Well This was my experience
Everyone taxied to the run-up area for runway 26 at Denver's Front Range Airport and waited for the tower to release us one at a time in fastest to slowest order. An EAA Chapter was flying Young Eagles at the same time at the same airport so you can imagine there were some operational conflict issues. We waited with engines running for considerable time while Kit Foxes and Cessnas operated in their normal mode. Fortunately the morning was cool and other than some anxiety no harm was done.
Some had not raced before so no race speed history existed but the organizers did a good job of sequencing us for the start and minimized in-race passing. A Sidewinder Race #86 powered by an O-320 was inserted before me in the lineup during the morning briefing. I did not know Dave Besemeier or his plane so I was not sure that was a good launch order - I needn't have worried, he was very fast.
We were to taxi to the hold line at runway 26 in the assigned order and individually call the tower for takeoff clearance just as with any other independent flight. When #86 taxied behind his assigned plane I taxied out behind him in Race #71. When I was cleared for takeoff he was just rotating. The tower was trying to get us out of the mix as best they could so the takeoff clearance intervals were 20-30 seconds. We all had to complete a left downwind departure and proceed to the start line which was the overpass crossing I-70 south of the town of Bennett. We were asked to maintain our assigned order across the start line and not crowd the plane ahead and to make sure our start times were recorded properly. I flew wide outside of #86 and lined up on I-70 when he made his one mile call to start we were well spaced and both got clean starts.
Mike Thompson in his RV-6, #26, tookoff after me and I heard him call his approach to the start line shortly after me. John Huft #18 and Alan Carroll #12 in their fast RV-8s were ahead of us as were Duncan Southerland in his SX-300 #74 and Ray Edmiston in his F1 Rocket #57. Gary Haley, in his very sharp looking RV-7 #799, launched after Mike Thompson.
We were given instructions before the race to make the turns outside the south ramp at Limon, Colorado's airport at 6,200 ft. and south of the center of the runway at Colorado Springs-East at 7,000 ft. then finish back at the overpass south of Bennett at a safe altitude under the Denver International Class B floor (8,000 ft at that point).
I was at full power, 2720 RPM and 6,500 ft crossing the start line. I saw #86 above and ahead and was gaining on him. I was relying on the wind forecast I got before leaving home that said we should have a northeast wind of about 10 MPH regardless of altitude so I stayed low to avoid any headwind and passed under the Sidewinder enroute to Limon. We had to make 5 mile and 1 mile approach calls to turn 1 and Race 86 and Race 71 made the calls one right after another so we were right there together! After the turn I eased up to 7,000 ft to get a little ground clearance and pick up any of that forecast tail wind that existed. The shallow climb trimmed some speed but after leveling off the there was a little benefit it seemed. By the time we reached Colorado Springs, #71 was some seconds ahead of #86 and #26 on the turn 2 calls and it was time to start a shallow descent to 6,500 for the dash to the finish. At that altitude some deviation was required for a ridge about half way back but after that it was a straight shot to the finish.
There wasn't a lot of finesse with the power settings - just go as fast as possible, wide open throttle, max RPM and mixture for about 1300 F on the hottest cylinder.
Then we had the recovery back at FTG where the Young Eagle event was still going on. That got a little interesting but it all worked out fine.
Bob Axsom
