Experimentals Race From Dayton To Oshkosh, Vying For AirVenture
Cup
It's the latest in what
appears to be a growing trend -- air races designed to get people
excited about aviation again. Case in point: The 2004 AirVenture
Cup Race, where organizers hope to capture the excitement of the
Bendix Trophy Races of the 1930s. It was a cross-country race
open to all EAA Members. Forty-two race planes participated and 7
chase planes flew along as well. Only John Morrison's
E-racer did not finish the race. He chose to withdraw because
of a canopy issue.
The race started at the Wright Brothers Airport in Dayton (OH).
After takeoff the pilots made an approach to the airport and flew
over the pre-determined start point. Each pilot's time started when
their aircraft passed over that start point rather than starting on
takeoff.
The racers then flew to Rockford (IL) with pylon turns at
Sterling-Rockfalls and Rockford. From there, they passed the finish
line at the Quad Graphics private airport in Lomira (WI). After the
finish, racers landed at the Fond du Lac airport to assemble for an
optional mass arrival into Airventure at Oshkosh. The race
planes are parked just north of the taxiway to Aeroshell
square.
The judges used the atomic clocks on GPS satellites to ensure
accuracy. The aircraft with the shortest time was the overall
winner, with prizes awarded to the top three places in each
category:
UNLIMITED: Any Experimental Category aircraft with a Turbo
Charged engine with a displacement of 1400 cubic inches or less.
Class winners in both Fixed and Retractable gear.
SPORT CLASS: Any Experimental Category aircraft with a normally
aspirated engine with a displacement of 1000 cubic inches or
less.
FORMULA RG: Any Experimental Category aircraft with an engine
displacement of 360 cubic inches or less, with retractable landing
gear.
FORMULA FX: Any Experimental Category aircraft with an engine
displacement of 360 cubic inches or less, with at least two fixed
landing gear.
FORMULA RV: Open to Van's aircraft RV-3, RV-4, RV-6, RV-6A,
RV-7, RV-7A, RV-8, RV-8A, RV-9, and RV-9A airplanes powered with an
engine of 360 cubic inches or less.
SPRINT CLASS: Any Experimental Category aircraft with an engine
displacement of 240 cubic inches or less.
The overall fastest time of 1:27:26 was achieved by racer # 5,
Lee Belhel.
2004 Airventure Cup results
Race
Pilot Aircraft Speed
(MPH)
TURBINE
Lee Behlel Turbine
Lancair Legacy 279.29
UNLIMITED Jack
Watson Glasair II
RG 185.25
SPORT CLASS Keith
Phillips
SX-300
244.43
FORMULA RG Richard
Keyt Polen Special
II
233.19
FORMULA FX Steve
Hammer Glasair
I-TD
214.42
FORMULA F RV John
Huit RV-8 180.32
SPRINT CLASS Sam
Hoskins Quickie
Q-200
174.77