The AirVenture Cup! That thought of flying in that race had been on my mind almost since I began building N724X. The plane had been disassembled for painting but tinkering and troubleshooting kept us from AirVenture 2003 and the AVCup Race that year. This year, N724X was working well and Dad and I took it to the Velocity factory in 5/04 to (finally!) have the interior installed (See '2004 Maintenence' section for details). We were ready! The weather almost kept us in Albuquerque. We waited several days with New Mexico and a couple of states over socked in completely. On the last possible day, we embarked late in the day, climbed out over the overcast and flew to Dayton, OH in a race against the sun. We lost that race however, with the sun setting before we arrived to Dayton Wright Bros. Airport (MGY), but we were treated to a spectacular sunset that bathed the plane in a warm orange glow. MGY was strangely peaceful since Dad and I were the only ones there. After tying down, a late shift line guy helped us out with finding a cab to the hotel. We missed out on the museum with the rest of the racers - that'll be next year! That evening we met some of the racers who got us on track and the next day, we were off! These pictures are from my experience at the Race and will only give a glimpse of the total experience, the unique planes and the wonderful people who participated. I hope to see all of you at next year's race!

This page is dedicated to my parents, Ricardo Sr. ('Rick') and Inez Guerra who taught me that "If you can dream it, you can achieve it" Their selfless love and support and their wisdom have made them my co-pilots in life.

