Hi there Race Fans and Fellow Addicts,
This weeks' Favorite Photo was taken in the "Valley of Speed" in 1998, during
the Gold Race on Sunday. Certainly no stranger to the Unlimited Air Racing at
Reno over the years, Dago Red has had her ups and downs. Originally designed
and modified by Tiger Destefani and company, Dago Red was an exception to the
rule. Fresh out of the shop, (in a manner of speaking), Dago Red won the Gold
in 1982, the first year in my latest string of visits to Reno. Under the steady
pilotage of Ron Hevle, she became an instant challenger to the likes of Rare Bear
and Sumthin'Else. After a brief career, the aircraft was bought and sold a couple
of times and fell into a state of, (in my opinion), disrepair and possible return
to original configuration. I distinctly remember seeing her with severe fading of
her once brilliant paint. She has in the last couple of years become a real threat
again, flown by David Price in 97, (where he flew inside pylon 6 and lost the Gold
by penalty), and most recently by Bruce Lockwood, Champion in 98, and again in a
really exciting race last year with Tiger Bill in Dago's sister ship, Strega. This
year brings another very good possibility of a win with the wiley veteran and prior
Champion himself, Skip Holm. With the recent news of Darryl Greenamyer's immenent
return to Unlimited Air Racing in Voodoo, and Tiger Bill Destefani in the #7 Strega,
there is a definite possibility of some records being broken this year. It doesn't
get any better than that folks. If you are not aware of Darryl's claim to fame, he
is a 7 time Champion at Reno himself. And, with the presence of a perennial spoiler
by the name of Dreadnought, also a prior Champion, Critical Mass, (a major threat this
year, and a couple of others, anything can happen. So hold on to your seats, come on
down to Reno, and witness what promises to be the best racing this Addict has ever, in
20 years, seen! There is an outstanding interview by Don "Bucky" Dawson at Pylon 1, with
Bruce Lockwood, ("Click Here") from last year that is worth a read.
That's my story for this week's installment of the Air Race Addict's favorite photos.
Thanks once again for visiting.
Sincerely, The Air Race Addict