Reno Pix Are Up!

[Jay Honeck]

See 'em at www.alexisparkinn.com/2004_reno_air_races.htm .
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jack Allison]

Cool pictures Jay. So...I guess this proves that you were there :-)
Looking at how you guys were dressed while there, it's obvious you
didn't stay Saturday/Sunday. Brrrrr, it was cold. Jeans and a
sweatshirt Saturday were a minimum...and I was still shivering sitting
in the stands with a 15-20 kt wind blowing all day.

Many of the pictures look *very* familiar given our last two treks to
OSH. Thanks for posting them.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, IA Student

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[cj]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Honeck" >
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.piloting
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 9:49 AM
Subject: Reno Pix Are Up!


> See 'em at www.alexisparkinn.com/2004_reno_air_races.htm .
> --
> Jay Honeck

Y'know, I have lived at Tahoe for 21 years. And, after seeing your
pictures, for the first time I want to go to the Air Races!

Great job.

By the way, you said you crossed the "Sierra Nevada Mountains" (thanks for
not saying the "Sierras"). Unless you snuck in a visit to Jim in Grass
Valley, you crossed the Rockies twice, but the Sierra Nevada (and its
mountain waves) will have to wait for another excursion.

-cj

[G.R. Patterson III]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> See 'em at www.alexisparkinn.com/2004_reno_air_races.htm .

Nice shots. The "Typhoon?" shot is a Fairey Firefly -- there are no Typhoons flying.
If I've read correctly, there's only one in existence, and it's static. And "Rare
Bear" isn't the world's fastest plane -- better stick the word "piston" in there
someplace. Nice panning on the race shots.

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.

[Jack Allison]

cj wrote:

> Y'know, I have lived at Tahoe for 21 years. And, after seeing your
> pictures, for the first time I want to go to the Air Races!

Similar story here. Lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1974,
moved to Sacramento in 1980...first time to the races was two years ago.
Definitely one of those "why didn't I do that sooner" experiences.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, IA Student

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

[Jay Honeck]

> Similar story here. Lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1974,
> moved to Sacramento in 1980...first time to the races was two years ago.
> Definitely one of those "why didn't I do that sooner" experiences.

I'm kind of confused by the Reno Air Races, to be honest.

Here they are, the fastest, most exciting motor sport in the world -- and
almost no one outside of the aviation community knows about them. Even in
Reno, which did have a fair amount of local media coverage, there were no
meaningful race results published daily. It was mostly "fluff" pieces in
the local paper, and on the evening news.

Strangely, there wasn't even any venue to bet on the results, which
(although I don't like to gamble) seemed odd in a city where gambling on
ANYTHING is encouraged. Wouldn't you think they would have had some sort
of method for betting on the races?

And here's the final mystery: They have no television contract. Why hasn't
ESPN jumped all over this venue? It's incredibly dangerous, exciting,
fast, and macho -- all the things NASCAR has, times three.

Or, perhaps, the organizers don't want them to? Are they trying to keep it
insular?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[cj]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:ndI4d.245778$Fg5.212469@attbi_s53...

> I'm kind of confused by the Reno Air Races, to be honest.
>
> Here they are, the fastest, most exciting motor sport in the world -- and
> almost no one outside of the aviation community knows about them. Even
in
> Reno, which did have a fair amount of local media coverage, there were no
> meaningful race results published daily. It was mostly "fluff" pieces in
> the local paper, and on the evening news.

The focus is on the Unlimited class, but I do recall reading in the Reno
Gazette Journal about how the biplanes snuck up in the speed ranks.

> Strangely, there wasn't even any venue to bet on the results, which
> (although I don't like to gamble) seemed odd in a city where gambling on
> ANYTHING is encouraged. Wouldn't you think they would have had some sort
> of method for betting on the races?

Ladbrokes (sp?) in England will take bets on almost anything. In Nevada,
with boxing being the glaring exception, if a single person could throw the
event, they tend to not take any action on the event. Many years ago, when
Oral Roberts said he'd stay in his tower unless God sent him X million
dollars, you could bet on it in England but not in Nevada.

There used to be a club by the train tracks (across from the Silver Legacy)
called the "Turf Club". It was the only place where I ever saw bets on a
tennis tournament months before the event. They probably had Air Race
betting.

> And here's the final mystery: They have no television contract. Why
hasn't
> ESPN jumped all over this venue? It's incredibly dangerous, exciting,
> fast, and macho -- all the things NASCAR has, times three.

