So,
What's a
Dawn Patrol?
.....you ask. First,
I must say, it seems to me that this is an event that I knew, for the
last twenty years, was happening, I just didn't know how to go about
participating in it. Until...... I met these two guys named Brad Haskin
and Mark Kallio. If you have been around the current flock of message
boards and Air Race dedicated websites, you would recognize Brad's
writing and handle of "Prospector", (a reference to Precious
Metal), and most likely be aware that Mark happens to be the webmaster
at the top Air Race Website around, Pylon
1. Through them, I learned about the possibility of my obtaining
Press Credentials for the 2000 version of the Reno National Championship
Air Races, (also known as R2k), and the eventual awarding of those privileges
to me by RARA, (thanks for the chance). I learned a few other things as
well, but no need to go into that here.
Brad shared with me a video
he had made in 1999 at the Air Races, and in this video, he had some
beautiful shots of early morning activity on the ramp and in the pits.
This intrigued the artist side of my brain, and made me want to partake
in this activity with the chance of getting some really nice photos. The
really great thing about this time of day is that there are hardly any
people wandering around to get in the way of taking photos, because it
is before the main gates are open to the general public. (Besides the
Press Credentials, there are only a couple of other way that I know of
that allows access to the pits before the main gate opens. This method
is by joining NAG, a group dedicated to Air Racing. You can join NAG and
get a wristband that allows you 24 hour ramp access, (with the purchase
of a four day pit pass). I arranged ahead of time to meet with Brad and
wander around with him to get my indoctrination, looking for that
perfect shot. The photos in this article are from Saturday and Sunday
morning, and with them, I will take you on a tour of the pits and ramp
during this very special time of day, known as "Dawn Patrol".
I hope you enjoy this little tale, as much as I enjoyed being a part of
it, {;-)
The Dawn Patrol
2000
(part 1)
I woke up at the Air Race
Addict basecamp out in the "Valley of Speed", looking forward
to seeing Brad again, as I had not seen him since June, when the Miss
Freei Unlimited Hydroplane made it's first attempt at the world's speed
record, (which it broke the next day). I cautiously worked my way past
the sleeping addicts in the "Mighty Pursuit", and gathered my
equipment for the day. Seeing as how it was only 5:30 AM, I was the only
one moving and it was soooo quiet. I stepped out of the motor home into
the cool, crisp, clear morning air of the high Nevada desert. My fellow
Addict "Fed X" Bob, followed me out a few minutes later and we
shared a cup of coffee and thoughts about the day to come. The
anticipation was killing me regarding the events to unfold before me. I
loaded the laptop and the cameras into the "Mighty Ranger",
(pickup brought by Fed X Bob). Out of the valley I drove, up to Red Rock
Road and a refreshing ride into the Races.
Pulling up to the pit gate, I
found that I was privy to the #1 parking spot. So good so far, heh, heh.
I grabbed my video camera, my trusty Pentax, and tripod, (very important
for the low light levels), and walked in like I o wned the place. I
immediately made my way to the Unlimited parking area, the only sounds
wafting across the pits being the low hum of generators from the Dago
Red and Voodoo pits, and an occasional song of the Western Meadowlark. I
looked around for Brad, and not seeing him immediately, began my own
tour of the pits, Pentax at the ready. Wandering around, I looked for
those perfect shots, hoping my skills as a budding photo-journalist
wouldn't let me down. Only time would tell. There were many nice views
of the Racers to be had. The moon was still at a fairly high angle in
the sky, providing a couple of opportunities for some artistic shots
with the moon in the background. The lighting was incredible and really provided
a sharp contrast to that found in the "normal" midday
sunshine. Dr. Brent Hisey's unmistakable #11 racer, Miss America, and
Bill Rheinschild's Race #45, Risky Business, gleamed in the "dawn's
early light". All of the other aircraft were there. All sleeping,
in anticipation of the day that was to be one of the more exciting of
the week. Critical Mass, parked by the Dago Red  pit, was eerily quiet to
me, knowing what a fire breathing, snorting monster she really is. The Air show
performers' aircraft were all sleeping too. It wouldn't be too long
before this sleepy little city would be awake with the sights and sounds
familiar to most visitors to the Reno Air Races. I scurried around, ever
watchful for that perfect shot, and keeping a sharp eye out for Brad,
and just enjoyed the setting and the quiet. The aircraft were all closed
up , shiny and clean, nobody around to give them the attention they will
most certainly be getting later that day. I hope that this little
article is true to the reader in portraying what a wonderful time this
is in the pits and what a truly re markable view one gets of the aircraft
on hand for the "Early Bird". It is a time I will never
forget, and hope to
experience again in the 2001 issue of the Reno National Championship Air
Races and Air Show, and many more to come. And yes, for those of you who
are wondering, I did eventually run into Brad, who was running around
getting his own record of the Dawn Patrol, probably chasing each other
around the pits within a minute or two of each other {;-) With a great
big Howdy and greeting, the two of us proceeded to start filming in earnest,
Brad with the video camera and myself with the still. Brad has been
noted for his "Bradfire" video that he puts together every
year. It is a play on the "Sky Fire" video that was up until
last year, a very popular souvenir for the first time Reno Air Race visitor and
Air Race Addict alike. But, they are giving up the project after a very successful 20
year run. Not sure why, but it is so.
Gallery 1
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Dawn Patrol, Part II
Coming Soon
Photos and Story by Bill Clark,
Webmaster AirRaceAddict.com
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