Dad and I in Sebastian, FL at the Velocity factory putting in the interior and some tweaks on the plane. We were finally ready for the AirVenture Cup and Oshkosh!	The new route for the AVCup Race - now a "speed dash" starting from Dayton with plyon turns at Sterling-Whiteside (SQI) and Rockford, IL (RFD) airports to the finish line at Lomaria, a small private strip just south of Fon Du Lac (FLD). The racers would regroup at FLD and line up for a mass arrival at Oshkosh (OSH). The course is almost 500 miles long.	Getting ready for the Race. My beautiful wife, Pam, helps me place the vinyl stickers that transform N724X into 'Race 24'. Murray Bergen does a superb job in making the numbers and any other logos, etc. that you might need. He can be contacted directly at 856.686.1205 or libertygraphicsinc@yahoo.com.	My 'Impossible Dreams' Star logo goes on the winglets courtesy of Murray Bergen of Liberty Graphics. They look like they are painted on!
Our race tags!	Morning in Dayton dawns gloomy and overcast. The Cirrus SR20 chase planes venture aloft to check things out while the rest of us are briefed on the race and the weather.	There were plenty of outstanding homebuilts to be seen on the ramp. Here's Keith Phillips' SX300, three spectacular Seawind 3000's Art Culver and Tiger Maguire's Race 60, Keith Walljasper's Race 80, and Gearge and Joan Osborne's Race 50. The beautiful Twin Navion, seen far right, was a chase plane.	After a few moments of uncertainty, the race starts! With a fellow racer helping, father and son team Larry and Nicholas Henney pull Lancair 360 Race 36 onto the ramp to fire her up.
The Seawind Sport Class racers prepare for takeoff!	Veteran Racer Frank Pullano and his copilot, Matt McCune give first time racer, Britton Shaw flying Sprint Class VariEZ Race 88 some last minute pointers as they prepare for race start.		Race 20 crew, Frank Pullano and Matt McCune gear up for the race and their primary mission of filming the race. Frank is an accomplished aviation videographer. His wonderful documentary on last year's Race 'Race 20 Inbound' has drawn many newcomers to the race, myself included. Race 20 is a VariEZ flying in the Sprint Class.
Cranking up for race start. The AVCup Race is divided in several classes. The slowest planes are launched first followed by successively faster classes. This results in most of the racers making plyon turns and crossing the finish line in a relatively short time window.	Wiping off morning dew from the lifting surfaces.	Art Culver and Tiger Maguire in Race 60 taxi by, heading for the starting line.	The Osbourne's beautiful Seawind, Race 50, lifts off! Race 50 went on to win a homebuilder's award at Oshkosh.
Tim Freeze's Cozy III, Race 15, taxis out followed by Race 19, a VariEZ built and flown by WIlliam Oertel and copiloted by Gaius Cadwell.	All too soon, the Race is over! After blazing across the finish line at Lomiria, the racers congregate at Fond Du Lac, there to prepare for the mass arrival at aviation's mecca, Oshkosh!	Velocity XL RG N724X (Race 24)'s Copilot, Rick Guerra.	Big smiles all around for all of us!
Race 24 Pilot Rich Guerra	Dad, and next year's co-pilot of Race 24 in the AirVenture Cup Race, Mom, Inez Guerra.	Eric Whyte gives the OSH Mass Arrival briefing.	This year, instead of arrving one by one as we finish the race, the entire group will make the short flight together.
We are to line up in twos. "If you take off on the LEFT side of the runway here, you will land on 36LEFT at OSH! From the right side, you land on 36RIGHT!"	Lining up in groups of like aircraft, the racers move to arrange themselves on the taxiway. Rich Lamb and first time racer Joseph Conlon push LongEZ Race 93 into place.	Lined up on the Fond Du Lac taxiway for the OSH mass arrival. Jack Watson's Race 25, a Glasair II RG, is seen just behind Velocity XL RG, Race 24.
Sam Hoskins Q-200, Race 22, leads the canard group into OSH.	Frank Pullano's VariEZ, Race 20 and Jay Blum's Long EZ, Race 78.
Velocity XL RG N724X, Race 24	In spite of the large number of planes involved, we are organized and efficient, awaiting the go signal.	Lancair's and RV's are showcased in this race!
The unique and beautiful Seawinds attracted a lot of attention in FLD as well as OSH.		The beautiful Twin Navion, Race 47, a chase plane this year was flown by Gay Hamilton.	A long line of beautiful aircraft awaits the time slot for the OSH mass arrival.
	Word comes down the line, time to go!	The AirVenture Cup Mass Arrival occurs just after a C5A Galaxy lands so there's plenty of attention as we are guided to our parking at center show just in front of Aeroshell Square! Brent Anderson's RV-4, Race 44, is flagged into position.	With the Galaxy looming, Scott Krueger unloads his :ancair 320, Race 94 while Sarah Whyte helps organize the parking arrangements.
	On the day of arrival, the racers gather for a dinner to trade stories and relive the race.	Post Race debriefing - the head of the AirVenture Cup Racing Committee, Eric Whyte tells us what we all want to hear - the race results!	Jack Watson (Race 25) takes a bow.
The AirVenture Cup parking area gets a LOT of traffic.	Jack Watson's Glasair II RG, Race 25.	Jack's Race Philosophy is placarded in his plane!	Chase plane, Race 4, a Glasair III flown by Sarah Bean.
	Dick and Debra Keyt's spectacular Polen Special, Race 31.	Pete Huff's super-nice White Lightning, Race 26.	Sam Hoskins sharp Q-200, Race 22 with George and Joan Osborne's award-winning Seawind behind.
Airventure Cup Racers parked at show center showcase a wide range of experimental aircraft designs.	Rick and Inez Guerra grab some shade under Race 24's wings and catch the daily airshow.		The Race 24 team, Rich, Inez, and Rick Guerra.
Rich Guerra with Velocity XL RG Race 24.		2004 Airventure Cup Race results! Speeds are in knots!	The awards ceromony later in the week. We are treated to Frank Pullano's 2003 race documentary while we wait for the gathering to begin.
Eric Whyte introduces 2004 Airventure Cup Race Committee members, without whom this wonderful event could not have taken place.	Sprint class Awards	Each class of racers is recognized. All receive a plaque inccribed with their race times.
	What is really wonderful about this event that everyone goes home feeling like a winner!		Each year, the Racers vote to recognize the individual who best promotes the spirit and camraderie that is the essence of the AirVenture Cup Race. This year's receipient was Frank Pullano.
	Dinner after the awards ceromony at a local eatery.		Time to go! As the week wore on, more and more of the Racers left OSH.
Lancair Legacy 2000, Race 18, flown by Rob Logan and Mike Mahar in their first Airventure Cup Race.	Keith Phillips' really sharp Swearingen SX-300, Race 10.	Packing up to leave ourselves. Since we are traveling about half a contintnet in a matter of hours, Howie Keefe's Aircharts come in handy!	Dad checks the oil as we prepare to head home to Santa Fe, NM, home base for only a few more days. We are moving to Dallas and the plane will be based at Mckinney Airport (TKI).
As a nice echo of our arrival, the Galaxy C5A leaves right before us. All eyes are on this awesome aircraft as it lifts off.
	Even after a week at OSH and a 1000 mile journey home, Dad and I are still jazzed about the Race. We even came in third in our class! We're already planning for next year, and after a little good natureed squabbling, my mother plans on flying right seat with me! The AirVenture Cup was an unforgettable experience!

Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome! email: rich@rguerra.com
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