Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/90184
magnified. Vito elected to change the engine, which if done overnight would allow him to compete in Thurs- day's heat race, keeping his hopes for a good starting position in Gold alive. (Missing the heat race would put him at the back of the pack, a significant handicap in a standing-start race.) "I think we should change this engine tomorrow [Thurs- day]," he said. "Even if we could do it tonight, we would be tired, maybe make a mistake; and I would be tired in the race on Thursday. We are for sure in the Gold, even without Thursday's heat race." So Scarlet Screamer would start from the back with an unhurried engine change and fresh pilot. Vito took second place in Gold, passing everyone but the uncatchable Steve Senegal in the purpose-built Endeavor. Reno teaches that improvement comes a little at a time. The Reno experience provides the raw material for all of us. What we can improve on our homebuilts will come from our own curiosity, experience, and dedication… and some hints from these Reno racers. » For more information about the Reno National Championship Air Races, visit www.AirRace.org. The offi cial dates for Reno 2013 are September 11 to 15. Show up on the 8th and get in on the early action! Tim Kern has attended every Reno race week since 2002. His accounts of Reno events, personalities, and technology have been published in various EAA publications, as well as other publications in the United States, Africa, and Europe. Race an RV? Sure—Bob Mills ran his RV-6, one of four RVs entered in 2012. Former Formula One champ and jet racer T om Richard added a safety offi cer to his team and ran Precious Metal faster than ever; still, he lost a gear door and did not fi nish in the Gold. What's All This "Gold," "Silver," and "Bronze" Racing About? In each class at Reno (T-6, Formula One, Biplane, Sport, Jet, and Unlimited), racers are grouped by qualifying times and heat race fi nishes, so that by the weekend, when prizes are awarded, the fastest racers in any class all race against each other in the Gold Race. Bronze Races are run fi rst; if the winner of the Bronze elects to forfeit his place and prize, he may move up to the Silver Race, if there is room in the fi eld. Likewise, the Silver winner may elect to take all his chances in Gold—again, space permitting. How lucky do you feel? Vito Wyprächtiger (yellow shirt) used his head and grabbed second place in Gold. Photography by Tim Kern EAA EXPERIMENTER 29