I remember watching ABC's "Wide World of Sports", back in the day when they
had Acapulco cliff diving and such. They showed a crash at Reno where the
pilot's shoes were on the ground but the pilot survived. I wish I could
honor the pilot by remembering his name.

I suspect the lack of a series keeps the networks away. Before WW-II, there
were a number of air races and speed competitions. Now, there is one (the
"races" to fly-ins don't really count for TV). Wide World of Sports
devolved into gymnastics and figure skating, and the opportunity to see
unusual sports has evolved into the "Xtreme" crap. I have a friend who
races Skier-cross in the winter "X" games. It is a made for TV spectacle -
however, it is built around well marketted series of preliminary events.

The race organizers had a big setback in September, 2001. Hopefully, they
can find a way to get on the "Xtreme" bandwagon without alientating those of
us who keep the bill of our hat facing forward and don't use "Dude" as a
comma.

-cj

[Jay Honeck]

> The race organizers had a big setback in September, 2001. Hopefully, they
> can find a way to get on the "Xtreme" bandwagon without alientating those
of
> us who keep the bill of our hat facing forward and don't use "Dude" as a
> comma.

Well put.

You would think that ESPN2 would at least cover the event. It's a mystery
to me.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Montblack]

("Jay Honeck" wrote)
> You would think that ESPN2 would at least cover the event. It's a
mystery
> to me.


I too remember watching air races on TV in the 70's. I assume it was ABC WW
of Sports.

BTW - nice pixs on your site Jay.


"Dodgeball on The Ocho - ESPN8"

Montblack

[Newps]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>>The race organizers had a big setback in September, 2001. Hopefully, they
>>can find a way to get on the "Xtreme" bandwagon without alientating those
>
> of
>
>>us who keep the bill of our hat facing forward and don't use "Dude" as a
>>comma.
>
>
> Well put.
>
> You would think that ESPN2 would at least cover the event. It's a mystery
> to me.

It's been on ESPN before, problem is is that it is terribly boring.

[Jay Honeck]

> It's been on ESPN before, problem is is that it is terribly boring.

ESPN covers golf, tennis, billiards, and soccer -- so it seems they've made
a franchise out of covering boring sports.

How much worse could air racing 20 feet off the ground at over 500 mph be?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Peter Duniho]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:C_25d.104332$MQ5.83177@attbi_s52...
>> It's been on ESPN before, problem is is that it is terribly boring.
>
> ESPN covers golf, tennis, billiards, and soccer -- so it seems they've
> made
> a franchise out of covering boring sports.
>
> How much worse could air racing 20 feet off the ground at over 500 mph be?

Seriously. I mean, if the coverage of the air races is boring, it's not the
fault of the races. With proper camera work and commentary, it should be
just as exciting as, if not more so, any other high-speed racing (e.g.
Formula 1, NASCAR, etc.)

I suspect the lack of a series has more to do with it than lack of
excitement. Of course, there's also the issue of sticking with the coverage
long enough to generate a following large enough to justify the air time.

In any case, it's up to the Reno organizers to deal with these issues. I
don't see why ESPN would have any incentive to invest in Reno, since they
have plenty of other sports vying for their attention. Reno needs to sell
the idea to ESPN and get the necessary commitment needed to leave it on the
air long enough for a following to develop. And that probably can't happen
until there's enough races each year for people to not forget about the
races after a year's gone by. As far as the general public goes, one race a
year is an exhibition, not a sport.

There's no reason air racing can't be a viable, televised sport like NASCAR.
But the air race organizers need to structure the sport to be like that;
they can't expect the viewing public and networks to change to fit them.

Pete

[Javier Henderson]

Newps > writes:

> Jay Honeck wrote:
> >>The race organizers had a big setback in September, 2001. Hopefully, they
> >>can find a way to get on the "Xtreme" bandwagon without alientating those
> > of
> >
> >>us who keep the bill of our hat facing forward and don't use "Dude" as a
> >>comma.
> > Well put.
> > You would think that ESPN2 would at least cover the event. It's a
> > mystery
> > to me.
>
> It's been on ESPN before, problem is is that it is terribly boring.

Poker and billiards aren't? They got those on all the time.

-jav

[Javier Henderson]

"Jay Honeck" > writes:

> > It's been on ESPN before, problem is is that it is terribly boring.
>
> ESPN covers golf

Check

> tennis

Check

> billiards,

Check

> and soccer -- so it seems they've made

HEY!

