We Finished in the TOP TEN!!

 

Our pilot said and we concur:

Sat for 2 nights, due to bad weather. Raced a 4 day, all VFR race in 2 days. I am beyond thrilled to be blessed to be amongst a group of such incredible legends that have raced this all women's air race since 1929 and place in the top ten.
Thank you all for your support and prayers for safety.

 

Classic Twentyseven finished in seventh place for the 2013 Air Race Classic

 



 

 



The last day....

Sunday we had an early racers breakfast to attend and then the mandatory debriefing for several hours afterwards.  Everyone gets to share their thoughts on what went well, and what didn't, and how we could improve. Today's meeting was very positive, especially of the new inspection team this year. Having all the airplanes handicapped before the race was an improvement over last year. And everyone loved the Spot GPS tracker! You could follow the race on www.trackleaders.com/arc13

There were over 11,000 hits on that site the first day.

We spent the afternoon checking on the airplanes, visiting with other racers and have lunch down on Dickson Street. Killing time until the big event tonight, the banquet & RESULTS!

We know we will place in the top 15 racers because we had the call Saturday morning to have the race plane re-inspected.  

We get The Call!

We got into Fayetteville before the deadline, after two days of hard flying, 1000+ miles each day. (Go to our Facebook page under Classic Twentyseven for details and pictures) 

We were very happy to have been able to finish the race, we were delayed by bad weather in the Washington area for two days and couldn't even start. The Bonanza Boys were the to greet us as we landed in Fayetteville about 5pm with frozen washcloths and cold drinks. Also, we participated in the Adopt a Racer program and our girls from Alabama were there to greet us! 

Our keys were turned in to race officials, log books on the seats, and we were off to the melt down party! Official scores were emailed to us about midnight and agreed with our tabulations down to 0.12 And then, at 6:30 this morning, we got The Call. We have placed somewhere in the top 15 places in the race and had to have our airplane re-inspected. So excited! So happy! And somewhat stunned! But we have been through the inspection and met with the scorer and its true, we are in the top 15. Plus, we flew a penalty free race - so important as they dock you several points for each penalty. And it's important to us that we fly as perfectly as possible.

Out at the hangar for the top 15 inspections we found we were in very respectable company! Tookie, Mary Wunder, Marge and Helen, Terry Carbonell.....racers we so look up to & aspire to emulate, also in the running for the top prizes. 

So stay tuned...awards are not announced until the banquet Sunday night. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Meetings, briefings, safety seminars,and more meetings today! We received another Spot tracker, all the racers will be  carrying this and you can watch all on
http://trackleaders.com/arc13

Saturday morning, up early after a fun day Friday. We had our pilot credentials checked, then had our race plane inspected by mechanics, so can cross that off our to do list. This weekend we will have briefings and safety seminars in preparation for race week.
Racers were arriving throughout the day, we met up with new friends, our baby birds Heather and Moe, and long time friends, Tookie and Don. And we did some more touring of the country side around the Tri Cities, no, we weren't lost again....we're calling it touring.
The FBO, Bergstroms, is hosting a pancake breakfast for us this morning. Later today we have youth activities, a meet and greet with the Mama Birds and Baby Birds, then a barbecue hangar party.
Watch our Facebook page for pictures and more info - you can find us under Classic Twentyseven
Or go to our web page www.psaracing.org for links to everything

We have arrived in Pasco! We had a warm welcome from everyone here and lots of oohs and aahs over the cool looking race plane. We met up with Donna for dinner, after an afternoon of driving thru the wineries. Only about 6 teams here, should be lots more activity Friday

"Flo" gets her Race Numbers ON!

 

 



We are so pleased with Flo's Race look - thank you so much to Gina and Scott at www.inkwrap.com ! We plan to leave first thing in the morning, fly up to Mountain Home and over to check out P&R field, then on to Pasco. At last, its race time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Race numbers going on this weekend!

 

 

 

Yesterday "Flo" had a fitting for her race numbers. This weekend that Cessna logo will be covered up with our Classic number 27. In our first race last year, we drew number 27 and we were so jazzed as we had always associated that number with veteran racer "Miss Cherokee" Dr. Dene Chabot-Fence.

 

 

Dene is a legendary racer, finishing in the top ten in the Air Race Classic ten times, and being the winner twice! So this year we picked Classic 27 again, and hope having number 27 will rub some good luck off on us.

 

 

We've been fortunate to meet and race with some of these renown racers like Dene, and Tookie, Fran Bera, and Marge & Helen & Ruby. (And you'll find us lurking around,  hoping they will drop some racing secrets our way)





 

 

 

 

 

Highlight on our Sponsors-

Hicks Cooling and Heating, Aircraft Spruce

Cessna Gold Level Sponsor

 

Not just great sponsors, but our biggest fans, are our families. Hicks Cooling and Heating was started by Shannon's Mom and Dad. Ken Hicks moved his family to Lake Havasu City, AZ in August 1974. He worked various jobs including the McCulloch Chainsaw Company and a few Air Conditioning companies when he arrived in Lake Havasu. Then in 1989, he and his wife Susan started a new family business serving the community in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning service.
We lost Ken last year, and miss him very much - but we try to live by his motto:

"You can never have too much fun!"

