CLASSIC 47

2010-07-03T19:29:00.001-05:00

Yay! I finally had some thinking time and got my Zaon PCAS working again. Had to reverse polarity on the cable and replace a fuse. Life is good. --TAC

All good things must come to an end!

2010-06-29T23:08:00.006-05:00

WELCOME HOME LADIES!

Well, this will be the last of the regularly scheduled updates for the Classic 47 blog. We may post some final pictures when we get to clean up the plane and strip the race numbers. Here is a shot of Bev in Ohio before the final push home in "Race Mode". And of course the sunset at KCPS as Classic 47 is getting close to good ol' Missouri.

Congratulations are in order for a tremendous performance by the crew. It was really exciting to get a glimpse of the Air Race Classic and all the work and preparation that goes into turning in a competitive effort.

The team is not only grateful for our wonderful sponsors and fans, but honestly, the pilots really worked well together and got into the spirit of the competition which made it even more fun. The whole experience has been as wonderful as it could have possibly been for the team and it showed. We are very proud of Classic 47 and thrilled the crew are home and safe. Enjoy some rest ladies ... only 365 days until next year's race!

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-29T20:51:00.002-05:00

We landed in CPS and Bev dropped me off with a very handsome ground crew. Bill and Diana had a icy diet coke and chicken wings. Bev has a short hop to Cape. Have a safe flight home partner!--TAC

Air n Space and Banquet 6/27

2010-06-29T18:00:00.001-05:00

Here is a couple of shots when Bev and Teresa ventured down to the Air and Space museum in Washington D.C. Team #1 went with the ladies to the city to spend the morning before the ending banquet. Bev poses in front of the banquet sign before the ladies went inside and won 3 leg prizes. The prize money and charms were featured a couple of days ago on a separate post, so those are not represented here.

Bev was scheduled to get back from Chicago by Noon today. The team should have started back towards Missouri by around 14:00H Eastern. We'll keep you posted on 6/30 regarding their progress.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-29T17:02:00.001-05:00

We are in Clinton OH. Good thing we didn't try to land at KILN. They say they don't like GA and can charge $5K.

I just stopped Bev from using the mens" room. The ladies' is much nicer.

We're trying to decide our next move. --TAC

2010-06-29T13:46:00.001-05:00

We are prepparing to launch from FDK at about 3pm ET. Its a 2.5 hour flight to Clinton OH (KI66). We chgd airports due to construction at KILN. We expect it to be bumpy. --TAC

2010-06-29T11:44:00.001-05:00

Bev and I made it back to Frederick. We're @ a Quiznos. I got a chicken sammy and salad for $5. Yummy. Now to gas and return the rental. Then we need to get to the airport and flight plan. We think our first leg will be to KILN near Cincinnati. We'll see how we feel and decide if we'll fly on in.--TAC

More pix from 6/26

2010-06-29T11:30:00.001-05:00

Here are some banquet shots from the 26th of June. The ladies got to meet some of the honored WASPS and see their medals up close. It was a fun day and final chance to relax before the official end to the race on the 27th. Those photos will be posted around 18:00H Central today.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-29T10:16:00.001-05:00

Worked out a little this morning and just relaxed. Now, I'm at the BWI cell phone lot expecting a ring from Bev any minute. She is returning from her visit with her family in Chicago and her Mom's Birthday celebration. Soon we'll be on the road back to Frederick and on our way home. Yay!--TAC

June 26 Pictures

2010-06-29T01:37:00.010-05:00

Here are some late uploaded pictures that the team took while wandering around Gettysburg. I will post more pictures throughout the day on Tuesday the 29th. Enjoy!

*BLOGMASTER*

6/28 Teresa dinner date

2010-06-28T18:50:00.002-05:00

Had a lovely dinner with Charmane Truesdell (Karan Hofmann's Mom). We had delicious crab cakes at Timbuktu, and she was such a delight!--TAC

2010-06-28T09:37:00.002-05:00

Best of all, we met our mission by exposing 100's of pilots and FBOs to the noble cause of Wings of Hope. We met people who want to help through volunteering. We also planted the seeds with many to consider donating their aircraft to WOH once they are done flying them. It is our hope that the impact of this flight continues for years to come. May many disadvantaged peoples' lives be touched with the WOH gift. --TAC

2010-06-28T09:33:00.002-05:00

Well, I found a hotspot at a local McDonalds near Baltimore and am just relaxing reading everyone's blogs from the race. I also reserved a nice little room at a local Microtel. Bev and I had a good experience at the one near Parkersburg.

I got a call from Ms. Truesdell (Karan's Mom) and we made plans to meet for dinner for crab cakes tonight. Yum.

I must say this has been quite an adventure! We flew without mistakes so we showed well in the standings as 16th. I continue to learn and I have dozens more ideas how to get even more performance out of that sweet "Meme" (Bev's N267ME C-182). So if I ever race again, who knows?

For those loyal readers, thank you for caring and watching our exploits. I know some of my posts have been cryptic, but I tried to be prompt. And between all the duties of ground crew & bio functions I was proud to give you blow by blow bits of our adventure as they happened. --TAC

2010-06-28T08:06:00.002-05:00

Happy 85th birthday celebration to Bev's mom, Bernice Gliege! We had indeed an amazing race. We feel extremely blessed to have been in the top 4 on 3 of the 8 legs among so many very talented women. Hopefully we have raised some awareness and funds for Wings of Hope. Thanks to all who made this possible. I had the best teammate and a wonderful journey.---BJC

2010-06-28T07:28:00.002-05:00

Checked out of the hotel in Frederick. Good thing, too! We rammed the elevator on the 5th floor with the baggage cart trying to stop it from closing and ended up breaking the elevator!

The drive to BWI wasn't too bad. I dropped Bev off at the airport so she can catch her flight out to Chicago to celebrate her Mom's birthday. I'll pick her up tomorrow.

I'm out cruising around scoping out the Baltimore area. --TAC

CONGRATS TEAM !!

2010-06-27T22:08:00.003-05:00

Well congratulations are in order for Bev and Teresa. They were comsistently competitive throughout the race and place 16th overall out of 51 teams. The team brought home 3 leg prizes during the Sunday night banquet for a total of $90.

The prize money will happily help Wings of Hope continue their unending misson to provide sustainable self-sufficiency for the world's poorest of the poor. The charms will remain with the ladies as a tangible memory of their superb team effort.

