Considering the recent posting concerning the goings-on at RARA, I thought some of the people who are relatively new to the sport would like to be enlightened to some background.
The following is quoted from an article in the March 1978 issue of Air Classics. It is called "the Reno Adventure", by Ben Harrison. Ben owned a T-6 that photographer Jim Larsen used as a camera platform on a regular basis. Larsen (along with the rest of the Paine Field Coyotes like Pat Palmer and Jim Landry) convinced Harrison to bring the T-6 to Reno and 'race' it. At the same time, they thought it would be a marvelous opportunity to photograph some of the racers in the air.
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"I was heading back to the pit area when I saw Jerry Duty, the air race director. I introduced himself and told him that Jim Larsen and I were hoping to do some air-to-air photography with some of the racers. 'Absolutely not!' he screeched. 'There will be no air-to-air photography here during race week. I'm not interested in publicity or public relations."
I suggested that perhaps some of the racers were interested in getting magazine coverage. 'I thought we could go out in the morning before...'
"Definitely not! We get too many complaints about the noise already."
"Well," I continued, "what about in the evenings after the course is closed?"
"Forget it! I own this airport 24 hours a day during race week. Nothing moves without my permission. And furthermore, if you bring your airplane on this field, I will see thaty ou get an FAA violation filed against you!"
I must have looked rather stunned because he asked, "Your airplane isn't on the field already, is it?"
"Well...actually, yes."
Finally he asked "You aren't planning to race, are you?"
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Gotta love 'em. At least the current administration comes by it honestly.
Speeddemon
The following is quoted from an article in the March 1978 issue of Air Classics. It is called "the Reno Adventure", by Ben Harrison. Ben owned a T-6 that photographer Jim Larsen used as a camera platform on a regular basis. Larsen (along with the rest of the Paine Field Coyotes like Pat Palmer and Jim Landry) convinced Harrison to bring the T-6 to Reno and 'race' it. At the same time, they thought it would be a marvelous opportunity to photograph some of the racers in the air.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I was heading back to the pit area when I saw Jerry Duty, the air race director. I introduced himself and told him that Jim Larsen and I were hoping to do some air-to-air photography with some of the racers. 'Absolutely not!' he screeched. 'There will be no air-to-air photography here during race week. I'm not interested in publicity or public relations."
I suggested that perhaps some of the racers were interested in getting magazine coverage. 'I thought we could go out in the morning before...'
"Definitely not! We get too many complaints about the noise already."
"Well," I continued, "what about in the evenings after the course is closed?"
"Forget it! I own this airport 24 hours a day during race week. Nothing moves without my permission. And furthermore, if you bring your airplane on this field, I will see thaty ou get an FAA violation filed against you!"
I must have looked rather stunned because he asked, "Your airplane isn't on the field already, is it?"
"Well...actually, yes."
Finally he asked "You aren't planning to race, are you?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gotta love 'em. At least the current administration comes by it honestly.
Speeddemon
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