The AirVenture Cup! Once again, the date of the Race approached. My father and I worked hard to prepare Velocity XL RG N724X for the trip, but this year, my mother Inez was to ride shotgun as my co-pilot. Dad came out to Dallas a few days early and buffed the plane to a mirror finish. We made a few minor adjustments and finally wired up the co-pilot side wingcam to work correctly. With everything checked and loaded, Mom and I launched into blue skies along with James and Sandy Redmon in Berkut 13. Check out their website, www.berkut13.com for their description of the Race and OSH 2005! A beautiful flight later, we arrived at Dayton-Wright Brothers (MGY) to join the other racers. The following pictures cover our experience at the Race. It was even better than last year if that's possible, with a whole slew of unique planes and wonderful people. The experience was marred only by the tragic loss of Jay Blum, RACE 78, mere weeks before the Race. In tribute to Jay's memory, we all flew with his number - -May the Skies in Heaven Be Always Blue!

Special thanks to Eric Whyte and his team - they outdid themselves once more!

You can also view the following pictures in a 6 minute QuickTime video format (78.7 MB). QuickTIme for Windows available here.

Once again, 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.

The RACE 24 Team: Ricardo "Rick" Guerra, Sr., Ricardo ("Rich") Guerra, Jr., Inez P. Guerra.	As with every year, the journey to Oshkosh starts with feverish preparations. Here, Chief Mechanic Rick Guerra wires up the co-pilot side wingcam. Notice the reflection off the underside of the wing - the entire plane is buffed with teflon containing "Polymer II" and auto detailing product. Makes for a very slick surface. Water beads off and more importantly, bugs wipe right off!	Mom and I skirt around an uninviting thunderstorm. The air is smooth and cool this far up (11500 feet) - too bad we eventually have to drop back into the heat and turbulence of a midwest heat wave! We flew up to Dayton in a 21-ship with James and Sandy Redmon in their Berkut. Check out their website, www.berkut13.com for more info on our trip!	Arrival in Dayton!! We park next to our traveling companions, James and Sandy Redmon in their amazing Berkut, Race 13.
A lineup of AVCup Racers.	This mix of planes demonstrates to fun of the AirVenture Cup Race. Where else would you find a VariEZ, a Quickee, and a Tailwind side by side?	James and Sandy Redmon unload for the overnight stay in Dayton.	Tailwinds, VariEZ's. LongEZ's, RV's, Lancairs, Glassair's, Velocity's, Berkut's - what a lineup!!
Keith Phillips, RACE 10, buffs the leading edges of his Swearingen SX300.			After fly bys, Lancair 360, RACE 36 (Larry & Danial Henney), Swearingen SX-300, RACE 10 (Keith & Michael Phillips) and Lancair Legacy RACE 5 (Lee & Jay Behel) line up in front of Commander Aero.
B-17, "Sentimental Journey" fires up for some fly bys.
The B-17's wingspan is so enormous the racers have to be parked well back from the taxiway.	Race Chairman, Eric Whyte, delivers his informative and unfailingly witty pre-race briefing.	TO THE PLANES!!! The briefing is over, time to suit up and prepare for takeoff!!	Dick Keyt preps the spectacular Polen Special, RACE 31.
	Swearingen SX-300, RACE 10 - Keith & Michael Phillips	Pat Shea, flying Velocity XL RG, RACE 40, applies race numbers while my Mom checks out the Velocity competition!	As we prepare, the B-17 makes a few low passes.
Glasair II RG RACE 25 - Mike McEvoy and RV-4 RACE 74 - Scott Spencer ready to launch.		James and Sandy prepare to navigate the course.	Lynn Farnsworth straps himself in Miss Karen II, RACE 44, a Lancair Legacy.
David Berelesman is pshyched to get rolling as he and Dennis Flamini get their Tailwind, RACE 58, ready to go.		Other racers pitch in to pull Kerry Fritz' Long EZ, RACE 99 out of the grass parking to fire up.	A large number of Dayton locals turn out to cheer on the racers. Sandy Redmon greets some kids who are interested in the very cool Berkut, RACE 13.