Thanks to all for the fantastic support and generous donations of time, effort, maintenance, and CASH to literally help keep Classic 47 in the air. The ladies have taken special pride in their goal to educate the public and other racers about Wings of Hope and its worldwide mission.

We will continue to update daily until Classic 47 is back in Missouri and keep you informed of any pending news or pictures as they are uploaded by the team.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-27T20:30:00.002-05:00

And the winner is....
In winning order...

#11
#24
#55
#4
#19
#49
#17
#48
#30
#58

But check this out...
We, Classic #47, won 3 leg prizes:
Leg #1 4th place
Leg #3 2nd place
Leg #6 3rd place
All the results will be posted tonight on the ARC website.
--TAC

2010-06-27T16:33:00.002-05:00

Fun at DC. National Air and Space Museum. Made it back in time to freshen up for banquet.

We're still hoping for a leg prize. My exacta prediction is kelly#40 first and terry #11 second with #47 winning a leg prize for leg #6!--TAC

More Media Coverage

2010-06-27T15:55:00.001-05:00

Ok folks, you have been patient for a day or so as we wait for more pictures from the ladies. So I am going to reward you with a couple of fun media bits specific to Classic 47, and one general media portal for lots of past and present news on the Air Race Classic. Enjoy and check back later tonight to see if pix have arrived!

*BLOGMASTER*

Here is the 5 minute radio interview with Teresa at a local St. Louis radio station, KTRS 550. This took place about 7:30 in the morning a week before the race. The team had not yet determined the Roy Clark Tri Pacer could not be ready in time for the race.

Here is an AP syndicated piece out of Fort Meyers, Florida as Teresa sets up the cockpit on the first day of the race.

Now here is actually a rather interesting compendium of various websites and pages that contain details of the Air Race Classic in general. This is a great resource if you want to see what other teams are doing both currently and in the past.

2010-06-27T12:22:00.002-05:00

Drove 4 of us to Wash DC we are going to the air and space museum. --TAC

2010-06-27T07:25:00.002-05:00

Bev had to attend the morning first time racer briefing at 8, so I worked out in the gym. Met the nice mother of #46/58 Kristin McTea, and the time flew by on the tread mill as we chatted. The really good news is that I think I lost 2 pounds. Their scale says I'm at 138! I am the biggest Looser!

I've got to get ready for the all racer debrief at 9. Cheers--TAC

2010-06-26T22:05:00.002-05:00

We watched the premier of "Through the Clouds", which is a documentary on the first all women's air race. Fascinating. During the reception afterwards, during our chit-chats, it sounded like our leg that scored 20 might be pretty good. Who knows? Could we be in the running for a leg prize? We should find out tomorrow. --TAC

2010-06-26T15:18:00.002-05:00

Got our score and it was slightly higher than my recorded times. We didn't get any penalties. Yay! However, we didn't get in the top ten impounded planes.

We got a rental car and drove to Gettysburg. Interesting battlefield and history. --TAC

AOPA facility tour 6/25/10

2010-06-26T14:00:00.000-05:00

So during the day, the crew wanted to take a tour of AOPA. They have a beautiful building off the field at Frederick. AOPA had a couple of racers on Team 29 in the race. All the local staff signed a picture of their team. Also the position of their team was being tracked using the SPOT GPS navigation system. Teresa wanted to check-out the President's office along with his view of the field. Fortunately he was away at the time of the tour. More pixtures later this evening.

*BLOGMASTER*

YAY! Frederick Terminus 6/25/10

2010-06-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

Well once the ladies touched down, the fun finally began. The terminus was filled with activies including a BBQ tent and a massage to get the knots out after 2100 miles of bumpy flying. Bev and Teresa were briefly interviewed by a radio station and of course Wings of Hope was the topic of discussion. It is hard to not get noticed in those WOH pink jumpsuits but the locals loved it. Finally, what better way to relax from a long day of flying than for the ladies to each take a half hour helocopter lesson???? They both were given instruction on basic hovering, forward, side to side, auto-gyro work and of course landing. More at around Noon 6/26/10 showing the crew's tour of AOPA in Frederick.

*BLOGMASTER*

Terminus unloading, volunteers, Photog!

2010-06-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

Once the team was on the ground there was tons to do. A local photographer would come and talk to all of the racers. Each of the planes was assigned a spot along the grass and you can see the tiny timing hut out along the side of the runway. Classic 29 got in later and surprise - once inside the FBO, our old Ninety Nine friend Barb Wilper was helping out like always. What an experience. More pix coming soon.

*BLOGMASTER*

WV leg to Frederick - End in Sight

2010-06-26T05:00:00.001-05:00

Here is a recap of the 6/25/10 9AM Eastern airport gathering in West Virginia. All the racers that stayed over greeted each other before the final push. There was a little tri pacer there to remind us of Roy Clark's plane that sadly could not make the long haul. The trip along the way did not have as much tailwind to Frederick but navigating lower was better today with more visibility than the previous night. Crew saw a powerplant along the way and turned for final at just before 11:00AM Eastern. Once they landed they were greeted by a line guy to guide them in to their grass parking space. The ladies were excited and took some snaps of themselves in their pink Wings of Hope jumpsuits. More pix soon.

*BLOGMASTER*

On the way to West Virginia More 6/24

2010-06-25T23:00:00.000-05:00

Here a few shots of the scenery on the way to West Virginia. It was very pretty along the route. The people were great but the crew stayed on the other side of the Ohio river in Ohio. The last shot is the best as they used their room to dry out their duds. By the way this hotel was ultra modern. When you got in the room, you put your key card on a plate on the wall, and the lights turn on. When you leave the room and take your card, the lights go off. Very NEAT! More pix from the last day, starting around 6AM central 6/26/10.

