Salute to TEAM STREGA- 'The Passing of The Torch'
"Every once in a while- Something goes- 'Right'!" -is a favorite old saying.
Add-into that equation: natural talent & positive attitude- combined w/healthy ambition to achieve set goals, + years of expert mentoring, preparation, planning & plenty of practice in optimum settings, then something can go- 'REALLY-RIGHT'!!!
A splendid example of this kind of magic formula at work has to be TEAM STEGA's remarkable showing at Reno '09 NCAR, culminating w/22-year old pilot- Steven Hinton flying Race #7 to a decisive victory in the Unlimited Championship Gold Race finale, (-at record speed, no less!). (Bet even the
stars & planets were in perfect alignment for this momentous event!).
And- What a great followup cap to last year's team victory, that notched pilot/owner- Bill 'Tiger' Destefani's 7th-Reno Unlimited Gold Championship in the exquisite & omnipotent STREGA & marked his retirement as one of The Fastest-of-Motorsports' greatest race pilots in history!
Indeed, it was a truly-genuine "Passing of The Torch" ritual for the seasoned veteran & his gifted young apprentice successor, and also for Steven & his famous professional aviator father- Steve Hinton, Sr., himself-a double Reno Unlimited Gold Champion air racer & former World Speed Record holder. Air Racing is noted for it's many storybook happenings, and this year's edition was both fun & amazing to watch, let alone be part of.
In appreciation to TEAM STREGA & their new raceplane driver, I'd like to share some photo work w/everyone, to help continue the victory celebration, w/best wishes for continued-success & good luck in the future. I think it would be fitting & appropriate to commence w/a gallery of shots from last year to set things up just right & hope y'all enjoy these photographs, so here goes...
DBD
"GROOMING FOR GOLD"...
Photos (L-R/Top to bottom):
1. Chino Airport (Cal-Aero Field), Ca. - USA's West Coast flying warbird mecca. Home to Planes of Fame Air Museum & several other aviation museums & warbird rebuilders over the years, Chino was the birthplace for many famous Unlimited Class air racer projects: #69 Miss Candace, #5 Red Baron RB-51, #34 Miss Foxy Lady, #1 Super Corsair, #8 Dreadnought & the custom #18 Tsunami, to name several. This historic airfield's been a 'Flying Warbird Boot Camp' for a big roster of notable warbird pilots, air racers, aircraft mechanics, restorers & fabricators over the years. Chino's also home to TEAM STREGA's new race pilot- Steven Hinton,Jr., along w/his family's aviation businesses.
2-3. Sun. 9/17/78: Looking back in time- we see 26-year old Unlimited Class race pilot- Steve Hinton, Sr. strapped-into the cockpit of the legendary crimson & white #5 Red Baron RB-51 (N7715C), before the start of the Gold final. RB Team Owner-Ed Browning (rubbing his chin) is standing on the wing w/Robbie Patterson & crew chief-Randy Scoville (at rt.), & a young John Maloney stands below in front. The following pic captures an elated RB crew w/family & friends- celebrating Steve's victory in Race 5, as youngest-pilot ever to win the Reno Unlimited Class Gold Championship (until succeeded by son- Steven Jr. @ Reno '09). A relieved Browning accepts a swig of victory bubbly from Hinton (-seen w/lovely fiance'- Karen Maloney at his side). Team mates- John Muszala, Robbie Patterson, Randy Scoville (& possibly Jim or John Maloney-2nd fm rt.) are also in the picture. Hinton's winning speed was 415.457-av/mph.
4. Sun. 9/15/85: Steve Hinton notched his second Reno NCAR Unltd. Gold victory flying the big Chino 'home-brewed' corncob F2G- Race #1 Super Corsair (NX31518), @ a race record speed of 438.186-av/mph. The ecstatic team is pictured heading back to the pits after their big surprise upset win.
5. Mon. 9/20/99: After mixed-success racing John Sandberg's Boland-designed custom Unlimited- #18 Tsunami (NX39JR), Steve Hinton retired from air racing pilot duty to devote his talents & energies towards the successful growth & development of Chino's POF Air Museum & Fighter Rebuilders warbird restoration business, contract flying for the movie industry & test flight work. Thankfully, his vast aviation expertise continues to benefit the air racing motorsport via flying the POF Lockheed T-33 jet as the Unlimited Class pace plane & safety backup, & providing sound mentoring advice, when called upon.
6. Sat. 9/21/90: A vintage Reno pit portrait of TEAM STREGA's fearless leader- Bill 'Tiger' Destefani, in his prime, wearing his Nomex flight suit. Tiger won his first Reno NCAR Unlimited Gold trophy at Reno '87, and six more since- all flying his famous Super-Mustang- #7 STREGA (N71FT). Destefani's fierce competitive style & winning spirit put this Bakersfield, Ca. farmer into the very top ranks of air racing history's greatest race pilots, and one of its' most-influential persons. His race team's member roster over the years to date, reads like an air racing- 'Who's-Who' directory of top talent, including the late & great engine wizard- Dwight Thorn.
