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Sun 100 Race

5/1/04 - Imagine our surprise when we opened a letter from Aircraft Spruce (Sponsors of the Sun 100 race), only to find that all the race results had been miscalculated for all participants. Tracy's REAL speed was 189.172 knots or 217.5 mph! I guess the elimination of last year's infamous "drag parachute racing tape" combined with the new RD-1C gear drive/prop, really paid off. Tracy says he had another 4 knots in the plane and if he'd known he was less than 1 mile per hour behind the 2nd place Lancair, he would have given it just a LITTLE more power. We'll see what happens next year (by the way - the RV-4 is still proudly wearing the race number - Tracy will not let me take it off).


Tracy with his "race babe"!	Installing the tail wheel race fairing

Fixing the "fence Rash" (see "Other Notable Events" at end of page)	A triumphant return! 217.5 mph!

Hands On Engine Tent

It is fantastic that Sun n Fun provides us with this great location to display "all stuff rotary". This year 3 panel discussions were held in addition to the informal sharing of information. It went very well.


Saturday Panel Discussion	Richard Sohn's 1 rotor and Mistral's Display

"Think it will EVER fly??"	Bruce, Ed and Finn hoping Tracy will give up the microphone if they all stare at him long enough...

Rotary Forums

Fantastic attendance at all three forums - including the one Saturday that we never showed up for (because I had the time wrong). Thanks for covering, Paul!

Flightline Stats/Snaps

We had FIVE rotary planes on the flight line this year - Tracy, Ed Anderson, Jerry Bass, Jim Moser and Finn Lassen. Sun n Fun allotted more room than ever for auto powered planes, and it was all full.


Tracy's Dad was a preacher.. see any similarities?	Would you trust your wife alone with these men??

Jerry Bass' Rotary RV-6A	Jim Moser's Rotary RV-6

Ed Anderson	Can you find 5 rotary planes in this picture?

Favorite Question

After watching me in the tent and on the flight line, answering question about rotaries and planes and rotaries and planes (and - oh - did I mention rotaries and planes??) - one of the frequent visitors to the tent said "Laura - I have to ask you something. Do you really love flying or do you REALLY love Tracy??"

Hmmm.. I'll have to think that over :)

Other Events of Note

Tracy's close encounter with a fence post when taxing to his tie down spot (thank goodness it was plastic)

Tracy, Barry, Donna, Ed and I getting a flat tire on the car Monday morning. Did you know it take 3 engineering types to determine the size of a bolt on a bike rack (the rack had to be removed to access the spare - another story in itself)


Want to get out of a tire repair place quick? Start changing your own tire in the parking lot.	Donna enjoys another fun day of vacation, sitting on the curb.	It only took 3 mechanically minded guys; Laura's tape measure the 20 minutes to determine the bolt size on the bike rack!

	Ed Anderson's dead battery in the plane due to excessive demonstrations of his adjustable intake.
	Van personally offering Laura a flight in the RV-10 the next time me and the plane are in the same place. (Highlight of the show for me!)
	Finn Lassen's engine out landing on Sunday,
	John Slade had his first flight the Saturday prior to Sun n Fun, and picked up his "I Love Flying my Mazda Rotary" button!

Now THIS is a COOL DUDE: