Experimentals Race From Dayton To Oshkosh, Vying For AirVenture Cup

It's the latest in what appears to be a growing trend -- air races designed to get people excited about aviation again. Case in point: The 2004 AirVenture Cup Race, where organizers hope to capture the excitement of the Bendix Trophy Races of the 1930s.  It was a cross-country race open to all EAA Members. Forty-two race planes participated and 7 chase planes flew along as well.  Only John Morrison's  E-racer did not finish the race.  He chose to withdraw because of a canopy issue.

The race started at the Wright Brothers Airport in Dayton (OH). After takeoff the pilots made an approach to the airport and flew over the pre-determined start point. Each pilot's time started when their aircraft passed over that start point rather than starting on takeoff.

The racers then flew to Rockford (IL) with pylon turns at Sterling-Rockfalls and Rockford. From there, they passed the finish line at the Quad Graphics private airport in Lomira (WI). After the finish, racers landed at the Fond du Lac airport to assemble for an optional mass arrival into Airventure at Oshkosh.  The race planes are parked just north of the taxiway to Aeroshell square.

The judges used the atomic clocks on GPS satellites to ensure accuracy. The aircraft with the shortest time was the overall winner, with prizes awarded to the top three places in each category:

UNLIMITED: Any Experimental Category aircraft with a Turbo Charged engine with a displacement of 1400 cubic inches or less. Class winners in both Fixed and Retractable gear.

SPORT CLASS: Any Experimental Category aircraft with a normally aspirated engine with a displacement of 1000 cubic inches or less.

FORMULA RG: Any Experimental Category aircraft with an engine displacement of 360 cubic inches or less, with retractable landing gear.

FORMULA FX: Any Experimental Category aircraft with an engine displacement of 360 cubic inches or less, with at least two fixed landing gear.

FORMULA RV: Open to Van's aircraft RV-3, RV-4, RV-6, RV-6A, RV-7, RV-7A, RV-8, RV-8A, RV-9, and RV-9A airplanes powered with an engine of 360 cubic inches or less.

SPRINT CLASS: Any Experimental Category aircraft with an engine displacement of 240 cubic inches or less.

The overall fastest time of 1:27:26 was achieved by racer # 5, Lee Belhel.

2004 Airventure Cup  results

Race          Pilot   Aircraft   Speed (MPH)

TURBINE            Lee Behlel        Turbine Lancair Legacy    279.29

UNLIMITED        Jack Watson     Glasair II RG                    185.25

SPORT CLASS    Keith Phillips     SX-300                            244.43

FORMULA RG     Richard Keyt     Polen Special II               233.19

FORMULA FX     Steve Hammer  Glasair I-TD                     214.42

FORMULA F RV  John Huit          RV-8                                 180.32

SPRINT CLASS  Sam Hoskins    Quickie Q-200                   174.77

FMI: www.eaa.org