Fastest races in motorsports anyone?

[Chad-1stGen]

Do we have any fans of the Reno Air Races in here? I attented last weekend and had a great time. Was some really good racing on Saturday and Sunday. I suppose I'm fortunate to have missed the first part of the week with the fatalities this year.

Though Rare Bear probably isn't much of an underdog it was fun watching the plane come from behind to win the gold Sunday. Poor showing by the merlin P-51's, my favorites, this year though :(

For those of you unfarmilar with the races, it is an annual week long event of air plane races held the last 44 years in Reno Nevada in September (none held in 2001). Not many places you can see racing up close and personal with speeds of 500+ mph.

official website is here if you want to check it out http://www.airrace.org/indexJS.php

[MuscleRodz]

I am a fan being a aircraft mechanic and growing up in the industry, but unfortunately have yet to go. Always to much going on this time of the year.

Mike

[chicane67]

...I used to go every year since about 1971... but it has been a few years since my late adventure.

Yeah... it is a blast to see them diving for the pylons at those speeds. Just the sound alone... is worth the trip to me.

[WS6]

I saw the Red Bull thing over the weekend from Turkey and that was cool. Those planes weren't doing 500 though. Still amazing stuff though. I'd puke like hell personally.

[Chad-1stGen]

Surpised not more people on here are into them.

Any gear head worth their salt will get goose bumps watching the Gold unlimited class race. These are WWII era piston driven fighter planes that are modified to the EXTREME. We are talking fiting the bigest prodcution engines in them they can and reworking the engines so that some of these are deliver over 100% increase in power over the 60 years ago power levels.

Some of these engines originally produced 2K horsepower and are modified to 4k+ horsepower. A few of the planes even have 4K+ cubic inch rotoray motors with 28 cylinders and 56 spark plugs.

As mentioned already the trip is worth it just to hear the sound these bad boys make flying by you at ~500 mph only hundreds of feet away. I tried looking for good vid's on youtube but while some capture a bit of the excitement none capture the sound at all.

Here is a really short clip from last week of the 2006 unlimited race winner. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKIZxDEExm0

Another short one with a good shot of the tigercat that is twice the size of the others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1RBsqY38zM Can't recall if he raced in bronze or silver but he didn't race in the $$ race on Sunday.

I'll see if I can dig up anymore vids.

[Chad-1stGen]

Think this vid is from the Gold race Sunday with Rare Bear trying to make his move on September Fury. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feR7PmBfqZc

[Chad-1stGen]

Ok one last video for the night. Quality isn't great but this vid is of last years gold unlimmited race and gives a great perspective for just how low and how fast these guys fly! This one is a lil over 4 mins long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctTeRI06pfU

[avgasman]

It's been awhile for myself, however I have a few friends that go every year. One of them is the engine/prop specialist for Voodoo. Not a great year for them again, broke the same cam follower twice!

I work in General Aviation for a living, go to EAA's Oshkosh every so often, and generally have the time of my life at Reno, I think I'm due to go next year.