RV Racing.... A new Racers Views

[C-FAH Q]

We all Love our RV's,

no matter what configuration they are. They are fun to fly, great traveling machines and always give me a renewed sense of life after a flight.
I had my first flight in January 2009 and have about 60 hrs on the airframe. I have never had a long cross country flight and when the SARL(sport air racing league) started up a few years ago, it was an event that got my attention. My pals Tom Martin and Wayne Hadath always had great stories of the races, and I longed to participate.
Well, the plane is finished, hours flown off, most of the gremlins dealt with, time available to get away from work, and a race in November in Taylor Texas. Hmmmm, things seem to be aligning well !! Now the weather gods just have to be nice !! Thankfully, they were.....kinda.
Like I mentioned, I have never been on a long cross country flight before, so there were lots of things going through my mind, what maps, controll zones, US Customs, Canada Customs, flight plans, flight routes, weather, weather,weather,the race, the plane performance, my abilities, lots of things !! Did I mention the weather? Anyway, I'm going to go, and time to sort this out one thing at a time!
The weather was a little troublesome, we left a day early, crossed the border in Sandusky Ohio and made it as far as Richmond Indianna KRID, before the weather stopped us.
Overnight stop in Richmond, the front passed through the nite(planned that !!) and airborne at 7am wednesday. 5 hours later, and a fuel stop, Taylor Texas was under our feet. 25 to 30 knot headwinds the whole trip down !! we were 9.1 hrs down, 6.8 hours back, about 1100 nm each way. We arrived Thursday, forecast for Friday was heavy rain, and they were right.
Skip ahead to race day.........
I was well prepared for the race before I left Southern Ontario. I had the race route entered into my gps, I had flown the course thanks to Google Earth and I had practiced the type of turn i was comfortable with for the race. I flew the plane at full power to see how it would react, and how different the controls would feel. The controls were abit heavier, but still lighter than the cherokee I used to own. I also did turns at full power to see what it was like. I admit, I was nervous before this was done. Was my engine going to make it? was my tail gonna depart? would my wing buckle? everyone said no, but there was always that little voice asking the questions.
All of my testing reassured me that this was a solid plane and flying it at full race settings was a non event. The extra air going through the oil cooler actually made it run cooler than what it does at 23 square. Full rich, balls to the wall......purring like a kitten. ya gotta love it !!!
So, here it is, time has come, plane is fueled with amount and reserves I am comfortable with(lots extra for me). The ramp is buzzing, pilots talking, trying to get race ready, taking extra stuff out of the plane for weight savings, photographers snapping away. Have to get everything completed before the race briefing. I am feeling anxious, nervous, excited......dang.....I gotta pee !!!!
All the pilots and race staff are throughly briefed on race course and rules(which are also provided ahead of time) and given the race order starting with the slowest entry. This is so you know who you are to follow amd who is following you should there be any passing on the course. The briefing concludes and all the pilots go to thier planes and start up and taxi out in the order given earlier. I am still feeling the way i was earlier but maybe a little more calm and focused. Will I get lost? hopefully not !!
My start time has arrived, the flagman drops the flag and off I go, headed for the start line 3 miles away for this race. I am following an RV6 and he is clearly in view a couple miles ahead. This is great, I wont get lost as long as I see him, and as long as he dosnt get lost !! Trust your gps ! Across the start line, balls to the wall, check engine moniter.....everything is perfect, oil is 195, cylinders are good temp,egt is 1325, fuel pressure good.....perfect, continue on racing. Frequent checks of the engine reveal it is quite happy running at 100 percent power, and probably blowing some carbon out too.
Turn 1 is now approaching, will I get the turn right? yes, no trouble, a complete non issue. I do notice that I am gaining on the plane in front of me, but this is a slow event as we are very near the same speeds. All passing is done to the right side of the forward aircraft, and radio calls of position are made. He is about a mile ahead, both in staright level flight heading to turn 2 some 28 miles away. I suddenly remember and say to myself "****, I forgot to open my ram air after take off", I open my ram air door and the plane gains another 1 inch of manifold pressure and I notice an instant increase in speed. I will be passing the plane ahead.......yea baby !!
Once the pass was complete, I thought, hmmm, there goes my tour guide, I am on my own know. The rockets that launched ahead of us are long gone and outta sight. Time to trust my gps, and I also had a current map of the area with the route on it beside me. No problem, not gonna get lost.
On my way to turn 2, pass completed, I find my self in a relaxed state?? What happened to all the nerves? I am flying the airplane at full power, gps has me on track, engine is running like a top, air is smooth, just me and the plane...... that feels so good, oh man, does that feel good. look down at groundspeed....196 kts....yea baby !!!!
The rest of the race is much the same as leg 2, I have settled down in a happy spot in my plane, engine is great and happy running full, navigation is a non issue, but most important, I am comfortable with racing now. I cross the finish line and head back to Taylor Airport to land. After the race everyone is one the ground recalling thier adventure over the past 45 minutes. Every comment is a memorable one. I find myself with adrenaline pumping and am very excited, not the calm that I felt during the race.

