Hi there Race Fans and Fellow Addicts,
I believe that this should be the final in the series of Favorite Photos from
the Air Race Addict Attic,, before R2k. I have been highlighting aircraft
from the past that I wish would be at R2k, but won't for one reason or other.
Delmar and the Geebee fit that description. Plus, with the Airshow page that I
made, I thought that I should include at least one from that category to finish
the series.

There are several reasons the Gee Bee won't be appearing at R2k. One is the fact
that with the Blue Angels staging out of Stead, there was a time factor involved.
That is probably the biggest reason. I can't help but think that there is a more
insidious reason as well. The FAA geek that gave Delmar a bad time a few years ago
is probably still around. There seems to be an attitude among the latest hires of
the FAA that they have to make a name for themselves. What better way than to take
the license of someone who is far more qualified to be flying than the majority of
licensed pilots in the U.S. It was attempted at Reno. It happened at another venue
with Bob Hoover. Now, I don't have a personal beef with the FAA, after all, I do have
an Airman Certificate myself and follow the regulations to the best of my ability. I
do have a beef with a bunch of idiots who are running around without proper super-
vision, trying to make themselves something they are not. Okay, I am done ranting.


So, Delmar built the Geebee from the ground-up. It is an entirely accurate reproduc-
tion of the Granville Brothers famous R-2 racer. There were several different racers
built by the Granvilles, but this was the most recognized, and in the opinion of many
the most deadly. Jimmy Doolittle did race the R-2 with success, winning the Thompson
Trophy race in 1932. But, there was not to be any more. The aircraft was a handful to
fly and was crashed and rebuilt several times. The last crash destroyed the aircraft
and killed allen Granville after he modified the aircraft against the advice of his
brothers. Delmar recreated the aircraft and learned how to fly it in a way that has
amazed experts and fans alike. If you ever get to see it, you will see what I mean.
That's my story for this week's installment of the Air Race Addict's favorite photos.
Hopefully, by next Wednesday, I'll have something to put up from R2k. Until then....
Thanks once again for visiting.
Sincerely, The Air Race Addict