Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

TROJAN WARRIORS

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • TROJAN WARRIORS

    Recalling the brief tenure of the T-28 Racing Class, the classic Rodney Dangerfield- 'I get no respect' line comes to mind. Despite high hopes for the class' great potential for fan appeal by filling the speed niche between T-6 & Unlimited Class events - the T-28 Class passed through the air racing scene almost as quickly as a strafing run.

    North American began producing the T-28 as successor to their great T-6/SNJ advanced primary trainer, with first flight in Sept. 1949. N/A built over 2,000 for military use by two dozen nations, and the type saw combat duty in SE Asia. Most T-28s are powered by Wright R-1820 series engines.

    Described by some as- 'a T-6 on steroids', the big & pugnacious Trojan made sporadic attempts as Unlimited Class entrants over the years at Reno, beginning in 1983. Thanks to the organizing efforts of a hard core cadre of operators led by the late, great aviator & air racer- Neil Anderson, the T-28 Racing Class made its' formal debut at the '95 Phoenix 500 Air Races. They made their presence known at Reno '96 with demonstration races, and returned for trophy competition at Reno '98.

    Sporting bold & appropriately-descriptive monikers like- "MONSTER", "THE BEAR", "ULTIMATE HOOKER" & "ORGASMATRON", etc., the T-28s bypassed all pretense of glamour and got right down to displaying some truly professional & highly-impressive AIR RACING at its' finest! Then they flew off into the sunset... Personally, I really loved experiencing the excitement of watching the T-28s compete, and hope they'll one day return to the race course.

    Here's a mini-gallery tribute to the T-28 Class and a BIG Thanks to all the folks who worked hard to show us the racing mettle of the mighty- 'Trojan Warriors'! DBD

    Various Reno photos - top row (L-R):

    1. Sat. 9/12/98: Chris Miller's Race #35 ORGASMATRON shows-off its' big paddle prop.

    2. Wed. 9/16/98: T-28s lined up & ready, for the start of their practice & qualifying period.

    3. Tue. 9/15/98: Les Salz warms up his- 'Balz Out Aviation' T-28 - Race #22.

    4. Sun. 9/13/98: Lud Carrao starts his T-28 #37 SMOKIE to join Chris Miller for some test & practice flying.

    5. Sat. 9/19/98: Excellent formation taxi-out by the T-28s, led by Skip Holm & Lud Carrao in Lud's Douglas AD-5 Skyraider pace plane for start of T-28 Heat-3A.

    More Reno photos - bottom row (L-R):

    1. Sat. 9/19/98: "Let's get ready to- RUMBLE!" - Everyone's spotted into the wind for takeoff to start T-28 Heat-3A.

    2. Sun. 9/20/98: T-28 GOLD RACE - Lap 1 photo shows the racers aggressively heading for Pylon T-4.

    3. Sun. 9/15/96: Reno '96 T-28 GOLD RACE photo captures the Trojans turning Outer 8 Pylon strictly for the fun & experience (demo only - no prize money!).

    4. Thur. 9/17/98: T-28 Heat-1A - Lap 4. Rick Raesz holds down 2nd-place in #29 Monster, sandwiching Neil Anderson flying Trojan #028 in 3rd, ahead of Chris Miller in #35 Orgasmatron. Boyce Thelan won the 6-lap heat at 272.231-av/mph flying #95 Mega Bucks. Raesz-Anderson & Miller finished 2-3-4 @ 271.866 - 271.583 - 271.156-av/mph, respectively. (Note: The predominance of grey painted T-28 racers made things a bit challenging for the pylon judge & timer ops!)

    5. Sun. 9/20/98: T-28 GOLD RACE - Lap 6. Dan Lawson expertly turns Pylon T-4 in his sharp #86 Spirit of American Valley, heading for his 5th-place finish @ 269.126-av/mph.
    Attached Files

  • #2
    Re: TROJAN WARRIORS

    Thanks Bucky for the memories....I do wish it could have been a long lived class of racers! I still love to see one fly over and hear the rumble!!!!!
    Went Fast, Forgot to Turn Left, Saw God!

