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.










Monday, June 21, 2010

Tomorrow is Race Day

We finally received our handicap speeds today. Charley was determine to have a best True Airspeed of 139.18. That means if we do better than 139.18 for a leg, it is a good leg, and if we fly slower than 139.18 for a leg, then it probably is not a good leg. At this point, we just want to fly a good clean race with no penalties, and not get disqualified. We have had many briefings in the past two days and both of us are feeling pretty overwhelmed at this point. Hopefully this feeling will go away when we take off tomorrow. We have met lots of a really neat women here, the oldest being 92 years young and the youngest approximately 20 years old. There are at least six octagenarians and six collegiate teams. There are 51 aircraft and race teams competing, and 113 women. Our new motto is have fun, fly safe, go fast, and don't do anything dumb. We will keep everyone posted as to our progress in the race. Wish us fair skies and happy landings.
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1 comment:

  1. Lynda AveyJune 22, 2010 at 3:00 PM

    Have a good time and have fun. Hope you had a good day today. "Fly Fast, Stay Safe!"
    Good Luck!
    Lyndie

    ReplyDelete

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