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The North American P-51 Mustang
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P-51 Mustang at Reno 2014
Formula One and Biplane
story and photos by Curtis Fowles

The Formula One class runs at speeds over 260 mph using a Continental O-200! Yes, that is the engine that powers the old familiar trainer, the C-150. These planes are small, frontal area is minimal and the pilots are snug in the cockpit. The racing is fast, close and competitive.

Biplanes run on the Continental 0-360 and are mostly comprised on modified Pitts Specials, but also include the Mong, Smith Miniplane and a Skybolt. They fly the same course as the Formula One class and have reached speeds over 260 mph. The course is just over 3 miles in length. This year Tom Aberle broke the biplane qualifying record with a blistering 274 mph lap. The biplanes have a rougher time with visibility with two wings. You can spot pilots looking over and under the top wing as needed to see their race traffic.

Both classes use a horse-race start where they take off in position of qualifying along the home stretch on runway 08 and head straight onto the course. If the wind is not cooperating they use Runway 14/32 to start.

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Formula One Qualifying:

  1 - #11 Endeavor, Steve Senegal - 267 mph
  2 - #87 Madness, Steve Temple - 252
  3 - #50 Scarlet Screamer, Vito Wypraechtiger - 239
  4 - #68 Wasabi, Elliot Sequin - 235
  5 - #31 Fraed Naught, Justin Phillipson - 233
  6 - #45 Quadnickel, Jay Jones - 232
  7 -  #3 Miss U, Kevin Anderson - 231
  8 - #33 Second WInd, Michael Mundell - 219
  9 - #99 Margaret June, Kent Cassels - 216
 10 - #96 Miss Demeanor, Chet Harris - 211
 11 - #69 Knotty Girl, Philip Goforth - 207
 12 - #40 Miss USA, Stephen Partidge-Hicks - 201
 13 - #15 Last Lap Player, David Holmgren - 171
Formula One Gold Final:
  1 - #11 Endeavor, Steve Senegal - 252 mph
  2 - #50 Scarlet Screamer, Vito Wypraechtiger - 241
  3 - #31 Fraed Naught, Justin Phillipson - 233
  4 - #68 Wasabi, Elliot Sequin - 229
  5 - #45 Quadnickel, Jay Jones - 224
  6 -  #3 Miss U, Kevin Anderson - 223
  7 - #96 Miss Demeanor, Matt Conklin - 223
  8 - #87 Madness, Steve Temple - 223
Formula One Silver Final:
  1 - #40 Miss USA, Stephen Partidge-Hicks - 221
  2 - #33 Second WInd, Michael Mundell - 214
  3 - #99 Margaret June, Kent Cassels - 207
  4 - #69 Knotty Girl, Philip Goforth - 207
  5 - #15 Last Lap Player, David Holmgren - 181

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Biplane Qualifying:

  1 -  #62 Phantom, Tom Aberle - 274 mph *NEW Record
  2 -  #10 Bad MoJo, Jake Stewart - 237
  3 -  #25 Drag Racer, Karl Grove - 227
  4 -  #23 Reno Rabbit, Jeff Rose - 209
  5 -   #3 Zippity Doo Dah, Casey Erickson - 207
  6 - #11X Purse Snatcher, David Roelofs - 207
  7 -  #31 Tango Tango, Tony Higa - 196
  8 -   #4 Ruby, Marilyn Dash - 191
  9 -   #6 Miss Diane, Jeffrey Lo - 191
 10 -  #32 The Whip, Brian Hoover - 188
 11 -  #11 Bottom Gun, W Byron Roberts - 180
 12 -  #55 Juicy Lips, Aaron Burhoe - 175
 13 -  #18 Skybolt, John D'Alessandris - 173
 14 - #711 Joey, Birch Entriken - 164
Biplane Gold Final Results:
  1 - #10 Bad MoJo, Jake Stewart - 225
  2 -  #25 Drag Racer, Karl Grove - 222
  3 -  #23 Reno Rabbit, Jeff Rose - 205
  4 - #11X Purse Snatcher, David Roelofs - 201
  5 -   #4 Ruby, Marilyn Dash - 185
  6 -  #62 Phantom, Tom Aberle - DNS
  7 -   #3 Zippity Doo Dah, Casey Erickson - DQ Low Flying
  8 -  #31 Tango Tango, Tony Higa - DQ Low Flying
Biplane Silver Final Results:
  1 - #711 Joey, Birch Entriken - 198
  2 -   #6 Miss Diane, Jeffrey Lo - 194
  3 -  #32 The Whip, Brian Hoover - 180
  4 -  #55 Juicy Lips, Aaron Burhoe - 174
  5 -  #11 Bottom Gun, W Byron Roberts - 174
  6 -  #18 Skybolt, John D'Alessandris - 164

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