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: TROJAN WARRIORS

      RARA should give this class another chance. Even with all the stuff that goes on in a typical day we end up getting out of there around 4:30. Go 'till 5:00.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: TROJAN WARRIORS

        Brings back the memories! Thanks Bucky!
        Tony

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: TROJAN WARRIORS

          Great post Bucky, I really enjoyed that show also.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: TROJAN WARRIORS

            *disregard* I answered my own question.
            Last edited by dvddude; 05-27-2008, 01:14 PM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: TROJAN WARRIORS

              Here's another photo 'mini-gallery' tribute to bygone Trojan Warrior racers... DBD

              Top row (L-R):

              1. Reno/Stead - Mon. 9/16/85: Cockpit portrait of pilot- Neil Anderson (1933-2006) in Unlimited Super Sea Fury- Race #8 DREADNOUGHT. Anderson was a renowned world-class aviator who logged over 15,000 flight hours in 200+ aircraft types as a Marine Corps fighter pilot, General Dynamics test pilot, rocket design engineer & NASA astronaut flight trainer. Most air racing fans remember Neil as Dreadnought's initial race pilot for Reno '83 (winning GOLD), Reno '84 & Reno '85 (thwarted from winning a second GOLD by cutting Outer 8 Pylon on Lap-8's last turn). Neil Anderson's enthusiasm & involvement in T-28s, made him the 'go-to guy' for establishing a T-28 Racing Class in short order for the '95 Phoenix 500 Air Races.

              2 & 3. Innaugural T-28 Race Class entry field - Phoenix 500/Williams Gateway Airport - Tue. 3/21/95. Photo 2 (L-R): Racers #206 (N28DS, P-Bruce Wallace), #6 (NX83AW, P-Boyce Thelan) & #11 (N311LK, P-Dan Lawson). Photo 3 (L-R): #33 (N137NA, P-Jay Shower), #620 (NX23ES, P-Earl Schafer) & #28 (NX28NB, P-Rick Raesz). Jay Shower won the T-28 Gold (3/26/95) in #33 The Bear (named after owner Jack Strehl's dog- 'Bear') @239.175mph.

              4. Reno T-28 GOLD - Sun. 9/20/98: Leader & Gold winner- Rick Raesz in #29 approaches Pylon T-4 on Lap 6, as John Sledge (#028), Boyce Thelan (#95) & Chris Miller (#35) dogfight for 2nd-place close behind, and all finished respectively in that order.

              5. Reno - Mon. 9/16/96: Chris Miller's #35 ORGASMATRON makes a very low pass right down on the deck along Stead Field's main runway.

              Bottom row (L-R):

              1. Reno/Stead - Wed. 9/16/98: Neil Anderson in the cockpit of Race #028, getting ready to startup his Wright R-1820 for flying the course.

              2. Reno T-28 GOLD - Sun. 9/20/98 - Lap 6: A followup shot to top row photo #4, shows #028, #95 & #35 opening up a bit for their turn around Pylon T-4.

              3. Reno '96 T-28 GOLD (Demo) - Sun. 9/15/96: Bruce Wallace in #33 The Bear (dk. blue) sees Rick Raesz pressing him hard going down the main straightaway towards the checkered flag, giving one of those thrilling- back-in-the-pack duels during the final lap of the race (Lap 5). The late John Herlihy took first place flying #863 @ 263.312-av/mph, with Neil Anderson coming in second in #35.

              4. Reno '98 T-28 GOLD - Sun. 9/20/98: Bruce Wallace (#33) & Dan Lawson (#86) duel going around Pylon T-4 on Lap 4. Lawson finished 5th (269.126-mph) & Wallace placed 6th (267.695-mph).

              5. Reno '98 T-28 Heat-1A - Thur. 9/17/98: #33-The Bear cuts Outer 8 Pylon (-'bigtime') while providing a dramatic photo-op that shows The Trojan's bold North American design form in action.

              A BIG TOAST FOR THE RETURN OF THE TROJAN RACERS!!! DBD
              Attached Files
              Last edited by BuckyD; 06-03-2008, 04:23 AM.

              Comment

              Working...
              X