewing on various teams & helping out others, which was- 'The Goss Way'.

The only part missing to make this year's Tribute to Al Goss perfect, was of course, the absence of Al's son & sidekick- Randy Goss, who's on a long rehab process recovering fm the serious health setback, that occured following the loss of his dad earlier this year. God-willing, we'll see Randy again at Reno 2011. (Get Well-Randy! We miss you & pray f/your complete recovery!)

Surely, both our friends- AL GOSS & STEVE BALLARD were w/us in spirit @ Reno 2010 & must've been proudly-pleased by the wonderful expressions of tribute in their memories. "BLUE SKIES & TAILWINDS FOREVER, Gentlemen!" Great job everybody!

DBD