*BLOGMASTER*

6/24 Late pictures

2010-06-25T22:04:00.006-05:00

Here are a couple of the crew and plane from the West Virginia Leg. Upon inspection the fiber optic that sends a visual confirmation of the red navigation lights was missing. Turns out when Bev and Teresa shook the plane, they could hear the rattle of the little lens. Compare the green nav light for reference. More pictures from this leg around 23:00H Central.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-25T19:28:00.002-05:00

The ARC had a nice BBQ meltdown party at the field. Then we saw all these 2-seater helicopters at this school. So Bev and I took half hour helicopter lessons for only $99 each! I actually flew it over the water tower west of the field and followed the fwy to the ridge. Then we hovered high and I turned it around and few it back to the airport. Neal, who owns the flight school, was an exceptional teacher and made it easy to learn. What a blast! --TAC

2010-06-25T15:22:00.002-05:00

Took a tour of the AOPA HQ and got to visit the President's office. He was out but he has a nice view of the field. Interesting tour. --TAC

AUDIO: final fly-by & Classic 47 Landing

2010-06-25T15:00:00.000-05:00

Well here is a lot of fun recorded by Dan Russell off of ATC.net. The audio file link is here and is 2 minutes long. For the first 50 seconds of the recording, you will hear race team #24 report into the tower. They will use the prescribed fly-by procedures required by all the participants of the Air Race Classic. However note, that this is a busy regional airport which is a very active suburb of Washington D.C. airspace, so there are lots of planes wanting clearance to take-off, helicopters in the pattern, and the air race crews needing a bit more room to do high-speed and low altitude tower fly-bys.

For THIS race, the FAA has assigned our crew the temporary designator (typically known as an N #) of "CLASSIC RACER 47". The crew reports in at 10 miles out at around 54 seconds into the recording. Listen carefully as Classic 47 starts their fast pass, when Teresa calls out for another plane on the ground to 'HOLD SHORT'. Apparently someone inadvertently was beginning to roll-out onto the active runway as Classic 47 was about to pass just 300 feet above at close to 170 miles per hour. There was never any danger, however this shows the potential for incursions and problems that face the racers on every leg. It is a tough business. The final transmission, you will hear Bev call as she turns off the active at marker 'Kilo'.

Thanks again to Dan and Mary Russell for this recording. The crew is very humbled to have the support of such great friends, fans, and of course, Wings of Hope and the rest of our sponsors. We'll post more updates and photos throughout the day as they come in. However the terminus activities are VERY BUSY for the next few hours, so likely photos will be in the later evening. We will continue to update the blog all weekend with any details and stats as they come in.

*BLOGMASTER*

THANK YOU SPONSORS!!!

2010-06-25T11:59:00.004-05:00

Obviously it goes without saying, our sponsors help make this race possible. Race teams chew up fuel and without Wings of Hope to help cover the thirsty Cessna's bar tab, the crew (and their families) would have to be scrubbing dishes at each leg of the race just to stay even.

With that said however, sometimes we neglect to mention some of the other oganizations that have the race not only possible but SAFE and fun too.

Without AOPA and their last minute insurance heroics, there is no way most race teams could substitute a plane with less than 48 hours before the reporting deadline. Thank you all for your incredible support and faith that our team would carry-on safely and protected - just in case.

And who can forget Jason and the crew over at Ozark Aircraft Maintenance LLC, in Cameron, Missouri. Not only did they turn our maintenance issues faster than a flapjack, but they are the nicest most honest mechanics you'll ever meet. We are posting their company patch not because we have to, but because THEY EARNED IT!! We will never forget their kindness and sincere effort to get Classic 47 back in the air fast and safely race-ready! Thanks guys. - More updates to follow ...

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-25T10:37:00.002-05:00

Finished! Yay! We are in Frederick. It was good we waited. Lots of clouds and challenging visibility over mountains but we did great. Couldn't believe the knuckle-headed guys taking off while we're doing a flyby! But we managed. Happy to be safe in Maryland and not on the nightly news for busting ADIZ airspace!--TAC

BREAKING NEWS - Classic 47 does final fly-by

2010-06-25T10:07:00.001-05:00

11:06H EASTERN - Bev and Teresa just completed their final fly-by of the 2010 race and are in pattern setting up to land in a one mile final. More news once they are on the ground. The crew appears safe and in good spirits. GOOD JOB LADIES!

*BLOGMASTER*

Crew Prepares for final leg

2010-06-25T08:33:00.004-05:00

Well since this is the final leg, it is appropriate that we show a little too! No, it's not like Teresa to lay down on the job and let Bev do all the work but that is what this attached picture implies. The remaining two shots are on 6/25/10 the last day of the race and the ladies are dressed with Wings of Hope in mind.

It appears to be fairly calm weather in the East today. Although that makes for the safest flying, the team has been particularly successful skimming along between layers to pick-up favorable tailwinds and speed. That makes for some turbulent and bumpy flying but kind of like a bucking bronco - FUN TOO!

So unless, the crew can hold out in hopes of a leading edge of a pop-up disturbance, they will likely head on in to the big finish sometime before Noon Eastern. If you check the Air Race Classic website or THIS LINK, they have a feed into the Tower Operations frequency there in Frederick, Maryland. You can listen to the various pilots as they talk to the tower and set-up for their final fly-bys and prepare to land. So check in for updates all day from the crew. Pictures will likely come in later tonight. Wish 'em a safe flight for the final leg. Congratulations are soon to be in order!

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-25T05:58:00.002-05:00

We're awake! Had a very nice rest, showered, and we are fresh for our final leg looking sharp in our pink WOH jump suits.

The WX is looking clear. We may not have much of a tailwind on this final leg but we're going to look good when we get there! Ha!

Yesterday was nice because we actually ate 2 meals! We're going to have a nice breakfast and the volunteer driver should be here at 8am ET to take us to the airport. --TAC

2010-06-24T21:32:00.002-05:00

What a fantastic trip this has been. Beautiful scenery, wonderful team mate, amazing pilots, and generous greeters at every stop! A special thanks to our husbands, family members, Wings of Hope helpers, Dotty, and Dan & Mary Russell for all their assistance in making this happen.--BJC

Hot Footin' it at altitude

2010-06-24T20:22:00.006-05:00

These are shots from the Carbondale to Indiana leg. The team put some serious numbers up as they caught a crazy fast tailwind. They made it in before the weather turned foul as you know. So along the way they caught a picture of another racer below, along with some photographic evidence of their NEED for SPEED. The 496 shows 160 knots of ground speed and at one point, the stack avionics recorded and AMAZING 181 knots. That is better than 200 miles per hour in a plane that books at around 160miles per hour top speed. Thank goodness the wind was with them or it would have been a far different story. Yes I know the Oreo shot was blurry but it explains why Bev and Teresa were getting giddy in mid flight! The team is holding for the night with the plane in Parkersburg and the crew sleeping in Ohio. Parting is such sweet sorrow - until Friday morning, then it is BACK TO WORK. Let's cheer Classic 47 on to the end tomorrow. Exciting!

