* BLUE SKY RACER * (Tribute to Al Goss & Warlock)
* BLUE SKY RACER *
A special archive photo gallery tribute -celebrating fast & fun times of T-6 Class Champion air racer- * Al Goss & #75 Warlock *
Photos (L-R/Top to bottom - all fm Reno NCAR, unless noted otherwise):
1. Mon. 9/14/87- Alfred Goss taxis-out his beautiful North American SNJ-6 #75 Warlock for take-off, during Reno '87's first T-6 qualifying & practice session. The first 3 photos show Warlock resplendant w/various chrome-plated appointments, including prop spinner & engine ring cowl leading edges. Race #75 (then registered N7985C) never looked finer, in my opinion, than in this configuration.
2. Reno '97- "The Man & His Flying Machine" - Al Goss & Warlock proudly pose for a portrait on the Stead Field ramp next to the main taxiway,facing a glowing setting sun. Goss qualified #75 second-fastest that year @ 226.875-mph & finished 3rd-place in Sunday's T-6 Gold final @ 221.141-av/mph (Randi Difani in #18 won the 6-lap event).
3. Mon. 9/16/85- R/H flying profile of Warlock purring along Stead Field's main straightaway. That year Goss qualified 3rd & finished 2nd in the Gold.
4-5. RACE: Sun. 9/20/87-T6 GOLD- First shot captures a classic T-6 race gaggle, in the tight turn off the main straightaway & heading for Outer 2 Pylon w/everyone jockeying for position. Viewing L-R, we see David Bruce flying #4-Dash One in the lead, followed by Eddie Van Fossen/#27-Miss TNT, Al Goss/#75-Warlock above Randi Difani/#18-Thunderbolt battling f/3rd, with Jim Mott/#42-Mis-Chief up high and Charles Hutchins/#1-Silver Baby running in last place.
Second photo in this pair, has Al Goss in #75 rounding Outer 2 Pylon ahead of David Bruce in #4, w/Goss flying his cropduster-style low & tight courseline later on in this T-6 Gold final event. Goss finished 3rd-place @ 223.496-av/mph. Respective finishing order by race #s: 27-42-75-18-1-4, after David Bruce got moved back to last place f/low-flying!
6. RACE: Sun. 9/15/91-T6 GOLD/Lap-1- A long telephoto head-on perspective view captures the pack of Gold Sixers roaring down along the back straightaway- all vying f/position to take the critical turn around red Middle 4 Pylon. Eddie Van Fossen/#27-Miss TNT (lt. gray) holds a narrow lead on the outside, Al Goss/#75-Warlock holds 2nd flying a perfect tight inside line, Kenny Day/#22-Catch 22 is also low & flying a bit wider & abreast w/Goss, Nick Macy's black #6-Six Cat is up high, Randi Difani/#18-Thunderbolt (2-tone camo) is behind & to the rt. of Van Fossen & Charlie Hutchins/#21-Mystical Power is in back. Goss came in 2nd @ 221.687-av/mph. Respective finishing order by race #s: 27-75-22-6-21-18.
7-8. Sun. 9/15/91-Awards Banquet- Al Goss seen up on stage claiming his T-6 Gold 2nd-place trophy from Ms. Amanda Allman (Miss Reno '91-w/crown) & Ms. Jennifer Eckert (Miss Reno '90), while turning on his special winning charm. (Goss also collected a prize for being Reno '91's fastest T-6 qualifier @ 230.013-mph). Next pic 'captures the moment' Al Goss let his thoughts be known to the crowd about his second-place experience.
9. Sun. 3/20/94-Phoenix 500-T6 GOLD- Al Goss taxis-out #75 for the the big T-6 final event @ the innaugural PHX-500 & finished in 4th-place. (Note: By this time, Goss had re-registered Warlock w/the more identifiable- N75AG).
10. RACE: Sat. 9/19/98-T6 HT-2A- Al Goss & Warlock ride on the heels of leader- Jack Frost/#47-Frost Bite, going around Outer 8 Pylon (T6 Middle 6), w/Bob Jones/#8 (high) & Bud Granley/#9-Lickety Split following wide. Frost prevailed w/Goss coming in 2nd @ 213.882-av/mph.