To best sum up the race itself, It was not the workload I had imagined. It was simple and at no time did I feel overloaded with tasks, it was completely safe and the most fun I have ever had in a plane(in the air that is). Why there are not 50 RV's out to every race is beyond me. You have to try it, if only just once, you owe it to yourself and your wonderfull flying machine to experiance this. Mike Thompson operates a first class event, and to all who participate and help with these.....THANK YOU. My life has become more fufilled because of it. I had a blast.
To all the rv'ers out here.....GET YOU'RE TAIL(#) TO A SARL RACE NEXT YEAR. even if your not racing, it is a wonderfull event and you will enjoy the people and surroundings and get a chance to exersise the rv.

http://www.sportairrace.org/

[Bob Axsom]

We each come into this from different perspectives and it is very interesting to see you candid report of your experience after your first race. As we go on it is sometimes hard to appreciate the race experience as we did the first time.

Bob Axsom

[Tom Martin]

What Gary did not mention was that his average speed was 186 knots, or 214 mph. That is a pretty good time for a brand new participant!

[rvmills]

Originally Posted by Tom Martin

What Gary did not mention was that his average speed was 186 knots, or 214 mph. That is a pretty good time for a brand new participant!

Here, here!

Gary, you did a great job, and after hearing that it was all part of your first epic cross-country (and to the Republic of Texas ta boot! ), I'm even more impressed!

And OBTW, these ever-the-humble-gentlemen from the great white north simply ROCK when it comes to racing! Mike Thompson doesn't need to feel bad about getting passed by a guy that built near the Tom Martin/Wayne Hadath Speed Skunkworks!

Nice write-up Gary, and I thought I'd add a few observations to add to the fun-factor here:

Felt the same as you going into the race (my second)...GPS programmed, map ready, notes set, practice complete...man, just don't hose up the turns, and run as fast as you can!

OK, how hard can it be...they'll probably start me behind all the Rockets, as this is the fastest group of Rockets on the planet...wait, Mark Frederick is starting behind me...yikes! His cooling issue is behind him and he'll be opening it up...man, I don't wanna get passed!

Taxi out in a big line up of REALLY cool planes. There goes Tom, then Greg blasts off with smoke on, and the runway is obliterated for a moment. "Hey, that's cheatin!". But then its just Cowboy Up time, its not a big deal, and probably looked way cool! And besides, it'll mess Wayne up more than me, and I'm chasin' Wayne! You go Greg! (and it really was no big deal, just fun to write about!)

OK, off we go, left 270 overhead the airport, then look for the start. There goes Greg, then Wayne diving into the start...man that looks cool! Here goes the start run, much like a strafing run in the old fighters...yee haw...zorch down Mark's grass runway, past the start timers and photographers (and yes I want copies of the pics!), then slight right and head for turn 1. Run low, run fast...another yee haw!

