Tunica

[MLenoch]

Re: Tunica

Wayne:
The '06 Gathering is a major event that I will not miss.
Heck, I'll bring the family with me as well!!
Vlado

[ShermB]

Re: Tunica

I worked the first two of the three years that Phoenix raced. The third year was not an official race, just some demos, for which the guys didn't get paid. NAG was involved in the original planning and execution,and a whole group of us went down there, spending our own money, to set it up, train the locals, etc. The third year was unsanctioned, so NAG was not present. We are non involved with the Tunica races. Does that say anything?
Betty

[Race 22 mech]

Re: Tunica

At the Warbirds Operators Conference last week, a comment was made that Dago Red was not going to be at Reno this year. Has anyone heard anything about it?

[wingman]

Re: Tunica

Interesting that Chip's post dropped into electronic limbo without so much as a ripple! Nobody out there with news or comment on this possibility???

Terry Bland has always talked about the Dago racing effort in business terms, and has always said there would be an end point when it no longer made economic sense. 2004 certainly cost him an awful lot of money....

Neal

[Steve Dilda]

Re: Tunica

Neal, I'll try to see if I can possibly afford it. No way I'd drive that far, and my recovery has to progress a bit further before I can commit to a trip that far as well... I'm still eating via the tube and carrying that much canned stuff with me is exhausting!

Money for flight and room will also be something I'll have to figure out.. Always committed to PRS so that comes first on the list, John Parker is also planning a speed run that same weekend (as Tunica)...

Will have to see how the $$ go for this one..

Would be nice to see it if it happens though...

Wayne, I am heavily involved and an official Press Release will be out Monday or Wednesday. BIG meeting this afternoon to finalize a lot of planning. Trust me, this will happen, and it will be FUN.

Steve

[Unregistered]

Re: Tunica

Racing at Tunica would be great. I don't think that they can get it organized that quickly though.

I make a few trips there a year, and end up boosting the economy there a small fraction. There is lots of wide open space, and I have often wondered about air racing there. Several casino/hotels there, and less than an hour drive from Memphis. I have not been to the airport they describe, the only one I have seen from the highway is a small airfield with one hanger.

There are some big cotton fields that pylons could be put around. If you are racing in the south, you need to have a Crop Duster class.

Kevin

A Crop Duster Class......what a great idea. Working.........

Steve

[BadIdea]

Re: Tunica

I'm going to Graceland!

[MLenoch]

Re: Tunica

QUOTE:
"The next was the Gathering of Mustangs & Legends in Florida. To make a long story short.... the people who were putting on the "event" were either unable to secure the field, failed to get the proper FAA waivers, failed to get the notams issued in a timely manner, or just failed to advertise the event as it was truly to be - the end result was about 30 minutes of taxiing around and take-offs and about 6 hours of shear boredom in the 90+ degree/humidity with no wind, no shade, and little to nothing in the way of drinks/food for the crowd. Yeah, it was neat to be there - but the price paid just wasn't even close to being worth it."

WASN'T WORTH IT!!........Are you kidding!!!.........but I digress.....

This is not a defense but a reply of the status as I was told by the people who put on the "event". There was no desire to get a waiver, nor have a flying event or be open to the public. Flight operations were attempted by a few pilots ans were quickly told to stand down. This was intended to be a owner/operator gathering only to hold a three day safety conference and social gathering. This they succeeded.

(I certainly do identify with a couple of your points and hopefully will be corrected by the '06 gathering.)
VL

[speeddemon]

Re: Tunica

Just to address some of the concerns: I have talked at length with Jeff Landers, and much of the planning/waivers, etc. have been addressed behind the scenes...many were taken care of long before any public announcement of the races was ever made.

They were at ICAS, airshow acts have been negotiated with and some secured. They're working with class representatives as to the logistics of it all. They have the support of the community, the casinos, and some pretty major businesses in the region.

Will it work? I don't know. But in talking with them, I do know that they're not just pulling this out of the hat. They have been actively working on this since just after Reno last year, they have taken a lot of the steps necessary to putting an event on, and in most cases, they have surrounded themselves with the people they need to pull it off.

From what I see, they're just doing their homework and trying to get stuff in place BEFORE they make huge claims....so that the disappointment that Mark K and Wayne speak of 'won't' happen this time around.

What I hear at this point is that they're just not making any 'promises' that they're not sure of yet.

Just my .02.

[Race 21]

Re: Tunica

Mystical Power is "In". The "Stick" is in Iraq till the end of May. Small glitch in the prep... No problem.
Mystical One/21

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Tunica

<snip>From what I see, they're just doing their homework and trying to get stuff in place BEFORE they make huge claims.....<snip>

According to their website, they have been very restrained in their announcements and claims.. from what I've read... "elsewhere" the grandious speculation has been made with other people's words speaking.. not necessairly creditiable to the Tunica officials..

It certainly is looking more like an event will take place at Tunica MS this year in June. Some notable players have chimed in that they are going to be a part of it, we're "digging" out more info and will have what facts are available fairly soon here..

I guess we're gonna have to make those reservations, despite our reservations..

[T. Adams]

Re: Tunica

Just checking hotels and rates online today. There is not a whole bunch available. Not cheap either. My nightly rate at Circus-Circus for the week in Reno is a real bargin compared to Tunica.
Memphis is 35 miles away, may be a better option. Don't know if I'm going yet, I need to see who is showing up first.

[T. Adams]

Re: Tunica

Well they have updated the website: http://tunicaairraces.com/

But still no concrete info. on who is going to attend and race.

[ShermB]

Re: Tunica

Have you noticed that there are no scheduled qualifying times, only "practices"? I would say these are demo races, which is the way many air races start. I would be curious to see what acts have been signed to do the show. I wish them well and hope we have a new racing venue that endures.
Betty

[speeddemon]

Re: Tunica

Have you noticed that there are no scheduled qualifying times, only "practices"? I would say these are demo races, which is the way many air races start. I would be curious to see what acts have been signed to do the show. I wish them well and hope we have a new racing venue that endures.
Betty

No Betty, I talked to Jeff and they're not 'demo' by any stretch of the imagination. I also told him over and over that he needs to get in touch with you about NAG services.