I am completelydevastated by the tragic end of a 60-year-old tradition. Back in September 2023, the city Reno Nevada hosted its 59th and final air race—a thrilling event that brought together passionate pilots from across the country and around the world, showcasing their aircraft maneuvering skills to the delight of thousands of spectators. The glint of the setting sun on polished airplanes, the roaring and screaming sound of the engines tearing through the peace of the desert, and the spirit of competition all but vanished from our lives. But there's a chance to spark this tradition again, and I humbly propose the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to take up the mantle. 

Situated in Speedway, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the highest-capacity sports venue in the world, with over 400,000 seats. It has a longstanding racing tradition, being the home of the world-renowned Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400. And while it is known for its ground-racing legacy, it has the potential to house a new breed of aerial competition.

Air racing is a type of Motorsport that involves airplanes or other types of aircraft that compete over a fixed course, with the winner either returning the shortest time, the one to complete it with the most points, or to come closest to a previously estimated time.

Using this motor speedway ans an air racing venue would not only keep a captivating airborne sport alive, but it will also bring economic benefits to Indianapolis. Reputedly, The Reno Air Races used to drive an estimated $91.7 million into the northern Nevada economy every year (source: Reno Gazette-Journal, 2019

 

In 1964, Bill Stead, a Nevada rancher, pilot, and unlimited hydroplane racing champion, organised the first Reno Air Races at a small dirt strip called the Sky Ranch, located between Sparks, Nevada, and Pyramid Lake. The National Championship Air Races were soon moved to the Reno Stead Airport, and have been held there every September beginning in 1966. The five-day event attracts around 200,000 people, and includes racing around courses marked out by pylons for six classes of aircraft: Unlimited, Formula One, Sport Biplane, AT-6, Sport, and Jet. It also features civil airshow acts, military flight demonstrations, and a large static aircraft display. Other promoters have run pylon racing events across the US and Canada, including races in Las Vegas, NV in 1965, Lancaster, CA in 1965 and 1966, Mojave, California in 1970-71, and 1973–79; at Cape May, NJ in 1971, San Diego, CA in 1971, Miami, FL in 1973 and 1979, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1984; Hamilton Field, California, in 1988; at Dallas, TX in 1990, in Denver, CO in 1990 and 1992, in Kansas City in 1993, in Phoenix, Arizona in 1994 and 1995; and in Tunica, Mississippi in 2005. Numerous other venues across the United States, Canada, and Mexico have also hosted events featuring the smaller Formula One and Biplane classes.

From 1964 through 2010, 19 pilots tragically lost their lives due to the many crashes and collisions in the course of the competition and airshow. In 2007, three pilots died over the course of four days in separate incidents: Gary Hubler, Steve Dari, and Brad Morehouse.  Racing was suspended for a maximum of one day after the last of the three incidents.

On September 16, 2011, a heavily modified P-51D Mustang named "The Galloping Ghost," piloted by Jimmy Leeward, crashed near the stands during the Gold Heat of the race, killing Leeward and ten spectators, and injuring 69. Race organizers cancelled all remaining 2011 races after the accident.

A custom built race plane named "Sweet Dreams" crashed on the course during qualifying for a Sport Class heat race on September 8, 2014, killing the pilot, Lee Behel.

In the third lap of the Jet Gold final race on September 18, 2022 an L-29 Super Delfin went down on the back section of the course after presumed G-LOC, killing the pilot Aaron Hogue.

On September 17, 2023, two North American T-6 Texans collided following the conclusion of the T-6 Gold race. Both pilots, Nick Macy and Chris Rushing, were killed in the incident. The remaining three races scheduled for Sunday were ultimately cancelled. With the cancellation of the race, it was the final National Championship Air Races in Reno, with the next race planned being the 2025 Roswell Air Races.

What is already described as the 'world's fastest motorsport' is about to get a lot faster - with the announcement that some of the world's most advanced fighter aircraft will be entering the fray when airplane racing begins in Indianapolis.

The aircraft, which will include the European Typhoon, French Rafale, Russian MiG-29 (from Slovakia) and the US' F-22 Raptor will be racing at speeds 250 miles per hour faster than  any existing racer, the L-29 of the current 'Jet' category. 

In 2003, Skip Holm piloted a modified P-51D Mustang, Dago Red, to make a class speed record of 507.105 mph in a six-lap race around the eight-and-a-half mile course. Jet aircraft are even faster: in 2009, Curt Brown set a record of 543.568 mph in his L-29 Viper. But this is all pretty sedentary compared to the speeds that modern fighters will reach. We spoke to Tim Folland, an RAF pilot, from the British Typhoon team sponsored by The Mendips Scone Company:

"I won't tell you the exact speeds I've been getting in test runs that simulate the course... but I am very confident....it is well in excess of 750 knots. The idea came about from the realization that the aircraft would be in Indiana at the same time for a large tactical exercise. The addition of commercial sponsorship made the whole thing viable."

The Typhoon will be up against some very tough competition from the French Team Rafale (sponsored by Mensonge Pastis), the US Red Raptor (Unwahrheit Tires) and the Slovakian MiG-29 ‘The Wolves’ (Hovadina Beer). 

Slovakian Air Force pilot Blázona Klamstvopica will be flying the Soviet-era MiG-29, she noted: “This will be an incredible race, and will hopefully raise a lot of awareness of the skill and dedication of our air force. I am certain that the MiG-29 will perform well, it certainly has a lot of power and can make very fast turns.”

It's all about tradition, nostalgia, and the brilliant show of airborne skill that we risk losing forever. Please, lend your voice, let us reignite the passion of air races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Sign this petition to support the transformation of this ground-based circuit into an air-based spectacle. Let's keep the spirit of air racing alive in our hearts, and in our skies.

Racers… START YOUR ENGINES AND SIGN THIS PETITION TODAY!!!!