Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

[SCEPTER]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

Dago red 2003 is my vote.

[knot4u]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

Not a particular racer, but the noise the pack makes coming out of VOS after the start, not engine noise just a kind of buzz in the air before you can hear the engines. Always made the hair on my arms stand up.

[C_roundy]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

Nothing sounds or feels like the Bear with the P-3 prop.

That sound has ruined my ability to think objectively about this question.

This quintessential statement sums up thousands of posts, on all the enthusiast forums across the decades since.

Gawd, what I wouldn't give to have been there in person, to have my muscles massaged, and bones tickled, with the apparently almost supernaturally high amplitude sub-sonics of Lyle's extraordinary BearKitty at full paddle bladed song............

[knot4u]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

This quintessential statement sums up thousands of posts, on all the enthusiast forums across the decades since.

Gawd, what I wouldn't give to have been there in person, to have my muscles massaged, and bones tickled, with the apparently almost supernaturally high amplitude sub-sonics of Lyle's extraordinary BearKitty at full paddle bladed song............

In my opinion it wasn't just the sound, Lyle was in his prime and the airplane seemed unbeatable. Maybe at some point they'll put the 3-blade back on so you can be blessed with the supernatural sensory assault you so desire.

[Guest]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

Totally agree re: Da' Bear and the P3 prop. Standing at the pylon while that beast screamed past was an incredible experience. Still hear and feel that...

Gotta say though, given the line he flew and a/c, "Hoot" in Riff Raff was an awesome sound.

Thing is...Air Biscuit works too!

We're comin' up on less than 80 days. That's all I know...

[C_roundy]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

In my opinion it wasn't just the sound, Lyle was in his prime and the airplane seemed unbeatable. Maybe at some point they'll put the 3-blade back on so you can be blessed with the supernatural sensory assault you so desire.

Agree BIG TIME, Ya' talk about glory years!

"The "Copper frost", (3 bladed) yrs. 1988-1991 certainly were Not crappy ones for team Bear; Qualifying speed records, and Championship speed records all 4 yrs. (except 1989 when Bear set the 528.3mph world record that still stands after 23 yrs) but still won the gold even though she and the team must have been a bit tired!!!"

Lyle Shelton will always be one of my hugest heroes. Any inspired, hard working, masochist, dyed in the wool big bore round recip, visionary guy coulda' done what he did; -but- nobody but Lyle did do it. The stories of the simple joy and panache that he flew his beast with are legend. Man, what an enduring legacy of success!

By all accounts, when Lyle, and his (massive paddle bladed) Bear held court, it was an event of seismic proportions. He shook the very earth itself.

I was in my mid to late 20's when I missed () those visceral, historic moments, frozen forever in time; but at least alot of you guys had the uncanny, discerning, connoisseur's sense, to do whatever it took to be there and witness something truly special for posterity!

See these links for some pics of 3 bladed Rare Bear (eternal thanks to all who dug them up for me!), and the tribute to Team Rare Bear that those pics helped my molding partner and I build:

http://aafo.com/hangartalk/showthread.php?t=7970&highlight=C_Roundy

http://aafo.com/hangartalk/showthread.php?t=8484

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-aMbJEF4zs

[mayday51]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

Miss Super Test II, or the Bud (Griffon)...


.....uh.o0O....wrong unlimiteds....

[MustangFan]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

Miss Super Test II, or the Bud (Griffon)...


.....uh.o0O....wrong unlimiteds....

Hey, the thread title didn't say unlimited air racer, eh?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAaMvLXYdn0

[MustangFan]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

Not a particular racer, but the noise the pack makes coming out of VOS after the start, not engine noise just a kind of buzz in the air before you can hear the engines. Always made the hair on my arms stand up.

Man, you nailed it. That's always been the one sound I look forward to the most at Reno. First heard it in '97 when Strega came down the VOS and around pylon 8 in the gold final; was hooked right at that moment. Can't wait for September!

[C_roundy]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

Hey, the thread title didn't say unlimited air racer, eh?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAaMvLXYdn0

Hmm, thats true. On that note, here is a video that my friend "Topmenace" shot a few years ago.

As near as I can figure, Topmenace showed up at yon aero-puerto', minding his own bid'ness, to dynamically balance the (fabulous sounding) GP-5 racer's prop, and for some reason did not foresee that the native wildlife would have their own fascinating ideas about how best to make beautifully LOUD sound.

At about 2:52 into the vid., in response to GP-5 crowing like it thought it was the cock of the walk noise maker, you'll see yer average obligatory, Packard Merlin guy, with no propeller, (or any load whatsoever ), ((much less an airplane or boat bolted to it)), start (right inside his echoing hanger), and with no ceremony, and squat for warm-up, BRUTALLY rev his hunk O' metal up and down from high rpm repeatedly. When he finally shuts down after a couple of minutes, the whole block is smoking...

I for one, would LOVE to interview this guy about his philosophy and opinions regarding world beating loudness of music, free will, performance art, and a whole slew of other related questions and personal compliments I have for him.

All kidding aside, what really struck the deepest chord in me from watching this video, is that when you listen to a Merlin rev like it was a grand prix racer with a blown clutch, you cannot help but learn in an even more visceral way than whatever you thought you understood, what a truly ferocious monster it really is...

Make sure you turn on yer sound system's A.D.I. and nitrous-oxide injection before watching this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGpxKY95U3s

[Tigercat24]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

The GP-5 does sound sweet...on take-off and on fast passes, if you close your eyes, it almost sounds like you're out at Talladega or Daytona...guess that would happen when your homebuilt Sport air racer has a small block Chevy V-8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiSS7h1OYf0

[flyingjibus]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

This quintessential statement sums up thousands of posts, on all the enthusiast forums across the decades since.

Gawd, what I wouldn't give to have been there in person, to have my muscles massaged, and bones tickled, with the apparently almost supernaturally high amplitude sub-sonics of Lyle's extraordinary BearKitty at full paddle bladed song............

It wasn't just a sound. You felt it through your feet all the way into your stomache vibrating the whole valley floor. There are videos out there that do a pretty good job of capturing the sound, but they do not translate the feel of it at all. The two combined were like a black hole sucking all other sound and feelings into it.

The last year the 3 blade was on I brought a friend who I had been trying to get to attend for 15 years. After the first time the bear came round he just looked at me, jaw dropped, with this blank stare. I winked at him and he went "Yessssssssss!" He hasn't missed a year since then.

[Leo]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

Even with the 4-blade it has a sound all it's own, a deep, powerful rumble.
When they were test flying a couple weeks ago and it was circling the area, you could hear it constantly, even on the far side of the turn miles away.

[Tigercat24]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

@Leo, speaking of current testing, what is Rare Bear's status? I saw pics from PRS of it in the Cave with all but 2 cylinders removed from the engine, and there has been back and forth conversation about problems with it.

[Leo]

Re: Best SOUNDING Unlimited Racer

I don't have any info other than what has been posted on this forum. I live 2 miles away but rarely get out there.