From the Wingman archives...

[wingman]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

And the same to you and your family, Shawn...

[sierra fox]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

Looks like 232 in there, next to Lloyds machine, even shines a little too

[Big_Jim]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

Looks like 232 in there, next to Lloyds machine, even shines a little too

If that is 1978, then it's not 232. It's Bill Harrison's "Wasa Hooker". Was destroyed in a take off accident shortly after Reno. But if memory serves, part of the wreckage was incorporated into Deadnuts.

[BuckyD]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

Looks like 232 in there, next to Lloyds machine, even shines a little too

Anthony-

Big Jim's correct. That is indeed Sea Fury Race #3 'Wasa Hooker' (s/n VZ350, N20SF) raced by pilot Bill Harrison when John Stokes owned it. On 12/16/78 it was written-off in a fatal takeoff crash from Waukegan, IL., w/new owner Robert Friedman at the controls. Sanders aquired the wreck & the N-# got used when Dreadnought got built-up.

WIX link (which has the skinny on most all the warbirds):

https://www.warbirdregistry.org/furyregistry/fury-vz350.html

DBD

[sierra fox]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

Yep, i can see the "T" canopy there, Thanks

[Shawn Aro]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

I wasnt there in 1978 only on sunday nice picture thought. Shawn

[stuntflyr]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

That aerial view has the Museum's A model so it's got to be later than '78. '81 I'd say. Looks like an HA-1112 down there too.

[wingman]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

Yes it was 1981.

Here is one of my all time favourite Racing photographs (of my own, of course!). This was the Gold Race at Hamilton 1988. After a decade of struggle and heartbreak, the Bear had finally gotten enough financial backing to hire Dave Cornell full time and work out the reliability problems that had plagued them for so long. John Slack has written eloquently about this moment and its importance to the team and to the program.

Much to my surprise, I was invited to join the team at their victory dinner that evening, and was invited to actually join the Rare Bear team. That was the beginning of one of the most interesting and exciting periods of my career in Air Racing...

Neal

[BellCobraIV]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

Yes it was 1981.

Here is one of my all time favourite Racing photographs (of my own, of course!). This was the Gold Race at Hamilton 1988. After a decade of struggle and heartbreak, the Bear had finally gotten enough financial backing to hire Dave Cornell full time and work out the reliability problems that had plagued them for so long. John Slack has written eloquently about this moment and its importance to the team and to the program.

Much to my surprise, I was invited to join the team at their victory dinner that evening, and was invited to actually join the Rare Bear team. That was the beginning of one of the most interesting and exciting periods of my career in Air Racing...

Neal

"John Slack has written eloquently about this moment"

Neal,
Thank You, I have finally learned that all I had left that I wanted to offer was my words. Words that were tainted with bias, and aged and somewhat corroded with a passion for a time long gone, and never to return again. I am indebted to you and Bucky and some others, for the medium that you bring back often and how it jogs the grey matter in wonderful and sometimes melancholy ways. In the last few years I finally understood from Dwight, then from my Dad, it was OK to let it go and move on to the next great adventure. I'm a little over eleven years into the greatest adventure. But I'm well. Sometime we will have to play you put up the picture and we'll talk about the past. You were a great addition to the team, I'm forever grateful to your contribution.
John

[wingman]

Re: From the Wingman archives...

Thank you John

That time with the Bear was priceless. I will forever be grateful for the chance to experience the Hunt for the Gold from inside a top flight Air Race team...

And any time you want to write, we'll supply stuff to write about

Neal