7-10. Mon. 9/8/08: These four candid shots document Tiger's return from a late afternoon STREGA test flight. He's met by some of his team, including crew chief- L.D. Hughes & young Steven Hinton, along w/his dad- Steve, Sr. An obvious pilot debrief follows, w/some shared notes of wisdom emphasized. (#7 qualified 3rd the next day-posting 472.792)
11-14. Sun. 9/14/08: "Sevens Wild!"-The Tiger's Back! Three post-Gold Race photos capture TEAM STREGA retrieving their winning thoroughbred Mustang racer from the ramp celebration ceremony in front of the grandstands, for the parade tow back to their pit stall party. The Awards Banquet finale photo of a totally-jazzed-Tiger poppin' the cork in triumph, says it all! Destefani's hard comeback trail stretched over a decade & made the victory champagne taste all the sweeter!
15. Tue. 9/9/08: "Breaking Into The Big Leagues" - Steven Hinton, Jr. gets officially-qualified as an Unlimited Class race pilot. Flying- Daryl Bond's TF-51 #81 Lady Jo (N327DB), Hinton posted a speed of 345.371-mph at 3:30pm. The photo shows him on his Q-run going by Outer 4 Pylon.
16-17. Sat. 9/13/08: For racing duties, Steven Hinton swapped horses- switching-over to fly Steve Seghetti's P-51D #44 Sparky (N151D) in the UNL Bronze heats & gave a good showing w/a 3rd-Place finish in Sunday's Bronze Final. These two shots show Hinton & Sparky rounding Outer 7 Pylon during UNL HT-3C, running in 2nd-place behind Robbie Patterson in Lady Jo.
18. Thur. 9/11/08: On top of crew chores working for TEAM STREGA & rookie racing duties w/Sparky, Steven Hinton somehow managed to find time to work-in a sundown Wildcat check-flight in Tom Camp's FM-2 Race #2 Air Biscuit (N86572).
19. Sun. 9/14/08: At the RARA Awards Banquet, Steven Hinton collected trophies for 3rd-Place UNL Bronze, AND- 'Rookie of the Year', as well! (Steven's awards look even better w/pretty trophy girl-Ms. Andi Lynch (newly-crowned 2009 Miss Reno Rodeo) in the picture!)
20. Sun. 9/7/08: "Under The Witch's Spell" - Taken a week earlier before race week got into full-swing, this candid ramp portrait of a contemplating Steven Hinton sitting in Strega, seems to convey that very special bond between a pilot & his favorite airplane.
Add-into that equation: natural talent & positive attitude- combined w/healthy ambition to achieve set goals, + years of expert mentoring, preparation, planning & plenty of practice in optimum settings, then something can go- 'REALLY-RIGHT'!!!
A splendid example of this kind of magic formula at work has to be TEAM STEGA's remarkable showing at Reno '09 NCAR, culminating w/22-year old pilot- Steven Hinton flying Race #7 to a decisive victory in the Unlimited Championship Gold Race finale, (-at record speed, no less!). (Bet even the
stars & planets were in perfect alignment for this momentous event!). And- What a great followup cap to last year's team victory, that notched pilot/owner- Bill 'Tiger' Destefani's 7th-Reno Unlimited Gold Championship in the exquisite & omnipotent STREGA & marked his retirement as one of The Fastest-of-Motorsports' greatest race pilots in history!
Indeed, it was a truly-genuine "Passing of The Torch" ritual for the seasoned veteran & his gifted young apprentice successor, and also for Steven & his famous professional aviator father- Steve Hinton, Sr., himself-a double Reno Unlimited Gold Champion air racer & former World Speed Record holder. Air Racing is noted for it's many storybook happenings, and this year's edition was both fun & amazing to watch, let alone be part of.
In appreciation to TEAM STREGA & their new raceplane driver, I'd like to share some photo work w/everyone, to help continue the victory celebration, w/best wishes for continued-success & good luck in the future. I think it would be fitting & appropriate to commence w/a gallery of shots from last year to set things up just right & hope y'all enjoy these photographs, so here goes...
DBD"GROOMING FOR GOLD"...
Photos (L-R/Top to bottom):
1. Chino Airport (Cal-Aero Field), Ca. - USA's West Coast flying warbird mecca. Home to Planes of Fame Air Museum & several other aviation museums & warbird rebuilders over the years, Chino was the birthplace for many famous Unlimited Class air racer projects: #69 Miss Candace, #5 Red Baron RB-51, #34 Miss Foxy Lady, #1 Super Corsair, #8 Dreadnought & the custom #18 Tsunami, to name several. This historic airfield's been a 'Flying Warbird Boot Camp' for a big roster of notable warbird pilots, air racers, aircraft mechanics, restorers & fabricators over the years. Chino's also home to TEAM STREGA's new race pilot- Steven Hinton,Jr., along w/his family's aviation businesses.
