Where to sit and other questions.

[Skyracer]

Re: Where to sit and other questions.

All good advice. Oh yeah ....Brings lots of cash. between food, hotels and gambling...there won't be much left for all the stuff they sell....hats, shirts, books, drawings, oddball souvineers...etc.

A friend of mine put together a Reno air race slide show several years ago (well duh!, it was a slide show). The first slide was of an air race program, a pit pass, three credit cards, and a casino chip (all artfully composed) .

[JCH]

Re: Where to sit and other questions.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. We are really looking forward to coming out there for the races.

[JET1]

I just sit in my car parked all over the ramp...

heh.....but I always stay at the grand sierra/hilton/mgm grand/etc as its the most convenient to get in and out of. I haven't been downtown in years.....

[T.F.]

Re: Where to sit and other questions.

For Sat. and Sun. at least, it's worth the extra bucks to sit in reserved. General admission seats are a little sketch on the big days.

[hattend]

Re: Where to sit and other questions.

If anybody is interested, including the originater of this thread, I have two Box Seat tickets available. $330 a set. Box A-81 (front row), pit passes Mon-Sun, special parking passes.

PM me if you are interested.

Don Hatten
Go Bear
Box A-81

[Coyote Chris]

Re: Where to sit and other questions.

All good advice. I would spend a bit of time in Section 3 with us crazy people. One thing that really isnt mentioned on official websites is the daily events. The first Sunday is kind of an official practice day. Monday and Tuesday are qualifications and are very exciting, especially if you have a scanner. You want race control Freq which we dont give out here but someone there will give it to you when you arrive. Wednesday is a makeup qualification day and race day. The rest is as advertised. I motorcycle down from Spokane and camp out in the church lot. You would be suprised to find out what you can see and hear early in the morning and at dusk there. You might even see three Tigercats in the air at once.
Scolaris is a big race supporter and they are at a very useful small shopping center near Military and Lemmon....right off the US395 .print out some google maps. Just walk up to the customer service counter and say you are an out of town air race fan and you dont even need a Scolaris card to get five bucks off daily tickets....also works at the check out stand for supplies on sale. No pit passes though.
Lots of teams shop there and eat at the McDonalds early in the morning.
Nice murals of planes in both places.
Above all, get there early in the day every day. Avoid the long lines and cavity searches and the joint gets hoppin' early.
I think you can bring in water but not alot else, if I remember right.
I bring in a small pack or fanny pack with water, sunscreen, sunglasses,
notebook and pen, a small camera and small binocs. Many morning I see froast on my bike seat but usually the days are nice and warm. Hats are good. Fair warning. Once you come once, you may be hooked for life.

[Leo]

Re: Where to sit and other questions.

Another benefit to being there early on race days is the "dawn patrol", the welcome to sunlight flights by some of the racers. It is a very cool experience to have Strega, Voodoo or Bear tooling around with the sound echoing off the hills. Also, getting there early assures you are there for the Formulas and Biplanes. A lot of people that come later miss some of the best racing there is. There is so much more to see than just the unlimiteds!
You WILL be hooked. I came for a day in '76 on a lark and it became a yearly event and quest right then. I've only missed one since. My father-in-law went with me in '88 to "do something with the son-in-law" and has been going every year since. My son went to his first at age 4 and has been going 16 years now. It's more addictive than drugs!

[RarebearFan77]

Re: Where to sit and other questions.

Last year we couldnt take sunscreen in. They made everybody pile it into a corner by the fence. Don't know if they are gonna relax that this year. I am taking my 17 year old son for his first Reno adventure and we will be there on the 16th!!!!

[mrcraigarcher]

Re: Where to sit and other questions.

My family and I are very fortunate to sit where we sit. Let's just say it's very close to the action.

Before that fortune, however, we really liked the general admission. Years ago, I think they changed in 2004, you used to be able to get there early and get a spot right in front. The old bleachers didn't have that irritating walking row in front, so the front row of seats was unobstructed view!

Section 3 is a must to at least visit. If you can't find a place in the section, you should be able to find one nearby.

For me, my walk-around time is during the aerobatic performances. Not to take anything away from their amazing talent, but I can see that sort of stuff at just about any air show. These are air RACES, and are not to be missed!

The pit passes can be kind of pricey, but are really worth it for at least one day. If you really want a t-shirt or other souvenir from a specific race team, especially non-unlimiteds, the pits are just about the only way to get them. The pits are also a source of other really cool non-race things to see, such as the local CAF bi-plane and, if you're lucky, a tour of their F-86 work in progress.

Me, I'm not really a crowd person, so I usually only make one trip out of the pits (our seats are actually inside the pits) to check out the static displays. The Reno Air Racing Foundation has a really cool tent, some great staff, and they are in charge of awarding the heritage trophy. It's easy to find the airplanes competing for the heritage trophy. Find the most incredibly beautiful restored aircraft you can find on the tarmac and that's them.

In all, just try to experience the whole thing, slowly. If you miss something, especially in statics, it'll probably be back next year.

My best photography advice is to capture the people you're with more than the aircraft. The airplanes remain the same (for the most part), but people grow up, get old, and even if they look the same, they change from year to year between the ears. Don't worry about taking too many pictures of the actual races. You're not as good as Victor Archer or Tyson Rininger, so just give up now like the rest of us! There'll be a jillion photos posted here anyway.

I hope this helps a bit. I didn't intend for it to be this long when I started, but what can I say, the Air Races are truly special.

Have fun!
Craig

[greyphantom]

Re: Where to sit and other questions.

This is almost on topic, but has anybody ever paid the hundred bucks and took the bus ride out to go across the field where they have food and drinks and the planes fly right over you? Just wondering if its worth it or if you end up leaving wondering why you paid for it. Thanks!