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-24T18:25:00.002-05:00

During our preflight Bev discovered the left wing tip light bar was lost. We believe it's inside the wing. I guess flying fast is a little rough on old "Meme" (our c-182).

The last run was great with some turbulence, but the visibility was wonderful & other planes were not a factor. After one rough bump we lost the screw out of the visor slider on Bev's side. We found the screw and spring but not the nylon washer. We put it back together.

We are staying @ the new Microtel Inn in Marietta, OH, which is just across the river from Parkersburg, WV. We're going to take a walk by the river.

We put a load of laundry in so we can be fresh in our pink flight suits for the big finish tomorrow. Marietta was the first Ohio town established sometime before the civil war.

We expect fog in the morning so we may not get off until 9am, but that means more spectators at the finish line! We are doing great!
--TAC

2010-06-24T16:14:00.002-05:00

We made it to Parkersburg and I flew both timing lines. Whoo hoo! I'm still shaking with the adrenaline! Bev is an awesome teacher!--TAC

2010-06-24T13:16:00.002-05:00

We're starting to get ready to go, but we're letting people get ahead of us so we won't be on top of each other. The are several Bonanzas in our group who will be faster. Our TCAS is still inop so I'll be talking a lot more on the radios to help stay clear of the other traffic. May have to stop in PKB to chk WX at Frederick. --TAC

Pix from Hot Springs, AR to Cameron, MO

2010-06-24T12:39:00.009-05:00

Here is the sunrise out of Hot Springs along with the typical oil check before each flight. The crew had a fairly fast flight at 2 hours and 7 minutes to Cameron, Missouri. As noted in earlier posts, they had to use their taxi light for the timed fly-by since the landing light was not working.

Once on the ground, Bev and Teresa were treated to a welcoming party from the local folks. It was wonderful. They even had massages along with non-alcoholic refreshments and the nicest line crew ever. Jason and company fixed up the TCAS cable and then scrounged up a landing light from a Bonanza to get the crew back in the air in record time. Check back for some in-flight photos after 3pm central.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-24T11:17:00.002-05:00

A bunch of us went to Olive Garden for lunch. We all had soup and salad. We'll check weather when we get back and expect to launch at 2pm if the forecast confirms the thunderstorms are past PKB. --TAC

HOLDING IN INDIANA FOR WX

2010-06-24T10:34:00.007-05:00

Hello:

Just received a batch of pix from the last day's travel. I will process those and have them up in the early afternoon. I know these shots will be out of sequence, but given the team's report of a low ceiling this morning, I thought it would be interesting to see what they are dealing with currently.

So here are the arrival log which all the racers sign at each leg when they stay over night. In the morning you can see Classic 47 getting ready but still waiting on the weather. The FBO put out a nice banner, and the waiting area starts to become busy as many teams hold for weather with intention of trying to finish the last two legs in one flight. More later - thanks for your patience!!

*BLOGMASTER*

Going for it? PREDICTION

2010-06-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ok folks, like everyday we have to give you a guesstimate of what the pilots thinking are for the remaining two legs of the race. The big one will be weather of course. But assuming the storm front from last night has cleared adequately, Bev and Teresa will be airborne by around 09:00H Eastern from Elkhart Indiana.

The remaining two legs are the SHORTEST of the entire race, so it does not take Kreskin to predict that the ladies will go for both legs in one run. Especially after reviewing the flight log, only on the Cameron leg did Classic 47 exceed 2 hours of flight time. So if the crew continues to push the plane along and picks up some favorable tailwinds, the flight to West Virginia should be around 1.5 hours.

Assuming the crew will fly-by and make a speedy dash for the finish line in Maryland, then expect Classic 47 to be on the ground in about 1 hour and 20 minutes after the West Virginia leg for a total flight time of just under 3 hours.

It is very doable but not necessary. Remember the team has the luxury of time now. They have completed the most challenging legs of the race. All they have to do is complete these final short legs with a FULL TWO DAYS to choose the BEST weather and conditions to finish out the race. More updates as soon as they arrive. Almost done!

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-24T07:58:00.002-05:00

We are delayed at Elkhart because the ceilings are at 1000 ft. Some teams are still choosing to take off, but we are concerned about running into the front as well as other obstacles (towers & mountains!) We may leave around noon. --TAC

2010-06-24T07:50:00.002-05:00

Called Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Jimmy but it was so late we couldn't meet up. We were so tired after dinner we went directly to bed.

Got up before sunrise. Ate our leftover fruit and granola bars. Got to the airport and the clouds were too low to launch. The airport manager was working like a mad dog since early morning and had refueled all the planes and pulled them out of the hangars ready to go. Amazing. He said he got 2 hrs sleep. The last plane #58(46) got in at 8:20pm last night. We were worried.

It's so much cooler today. We wiped the bugs off and polished the wings. The battery charger charged up over night, but the TCAS still won't turn on. I decided to rewire it. The manufacturer had spliced it, so maybe they reversed polarity. However that didn't work either. I checked the fuse visually and it appears intact. I'll need a volt meter to trouble shoot it. - TAC

Russell Pictures from KMDH

2010-06-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

A HUGE shout out to Dan and Mary Russell for sending over their snaps at KMDH and for all of their support during the race. Their enthusiasm and help today was fantastic. They also brought along Larry, who is Bev's other half. Larry is responsible for all the plane decals and did a great job and like Classic 47 - is REALLY FAST!

This sequence of shots is what a typical final approach to landing and then to a full fuel stop. Dan's close-up shot of the plane is very nice and you can get a sense that the crew's work never ends until their heads hit the pillow. It is hot, long, and ALL FUN. Great work team.

*BLOGMASTER*

More pictures from Murphysboro Leg

2010-06-23T21:52:00.008-05:00

Well it was a warm day all across the race route. The team is bedded down safe and sound in Elkhart, Indiana and the plane is hangared from storms. Bev and Teresa got take out and took it back to their room for fear of the crazy weather. They also tried to cool off their room as quickly as possible in case of power outages.

As it stands now, the team is basically a full day ahead of schedule. So they can really watch the weather and take advantage of best winds and still make the last two legs of the race over the next two days. Zaon is still down, but attempting to charge battery overnight on powerpack. It would be helpful for the final push.