2-3. Sun. 9/17/78: Looking back in time- we see 26-year old Unlimited Class race pilot- Steve Hinton, Sr. strapped-into the cockpit of the legendary crimson & white #5 Red Baron RB-51 (N7715C), before the start of the Gold final. RB Team Owner-Ed Browning (rubbing his chin) is standing on the wing w/Robbie Patterson & crew chief-Randy Scoville (at rt.), & a young John Maloney stands below in front. The following pic captures an elated RB crew w/family & friends- celebrating Steve's victory in Race 5, as youngest-pilot ever to win the Reno Unlimited Class Gold Championship (until succeeded by son- Steven Jr. @ Reno '09). A relieved Browning accepts a swig of victory bubbly from Hinton (-seen w/lovely fiance'- Karen Maloney at his side). Team mates- John Muszala, Robbie Patterson, Randy Scoville (& possibly Jim or John Maloney-2nd fm rt.) are also in the picture. Hinton's winning speed was 415.457-av/mph.
4. Sun. 9/15/85: Steve Hinton notched his second Reno NCAR Unltd. Gold victory flying the big Chino 'home-brewed' corncob F2G- Race #1 Super Corsair (NX31518), @ a race record speed of 438.186-av/mph. The ecstatic team is pictured heading back to the pits after their big surprise upset win.
5. Mon. 9/20/99: After mixed-success racing John Sandberg's Boland-designed custom Unlimited- #18 Tsunami (NX39JR), Steve Hinton retired from air racing pilot duty to devote his talents & energies towards the successful growth & development of Chino's POF Air Museum & Fighter Rebuilders warbird restoration business, contract flying for the movie industry & test flight work. Thankfully, his vast aviation expertise continues to benefit the air racing motorsport via flying the POF Lockheed T-33 jet as the Unlimited Class pace plane & safety backup, & providing sound mentoring advice, when called upon.
6. Sat. 9/21/90: A vintage Reno pit portrait of TEAM STREGA's fearless leader- Bill 'Tiger' Destefani, in his prime, wearing his Nomex flight suit. Tiger won his first Reno NCAR Unlimited Gold trophy at Reno '87, and six more since- all flying his famous Super-Mustang- #7 STREGA (N71FT). Destefani's fierce competitive style & winning spirit put this Bakersfield, Ca. farmer into the very top ranks of air racing history's greatest race pilots, and one of its' most-influential persons. His race team's member roster over the years to date, reads like an air racing- 'Who's-Who' directory of top talent, including the late & great engine wizard- Dwight Thorn.
7-10. Mon. 9/8/08: These four candid shots document Tiger's return from a late afternoon STREGA test flight. He's met by some of his team, including crew chief- L.D. Hughes & young Steven Hinton, along w/his dad- Steve, Sr. An obvious pilot debrief follows, w/some shared notes of wisdom emphasized. (#7 qualified 3rd the next day-posting 472.792)
11-14. Sun. 9/14/08: "Sevens Wild!"-The Tiger's Back! Three post-Gold Race photos capture TEAM STREGA retrieving their winning thoroughbred Mustang racer from the ramp celebration ceremony in front of the grandstands, for the parade tow back to their pit stall party. The Awards Banquet finale photo of a totally-jazzed-Tiger poppin' the cork in triumph, says it all! Destefani's hard comeback trail stretched over a decade & made the victory champagne taste all the sweeter!
15. Tue. 9/9/08: "Breaking Into The Big Leagues" - Steven Hinton, Jr. gets officially-qualified as an Unlimited Class race pilot. Flying- Daryl Bond's TF-51 #81 Lady Jo (N327DB), Hinton posted a speed of 345.371-mph at 3:30pm. The photo shows him on his Q-run going by Outer 4 Pylon.
16-17. Sat. 9/13/08: For racing duties, Steven Hinton swapped horses- switching-over to fly Steve Seghetti's P-51D #44 Sparky (N151D) in the UNL Bronze heats & gave a good showing w/a 3rd-Place finish in Sunday's Bronze Final. These two shots show Hinton & Sparky rounding Outer 7 Pylon during UNL HT-3C, running in 2nd-place behind Robbie Patterson in Lady Jo.
18. Thur. 9/11/08: On top of crew chores working for TEAM STREGA & rookie racing duties w/Sparky, Steven Hinton somehow managed to find time to work-in a sundown Wildcat check-flight in Tom Camp's FM-2 Race #2 Air Biscuit (N86572).
19. Sun. 9/14/08: At the RARA Awards Banquet, Steven Hinton collected trophies for 3rd-Place UNL Bronze, AND- 'Rookie of the Year', as well! (Steven's awards look even better w/pretty trophy girl-Ms. Andi Lynch (newly-crowned 2009 Miss Reno Rodeo) in the picture!
)20. Sun. 9/7/08: "Under The Witch's Spell" - Taken a week earlier before race week got into full-swing, this candid ramp portrait of a contemplating Steven Hinton sitting in Strega, seems to convey that very special bond between a pilot & his favorite airplane.
Attached Files
). Thorough inspections by the crew reveal no apparent damage to the race motor, luckily, culminating w/a successful a.m. test flight to get ready for TEAM STREGA's first day of racing at Reno '09. 
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