Hearing the radio calls of the other racers, and seeing folks ahead making their turns. Be smooth in the turns...man there's Mark behind me, just going into turn 1 as I roll out of it...man I don't want to get passed! His calls may be getting a little closer to mine, but seems like he's not too much closer in subsequent turns...but he is there...chipping away slowly...and I know he wants to pass me...I would!!

Then I hear Mike taunting you a bit Gary (in a friendly Texas way) as you passed him, and I knew you were having a good race in that new -7. But I still had to hold off Mark! And oh, by the way, you weren't the only one to forget your Ram Air. The start was so fun, I didn't realize mine was still closed till turn 2. Maybe I'd have broken 240 MPH with it out the whole way (239.98 was my average).

Hit turn 5 (the radome), and the GPS dumped...yikes again! No biggie, right, it's only the longest leg of the race, with more time to get off course or get lost!! Geez, nice timing!! OK, roll back to my gouge heading (which I overshot while looking at the GPS go blank for just a second), then dive a little to regain some speed, then sort it out. Couple button pushes and my magenta line of truth and knowledge was back, and I was right on it. Mark later said his dumped there too, as did all the other Garmin GPSs that we know of (guess we found how low we could go 'round the radome! ). Mark also said he wondered why I made the sudden course correction, but also said he was following me because of the GPS dump (momentary blind leading the blind!)

Hit the last turn and dive for the finish, knowing Mark was right on me. Then Mark, in his best Texas Gentleman voice says, "I just can't catch ya Bob", and my day was made, and my RV Grin was a mile wide!

Then we got to join up for a great Texas BBQ! Could it get any better!?!?

Yep, more fun than should be allowed, and what a great group of pilots and friends. As Gary said, git yer tail # out there! It really is well run, but low key and friendly. A fly-in BBQ, with the chance to run low (if ya want) and fast (as ya can!).

Hope to see more of you out there, and Gary, Tom and Wayne...Aug 28th is on the calendar!!

Cheers,
Bob

[C-FAH Q]

thats right Bob, August 28 in St.thomas Ontario, CYQS. Tom Martin is hosting it, and is a short flight from anywhere around the great lakes. Hopefully get a couple of handfulls of rv's. It really was a great time had by all and I am looking forward to it.

[Wayne Hadath]

Man! Gary and Bob, nice write ups! I was reliving the whole thing! Thanks!
My garmin 196 did not quit when I went round the radar dome. I quess I went around too fast for it to catch me!
I asked on another thread if any body had any ideas why the RV crowd participation is so low in recreational racing. I would hope if there were questions or concerns about recreational racing that RVers would post these so discussion could be had.
Wayne
F1 Rocket 425 hrs
RV 10 almost ready

[rvmills]

Originally Posted by C-FAH Q

snip...a short flight from anywhere around the great lakes...snip

Well I think my lake (Tahoe) is pretty great...but its still 1743 nm from St. Thomas!

I think I might have to race the Air Venture Cup, go to OSH, then pre-stage for the Great Canadian Air Rally. You guys have a corner of a hangar I can hide her in for a few weeks pre-race?

Sure hope I can pull it off, as it would be great, great fun!

Cheers,
Bob

[rvmills]

Originally Posted by Wayne Hadath

My garmin 196 did not quit when I went round the radar dome. I quess I went around too fast for it to catch me!

Either that, or the vacuum tube technology in the 196 was immune!
(Pretty big talk from a high tech 396 user, eh! And one that couldn't catch ya! )

Cheers,
Bob

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by Wayne Hadath

...I asked on another thread if any body had any ideas why the RV crowd participation is so low in recreational racing. I would hope if there were questions or concerns about recreational racing that RVers would post these so discussion could be had.
Wayne
F1 Rocket 425 hrs
RV 10 almost ready

Because you don't have an O-290 class.

[AX-O]

I can't wait to get into this