RACE: Sat. 9/13/08-Reno NCAR-UNL Gold Heat-3A-
Just a humble 'hats-off' memorial photo-salute to the late & great Texas warbird/race pilot~Howard Pardue.
I first saw Howard race at the Whittington's 1979 Miami/Homestead Air Races, flying his FG-1D Corsair, and he went-on to become one of the air racing motorsport's most-prolific participants. Pardue began his Reno NCAR racing tenure way-back in 1982, fielding his Navy-blue Grumman Wildcat that first year & returning in '83, flying his trademark Grumman XF8F-1 Bearcat & adding his big green camo Hawker Sea Fury in '89 to augment to 2-plane entry status. HP logged an incredible 26-year successive-streak racing in the Unlimited Class at Reno (& every year of racing, w/the exception of '02) & a dozen times in Sunday's Gold final. Howard invited his Breckenridge amigo pilot-Nelson Ezell to share SF racing chores off & on starting in '93 & as a regular team pilot fm '03 until his last year at Reno '09 when Howard announced his retirement fm 'The World's-Fastest Motorsport'.
It was always a treat during arrival days at the races, when Howard Pardue & The Breckenridge Bunch (-including pal Stewart Dawson in his beautiful Sea Fury racer #105-Spirit of Texas) made their tight formation low-approach advent at Stead Field & smart peel-offs f/their landings to taxi onto the ramp.
With Reno 2012 fast-approaching, I'm reminded how sorely-missed Howard Pardue will be at the races, now more-than-ever, since he's really gone West for good. Lotsa great memories logged over the course of those many years of flying at airshows & in competition. I recall that Howard was usually the first-man-out onto the racecouse w/his airplanes to lead the start of Unlimited qualifications & practice days & he seemed to take advantage of the periods more-than-most, in order to log as much time as-possible~ flying-low, fast & left, 'cuz he obviously-loved flying so much.
"Blue Skies & Tailwinds Forever"- Howard Pardue!
DBD
Just a humble 'hats-off' memorial photo-salute to the late & great Texas warbird/race pilot~Howard Pardue.
I first saw Howard race at the Whittington's 1979 Miami/Homestead Air Races, flying his FG-1D Corsair, and he went-on to become one of the air racing motorsport's most-prolific participants. Pardue began his Reno NCAR racing tenure way-back in 1982, fielding his Navy-blue Grumman Wildcat that first year & returning in '83, flying his trademark Grumman XF8F-1 Bearcat & adding his big green camo Hawker Sea Fury in '89 to augment to 2-plane entry status. HP logged an incredible 26-year successive-streak racing in the Unlimited Class at Reno (& every year of racing, w/the exception of '02) & a dozen times in Sunday's Gold final. Howard invited his Breckenridge amigo pilot-Nelson Ezell to share SF racing chores off & on starting in '93 & as a regular team pilot fm '03 until his last year at Reno '09 when Howard announced his retirement fm 'The World's-Fastest Motorsport'.
It was always a treat during arrival days at the races, when Howard Pardue & The Breckenridge Bunch (-including pal Stewart Dawson in his beautiful Sea Fury racer #105-Spirit of Texas) made their tight formation low-approach advent at Stead Field & smart peel-offs f/their landings to taxi onto the ramp.
With Reno 2012 fast-approaching, I'm reminded how sorely-missed Howard Pardue will be at the races, now more-than-ever, since he's really gone West for good. Lotsa great memories logged over the course of those many years of flying at airshows & in competition. I recall that Howard was usually the first-man-out onto the racecouse w/his airplanes to lead the start of Unlimited qualifications & practice days & he seemed to take advantage of the periods more-than-most, in order to log as much time as-possible~ flying-low, fast & left, 'cuz he obviously-loved flying so much.
"Blue Skies & Tailwinds Forever"- Howard Pardue!
DBD
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