Miss America Brent "Doc" Hisey: RENO 2019

[AAFO_WSagar]

How many of you think it was pretty darn cool that Brent "Doc" Hisey brought a race prepped Miss America to the 2019 STIHL National Championship Air Races?

Do you know that the two oldest Reno National Championship Air Races competitors were on the ramp this year at the reno air races?

OK... enough search engine textual tempters!

Show "Doc" Hisey and his crew your appreciation.. POST YOUR PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Leo]

Okay, I'll play.
I haven't cleaned these up yet and a couple are from last year.

[W J Pearce]

Let's see how this photo upload works... All from this year.

[Big_Jim]

Workin' on our night moves.....

[Bigger Al]

A big thanks to Doc Hisey and crew for bringing out Miss-A this year! I'm sorry that it didn't turn out the way everyone hoped, but that's racing.

[AAFO_WSagar]

I'm going to "ping" this post to get it up to the top again.. There's really good reason for the photo request, so... KEEP EM COMIN'!!!

[brent hisey]

I wanted to take a moment and express my appreciation to all the fans at Reno for the support we have been given throughout the years. When we decided to come back in 2018, I was overwhelmed by the support given to Miss A but this year was amazing! The love and support of this airplane means so much to me and the Miss A crew and we can't express enough appreciation for your caring.

I began racing at Reno in 1995 and each year we have tried to have a specific goal in mind, initially it was survival, then win the bronze, win the silver, and finally to compete in the gold class. This year was unique, in that it was the first time we came to Reno with the goal of winning the gold. To beat Dreadnaught, Sawbones, and the rest, was not a task we took lightly in that we had never come close to beating Dreadnaught. In the off season, several modifications to the airframe were done, thanks to the help of Dan Martin, Thom Richards, and my incredible crew led by Greg and Scotty Butler. Our engine builder, Rick Schanholzer, built a very strong engine which we felt could do around 110 inches, which coupled with the airframe changes, was hoped to get us to victory.

The flight out to Reno was uneventful and qualifying went well but checking the screens after showed what was initially thought to show bearing metal. We were in the process of putting the stock engine back in, when they found broken pads from the fingers which accounted for the metal. We made the decision to replace the fingers and keep the race engine operational and still go all out. Friday and Saturday's race went well and we were where we wanted to be on Sunday next to Dreadnaught. I did not think I could run all out for three days straight. Sunday started well but I was taken back a little when the pace plane went down but Dennis did a great job of getting us to the start. I started with full RPM and throttle but it was not enough to get around Dreadnaught so I dropped into second and kept at full power hoping to catch her or be close enough if she had a problem. I thought about pulling back the throttle to save the engine but in the heat of battle, I didn't. All was going well, I felt I might have been gaining a little, everything felt smooth until after pylon 6, i saw a puff of smoke and felt a little shake and I new it was over. As Tiger always preached, I climbed to gear speed and downwind to 14. It was shaking pretty bad by touchdown but otherwise uneventful. It looks like a piston/rod broke and poked through the case.

This obviously was a setback for us but we are determined to be back for 2020 in some form, whether as a full race plane or stock is yet to be determined. I am honored to get to fly with such great pilots,and I am humbled each year I get to be in their ranks. I hope this post has some value and provides some insight into our 2019 effort.

Brent Hisey

[PowerByPackard]

