We are dedicating our Air Race in memory of Tex Goppert who we hope will watch over us so we DON'T DO ANYTHING DUMB.

Marty and Kay with "Charley"

Marty and Kay with "Charley"

History of the Air Race Classic

In 1929, nineteen women set out from Santa Monica, CA, in flimsy, propeller driven airplanes, with a mission to be the first to cover the cross-country course to Cleveland, OH. Dubbed "The Powder Puff Derby" by Will Rogers, the competition was honest, agressive and dangerous. The air race featured such notable women fliers as Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, and Pancho Barnes. One female pilot, Marvel Crosson, died during the air race. Louise Thaden won the race, with Gladys O'Donnell and Amelia Earhart coming in second and third. The women's air race fell by the wayside during the war years. The race was renamed the All Women Transcontinetal Air Race (AWTAR) Derby in the 1940's and is currently called the Air Race Classic. 2010 marks the 34th all women's transcontinental air race.







2010 Air Race Classic

The 2010 Air Race Classic starts at Page Field (KFMY), Fort Myers, FL and terminates at Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK), Frederick, MD. The race has enroute stops at Waycross, GA (KAYS); Tuscaloosa, AL (KTCL); Hot Springs, AR (KHOT); Cameron, MO (KEZZ); Carbondale-Murphysboro, IL (KMDH); Elkhart, IN (KEKM); and Parkersburg, WV (KPKB). The race route is 2483.01sm, begins June 22 and ends on June 25. There are 55 all women race teams in the 2010 Air Race Classic. Marty and Kay will competing in Marty's 1953 Cessna 180. We will be Classic 3.





The Racers

Marty Goppert - Marty is an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and a Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII), Multi and Single Engine Land with over 5,000 flight hours. She has flown as a commuter pilot and medical airlift pilot. She flew a Stearman barnstorming act for 13 years with the "Flying Circus" in Bealeton, VA. Marty currently flies a 1953 Cessna 180.







Kay Renfrow - Kay is a 400 hour Private Pilot, Single Engine Land. Kay resides on a residential airpark in Texas and flies a 1950 Cessna 140A.



Thank You

Race Advisor - Jim

Maintenance Advisor - Tom

Sponsor - Gorilla Airfield in Onondaga, Michigan

and a big Thank You to our ground crew at Heritage Airpark; Dan, Chuck, Cliff and Trevor. We would have never got it done without all of you.










Saturday, June 26, 2010

The Best Day

We had the best day. First Marty's friend, Bonnie, drove up to see us from Kent Island, MD and brought us two coffee cups with airplanes on them and a card that sang "Celebration" to us. We had lunch with her and Marty spoke to the Girl Scouts about her barnstorming days. Then we came back to the hotel and signed our score sheets. We still don't know where we placed, but we did end up on the positive and know that we are not in last place or were disqualified. At 4pm we were invited to a premiere viewing of a new documentary of the 1929 Women's Air Derby (Powder Puff Derby). A friend of Marty's invited us to sit in special reserved seats with two WASPs, Gail Reed and Elaine Harmon. They were both awesome ladies and the documentary was great. From there we went to a VIP Reception where we got to meet with the Curator of the Air and Space Museum who invited Marty and I to a special tour of the new Air and Space Museum at Dulles on Monday afternoon. If all works out with the special tour, we will leave for home on Tuesday instead of Monday after the oil change on Charley. Tomorrow we have lots of activities for the first time air racers and the banquet in the evening where we will learn who won the race and our placement. We will keep everyone posted.
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