50th Anniversary...then...

[Coyote Chris]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

If it were not for those pesky fans and sponsors, I bet any place like Greybull Wyoming would do if everyone didnt want a motel room. The problem is finding an airport of the right size that would take this on, in an area with a reasonable expectation of good weather and a low habitat desity around the courses, next to a good sized population center with hotels, etc that could provide sponsorship and paying fans. That's a pretty tall order.
I know nothing about the economics of putting on an event of this size,
but I bet it runs on cubic bucks. I really dont understand why people are willing to pay those big bucks to sit in the stands at a Nascar race and won't pay them to see our sport. If you guys would get busy and win that $375 million Power ball, we could have it at Greybull, actually pay the unlimiteds real money to race, and to heck with everything else!

[tim]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

I remember driving up military road one year and the new construction had taken over the old dirt lot. I figure that was it, a few years from now and it's all over. But then came the crash, (real estate, not airplane) and the model homes sit half finished, boarded up. As long as they sit there I think it's a good sign that the show will go on. When a house goes on the market near by for 10 or 15% off what I know they payed for it it think, at least we'll have Reno for a few more years. Just go every year like it's the last. They will end some day, but not yet...

[mrcraigarcher]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

(if the mormons keep fueling the boom there)

Really?

[Big_Jim]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

I am starting to feel like a broken record here for as many times as I\'ve brought this up....

The former George AFB in Victorville, CA.

Big ramp. Big runways. Big airspace and undeveloped land surrounding it. Close to the Los Angeles and Bay area populations.

[Leo]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

Reno has the right combination of airport, nightlife and RELATIVELY low density around it.
The housing in Lemmon Valley won't kill it per se, unless there is some tragedy involving the housing and a racer. There are always a few that whine about the races being close to them but they are the exception. It's actually a selling point for Red rock and Silver Springs.
It will be a while before those subdivisions are viable to develop anyway. Those models will end up dozed, they've been sitting too long now.
And I know my house has lost 50% of it's value and I can stand on my front porch and count 5 houses in my range of vision that are forclosed or short sales, so it will be a long time before anything new goes up out there!
Seems like this fear comes about every couple of years. For all it's faults and all the complaints RARA does put on a good show and the local government and business's support it fairly well (I think), it is money in their pockets.

[wolfee]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

I really dont know if Reno can afford to loose the air races at this point.

Hot August Nights looks like they could be moving or canceling the event in the next few years. How many people are going to continue going to HAN Reno when there is a new HAN in S.Cal the week before?
If HAN backs out of Reno, that will be a HUGE loss for Reno. But one that would be good for the air races.. Reno would invest more and be more accomedating to the races/fans just to keep from loosing that income as well.

[Leo]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

HAN attendence this past year was good, and most of the people I talked to would come back whether there was another one in So. Cal or not BUT it surely would dilute it as I am sure those in So. Cal would not venture north if there was something closer. All that would are the die-hards and they are not a mojority.
Sadly the cruise in downtown Reno is mostly gone, moved to Sparks for crowd control and safety reasons mainly.
Street Vibrations, the big biker bash, has moved to Sparks also. Reno had a couple of small blocks of bike display area, which you paid to enter your bike, and no vendors. Concerts were at the Harrah's outdoor plaza, and though well attended they were not crowded. A LOT of people complained about it all (I worked security downtown for most events this past year) and went away to Sparks, taking their money with them. Add to that the rising fees to have booths at any of the fesivals, cook-off's and such and Reno is hurting themselves badly it seems. The downtown areas are in disrepair in many cases, full of abandoned and empty hotels and casinos and the homeless are there in force again. redevelopment is planned but stalled by the economy.
The Air Races are held far enough away from the mainstream that it is not an "event" for downtown other than the rooms, restaurants and such being busy. Would be nice if they could take advantage of any new prominance as a larger event by including something there, like closed circuit, the parade, something.

[f1-69]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

leave it alone, the people that built there houses in lemmon valley knew it was an airport and knew they had races there every sept, as far as a new venue , everytime we race at reno it goes into a yearbook that spans back 65 years, that is historical in my book, if we race somewhere else its just some new race. the races I think need to be declared if not already a historical site/event, then no one can touch it. I do believe the race needs to treat the other classes better , I love the unlimited but it wouldnt be the event it is without the biplanes,f1,sport,t6,and the jets, just sayin we spend alot of money to get there and race just to get treated like side show step kids

[flyingjibus]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

Well if your planes were a little bigger you might get someone to pay attention to you.....

I love F-1, some of the best racing of the weekend and there is something about the way that place looks in the early morning that is really special...

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

F1-69 Race Pilot is right about F1 Racers. Most people don't realize in the Golden Years of Air racing that the planes were all home built & that aviation was advanced thru their efforts. What we see in the unlimited racers is that most are modified WWII fighters & not scracth built. We can already see some of the Super Sport planes getting closer to speeds of the slower unlimiteds. Of course the Unlimiteds are the big crowd pleasers. Keep Reno around as long as possible.

[Air Boss]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

Good back and forth...good thoughts all! There is truely something special about Stead. I can't put my finger on it but for me, there's no place on earth I'd rather be in mid-September.

At some point I'm sure I'll sit down and put into words what it means to me. But know this...

Every time I wake up on the field, dash to get dressed in the chill of the high desert and race to a certain spot on the tarmac to capture just the right image in just the right light...I feel connected to something so much bigger than anything I've ever felt connected to in my life. It's a magical place, filled with majestic machines and wonderous memories.

It may last for my lifetime, it may not...but I'll always have the hot, sweet aroma of desert sage and AVGAS in my nostriles. As a very famous man once said, "God help me, I do love it so!"

[BuckyD]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

"There is truely something special about Stead...It's a magical place, filled with majestic machines and wonderous memories."

Owen's words say it pretty well right there, I think.

+ Stead Field & the surrounding Nevada high desert geography offers the most beautiful perfect venue site, that's also a place filled with really great people too- every one of whom is absolutely-stoked about being there in person to share in the experience (-making f/some great company & generating genuine long-lasting friendships). Exhilaration & excitement & people living f/the moment. Where aviation history comes full-circle to merge w/history being made. Airspeed Mecca. Oh Yeah!

DBD

[t-dub]

Re: 50th Anniversary...then...

Owen's words say it pretty well right there, I think.

+ Stead Field & the surrounding Nevada high desert geography offers the most beautiful perfect venue site, that's also a place filled with really great people too- every one of whom is absolutely-stoked about being there in person to share in the experience (-making f/some great company & generating genuine long-lasting friendships). Exhilaration & excitement & people living f/the moment. Where aviation history comes full-circle to merge w/history being made. Airspeed Mecca. Oh Yeah!

DBD

Air Judge and Bucky nailed it. Stead has the same kind of magic and mystic as Indy and Daytona do. Just like Reno, if those races were ever moved to a different location, they just wouldn't be the same. Sure the races are still races, but the "feeling" would be lost. LONG LIVE RENO!!!