Some old Reno pics

[wingman]

Actually I do like the shot, as an example of "could have been" and a record of "what was". The last shot in the sequence is a long time favourite of mine, though. Three of my favourite WW2 shapes...

[Russ Craig]

Sir, I understand the "perfectionist's lament"; but believe me, we are still glad to see this "as is", and appreciate this photo as another great contribution to one of the greatest threads ever!

[wingman]

Unfortunately, one cannot always get it right. I missed this by about half a second.... No motor drives or even autowinders in those "primitive" days. No fancy zoom lenses, either. No "spray and pray" like the young dudes do these days. You had exactly one chance to get it right.

[wingman]

This was from the Pylon 2 of the time -- quite a bit West and down the hill from the 21st Century Pylon 2. Robert A. "Bob" used to release the Racers much lower and slower than Steve did in later years.

[wingman]

Reno 1979, Saturday middle heat. Mustangs, a Bearcat, and a Sea Fury. A nice racing field.

[SpinB]

Wow..Have Bags, Will Travel!!

[wingman]

A photo by Birch Matthews and printed by me. I always liked the look of this long range version. Much to see compared to the more familiar modern versions. Notice wing tips, canopy, cowl flaps etc.

Jack Hovey's recently acquired Mustang in the background.

[wingman]

Bearcat Bill -- Reno 1988

[wingman]

A Bearcat in Bakersfield. Howard was like Lefty -- he'd go anywhere to go racing.

[wingman]

Here's one from long ago, when both Bearcats and Invaders were rare on the racecourse...

[wingman]

Thank you, Brad

Five Bearcats -- that's actually really impressive considering how small the racing fields were back then. By the time I got started less than five years later Bearcats were pretty uncommon.and sometimes absent. They came and went over the years but fo me they were always an event in themselves.

[Big_Jim]

So four Bearcats racing at Reno 2007. Is that a record?

There have been four Bearcats in the field several times. The high point was five in 1973. Lyle Shelton, Bud Fountain, Mike Smith, Jack Sliker and John Herlihy.

[wingman]

So four Bearcats racing at Reno 2007. Is that a record?

[wingman]

Dave Morss gently toured Reno 2007 in "The Provenance Bearcat".

[wingman]

Round motors, and Pete Law.

Photo by Birgitta...