The pictures are of the second set from today's gathering in Murphysboro. The gang really had a lot of fun. The airport provided some guitar players, weather radar display, and a nice reception desk. A few more shots of the plane and a shot as they taxied away for the run to Indiana. Due to power issues and weather, the internet is not available, so we do not have any team shot photos today. More shots tomorrow afternoon. The team is doing great. Wish them luck on their final push.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-23T18:58:00.002-05:00

Landed in EKH just ahead of the WX. Bad thunderstorms in the area and closing in. Tornado watch. One plane is 100 nm out! I hope they do the smart thing. We hangared our plane. Hail would be too risky.

We got incredible tail winds with our ground speed logging as high as 182 kts. I took several pictures of the avionics each time we broke a record. Thank goodness we didn't delay our departure. BTW I did the take off and flew this leg (with a lot of help from Bev) and she landed it. Whoo-hoo! What an awesome teacher. --TAC

They're OFF to ELKHART 4:15p central

2010-06-23T16:57:00.011-05:00

Well we were thrilled to see some of our blog friends had met the plane along with Bev's husband. The crew wiped off the bugs from the leading edges and the Larry applied the Wings of Hope decals.

The FBO fueled up the plane quickly and Bev and Teresa took a break in some air conditioning inside waiting for favorable tailwinds up to Elkhart. They had some light snacks and a couple of bottles of water each to recharge for the next leg.

Unfortunately the portable battery appears to be bad so they will have to go without the ZAON XRX for this leg. The crew will try to get the battery replaced before tomorrow.

The FBO was great as the line crew would bring out carts and inside the red cross had set up snacks. This is the home of some of the collegiate teams so there was a lot of press around to interview the teams. So for now here are the pictures that we could upload along the road. I will try to post one more set by 9:00pm or so.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-23T15:13:00.002-05:00

I forgot to blog that we are on the ground in Carbondale. We had both our hubbys and friends meet us. They cleaned bugs off our plane---what a treasure to have good family and friends to wipe off your bugs! We are a little hot but really enjoying the visit. I found my battery for the TCAS was low so we are recharging now. We are going to try for Elkhart tonight. --TAC

2010-06-23T11:12:00.002-05:00

Took a landing light from a Bonanza and got ours working! Nice guys. We really owe Paul and Jason for their help. Lots of people backing up at the fuel pump. Our plane is prepped but we are trying to cool down in the building. Too much work in the sun. We should be off around 1130am ct with an ETA of 1:45pm at Carbondale. --TAC

BREAKING NEWS!! - Repairs underway

2010-06-23T10:39:00.003-05:00

10:40A Central, the team just reported in that they have located a landing light there at Cameron, Missouri. Classic 47 is all fueled but Bev and Teresa will take a break while the plane gets it's 'eye' replaced. The power cable to the Collison Avoidance System is repaired and a kind soul, Jason there at the FBO would not take more than a heartfelt thanks from the team.

Bev and Teresa report that it is hot outside and they still have to scrub the bugs off the plane. Cameron is a single runway airport so traffic lines up and moves out fairly slow. Expect the next leg to Illinois to be airborne sometime just before Noon. The crew will do a full stop in Murphysboro and assess weather conditions in Indiana. They have located hotel accomodations at either checkpoint so everything is looking promising.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-23T10:03:00.002-05:00

Landed in Cameron with a nice run. It was crazy busy!

We are checking if we should replace the landing light here. I also jumped into the plane to steer at the pumps and pulled my TCAS power cable apart. I can fix it with a knife and tape. Call me McGyver. Maybe on of these nice mechanics has the tools to fix it a little nicer.

We were greeted by some nice ladies with strawberries and club soda. They even do 10 minute massages! Very nice.
--TAC

RACE DAY TWO - Predictions

2010-06-23T09:26:00.002-05:00

Well the day starts early in racing to try to beat the heat and chances of building afternoon weather. Last reports indicate that the team likely got airborne by 0800H Central heading North to the Missouri checkpoint.

There is some smattering of light rain possible as the Missouri checkpoint is on the trailing edge of a weather system hanging over the Great Lakes region. It is unlikely that other than light turbulence this will cause no major distraction for the team. Since this is the longest leg of the race, it is very likely the team will put down for fuel and a break. The flight should take approximatley 2.5 hours.

The next stop also looks great down to Murphysboro, IL. There are no reported radar or weather issues anywhere in Southern Missouri or Illinois at this time. Though not as great of a concern today, the team will have to be mindful of summer pop-up afternoon thunderstorms not uncommon to this area of the country.

At this point, the team has a decision which is not easy. Although it would be advantageous to fly-by the Illinois checkpoint to continue on back North to Indiana, there are storms reported there for all day. Unless they can time the entry point very carefully, the team could risk time penalties if they have to divert to avoid IFR conditions. Further, the team is ahead of plan currently so no overnight accomodations have been made in Elkhart, Indiana and they are currently booked up. Given these factors, the team may decide to fly and hold for the night in Illinois and get their landing light repaired in hopes of better weather conditions to Indiana and beyond tomorrow? Remember this is all speculation based on reasonable data. Check back often for the crew updates as they become available throughout the day. Cheers!

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-23T06:42:00.002-05:00

We were up before the sun. Left more WOH fliers at the Memorial Field Office. Plane is all checked out. Our landing light is inop but the taxi light works so we'll use that on the flybys until we can repair. First planes are launching. We are 18th. Exciting! TAC

1st Day Racing to Tuscaloosa

2010-06-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Well the team started off strong and as expected the cabin was toasty warm. They hung in there and flew over and under clouds and around a military operations area. The controlled tower in Alabama was fairly slow to move planes in and out on the tarmac so a tad frustrating. People are nice along the way. Take a look at some shots from altitude, Our nifty Wings of Hope Jumpsuits, and one of the ramps.

*BLOGMASTER*

Start of the race in Ft. Meyers

2010-06-22T23:35:00.010-05:00

Here are some rather random shots along the route of the first day of the race. The ladies had a healthy breakfast. They waited on the ramp for their turn to go. It took just over an hour to launch all of the planes. Classic 47 was one of 37 teams to take a data logger along. Significance unknown, except maybe to confirm speeds for each leg? At all of the legs, there are volunteers who have water and snacks available for racers. Waycross even provided BBQ sandwiches though Classic 47 chose to not stop. Between legs, often racers and volunteers gather to relax and cool off in the various FBO's while the planes are fueled.

