The Top Ten Lessons I Learned from the 2012 Air Race Classic…..

1.      Eclipse Gum doesn’t melt in 116 degree temperatures but you might if you sit by the pool for more than 30 minutes.

2.      I now know what a cake feels like baking in the oven after experiencing 116 degree temps in AZ.

3.      Cattle pens in TX smell like cattle pens regardless if you are flying directly over them on final approach into Hereford or if you are cruising above them at 7,000 ft.  

4.      Toto we are stuck in Kanas and the people are just absolutely awesome. 

5.      Always respect Mother Nature regardless if you are flying or on the ground.  She will always win. 

6.      The Great Lakes were named appropriately.  They are just so beautiful flying over, next to or around them. 

7.      Sault St. Marie (aka – Chippewa County Airport) is very close to Canadian airspace.  Having a friend who is flying the race and is a retired Philly air traffic controller has its advantages.   It was nice being cleared into Canadian airspace without having to ask.   

8.      Having a GREAT mechanic that works on the airplane you are flying in the ARC is priceless.  We had that in 2010 and again in 2012.  Thanks Kent!!!!!

9.      Flying with your friends in the ARC is amazing.   Meeting new friends because of the ARC is amazing.  Being teased about your East coast accent by the Wisconsin & Minnesota girls was strange.  Eh……

10.   Having an aircraft owner who hands over his plane to two crazy women trying to race the ARC is beyond my comprehension.  Without Tom Smith giving us the plane we wouldn’t have been able to fly this incredible race and experience the things we did.  Tom & Bobbe you are the best and we will be forever in debt to your amazing kindness.  

I just wanted to thank all of you that followed us so closely during our two week aviation camp.  It was a view of our beautiful country that cannot be experienced in any other way than a small plane. During those two weeks we were flying in the plane for 45.5hrs.    Just to give you a better prospective….we flew those 45.5hrs. in only 8 days.   

Thanks for your support!!!!!

Heritage Field Photos....

Here is a picture of us with Tom and 86XP on June 11th as we were ready to leave for AZ.

Here is our victory celebration with Tom.  I am not sure if he is celebrating because we finished the race or if his beloved plane and keys were back in his possession. 

Happy Dance Celebration......

Here is the group shot with Bobbe, Ethel, myself and Tom.   He is so happy to have his plane back. 

America the Beautiful......

Here is a collection of photos that might be in previous blogs but is a great sampling of how beautiful our country is.

Eastern PA 99s @ Sporty's

Here are the Eastern PA 99s in front of Sporty's.  Linda is the one taking the picture.  

Again Linda took this picture and the group is in the operservation tower at Sporty's.  Somehow we all moved into position and Linda was able to get us all.  Mary, me, Charrisa, Ethel, Alison, Elaine and Charrisa's husband Ady is in the back.  It has a great view of the runway and pattern.  Charrisa will run up here and watch / talk to her students who are soloing for their first time. 

This is part of the fireworks display that Sporty's put on Saturday night.  

Banquet Photos....

This is Linda & Alison at the awards banquet.

Here is a shot of Mary & Alison....

These are friends Tracy & Sandi....



More Pictures....

This is a scenic view of the Ohio River from our friends Charrisa & Ady's house. 

Ady bought me an ice cream birthday cake.  It was chocolate raspberry!!!  Yummy......

We enjoyed a lovely lunch at Charrisa's & Ady's.  Here is a picture of the group on the patio. 

This is the Eastern PA 99s picture.  Charissa might live in OH but she is still part of our chapter. 

Approaching CIU

This is what it was like flying into Sault St Marie.  We are suppose to do a relatively straight in approach over the timing line but because of the rain shower we were unable to do that. 

I'm a Loser....

***Note - I heard this song a week before the race and couldn't get it out my head. No one who flies the Air Race Classic is EVER a loser but I thought this would be some nice comic relief after the awards banquet!!!!!


I'm a loser….
I'm a loser and I lost the Air Race Classic…
And I'm not what I appear to be

Of all the races I have won or have lost
There is one race I should never have crossed
It is the Air Race Classic, my friend
I should have known she would win in the end

I'm a loser
And I lost the race to someone who is faster than me
I'm a loser
And I'm not what I appear to be

Although I laugh and I act like a clown
Beneath this headset  I am wearing a frown
My tears are falling like rain from the sky just like Sault St. Marie
Is it for the race or myself that I cry

I'm a loser
And I lost the race to someone who is faster than me
I'm a loser
And I'm not what I appear to be

What have I done to deserve such a fate
I realize I have left the start way too late
And so it's true, pride comes before a fall
I'm telling you so that you won't lose all

I'm a loser
And I lost the Air Race Classic to someone who is faster than me
I'm a loser
And I'm not what I appear to be

And the Winner Is.....

Not us but we did good.  We placed 22nd out of 47 teams.  We won one leg prize (3rd leg) and that was from Hereford, TX to Goodland, KS.   We were the fastest team for that leg which is an accomplishment in itself.  Our handicap was 129.18 and on this leg we flew 36.627 knots faster than the handicap.   Wow.....

Our fellow Eastern PA 99s also did a fabulous job!!!!  Team #5, Alison and Linda placed 15th while Team #15, Mary and Elaine placed 18th.  

Our baby birds placed 17th and they won the 2nd place leg prize from Hereford, TX to Goodland, KS.  It was nice to beat a Cirrus SR22 on at least on leg.  Sorry Tracy & Sandi!!! It was great that we came in 1st and 2nd on that leg!!!! 

Look for my wrap up by the end of the week plus some more pictures. 

Thanks to all of you who followed us!!!!

Barb & Ethel

The Final Day....

Today is our last day in Batavia.  We will try to leave OH by 9am tomorrow morning.  We only have a 3-1/2hr flight from OH to PA.   Today we have two more requirements.  This morning we have a mandatory meeting for all racers @ 8am.  Then tonight we will have our mandatory banquet where we find out what place we landed in.   We heard the top 10-15 racers were asked to go through airplane inspection again.  This is done to make sure that no modifications have been done during the route.  Unfortunately it is looking like all three Eastern PA teams will not be in the top 15.

No worries....it isn't about winning it is about the adventure.  This year the three PA teams stayed in the same places during the race and we had an absolute blast.  It was good to have our friends close and it sure helped with comic release.   

I still can't believe we left June 11th and now it is already June 24th. 

Barb's...ooops...Sporty's Birthday Bash

Sporty's open their hanger to the Air Race Classic and had a fabulous dinner and firework display for us.  It was a very nice event where we caught up with our fellow racers and also got to meet the founder of Sporty's Pilot Shop....Hal Shevers. 

Here is a picture of Team 51. 

Zia is on the left and Emily is on the right.  They are both from CO and they had the best matching outfits!!!!

Here is a picture of our baby birds Tracy & Sandi.  We are standing by Tracy's plane.   I can't tell you how proud we are of them.  They were the fastest plane in this year's race and as I have told many people the faster you go the less time you have to correct for any problems.  They did a great job and we have more friends to visit across the country!!!!  Team 41 ROCKS!!!!

Here is a picture of Hal Shevers and his wife.   

This is a picture of Alison, Linda and their baby birds.