11. RACE: Sun. 9/20/98-T6 GOLD- Race start from a mid-field launch is captured from T6 Middle 4 Pylon. Pictured (L-R) are: Jack Frost/#47-Frost Bite running in the pole position, Nick Macy/#6-Six Cat, Mary Dilda/#22-Two of Hearts, Gene McNeely/#90-Undecided, w/Jim Good/#77-Wildcatter & Al Goss/#75-Warlock up high. Goss finished 3rd @ 222.111-av/mph. Respective finishing order was: 47-6-75-22-90-77.
12. Sun. 9/19/99-Awards Banquet- T6 Gold Race pilots pose together f/a group portrait (L-R) back row standing: Nick Macy/#6-Six Cat (1st @ 229.396-mph), Jerry McDonald/#5-Big Red (6th @ 216.695-mph), Mary Dilda/#22-Two of Hearts (3rd @ 224.560-mph), Al Goss/#75-Warlock (4th @ 223.230-mph) & Jim Good/#77-Wildcatter (5th @ 217.922-mph). Front row (L-R): Steve Dilda (Pace Plane pilot) & Tom Campau/#21-Mystical Power (2nd @ 228.376-mph).
13. RACE: Fri. 9/13/03-T6 HT-2A/Lap-1- Al Goss & Warlock press Jim Good's #77-Wildcatter going around T-6 Middle 5 Pylon (Outer 7). Al Goss finished 4th @ 215.632-av/mph, behind Good in this heat.
14. Sun. 9/14/03-Awards Banquet- Al Goss receives his T6 Gold 3rd-place trophy & a congrats handshake from RARA Director-Tom Gribbin & has him in stitches w/a classic Goss one-liner. Warlock's speed f/3rd was a fast 226.951-av/mph.
15. RACE: Sun. 9/19/04-T6 GOLD- 'Victory-at-Last!' Al Goss turns Middle 3 Pylon w/#75-Warlock, enroute his checkered flag finish at the Home Pylon to finally win his long-sought first T6 Gold Championship Race, after a fierce running duel w/Mary Dilda in #22-Two of Hearts during the entire race. Goss' speed average speed was 238.079-mph to Mary's 237.047 - it was THAT close & what a race it was! The fans in the stands & pits went totally crazy watchin' this one!
16. Sun. 9/19/04-Awards Banquet- A VERY proud & happy Al Goss on stage wearing his new Gold Champion jacket, -gets a warm congratulatory handshake from RARA Chairman of the Board-Tom Robinson, as announcer Steve Stavrakakis & Breitling rep- Marie Bodman stand ready to present Goss his Gold Trophy & special Breitling chronograph, that goes along w/a nice fat prize money check. OH YEAH! - "How SWEET it IS!!!"
17. RACE: Sat. 9/17/05-T6 HT-2A- "Big Battle-in-The Blue!" The arch-rivals are back at it again, running nose-to-nose going around T6 Pylon 5 (Outer 7) in this awesome T6 Gold heat competition. Goss & MaryD qualified first & second @ 237.403 & 236.940-mph, respectively & Al Goss won this barn-burner heat w/an average speed of 237.424 over Mary Dilda's 237.388 2nd-place finish! Mary turned the tables by decisively-winning Sunday's T6 Gold final, w/Goss once again relegated to placing second.
18. Mon. 9/14/09-T6 Qualifications & Practice- Al Goss & #75-Warlock provide a stunning moving portrait going around T6 Pylon 5 for the clock. Goss qualified #75 in 3rd at Reno '09 w/a speed of 234.818-mph.
19. Sun. 9/20/09-Awards Banquet- Al Goss poses w/pretty & petite- Ms. Lauren Neil (newly-crowned 2010 Miss Reno Rodeo) for the camera, while holding his T6 Gold trophy award for, you guessed-it: 2nd-Place Nick Macy in #6-Six Cat won the T6 Gold @ 237.557-av/mph, over Goss' 235.134 finish.
20. A close-cropped version of prev. pic #18, to close this special photo remembrance tribute to Al Goss & Warlock.
BLUE SKIES & TAILWINDS FOREVER- AL GOSS! Your bright spirit & heart of gold made us all feel like winners, dear friend. Fly Fast- Sky Racer!!!