I wanted to take a moment and express my appreciation to all the fans at Reno for the support we have been given throughout the years. When we decided to come back in 2018, I was overwhelmed by the support given to Miss A but this year was amazing! The love and support of this airplane means so much to me and the Miss A crew and we can't express enough appreciation for your caring.
I began racing at Reno in 1995 and each year we have tried to have a specific goal in mind, initially it was survival, then win the bronze, win the silver, and finally to compete in the gold class. This year was unique, in that it was the first time we came to Reno with the goal of winning the gold. To beat Dreadnaught, Sawbones, and the rest, was not a task we took lightly in that we had never come close to beating Dreadnaught. In the off season, several modifications to the airframe were done, thanks to the help of Dan Martin, Thom Richards, and my incredible crew led by Greg and Scotty Butler. Our engine builder, Rick Schanholzer, built a very strong engine which we felt could do around 110 inches, which coupled with the airframe changes, was hoped to get us to victory.
The flight out to Reno was uneventful and qualifying went well but checking the screens after showed what was initially thought to show bearing metal. We were in the process of putting the stock engine back in, when they found broken pads from the fingers which accounted for the metal. We made the decision to replace the fingers and keep the race engine operational and still go all out. Friday and Saturday's race went well and we were where we wanted to be on Sunday next to Dreadnaught. I did not think I could run all out for three days straight. Sunday started well but I was taken back a little when the pace plane went down but Dennis did a great job of getting us to the start. I started with full RPM and throttle but it was not enough to get around Dreadnaught so I dropped into second and kept at full power hoping to catch her or be close enough if she had a problem. I thought about pulling back the throttle to save the engine but in the heat of battle, I didn't. All was going well, I felt I might have been gaining a little, everything felt smooth until after pylon 6, i saw a puff of smoke and felt a little shake and I new it was over. As Tiger always preached, I climbed to gear speed and downwind to 14. It was shaking pretty bad by touchdown but otherwise uneventful. It looks like a piston/rod broke and poked through the case.
This obviously was a setback for us but we are determined to be back for 2020 in some form, whether as a full race plane or stock is yet to be determined. I am honored to get to fly with such great pilots,and I am humbled each year I get to be in their ranks. I hope this post has some value and provides some insight into our 2019 effort.

Brent Hisey

Thank you so much for sharing your 2019 story! I have three kids who all came out with me this year and were delighted to see the red, white and blue of Miss America rounding the pylons. Even though it is a different era of Unlimited racing, we still get so much joy in seeing your plane and the others out there each year. I would just like to personally thank you for your efforts and express our heartfelt gratitude that you have brought this iconic airplane back to Reno. My family, and I think I speak for the entire air racing family, appreciate it beyond words.

Tyler Packard

[Leo]

Thank you Mr. Hisey!

[3pedal]

I wanted to take a moment and express my appreciation to all the fans at Reno for the support we have been given throughout the years. When we decided to come back in 2018, I was overwhelmed by the support given to Miss A but this year was amazing! The love and support of this airplane means so much to me and the Miss A crew and we can't express enough appreciation for your caring.
I began racing at Reno in 1995 and each year we have tried to have a specific goal in mind, initially it was survival, then win the bronze, win the silver, and finally to compete in the gold class. This year was unique, in that it was the first time we came to Reno with the goal of winning the gold. To beat Dreadnaught, Sawbones, and the rest, was not a task we took lightly in that we had never come close to beating Dreadnaught. In the off season, several modifications to the airframe were done, thanks to the help of Dan Martin, Thom Richards, and my incredible crew led by Greg and Scotty Butler. Our engine builder, Rick Schanholzer, built a very strong engine which we felt could do around 110 inches, which coupled with the airframe changes, was hoped to get us to victory.
The flight out to Reno was uneventful and qualifying went well but checking the screens after showed what was initially thought to show bearing metal. We were in the process of putting the stock engine back in, when they found broken pads from the fingers which accounted for the metal. We made the decision to replace the fingers and keep the race engine operational and still go all out. Friday and Saturday's race went well and we were where we wanted to be on Sunday next to Dreadnaught. I did not think I could run all out for three days straight. Sunday started well but I was taken back a little when the pace plane went down but Dennis did a great job of getting us to the start. I started with full RPM and throttle but it was not enough to get around Dreadnaught so I dropped into second and kept at full power hoping to catch her or be close enough if she had a problem. I thought about pulling back the throttle to save the engine but in the heat of battle, I didn't. All was going well, I felt I might have been gaining a little, everything felt smooth until after pylon 6, i saw a puff of smoke and felt a little shake and I new it was over. As Tiger always preached, I climbed to gear speed and downwind to 14. It was shaking pretty bad by touchdown but otherwise uneventful. It looks like a piston/rod broke and poked through the case.
This obviously was a setback for us but we are determined to be back for 2020 in some form, whether as a full race plane or stock is yet to be determined. I am honored to get to fly with such great pilots,and I am humbled each year I get to be in their ranks. I hope this post has some value and provides some insight into our 2019 effort.

Brent Hisey

It was great to see Miss A there, ready to race. It is a shame about the engine failure. Life has been busy since I got back, but I will look to see if I have any good shots of her to post as soon as I can.

Can't wait to see you next year!!