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We woke up to low ceilings and rain in Townsend. No way to go direct and
mountain obs, weather falling! But not to be deterred, Neil said you've got a fast plane, let's due an end around. We kept her under the deck and went south skirting the rain and ice, finally saw hope around Salmon ID. We hopped over the ridges checking all the new snow and wondering how the supercub fly-in was staying warm at Johnson Creek 1.5 hrs later the ceilings are up and we can see Washington is in the clear. Our detour worked and we pointed Aurora to KEAT. 3hrs chock to chock and I met my first SARL Race Organizer, Tim B. He was very busy getting things ready and we were trashed so off we went to find a car/room and food and do some touristy stuff at Levenworth. Later we came back sat outside the FBO and soaked up the glorious sunshine that has been eluding us in Montana. Also met Red H. in a 225mph Wittman Tailwind(thought of you Chad) and a Long Ez landed about the time we left.

A call to my wife at Townsend and she said if we didn't leave when we did we would be at home right now, been raining most of the day, except when it hailed!

Big Race for me tomorrow..hope I don't get lost.

BTW-Aurora Race 155 ran like a top today.

I'll get some ramp pics tomorrow

Can't wait for the pics Brian!!

GNAR 2011 recap:
I had a fantastic first race..heck I came in #2 behind Travis's RV-4 Race TF. I had no idea what I was doing, but thought everything went ok. I would guess 2/3's of the course was raining. I had a GPS malfunction right after rounding turn 2....hard a get a good navigator when solo. so lost some time while fiddling with that I'm sure. Then at turn 4 I was severely inside the corner when I spotted it at the last minute <1/2 mile out. I cranked a steep turn making a big S to get on the correct side as I went around it. I ended up running 177kts which was less than I expected to do, but overall I was happy with everything. After last weeks engine issues, I didn't even know if I would make the race. Aurora ran like a top all weekend. The weather attempted to spoil our trip, but my friend Neil did a excellent job navigating the XC. We spent much time flying 90* to the direction we wanted to be going.

Overall... IT WAS KICKASS!!!!!!!! Tim B(race host) set the bar fairly high, but we hope to do as good of job as he. Thanks Tim for the great time. We met some nice folks and now can't wait until the Big Sky Air Race in 3 weeks.

Here is one of the pics I was able to snap while skirting the mountains in Idaho.

pre-Race lineup, but forgot to take a pic of the other row of racers..Chad that Tailwind ran 231mph on a O-320!!!



Whew I made it! 177kts course speed with two navigational screwups, I'll be better next time.


everyone back now and cooling down

Here is a short video of race day shot by Racer 221, Brian M. He was batting cleanup, but turned in a respectable 145mph in his Grumman AA1 to a first place finish in the FAC5 class.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPJ5G1FJA6c

hydroguy2 wrote:...Chad that Tailwind ran 231mph on a O-320!!!

I saw that on the Tailwind Yahoo list this morning!!! That is just too cool!!

Sweet! Its amazing what some of those planes can do on such little bit of power.

Nice job on taking 2nd place!

Spike

Definitely a fantastic finish for your FIRST race!!!

Glad you were able to make it Brian, thanks for the pictures. Congrats on 2nd place in your class.