Vari EZ RACE 41 - Herb Rutter - pulled out of parking.	The Race Committee's van rolls up and down the line signalling the imminent start of the Race!!	Keith Walljasper & Danny Crews prep this year's only Seawind, RACE 80, for the race.	Sam Hoskins rolls Quickee RACE 22 onto the tarmac, ready to go.
Jorgen & Jesper Skovberg catch a few moments in the shade with Cozy RACE 65 ready to roll.	Arnold Christensen straps into RACE 96, a Lancair 360.	Frank Pullano, Jr. & Brad MacClemmy prepping the fabled RACE 20 for liftoff.	Ready to rock and roll, James and Sandy Redmon signal thumbs up. Check out their website, www.berkut13.com for more info on Berkut 13!
Airventure Cup Racer, Inez P. Guerra, heads for RACE 24, eager to fly!	The AirVenture Cup Speed Dash route. We have 2 pylon turns at Sterling-Whiteside airport and Rockford, followed by a blazing finish at Lomira, WI and then a pit stop at Fond Du Lac (FLD). This year's race is marked by record temps in high 90's and ferocious headwinds of 35+ knots.	Mom navigates and keeps a look out for other racers. The turbulence meant that we were regularly getting our heads tossed into the roof of the cockpit, so much so I began to worry that perhaps I should slow down for my mother's sake. Her comment: "Can't you go any faster?!?" No more worries there!	Veteran AirVenture Cup Racer Rick Guerra welcomes new Racer, Inez Guerra to the finish line!
Airventure Cup Racers, Rick and Inez Guerra.	Velocity XL RG N724X aka RACE 24.	RACE 20 arrives, cameras blazing.
Frank Pullano greets the assembled racers as Brad films the event.	Frank demonstrates some new formation flight hand signals!		James Redmon and Sarah Whyte, one of the Race organizers, greet Frank Pullano and Brad MacClemmy...
... who tell of their race experiences.	Whatever they are describing ....	.... must have been dramatic!!	Eric Whyte briefs the assembled racers on the mass-arrival to Oshkosh.
Once again: "To the Planes!!"	Frank Pullano taxis RACE 20 into the canard racers parking area.	Airventure Cup Racers parked at Oshkosh!! Lancair Legacy, Race 96 (Arnold Christensen), RACE 56, RV-8 (Scott Jordan & Ken Publicouver)	Glasair II SFT, RACE 53 - Don Saint.
Lancair Legacy, RACE 5 - Lee & Jay Behel.	RV-6, RACE 48 - Dave Wesigerber.	Cozy, RACE 65 - Jorgen & Jesper Skovberg.	RACE 5 alongside Glasair 1-TD, RACE 91 - Bruce Hammer.
Vari EZ RACE 66 - Rob Martinson and RV-3, RACE 63 - Box Vasey.	The AirVenture Cup tent featured the race results for all to see.	Crowds gathering for the airshows take a peek at the racers.	Frank Pullano, RACE 20, of Operation Glass Overcast fame. See www.glassovercast.com for more info!
Jorgen & Jesper Skovberg's Cozy, RACE 65 parked next to Velocity XL RG N724X, RACE 24. Bill Allen's LongEZ G-WILY, parked just beyond, made this little corner of the parking grounds a veritable United Nations!	Keith Walljasper & Danny Crews' Seawing, RACE 80 and Glasair III, RACE 75 - Sarah & Bob Bean.	Frank Pullano, RACE 20, fuels up, preparing for the trek home.
Polen Special, RACE 31, parked in front of the race tent.		Tailwind contingent, RACE 58 (David Berelesman & Dennis Flamini) and RACE 37 (Red Hamilton & Marilyn Boese)	RV-8, RACE 27 - John Ross.
Quickee, RACE 22 - Sam Hoskins.	Swearingen SX-300, RACE 10 - Keith & Michael Phillips.	Dennis Shea arrives with brother, Pat, who flew Velocity XL RG, RACE 40. The 2 German girls were so impressed by their race plane, they begged to have their pictures taken insode of it. A common problem for the AirVenture Cup Racers?	Glasair III, RACE 75 - Sarah & Bob Bean.
RACE 80, Seawind - Keith Walljasper & Danny Crews.	Amazing paint job seen sparkling in the sun, RV-8, RACE 98 -Michael & Diane Kelly.		That's fancy nose art!!
	RACE 20 amongst the canards.	AirVenture Cup Cup Racer, my mother ...	Inez P. Guerra!!

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