I enjoy the jet class mainly because it’s fast and typically close racing. I do agree about the limitations though. What’s the point if a “record” will never be broken? Sport class is awesome, good ideas too. Rob Bonhamme (spelling?) is the announcer and I agree he knows his stuff for the most part. I like the idea of associating names with planes. Sport class is getting to have a lot of gold capable racers that generally come year after year. I don’t want to compare Reno with nascar, but linking people with pilots not only planes is a big deal and it helps build a fan base for sure
Not to get off topic but Jets don't want a speed limit anymore than we do. FAA is involved though, and they control the permits. Options include proving the splash area calculation is overly conservative and getting the FAA to raise the limit, slow the planes down, move the stands farther away, make every attendee sign a I-give-up-my-ability-to-sue-you form, or something. All unlikely or bad choices. So after 2011, I think it is what it is.![]()
All that being said, I don't think anyone was in danger of breaking the speed limit this year. The limit is on lap average and #5 was "only" 505mph. So the limit does exist and that's annoying on its own, but I don't think it's actually effected anything......yet.
prettier sport planes is a good idea. Sean's working on the Glassair and should have a flashy new paint scheme.
Back on topic: Watching some of the DRL drone racing on ESPN I do think racing could be done in more remote locations (ie salt flats) and have crowd attendance primarily through TV and livestreams. You put cameras on each plane, cameras on some of the pylons, and the standard camera work from the livestream this year. You could remove speed limits, risk of collateral damage goes down with no spectators or nearby infrastructure (so insurance should be cheaper), and you get some viewpoints that aren't possible when you are there in person. Of course you would still want locals and dedicated fans to come watch, but that would be for the committed and passionate fan base rather than the primary market.
"young" Thomas
Well fielding a drone and fielding an unlimited are a bit different.... and the sounds in person are a huge draw for most attendees. I think the speed limit and FAA restrictions are the least of the problems right now. Just sucks they’re there on top of the problems that are urgent...
True it's not a copy and paste, and sound is a draw for a lot of people. But it's pretty common to find the comment that the jets are fast but don't sound good. And it's also to find the comment that the jet speed limit is stupid.
If sound doesn't matter and the speed limit is stupid, then you can kill both issues by going to a remote location and doing a kick-butt livestream. And if this were developed into a working format, then there is no reason it couldn't work for all the classes.
"young" Thomas
The sound is definitely a draw for me, and the jets don't really provide that.
But I also like great racing. I was really looking forward to the jets this year because I wanted to see Just Lucky challenge American Spirit. For much of the week, it looked like it might happen, but the Sunday gold race was a disappointment in that regard.
As for the idea of having races in a very remote area, with the emphasis a screen based audience, that's a non-starter for me. I enjoy racing as a visceral experience, which I don't get at all watching on a screen.
Actually, I might still go to the races if they were truly out in the middle of nowhere. My main hobby is astrophotography. I've got a motorhome and portable imaging observatory that I take to harsh, high desert environments for a cumulative three weeks each summer. I'm fully set up for dry camping for extended periods, and this would just be another week of that.
Supersonic jet races up at Black Rock!
Does the unlimited class have a website?
"young" Thomas