In preparation for the Reno National Championship Air Races, top Sport Class racers often use the R.A.C.E. Cross Country Air Racing event series to test their speed improvements, and that of their competitors.

Based upon the speeds at the recent Mesquite, Nevada R.A.C.E. event, it looks like Reno 2004 will be an exciting year for the Sport Class! At this event, the fastest known normally aspirated Lancair Legacy (owned and piloted by Lee Behel) and the fastest known normally aspirated Glasair III (owned and piloted by Mike Jones) were on hand to battle it out for first place. Over this 120 mile course, Lee Behel posted an average speed of 306.02 mph in his Lancair Legacy, with Mike Jones right on his tail in his Glasair III, averaging 305.35 mph. Klaus Savier posted a speed of 249.16 mph in his highly modified Vari Eze, and Dean Berry came in at 227.56 mph in his Harmon Rocket II.

With only 0.7 mph difference in speed between Lee Behel's Legacy (note the rear-view mirror in his cockpit, above) and Mike Jones' Glasair III over a 120 mile course, it looks like Sport Class racing at Reno 2004 will be very exciting, not only for Mike, Lee, and the folks at Lancair and Glasair, but also for all of us in the stands! (Lee, Mike and other Sport Class racers will again be competing against each other again at the upcoming R.A.C.E. event on May 30th, at Wendover, Nevada.)

The 2004 Reno National Championship Air Races will take place September 16 thru 19, 2004. For those who intend to enter and race their aircraft in the Sport Class, Pylon Racing School is scheduled for June 17 thru 20, 2004.

FMI: www.sportclass.com, Mike Jones (SCAR President) -- WSW10@sbcglobal.net, Shirl Dickey -- mreracer@tabletoptelephone.com