Don 'Bucky' Dawson
A special archive photo gallery tribute -celebrating fast & fun times of T-6 Class Champion air racer- * Al Goss & #75 Warlock *
Photos (L-R/Top to bottom - all fm Reno NCAR, unless noted otherwise):
1. Mon. 9/14/87- Alfred Goss taxis-out his beautiful North American SNJ-6 #75 Warlock for take-off, during Reno '87's first T-6 qualifying & practice session. The first 3 photos show Warlock resplendant w/various chrome-plated appointments, including prop spinner & engine ring cowl leading edges. Race #75 (then registered N7985C) never looked finer, in my opinion, than in this configuration.
2. Reno '97- "The Man & His Flying Machine" - Al Goss & Warlock proudly pose for a portrait on the Stead Field ramp next to the main taxiway,facing a glowing setting sun. Goss qualified #75 second-fastest that year @ 226.875-mph & finished 3rd-place in Sunday's T-6 Gold final @ 221.141-av/mph (Randi Difani in #18 won the 6-lap event).
3. Mon. 9/16/85- R/H flying profile of Warlock purring along Stead Field's main straightaway. That year Goss qualified 3rd & finished 2nd in the Gold.
4-5. RACE: Sun. 9/20/87-T6 GOLD- First shot captures a classic T-6 race gaggle, in the tight turn off the main straightaway & heading for Outer 2 Pylon w/everyone jockeying for position. Viewing L-R, we see David Bruce flying #4-Dash One in the lead, followed by Eddie Van Fossen/#27-Miss TNT, Al Goss/#75-Warlock above Randi Difani/#18-Thunderbolt battling f/3rd, with Jim Mott/#42-Mis-Chief up high and Charles Hutchins/#1-Silver Baby running in last place.
Second photo in this pair, has Al Goss in #75 rounding Outer 2 Pylon ahead of David Bruce in #4, w/Goss flying his cropduster-style low & tight courseline later on in this T-6 Gold final event. Goss finished 3rd-place @ 223.496-av/mph. Respective finishing order by race #s: 27-42-75-18-1-4, after David Bruce got moved back to last place f/low-flying!
6. RACE: Sun. 9/15/91-T6 GOLD/Lap-1- A long telephoto head-on perspective view captures the pack of Gold Sixers roaring down along the back straightaway- all vying f/position to take the critical turn around red Middle 4 Pylon. Eddie Van Fossen/#27-Miss TNT (lt. gray) holds a narrow lead on the outside, Al Goss/#75-Warlock holds 2nd flying a perfect tight inside line, Kenny Day/#22-Catch 22 is also low & flying a bit wider & abreast w/Goss, Nick Macy's black #6-Six Cat is up high, Randi Difani/#18-Thunderbolt (2-tone camo) is behind & to the rt. of Van Fossen & Charlie Hutchins/#21-Mystical Power is in back. Goss came in 2nd @ 221.687-av/mph. Respective finishing order by race #s: 27-75-22-6-21-18.
7-8. Sun. 9/15/91-Awards Banquet- Al Goss seen up on stage claiming his T-6 Gold 2nd-place trophy from Ms. Amanda Allman (Miss Reno '91-w/crown) & Ms. Jennifer Eckert (Miss Reno '90), while turning on his special winning charm. (Goss also collected a prize for being Reno '91's fastest T-6 qualifier @ 230.013-mph). Next pic 'captures the moment' Al Goss let his thoughts be known to the crowd about his second-place experience.
9. Sun. 3/20/94-Phoenix 500-T6 GOLD- Al Goss taxis-out #75 for the the big T-6 final event @ the innaugural PHX-500 & finished in 4th-place. (Note: By this time, Goss had re-registered Warlock w/the more identifiable- N75AG).
10. RACE: Sat. 9/19/98-T6 HT-2A- Al Goss & Warlock ride on the heels of leader- Jack Frost/#47-Frost Bite, going around Outer 8 Pylon (T6 Middle 6), w/Bob Jones/#8 (high) & Bud Granley/#9-Lickety Split following wide. Frost prevailed w/Goss coming in 2nd @ 213.882-av/mph.