No maintenance issues noted by the team. The cockpit was very hot and on the last leg to Arkansas, the crew vented the cabin to try and cool down a bit. Currently 34 teams chose to stay the night in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with an additional 12 teams bedding down in Cameron, Missouri. The remaining 5 teams either chose Tuscaloosa or Waycross, primarily due to weather.

One interesting aside was that the team uses an AOPA credit card for fuel stops. Since Teresa's card showed up in three states, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama in a about 15 hours of time, the credit card company temporarily declined the account due to concerns over fraud. We took care of the problem quickly with Bank of America and assured them that the ladies are in a RACE, therefore the plane flies to many fuel stops in a short period of time. They cleared the card for the remaining trip knowing the plane and crew will be in many States. Geez - who would have thought? We have never had this issue before. Next post 0600H tomorrow with more pix along the first day of racing. Then it will be quiet for awhile. The crew will leave early from Arkansas for the longest leg to Northwest Missouri. Then assuming weather holds they should stop in Southern Illinois by around 13:30 central time. Wish 'em luck

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-22T20:41:00.002-05:00

Teresa & I make a great team--she has excellent radio and navigation skills--Teresa even got me to the correct hotel! onward and upward we go!--BJC

2010-06-22T20:40:00.002-05:00

Nothing beats a shower after a hot day of racing! We walked to the Whole Hog Cafe for some World Champion BBQ. They have 6 different sauces plus one called Volcano (by special request) and it is very very hot and exceptionally good! I'm going to try to bring a sample to Bill at Carbondale.

We've still got a lot of planning to do and should be up early tomorrow to fly at the crack of dawn. --TAC

2010-06-22T17:19:00.002-05:00

We made it to Hot Springs, AR! Wow am I a wilted piece of lettuce! I'm enjoying a water and some chips. It is hot! Bev's friends were on the ramp to great us. Bev did an outstanding job at really pushing the plane to perform. I'll have the check but we may have beat our handicap. -TAC

Classic 47 Postcard

2010-06-22T15:00:00.002-05:00

After a few attempts to try and get ALL the elements included, the team has settled on the following postcard, which went to press yesterday. I suspected today would be a little short on updates, since the team had planned to be in the air quite a bit. So even though this artwork was previewed on my personal blog site in the overnight feed, this is its debut for Classic 47's blog followers.

Thanks are in order for our fans and of course our primary sponsor, Wings of Hope. If you get a chance, pop over to their site and see how much good they can do with your charity greenbacks. Bev, Teresa, and the entire Classic 47 team sincerely appreciate your consideration and generosity. More updates soon so hang in there!

*BLOGMASTER*

TEAM in Tuscaloosa, AL

2010-06-22T13:13:00.003-05:00

Greetings Race Fans!

Teresa reported in from the small terminal at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The team made it to the timing tower at 17:02:25 ZULU time which is 13:02H CDT.

All plane and ship navigation use Universal Coordinated Time(Zulu) since there are no time zones or local time confusion issues if everyone uses the same base time (0:00) which starts in Greenwich,England.

In any case, the team left Fort Meyers at approximately 9:09AM Florida time and as expected chose to fly-by the Waycross, Georgia checkpoint. Classic 47 nosed over the timing line at 15:02:33 Zulu for an amazing fast trip of one hour and 53 minutes.

Fuel burn is extreme at these speeds. The aircraft which ordinarily burns around 12 gallons per hour to do 140knots (around 159 miles per hour) burned close to 20 gph but on average Classic 47 is settling in at around 147 knots which is better than their booked handicap. Overall this sounds like an excellent start to the race.

The key thing is about a quarter of the teams moved quickly up to Tuscaloosa, to not only avoid traffic but to beat the weather. The front is looming South of the airport but weather is still holding. The ladies are taking a yogurt break and getting a chance to air out a bit. The cabin is hot with no vents and the team has to keep a watchful eye to keep the plane at peak efficiency.

I will post at least one picture from Tuscaloosa when it is received. The team is headed next today to Hot Springs, Arkansas (KHOT) where they will most likely call it a day unless weather is looking bothersome for tomorrow. Check back soon for more updates as they arrive.

2010-06-22T12:56:00.002-05:00

Well, we ran an aggressive first leg & got some favorable winds at low altitudes. We burned almost 20 gals per hour. Decided to flyby to continue & landed TCL.

The GUESSING game

2010-06-22T11:23:00.003-05:00

Ok folks, the fact is that we have not had a time confirmation when Classic 47 launched this morning. However since weather is the MOST IMPORTANT factor, then we can make some general assumptions. As soon as ACTUAL data arrives, I will post it.

Based on the team's start position, the odds are they left Fort Meyers by around 0900H EDT. I looked at the radar and the weather seemed fantastic through Waycross, Georgia so the flight should take around 2 hours or so.

Since the team has not reported in from the ground and due to the large number of aircraft that will need to re-fuel at Waycross, it would not be surprising if Bev and Teresa, simply did a fly-by for the timing station and continued on to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The ladies are VERY AWARE of fuel burn, so if the plane is drinking like a lady, then they will have more than enough juice to get to Alabama.

The big question mark is weather once again. Currently radar shows a system building coming up from the gulf and starting to push Northeast. The team no doubt saw this system as well and knew that if they don't hightail it into Tuscaloosa in the early afternoon, they may face tough weather delays and even harder choices later.

So to recap - this is all speculation. However, given a typical race run and the weather patterns forming, this is a reasonable expectation of what the flight crew is experiencing currently. More news to follow and pictures as soon as we can upload them! Hang in there!

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-22T05:53:00.003-05:00

We got up at 5:00 am ET. Just finished breakfast. Lots of compliments on our pink Wings of Hope jump suits. They gave us a data logger to fly with. 37 teams were asked to fly with loggers.

WX should be good to KAYS but there's WX building to KTCL in the afternoon. Only TFR is over Disney World. Should not be a factor. --TAC

Last Photo Post prior to Race TODAY

2010-06-22T05:00:00.002-05:00

Well, this will be the last picture post PRIOR to the race. Bev and Teresa report that today has been loaded with planning sessions. They sent over photos from one of those meetings where they describe airport procedures, take-off procedures, fueling etc. Teresa is on the phone planning shipping arrangements for luggage, and they also sent over the handicap sheet for each of the racing teams. Imagine how busy it will be for little old Waycross, Georgia tomorrow by 10AM as 50 planes start descending on them for the first leg of the race.

