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.










Sunday, June 13, 2010

We're Finally Off

Tomorrow is D-Day. We are finally off on our adventure. On Thursday we washed the plane and waxed her on Friday. She had her oil changed on Saturday and our mechanic pronounced her ready to race. We have the final flight planning completed and will load the plane tonight. Plan on leaving Heritage Airpark around 7:30am tomorrow. Our first two legs will be from Heritage Airpark to Jennings, LA and then on to Crestview, FL, where we will overnight.


Before we leave and memories get short, there are a lot of people we want to thank for helping us get through the planning stages of this race. First of all, the girlfriends, Julie and Kim, who helped us "bling" and decorate our visors; Pam who provided our cooling fans, Nadine for the neck wraps; and our ground crew at Heritage, Dan, Cliff, Chuck and Trevor who helped us pull the airplane out of the hangar and put her back in numerous times. Thank you Tom, our Maintenance Advisor. You have made our plane as ready as she will ever be to race. And a big thanks to Jim, our Race Advisor, who has given us advice on how to run Charley efficiently and get the most speed out of her. Most of all, we want to thank all the friends and family who have called and e-mailed us with their support and best wishes. We will try to make you all proud by doing our best.

Our goal for the air race is to have fun, fly safe, go fast, and don't do anything dumb.
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1 comment:

  1. teamcharleyJune 15, 2010 at 6:12 AM

    Hi! Jeanette helped us to get on your blog so we all plan to follow your trip. Tom and I are looking forward to seeing you and Kay this afternoon. This is so exciting!

    Jan

    ReplyDelete

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