11. RACE: Sun. 9/20/98-T6 GOLD- Race start from a mid-field launch is captured from T6 Middle 4 Pylon. Pictured (L-R) are: Jack Frost/#47-Frost Bite running in the pole position, Nick Macy/#6-Six Cat, Mary Dilda/#22-Two of Hearts, Gene McNeely/#90-Undecided, w/Jim Good/#77-Wildcatter & Al Goss/#75-Warlock up high. Goss finished 3rd @ 222.111-av/mph. Respective finishing order was: 47-6-75-22-90-77.
12. Sun. 9/19/99-Awards Banquet- T6 Gold Race pilots pose together f/a group portrait (L-R) back row standing: Nick Macy/#6-Six Cat (1st @ 229.396-mph), Jerry McDonald/#5-Big Red (6th @ 216.695-mph), Mary Dilda/#22-Two of Hearts (3rd @ 224.560-mph), Al Goss/#75-Warlock (4th @ 223.230-mph) & Jim Good/#77-Wildcatter (5th @ 217.922-mph). Front row (L-R): Steve Dilda (Pace Plane pilot) & Tom Campau/#21-Mystical Power (2nd @ 228.376-mph).
13. RACE: Fri. 9/13/03-T6 HT-2A/Lap-1- Al Goss & Warlock press Jim Good's #77-Wildcatter going around T-6 Middle 5 Pylon (Outer 7). Al Goss finished 4th @ 215.632-av/mph, behind Good in this heat.
14. Sun. 9/14/03-Awards Banquet- Al Goss receives his T6 Gold 3rd-place trophy & a congrats handshake from RARA Director-Tom Gribbin & has him in stitches w/a classic Goss one-liner. Warlock's speed f/3rd was a fast 226.951-av/mph.
15. RACE: Sun. 9/19/04-T6 GOLD- 'Victory-at-Last!' Al Goss turns Middle 3 Pylon w/#75-Warlock, enroute his checkered flag finish at the Home Pylon to finally win his long-sought first T6 Gold Championship Race, after a fierce running duel w/Mary Dilda in #22-Two of Hearts during the entire race. Goss' speed average speed was 238.079-mph to Mary's 237.047 - it was THAT close & what a race it was! The fans in the stands & pits went totally crazy watchin' this one!
16. Sun. 9/19/04-Awards Banquet- A VERY proud & happy Al Goss on stage wearing his new Gold Champion jacket, -gets a warm congratulatory handshake from RARA Chairman of the Board-Tom Robinson, as announcer Steve Stavrakakis & Breitling rep- Marie Bodman stand ready to present Goss his Gold Trophy & special Breitling chronograph, that goes along w/a nice fat prize money check. OH YEAH! - "How SWEET it IS!!!"
17. RACE: Sat. 9/17/05-T6 HT-2A- "Big Battle-in-The Blue!" The arch-rivals are back at it again, running nose-to-nose going around T6 Pylon 5 (Outer 7) in this awesome T6 Gold heat competition. Goss & MaryD qualified first & second @ 237.403 & 236.940-mph, respectively & Al Goss won this barn-burner heat w/an average speed of 237.424 over Mary Dilda's 237.388 2nd-place finish! Mary turned the tables by decisively-winning Sunday's T6 Gold final, w/Goss once again relegated to placing second.
18. Mon. 9/14/09-T6 Qualifications & Practice- Al Goss & #75-Warlock provide a stunning moving portrait going around T6 Pylon 5 for the clock. Goss qualified #75 in 3rd at Reno '09 w/a speed of 234.818-mph.
19. Sun. 9/20/09-Awards Banquet- Al Goss poses w/pretty & petite- Ms. Lauren Neil (newly-crowned 2010 Miss Reno Rodeo) for the camera, while holding his T6 Gold trophy award for, you guessed-it: 2nd-Place
Nick Macy in #6-Six Cat won the T6 Gold @ 237.557-av/mph, over Goss' 235.134 finish.20. A close-cropped version of prev. pic #18, to close this special photo remembrance tribute to Al Goss & Warlock.
BLUE SKIES & TAILWINDS FOREVER- AL GOSS! Your bright spirit & heart of gold made us all feel like winners, dear friend. Fly Fast- Sky Racer!!!
Don 'Bucky' Dawson
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