Reno races

www.pilotsofamerica.com

The end of Reno

Looks like the air races are the latest victim of "we built too many houses around an airport". "A letter sent to supporters and fans said the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority made the decision to sunset the event citing the region's significant growth."...
www.pilotsofamerica.com www.pilotsofamerica.com
 
From the mouths of horses:
www.renoairport.com

RELEASE - 2023 to Mark Final Year for National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport - Reno-Tahoe International Airport

Reno Tahoe Airport Authority reaches agreement with Reno Air Racing Association for 2023 event RENO, Nev. – Today, the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA)
www.renoairport.com www.renoairport.com
www.aopa.org

Final year of racing at Reno/Stead

The Reno Air Racing Association announced that the Stihl National Championship Air Races will no longer be held at the Reno/Stead Airport following the 2023 event in September.
www.aopa.org

National Championship Air Races

The Reno Air Racing Association has been organizing the National Championship Air Races for over 60 years, promoting its storied traditions and pageantry.
airrace.org

...or were you looking for confirmation from SGOTI?

Nauga,
and his nimble fingers
 
EvilEagle said:
They will end this year - as in the last one is less than a month away.
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Yep. We’ll be in town Fri-Sun and at the races all day Sunday. Are you going to be able to make it?
 
TCABM said:
Yep. We’ll be in town Fri-Sun and at the races all day Sunday. Are you going to be able to make it?
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I might go down during the week but I need to be back home by Friday night. Not sure if that’s worth it.
 
EvilEagle said:
I might go down during the week but I need to be back home by Friday night. Not sure if that’s worth it.
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We don’t get in until about 4p Fri. Virtual high fives it is.

We originally weren’t planning to got this year until the announcement.
 
Sad end of an era.
We're going this year.
 
Winnemucca would be a great location, if they added some parking.

Nothing much to bang into out there... :cool:
 
The Sebring airport would be ideal. It’s located adjacent to the Sebring raceway, and the area is already accustomed to large crowds and loud motorsports. Not much besides swamps, orange groves, and cattle ranches in the nearby area. The event would dovetail nicely with Florida’s tourist industry and aviation industry.
 
Half Fast said:
The Sebring airport would be ideal. It’s located adjacent to the Sebring raceway, and the area is already accustomed to large crowds and loud motorsports. Not much besides swamps, orange groves, and cattle ranches in the nearby area. The event would dovetail nicely with Florida’s tourist industry and aviation industry.
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R-2901 and the rest of the airspace to the north would pose a problem for a course layout.
 
Glad I saw this thread, talked my dad into flying out and we're going to head up there for the races. I've always wanted to go, so definitely want to catch them this year.
 
wilkersk said:
I’ll be there too. Anyone want to meet up, I’ll be staying at Circus Circus.
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I would enjoy meeting fellow poa members but would have to clear it with the wife as it will be our anniversary and she may have other plans.
We booked the hotel previously known as the Sands Regency Casino. They just renovated and changed their name to the J Resort. https://www.jresortreno.com/
 
Well damn, parents aren't going to make it out. The flight availability sucks and by the time we add in hotels and admission it gets pretty ridiculous for all of us :( I'm still going to try and make it up there for Saturday, though.
 
I do not have FOMO, I do not have FOMO, I do... wish I could go. Hope it's a safe and wonderful finale.
 
Was always interested in going. Since it's the last one I bought a ticket for Opening day. Would love to fly down, but guessing there won't be any ramp space nearby... ;-)
 
I'll speak heresy... The Reno races are not what they used to be and the event is getting tired. The whole thing has evolved into an equipment race. There was much more excitement in years past of small enthusiast teams championing aircraft.

Same thing has happened in auto and boat racing, everyone finishes within fractions of seconds unless something bad or unusual happens.

If you are enthralled in rapture attending the event, good.
 
Having never been, I don't really care what it's become, I want to see planes racing each other close to the ground. I can't stand NASCAR anymore, but if I'd never been to a race in person I'd still want to experience it at least once.
 
NordicDave said:
I'll speak heresy... The Reno races are not what they used to be and the event is getting tired. The whole thing has evolved into an equipment race. There was much more excitement in years past of small enthusiast teams championing aircraft.

Same thing has happened in auto and boat racing, everyone finishes within fractions of seconds unless something bad or unusual happens.

If you are enthralled in rapture attending the event, good.
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I think the event has gotten tired because the unlimiteds are done. The airplanes became too valuable (and expensive) to thrash and heavily modify. Those guys who bought a Mustang or Bearcat for $5K in the 50's or '60's and bought a building of spares at the same time have aged out and their airplanes went to collectors who A) are more interested in owning a valuable asset than racing it and B) No longer have a pile of NOS (i.e. cheap) spares to churn through.

With the exception of a few "silver bullet" airplanes, most teams are not going all-out to win the Gold. Maybe 2-3 do, but the balance are there to fill out the field, but have no hope of winning. That's been the case for years.
 
I went to Reno for the first time in 2016. Although I had a box seat, I spent most of the time either watching the heat races while standing at the fence either inside the pit area, or over in the static display section. And I wandered the pits endlessly like a kid in a candy store.

I gotta wonder if those saying NCAR is tired and done has ever been. I agree the age of the Unlimited class of highly modified war birds is probably past. Between the aging out of the airframes, and the prohibitive costs of racing those monsters, something just has to give. But, the F-1 class, and Sport class provide plenty of excitement. The Biplane class and Jet class aren't quite as exciting to me. And, I think STOL drags are goofy. But, they are still fun to watch and help to keep the nearly week long event busy.

I'm sad to see the end of the Reno NCAR. But, I hope the new Sport Class, and the IF-1 racing programs will help keep air racing alive.

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I just ran across this. When the decision that this would be the last year for Reno Air Races was announced last March, this racing fan did a good job of explaining the various reasons:

 
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