It will be very exciting. The ladies will report at 8:00AM and will likely sit in a HOT airplane for at least a half hour. At the start, you are released in order. Thereafter, they will fly as efficiently as possible. They can land at the Georgia checkpoint or if they think they have the weather and fuel, they can fly-by to register their leg time and then fly-on to the next leg. Classic 47 is faster than many other aircraft so it is likely they will overtake other racers along the way.

The plane also BURNS more fuel when it is running the race. The team will fine-tune the fuel burn and then calculate the safest way to hit the check-points, beat the weather, and avoid as much traffic as possible. Weather is tough through Central Florida, so the team will have to make a decision in the morning how far they can travel in the first day. Typically teams like to do at least two legs (around 500 - 600) miles per day. It all depends on how nice Mother Nature wants to treat Classc 47. So RACE DAY TOMORROW ... the ladies are bedding down early tonight in anticipation of an exciting and challenging start. Good Luck Ladies!

*BLOGMASTER*

Another Briefing - Very EXCITED!

2010-06-21T21:22:00.010-05:00

Here are a couple of pictures from one of the team's get togethers with the other racers. As you can see other racers wear matching clothing as well. There were ribbons displayed on the tables and of course yet ANOTHER briefing. The team has a real possibility of a dual fly-by this year. It is legal this year but everyone has to stay alert because two planes can come in at full clip towards the timer station in a fairly small amount of airspace, especially at 160 miles per hour. Of course Bev brings us one final Florida billowing cloud picture for posterity.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-21T18:48:00.002-05:00

We off loaded 28 lbs and shipped it home. We don't need all that stuff. It really simplies the logistics for us.

When we got back to the hotel the power was out but they were serving roasted chicken, potatoes, corn, salad, and rolls. Free! Plus, they had beer, wine and punch. What a deal. The power and air conditioning came on after we finished dinner. The other racers' hotel power was still off when I went over there at 6:30. I'm glad we got our laundry done in the morning.

We just finished planning the first 3 legs and our strategies. There are some interesting areas we'll be crossing. What's that National Security area shaped like a D in Arkansas all about? The charts are marked with cautions about compass deviations in that area. Interesting. --TAC

2010-06-21T15:59:00.002-05:00

Took a taxi to Fedex Kinkos and each of us shipped a box home for less than $25. What a deal! Ran into other racers doing the same and caught a ride back with them. It's great when a plan comes together. --TAC

2010-06-21T15:24:00.002-05:00

Whew! Finished all our meetings! Had a nice bowl of chowder and a club sandwich for lunch. All the new racers had a mandatory meeting at 2pm that the veterans were not allowed to attend. Bev said that they mainly told stories and gave more hints on what to put on your checklists. I finished packing my stuff to ship and prepped our checklists. Then I took a short nap. I needed that because I keep waking up too early. Must be excited. --TAC

Sanibel Island Visit 6/20/10

2010-06-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

Well there are few prettier places on earth so the ladies ventured over to Sanibel Island to have a hand at the white sands. Not a tar ball to be found but lots of warm water, hot sand, and balmy tropical weather. With building thunderstorms everyday, it must be quite challenging to fly in Florida ( at least in a straight line). Bev and Teresa enjoyed the sun for about an hour but did not want to get burned before the race so they found a place to get a cold soda along with apparently some local Pelican specialties. Race Starts on Tuesday - Getting Close!

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-21T06:59:00.002-05:00

Banquet was very nice last night. We really liked the matching red flight suit dresses that Racers #43 were wearing. They had a NASCAR look but with a feminine style.

Lots of planning and strategizing to get the max performance from the plane across each leg. We made a decision to ship excess weight home. Washed our clothes. Took inventory of snacks to bring. We will finish off the yummy homemade cookies that Larry made today. Created checklists including leaving the WOH materials at each stop. Now we are preparing for all day meetings. We think we may be competitive. How exciting! --TAC

Racer Introduction Banquet

2010-06-20T23:47:00.005-05:00

Fresh Pix from Florida revealing the racers intro Banquet and the rules meeting. All teams are announced and given a chance to wave to their fellow competitors at the banquet. Each racer is also given a necklace charm. For each race, participants can add gemstones to the official race charm. The fly-by and timing rules are very important and detailed so this is a good meeting. The crew reports the plane seems very 'spirited' and they are looking forward to a competitive chance. In that light, they are shedding excess baggage weight and will be shipping it separately. Looks like this is going to get FUN!! More pix by 0900H 6/21/10 of Bev and Teresa's visit to Sanibel Island, Florida. Cheers!

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-20T22:07:00.003-05:00

--licensed women pilots. Many interesting women with fascinating stories. Teresa and Bev are the only team representing the state of Missouri. The excitement is building!---BJC

2010-06-20T22:02:00.004-05:00

The opening banquet was inspirational as we celebrated 100 years of (continued next post) BJC

Photos from Saturday 6/19/10

2010-06-20T20:11:00.006-05:00

The crew uploaded a set of pictures from a hangar briefing that they went through. There they met the ladies from the collegiate teams, saw a new Sport plane on display, and met the other racers. After the BBQ Bev and Teresa were treated to a beautiful sunset.

*BLOGMASTER*

Classic 47 in the NEWS

2010-06-20T16:02:00.005-05:00

Classic 47 and the team of Cleair and Camp received some attention today. The Southeast Missourian released this article describing the race, including quotes from both pilots. Take a gander, then check back around 20:00H for updated photos from Saturday 6/19/10.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-20T15:39:00.003-05:00

4 of us went to Sanibel Island near the Light house beach. It was very scenic. Soaked in the warm gulf water and there was not an oil ball in sight! It was super hot. We caught a ride back to the hotel just before a big thunderstorm hit. Now we're getting ready for the Banquet. . TAC

PLEASE DONATE!

2010-06-20T15:20:00.004-05:00

Especially as the race gets under way, over the next couple of days, Bev and Teresa want to remind everyone to consider making a donation to help out Wings of Hope with their aviation humanitarian programs. Both ladies have been involved with this worthwhile charity for many years. They can attest to Wings of Hope's unmatched effort in providing aid, healthcare, and self-sustaing education for the poor for nearly 40 years.

