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P-51 Mustangs...

Midnight Special

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2005
Messages
3,713
Location
Grass Valley, California
...Over Reno!

'Just returned from a week at the National Championship Air Races where I was invited to get up close and personal with legendary warbirds turned air racers. Featured were six classes of racing including "Unlimiteds" which are all modified WWII fighter planes.

Here are some of the P-51s that flew the pylons...
 

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OP
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Midnight Special

Midnight Special

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2005
Messages
3,713
Location
Grass Valley, California
...The Unlimited Class Gold champion was this highly modified P-51D named "Strega" flown by Bill "Tiger" Destefani of Bakersfield, CA. His average lap speeds were in excess of 485 mph. Who should we see getting "Tiger's" autograph but our own "Ponygal" after the race!

Renee and my son TJ worked ramp security while I worked pylon press. As the world's fastest motor sport, this is among the most exciting of events one could attend!
 

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PonyGal

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Dec 14, 2006
Messages
555
Location
Loomis, Ca
Fantastic pictures Tim!! You really got some great shots from out there on the pylons! I had a pretty good vantage point from where TJ and I were working security. We were mere feet away from the taxiway and I could see each plane up close and personal as they were preparing to take off.

Here are a few pics that I took...
 

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Midnight Special

Midnight Special

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2005
Messages
3,713
Location
Grass Valley, California
...Right on Renee! And these are only the Mustangs. Other warbirds included Hawker Sea Furys, Yak-11s, Corsairs, F7F, F8F and fly-bys of B-17,
B-25s and P-38... I still have around 1,500 (raw image) photos to process, but no worries. I only wanted to post the Mustang aircraft here ;-)

What a fantastic time!!
 
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