-jav

[Jay Honeck]

> > and soccer -- so it seems they've made
>
> HEY!

Whoops! Sorry...

Soccer can be, um, invigorating!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> There's no reason air racing can't be a viable, televised sport like
NASCAR.
> But the air race organizers need to structure the sport to be like that;
> they can't expect the viewing public and networks to change to fit them.

I'm hoping that the new Red Bull Races are the start of just such a series.

Man, it was exciting to watch! And it's PERFECT for TV.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Newps]

Javier Henderson wrote:
> Newps > writes:
>
>
>>Jay Honeck wrote:
>>
>>>>The race organizers had a big setback in September, 2001. Hopefully, they
>>>>can find a way to get on the "Xtreme" bandwagon without alientating those
>>>
>>>of
>>>
>>>
>>>>us who keep the bill of our hat facing forward and don't use "Dude" as a
>>>>comma.
>>>
>>>Well put.
>>>You would think that ESPN2 would at least cover the event. It's a
>>>mystery
>>>to me.
>>
>>It's been on ESPN before, problem is is that it is terribly boring.
>
>
> Poker and billiards aren't? They got those on all the time.

It's all about putting buts in seats. If every pilot in the country
watched the air race on TV it would still be less tha n 10% of the
audience of the poker game.

[Peter Duniho]

"Newps" > wrote in message
...
> It's all about putting buts in seats. If every pilot in the country
> watched the air race on TV it would still be less tha n 10% of the
> audience of the poker game.

A properly managed sport would not have to rely on the pilot population for
viewership.

You don't really think all those folks watching NASCAR watch it because they
own a car themselves, do you?

(And no, I'm not saying that what air racing needs is more crashes...don't
even "go there")

[Jay Honeck]

> You don't really think all those folks watching NASCAR watch it because
they
> own a car themselves, do you?

Precisely.

I think the lack of coverage almost has to be a conscious choice on the part
of the Reno organizers. Maybe, because of the isolated location, they fear
that people wouldn't actually pay to attend if they could watch it on TV?

I know pro-football had that (as it turned out, unfounded) fear for many
years.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jim Weir]

Speakin' o'which, Gail-from-Chicago says that the Bears kicked some hiney last
week at Lambeau, didn't they?

{;-)


Jim



"Jay Honeck" >
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

->
->I know pro-football had that (as it turned out, unfounded) fear for many
->years.


Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

[Montblack]

("Jim Weir" wrote)
> Speakin' o'which, Gail-from-Chicago says that the Bears kicked some hiney
last
> week at Lambeau, didn't they?
>
> {;-)


(Necessary Aviation Content - NAC)
I drove over to Lambeau and saw the field for the first time, on my way to
Oshkosh this year.

BTW, the Vikes are favored by 9 at home this week (in the Metrodome) against
those very same pesky Bears.

Purple Pride Baby ...I took the Bears and the points.

(More NAC)
New Viking stadium that's being proposed ($$$$$) will be built a mile
northeast of ANE - Anoka-Blaine Airport, which is 20 miles north of downtown
Mpls - where the Metrodome is.


Montblack

[Jay Honeck]

> Speakin' o'which, Gail-from-Chicago says that the Bears kicked some hiney
last
> week at Lambeau, didn't they?

God, that was an awful game to watch, for a guy who bleeds green and gold.
Especially after they looked so good on Monday Night Football six days
earlier...

AND the Hawkeyes got their asses handed to them on the same weekend, by
Arizona State! The whole town was in mourning...

The only satisfying thing about the whole danged weekend was watching the
Viqueens and Randy Moss blow yet another big Monday night game...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Newps]

Jay Honeck wrote:

>>Speakin' o'which, Gail-from-Chicago says that the Bears kicked some hiney
>
> last
>
>>week at Lambeau, didn't they?
>
>
> God, that was an awful game to watch, for a guy who bleeds green and gold.

Favre is done. You can't win with him anymore.

[Jay Honeck]

> > God, that was an awful game to watch, for a guy who bleeds green and
gold.
>
> Favre is done. You can't win with him anymore.

You think?

I dunno, he sure picked apart the NFC champions a couple of weeks ago.

When he's on, there's no one quite like him. But when he's "off" -- God,
it's awful to watch...

Worse, when he was on the sidelines (as in the pre-season) the Packers
couldn't score a touchdown. Not even one!

When he retires, the Packers will be right back to the "glorious" 70s and
80s, when they made Detroit look good.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"