Simply click on the 'Donate Now' icon on the right frame, to go to our secure server page. Your donation of literally ANY AMOUNT is sincerely appreciated and is fully tax deductible. An amazing 90 cents of every dollar goes to serve the needy DIRECTLY. The other 10% helps keep up our hangar operations, planes maintained and YES, fuel for this air race. The entire race team and Wings of Hope thank you for your kindness and consideration.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-20T10:10:00.002-05:00

Watch "The High and the Mighty" film for a foreshadow of cockpit management! Ha! Maybe not! -- TAC

2010-06-20T10:04:00.001-05:00

Bev & I wish everyone a very happy Father's Day. We had breakfast and continue to strategize. We are debating the merits of weight lightening versus weight loading aft for best speed. We're just not sure. - TAC

2010-06-20T09:11:00.002-05:00

We are getting our Mandatory All Racers Briefing now. The last team literally just got in the room, delayed due to weather. What a big group. --TAC

Museum Tour FUN!

2010-06-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

As promised here are a few snaps of the museum. Really pretty grounds and a fun museum to go through. Team reports all racers are here now and things will start to get very busy very soon! All pix are from 6/19/10.

*BLOGMASTER*

Friday Check-in and Hotel

2010-06-20T01:00:00.001-05:00

Here are some more late arrival pictures from Friday which show the check-in and data logger sheet. You can also see the little cart the crew used to move the bags around and of course their accomodations are not too shabby in Ft. Meyers as well. View from the hangar is a common sight in the afternoons in coastal Florida!

*BLOGMASTER*

Fort Meyers Beauty

2010-06-19T22:30:00.000-05:00

So Saturday June 19th, is kind of a relaxing day for the team. After the plane inspection and check-in, they headed for the Henry Ford and Thomas Edison Museum. We'll post a few more shots of inside but for now enjoy some of the local scenery from Fort Meyers. Beautiful place but Bev and Teresa report that it is very humid and enjoys pop up building thunder storms every afternoon.

*BLOGMASTER*

PLANE DETAILS

2010-06-19T21:16:00.005-05:00

The crew polished up the wings today after a good rain storm loosened up all the bugs on the leading edges. Bev and Teresa worked on the weight and balance for each leg of trip by using the laptop to decide how to load the plane. Lots of activity and many teams make the experience exciting and fun!

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-19T20:37:00.002-05:00

Nice BBQ banquet and beautiful sunset. This is a huge crowd. I don't know how we are going to land all these people at Waycross! TAC

Waycross Flight to Ft. Meyers 6/18/10

2010-06-19T17:27:00.007-05:00

Here are some pix sent en route from Waycross, Georgia to Ft. Meyers. All were
taken on 6/18/2010. The van was the loaner that the airport gave Bev and Teresa to get to their hotel. You can see the haze on the flight down to Florida and the self portrait of the crew. Final shot is of Ft. Meyers from the air.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-19T14:32:00.002-05:00

Greetings from Florida! It's great to meet so many wonderful women pilots. Meetings start tomorrow--relaxing until then.---BJC

CLASSIC 47 PASSES INSPECTION

2010-06-19T14:13:00.004-05:00

Well the plane passed its inspection so it looks like everything is good. Today the ladies will go to the Girl Scouts amd meet with them today @ 1400H. EDT

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-19T12:32:00.003-05:00

Great visit to the Edison and Ford Museum. What a neat estate! Love all the inventions. There's even a 1900 electric curling iron! Who da thunk? Loved the gardens and the ocean view. Big Bayon tree. Edison really worked hard on developing rubber for firestone. --TAC

2010-06-19T09:02:00.002-05:00

We finished planning our weight and balance down to the individual pounds for each section for max speed. I wish we had packed lighter. I know it would make a difference. We polished the plane and took a few more WOH promo shots with the brochure in the window. I am soaking wet! It's hot and humid. Now we caught a tug to center for inspections. It's nice to get out of the sun. --TAC

So what now?

2010-06-19T02:18:00.002-05:00

All the race crews are to report to Ft. Meyers by Saturday 6/19/2010. Bev and Teresa, were greeted by the race organizers and basically the planes are staged temporarily. Over the next two days, the planes will be INSPECTED by mechanics to ensure that they have not been modified in any way to seek an unfair advantage. After the inspection, the aircraft are IMPOUNDED until the morning of the race. Sometimes mechanical issues come-up with planes and need to be addressed. The next couple of days will allow the planes to get repairs if needed, be safe, race-ready and compliant with the rules.

There are many events scheduled at the beginning and the end of the race. The ladies will go speak to a Girl Scout troop on Saturday afternoon. There will be several meals, BBQ's, and rules seminars over the next few days to make sure all the teams understand the route and the timing rules.

When the race begins, each aircraft will be positioned by it's race number in groups of 4 or 5 planes. Each will take off approximately one to two minutes apart and fly their best course, speed, and altitude to take advantage of winds aloft and whatever factors best suit their aircraft to achieve MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY. Slower planes can be overtaken by crews in the back as long as it is done safely. However, with 57 planes all flying the same general course, airspace will be busy especially for the first leg or two of the race. This is why Bev and Teresa have specially equipped Classic 47 with the Zaon XRX traffic avoidance monitor. This will give the team excellent electronic visibility as to where other aircraft are above, below or anywhere within a few miles around the plane.

All aircraft need not stop at all points if they can carry enough fuel for multiple legs. ALL aircraft will however need to do a low fly-by pass to record their time for each leg. It is an exciting, challenging, and FUN part of the race, as planes swoop out of the sky and buzz the field like barnstormers from another time. The race organizers have to get a special release from the FAA to allow this maneuver at each of the host airports along the race course.

So there you have it. As pictures come in, we will post them of the various activities. If you can get over to a host airport to cheer on the racers, it will be a memory you will never forget. Race starts on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010!

*BLOGMASTER*

FREE Georgian Popcorn

2010-06-19T02:14:00.004-05:00

If there is one thing that Georgian's are known for it is their generosity. Here is a snap that the crew sent from the Waycross stopover. In the lobby of the FBO, they offer free popcorn to all. Very fun.

*BLOGMASTER*

2010-06-18T13:19:00.002-05:00

We are waiting to check in at the Homewood Suites in Fort Myers. They moved us without a written confirmation to this hotel across the street. I hope this still works for us.--TAC

2010-06-18T11:40:00.002-05:00

We are in sunny florida. Hear distant thunder but we are safe on the ground. Wonderful welcoming crew!--TAC

2010-06-18T08:33:00.002-05:00

Posted WOH card and fliers with the FBO at Waycross GA. WX building near Sarasota north of FMY. Will have to remain flexible. --TAC