50 Years Of Championship Air Racing

For 50 years, the people of Reno, Nev., have been neighbors to one of the greatest aerial events since World War II. Air racing began with point-to-point challenges, cross-country trips and 'round-the-world treks, each pilot trying to beat the previous pilot's time and engulfing themselves in glory by adding their own name to the history books. By the 1920s, the races were moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and from then on were known as the Cleveland National Air Races. For almost 30 years, a series of different events were held, testing numerous areas of aerodynamics, including the first Women's Air Derby. However; after a P-51 crashed in 1949 killing three people, the races were shut down. Fate smiled upon the aviation world in 1964, when the races were reborn as the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nev.

Two very special guests at this year's races could practically be called locals. Marilyn Newton and Aaron King have been coming to the races for 50 years! Both photographers and fans, they've enjoyed every moment of spine-tingling excitement of the hundreds of aircraft that have gone around those pylons and have grieved for those pilots that didn't make it back. King said that his two favorite years were 1964, when the races came back, and 1966, when Stead Army Air Base was transferred to the city of Reno and became Reno-Stead Airport. Although a lot has changed since Cleveland and the early days of Reno, their passion will always lie with the planes.

As the morning continues, the racing picks up after heats from the Formula One, Biplane and Sports Classes start and finish. Each class has its own course around the pylons, varying in distance, the smallest being for the Formula Ones at 3.1875 miles and Biplanes at 3.1761 miles, and the longest for the Unlimiteds and Jets at 8.1034 miles. For the pilots, it's the same thought process for any distance: fly low, go fast and turn left.

By 0900, the crowds of people start to pour in through the main gate as they take to the grandstands to watch their favorite planes come by. Each section has its own unique group of people, like Section 3, that all wear orange shirts and can be seen a mile away."

Old racers, new racers and fan favorites all came out to take part of the 50th. Three classic Unlimited racers are in attendance to show off some of the heritage of the last half century. Miss Van Nuys, Ole Yeller and Race 15, P-51 Mustangs that flew and raced back in the 1970s, graced the fans with their presence, as none of these planes had been seen together since they raced. A historic photo shoot was made the night before the last race, as all three of these planes were brought out for a static shoot right before a downpour that engulfed the field started. The purple, the white and the yellow racers stood fast in the rain; their colors never bled.

Things heated up as the race grew closer to the big race at the end of the week with the mighty Unlimiteds. With only 14 planes showing up, the bronze medal was removed, with only enough planes for the silver and gold. Out of this comes a silver lining. The field is littered with T6s, and more space was needed to accommodate the number of competitors. It's a good match for the gold, but due to a mechanical problem early in the week, one of the favorites, #6 Six Cat, a former champion, was out of the race, giving Dennis Buehn and his red T6 #43 Midnight Miss III another champion, a slight opening, which he used to once again get the gold.

With the excitement drawing to a climax, it's finally time to see the main highlight of the year. Since June, the rumors had spread, "Is it the man or the machine?" Steven Hinton would be flying #5 Voodoo, while #7 Strega would be flown by Matt Jackson. Matt Jackson and team Strega were having a week of troubles with a canopy coming off and a disqualified heat earlier in the week. He'll be starting sixth from the front as the race begins. Hinton had an average speed of 487 and a top speed of 504 during Saturday's race, putting him in a good position to stay in the lead on Sunday. The suspense has built between these mighty competitors, and a field of sleepers as to who would walk away with the gold.

As the planes and crews of the nine Unlimited gold competitors do the "duck walk" to the front of the grand stands, all eyes are glued to show center. As the announcer moves away, the props begin to turn, and the last race of 2013 commenced. These once war-built aircraft took to the skies to fulfill another purpose as if they were reborn in another life. One by one, they go up and join the T-33 pace plane. Under each of our breaths we all say what everyone else is thinking, "Let them all get down safely." The planes line up, the T-33 breaks away and the race begins! Into the shoot they go, with #5 Voodoo in the lead. #86 Czech Mate is in second and #77 Rare Bear in third with #7 Strega making its way up at the end of lap one. By the end of lap three, #7 Strega has passed #86 Czech Mate and is going after #5 Voodoo. Hinton's line is as straight as an arrow throughout the whole race. In the end, #7 Strega puts up a valiant fight, but can't catch #5 Voodoo. Once again, Hinton wins the gold and ironically beats his own winning streak in #7 Strega. After the race, a voice is heard over the radio saying, "Nice race, kid," to which the reply is, "Thanks."