An Impressive Group of Flyers Raced Their Hearts Out

The AIR RACE CLASSIC, Inc. has announced the winners of the 2003 all-woman crosscountry speed race, the twenty-seventh annual AIR RACE CLASSIC. The first air race for women, the Women`s Air Derby, ended in Cleveland Ohio in 1929 with Pilot Amelia Earhart (you may have heard of her before...) finishing third.

The AIR RACE CLASSIC winners for 2003 are ARC#13, pilot Elaine C. Roehrig of Deerfield (NY) and co-pilot Marolyn P. Wilson of Whitesboro (NY). Elaine and Marolyn flew a Piper PA28-140 aircraft. Elaine has logged over 14,000 hours in her fifty-eight years of flying and served as Chief Instructor/Manager at Griffis Aero Club Flight Training Center for thirty one years. Marolyn has 510 hours. This team is flew their fourteenth AIR RACE CLASSIC and are members of the Central New York Ninety-Nines.

In second place were ARC#16, Margaret Ringenberg of Leo (OH), and Linda Schumm of Makinaw (IL), flying a Cessna 182S. Margaret served as a WASP (Womens Air Service Pilot) during World War II, raced around the world in 1994, earned a chapter in Tom Brokaw's book, The Greatest Generation, has address the Air Force Academy, flown the space shuttle simulator successfully and has logged over 40,000 hours in her sixty-plus years of flying. Copilot Linda is a regional manager for Cessna Pilot Centers and co-owner of Legacy Aviation, Inc.

Third place winners were ARC#7, Denise Waters,  of New York city, and Ruth Maestre of Brookville (OH), flying a Grumman AA5B. Denise and Ruth have flown the London to Sydney Air Race and are active experimental aircraft builders.

In fourth place were ARC#11, Judith Bolkema-Tokar of Spruce Creek Fly-In (FL), and Esther Lowry of Gainesville (GA), flying a Cessna 182S. Judy is President and Esther is Vice President of the AIR RACE CLASSIC. Esther was one of the founders of the AIR RACE CLASSIC and has been on the board of directors since 1977.

Fifth place was won by ARC#10, Candace Oldham of East Hanover (NJ), and Susan Westervelt of Nutley (NJ), flying a Mooney M20J. This team was flying their second AIR RACE CLASSIC. Candie is an instrument flight instructor with 1500  hours and Susan is instrument rated with 650 hours.

ARC#3, Sophie Payton of Clearwater (FL) and Ernesteen Hunt of Oak Ridge (TN) placed sixth flying a Cessna 182S. Sophie learned to fly before she learned to drive and has been flying for fifty-nine years. Ernestine is flying her fifth CLASSIC and has 970 hours of flight time logged.

In seventh place was ARC#4, Bonnie Johnson of Valley Center (KS) and Carol Foy of Spicewood (TX), flying a Cessna172P. Bonnie is instrument-rated, with 675 hours. Carol holds multi-engine, instrument and glider ratings, and has flown over 2100 hours.

Eighth place was shared by ARC#28 and ARC#6. After eight legs and with the calculations extended to three decimals, the eighth and ninth place awards were shared by these two teams.

ARC#28 was Dee Wakelin of Albany, New Zealand and Lynn Denise Holland of Malacca, Malaysia flying a Citabria Adventura 7GCAA. Dee has 2000 hours and is a ferry pilot who delivers planes to Fiji. Lynn, jet-rated, has worked for Malaysian Airlines and Asia Pacific Airlines.

ARC#6 was Dottie Anderson of Bluffton, OH and Jean Sloan of Lima (OH), flying a Piper PA28-180. Dottie has over fifty-four flying years and 40,000 hours. Jean has flown twenty ARCs and has 950 hours.

Tenth place was won by ARC#12, Keri T. Wiznerowicz of Richmond (IL) and Heidi D. Moore of Columbus (IN), flying a Piper PA28-161 (right). Keri and Heidi are students at Purdue University, studying Aviation Flight Technology. This team represented Purdue University and received the AIR RACE CLASSIC Collegiate Challenge Trophy for their school.

On June 21, 2003, the AIR RACE CLASSIC entries started the race in Pratt (KS) and flew a cross-country course to terminate the race at Kitty Hawk (NC). Flying over mountains and plains, the racers this year flew timing lines at Pratt; Grand Island (NE); Albert Lea (MN); Menominee (MI); Peru (IL); Dayton (OH); Altoona (PA); Danville (VA) and a final timing fly-by at First Flight Airport at the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk, where Wilbur and Orville Wright first flew 100 years ago. The race aircraft were landed at Dare County Airport, Manteo (NC), for final inspection. The race course crossed twelve states and was over 2000 miles in length.

Each plane was handicapped based primarily on horsepower and design. The winners were determined by how well the planes exceeded their handicaps in ground speed (kph). Altitude, wind, pilot skill, weather and aircraft condition are among the factors that influenced the final score. The 2004 Air Race Classic will start and finish in Wichita (KS).

FMI: www.airraceclassic.org