My 2 cents

[AAFO_WSagar]

Originally posted by radialnut
I for one would like to thank you wayne for hanging around that night we were changing #2 cylinder it was a night we will all remember thanks again for your support. we will get them in 04

My pleasure!

It's hard to know what it is all about until you live it ey... I never laid a hand on a wrench or part this year but, glad ya'll liked that 150 LL coffee I made up for ya's...

Now.... is there any truth to the rumor that you emptied that last pot into the adi tank?? If so... we gotta work some more on the formula!



Wayne

[claylemon]

Originally posted by AAFO_WSagar
glad ya'll liked that 150 LL coffee I made up for ya's...

Wayne, Let's hope they won't need any coffee, but maybe some champagne or Bear Brew, because they know the Bear is ready to go. Confidence is always a good thing.

LOL Clay

[Kevin L]

Wayne,

We missed you at the friday dinner. I did get to introduce myself and speak with you briefly at the Bears hanger saturday afternoon. You were a little busy shooting pics of the crew as they cleaned off the oil and did the compression check of the engine. I think your comment was "get the hell out of my way, I'm trying to work here", or something to that effect. LOL Not really, you were very gracious in the giving of your time. I'm sure it had been a long day at that point.

I have been digging through my photos today and know what you mean about sorting out the crap. I shot around 175 photos, and probably have a small fraction of good shots. The pics I shot of you at the bear cave did not turn out well at all. All of the other ones there turned out fine, maybe my camera needs adjustment. I'm still using my old nikon FG with a MD-14 motor drive. I even had some guy ask me how old my camara was. Made me realize it turns 25 this year. I've got to get a new digital.

I do appreciate the hard work and extra effort that you put in to maintain this site. The info here keeps a lot of fans informed on the news in aviation. It is unfortunate that some teams think that to much attention has been focused on the Rare Bear team. They were open and informative with you. I'm sure you would treat any other team with the same respect. There are several teams I would like to see more info on. Czech mate, Riff Raff, and Miss America just to name a few. But you can't write the story if you don't get the info. This site and Scotty G.'s do a great service to the sport of air racing. I raise a glass of RB brew to you for your dedication.

I do reserve the right to complain in the future though.

Kevin Lloyd

[AAFO_WSagar]

Hi Kevin,

Your camera does not have a problem.. I just don't photograph well

Yes, Friday was a busy time and yes yes, it had been a very long day!

First pylon bus leaves at something like 7:10 or so in the morning and then you're out there till about noon, quick lunch and it's back out and in and out till the end of the day...

I believe that on Friday, I did one of the all day sessions.. some of it with Jeff Lo's Nikon 80-400VR lens.. which wound up costing me almost a grand when I bought Richard Vander Muellen's used one... *sigh* could not afford it, but... once used, I was stuck, hadda have it..

Of course, VR does not compensate totally for the shakes, which, every time John Penney flew by me, I managed to get until he was safely on the ground and in the hands of the crew...

Gonna have to work on that one..

I'm a pretty "emotional" type-A person... know John and his family pretty well and the crew even better.. I'm at the point that I have to agree with what Ron Englund (project manager for the Hughes Racer) said to me during last year's speed runs at Reno..

"I just want to get it back on the ground".....

It's strange really but the longer I go to the races, the less I actually enjoy the racing. It becomes far too personal and I've yet to figure out how to deal with the emotions.. Losing Jim Wright hit me very hard.. I don't really think I'm over that one yet so seeing my friends up there risking it all... sort of takes away from the fun of it for me..

I'm sure I'll sort it out by next year, I hope!

It is an issue though, to be sure..

Wayne

[Race 29]

To get the correct recipe for late night "working on the Bear" coffee, you need specific calculations. You take the fourth remizudik of the sene-mena-pitiquad, factor in the differation of the fracshiation...........then just add water, ADI if you have it!

Honestly, Wayne you are the shizznit! I was there after the Gold when you introduced the world biggest Bear fan to John Penny (I forget his name, I appologise). You could have sat there snapping picture after picture of John signing autographs, but instead you felt it was important for a true fan to be introduced, and get his picture taken with John. I really thought that was sooo cool, and unselfish of you. By the way, I'm surprized your "Spy Satelite" camera gave you any trouble at all, that thing was bad ass! I can see why you say it's high dollar!

Race 29
I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeVille!

[AAFO_WSagar]

WoW...

Wow Race Two Nine...

Yea.. yer gettin close on that coffee formula... although, you don't add ADI to it... you add IT to the ADI!

But, then... if I told anyone the formula.. I'd have to kill em!



That Numba One Bear Fan's name is Don Hatten and he's just one of the many really loyal Rare Bear fans who came through and made this... miracle.. happen... But he came through, again, and again, and again... then, even when he couldn't afford it.. He came through again, big time!

Every time they asked, Don was there with whatever he could offer..

There are about 1000 names on the list I'd think, counting all of the "Bronze" level fans.

It's one hell of a story when you think about it..

The CREW are even fans! Yep... last year, not long before Reno, that gang was a bunch of race fans, they had the skills, the Bear had the need and they stepped up to the plate.. BIG TIME!

Did anyone notice how hard that family works for that airplane? And I mean family... the wives, the kids, the friends.. EVERYONE involved with everyone of them works on the airplane..

Talk about anyone being the sczzihtt.. it's THEM!

I just wander around, try to stay out of the way (successfully some of the time ) and try not to touch the airplane... yep... that's sort of a hex thing of mine.. I will not "work" on any race airplane, not even wipe it.. I'll throw kitty litter on a spill, or make coffee, or whatever but.. that's it..

Not that I'm lazy... it's just a "thing" I have.. I've done it in the past but... never again..

Those guys, on the other hand... geezus.... I think Lyle totaled up something like 6,000 man hours on that airplane.. and a lot of those are highly skilled A&P hours..

Did anyone else notice that there were very few glitches for the Bear this year? The brake thing, self-induced and an offshoot of a maintenence issue.. The gear doors.. same, but both were fixed within moments of finding them.. The cylinders, not their gig... someone else built them.. but, having never worked on Radials before.. that group nailed it in a heartbeat... John Slack worked with them and they completely impressed that hard nosed (sorry John) sucker.. so if he's sold, they're gold!

I hope they all get to sleep for a week!

They deserve it!

Wayne