Shannon has three brothers, and all of them play an important role with the race team.

Jim is the inspiration for the fast look of "Flo" our race plane. Ben is a graphic artist and designs not only our cool race logos, but many logos and tee shirts for our 99s chapter over the last ten years. Charlie helps us with our press releases and interviews us for his radio station-makes us feel like Famous People!

And then there is Wyatt, when shopping with his Grandmother Susan after last years race, said "why not this trophy?" She said, "yes, why not!"



And that's how Classic 27 ended up with the best ever trophy!

 

That's right, 24th place! We beat half of them our rookie season:)

 

 

 





Cessna Gold Level Sponsor

 

Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Company

 

 Last month we told you our race plane is named "Flo" after Flo Irwin, Mom to Frances' husband John. After Bob and Flo Irwin sold their Fullerton Air Parts business, they founded another which sold only one product, aircraft grade spruce lumber for aircraft construction and restoration. Aircraft Spruce Company quickly added more products to its small catalog and adopted the name Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Co. with a goal to offer everything pilots and aircraft builders' need. As Aircraft Spruce served more and more customers and more and more products were added, the staff grew from 2 in 1965 to over 150 today.

Jim Irwin, John's brother and Bob & Flo's older son, grew up in the business, working in jobs such as cutting metal and spruce, pulling shipping orders, and managing kit programs such as the Vari-Eze back in 1975 while still in college.

Jim acquired the company and became president in 1980. Jim's wife Nanci, is vice president and works full time managing the company's accounting and data processing departments. Jim and Nanci have 4 children. Mike, Jeff, and Rob are in management at Aircraft Spruce. Mike and Jeff are licensed pilots. Krissy works in the apparel industry.
Thank you so much to our family at Aircraft Spruce for your support of our race team!

 

 

 

 

Race Practice June 1st

RACER GIRL!

 

Race practice: Today its only 98 degrees, the wind is only gusting to 26. We've got our pilot leaving tire tracks on the ridgelines and getting used to flying it in the yellow:) She is a RACER GIRL!
Meanwhile the copilot finds she is totally dependent on her technology and when it goes down, must wake the team mate/tactical coordinator in the back seat to ask how to figure out when to tell the pilot to start the descent-since she no longer has a magic electronic device doing it for her!



 

Handicap Complete! 

 

6am Memorial Day morning, up with the sun for the handicap run-again! This time the data logger did not mess up and we are hoping that we had a good run. This is a big boating weekend here in Lake Havasu, here you can see our world famous London Bridge and all the boats on parade in the Channel. So, a very good day to be flying instead of being out amongst the crazies.

 



Highlight on our Sponsors-Big Mike Harrah 

   Desert Skies Executive Air Terminal

 Skylane Elite Level Sponsors

We so appreciate our sponsors and without them we would not be able to participate in the Air Race Classic. We want to thank our sponsors and would like you to visit their websites, get to know them better, and thank them too.

 



 

The Quintessential Self Made Man: Big Mike Harrah

Mike Harrah certainly stands out—and not just because of he's 6'6 and weighs 275 lbs. While Mike Harrah's appearance may not conjure up expectations of a CEO and real estate developer, he's responsible for the construction of some of Orange County's most stunning structures and the preservation of some of her greatest architectural gems. His development of Lake Havasu City continues to draw tourists from around the world and the preservation of the Performing Arts and Events Center in Santa Ana, California cemented Harrah's role as a developer committed to the restoring the grandeur of Orange County's capital city. Thirty five years after launching his career with nothing but competitive zeal and a carpenter’s tool kit, Michael Harrah is the sole owner of Caribou Industries, a major development corporation which has built and managed restaurants, high-rise offices, hotels, golf courses, shopping malls, convention centers and other properties across the western United States. Harrah’s interest in aviation began in 1976 when he saw a simple, “Learn to Fly--$25” ad, took an introductory flight and was hooked. He worked his way up from a Cessna 310 to a 421B, buying and flying a number of planes along the way, all in the course of a couple months. He now owns a Gulfstream IV and five helicopters, including a Cobra combat helicopter he’s flown in a number of blockbuster Hollywood films.  And Mike Harrah is a wonderful supporter of our Rio Colorado 99s chapter and our Three of a Kind Racing team. His facility, Desert Skies Executive Air Terminal, is home for our annual Rio Colorado 99s Poker run.   So much good stuff to say about Desert Skies - they are the oldest and most experienced operator in Lake Havasu with over 20+ years in the FBO business. Aviation is their only business, let them serve you today! Stop by and grab a free hot cup of coffee or a cold bottle of water and relax between flights. Bargain fuel prices and top notch service from John, Andy, Jeff, Ryan and Bob, along with Melissa and Yvonne. When you come to Lake Havasu, be sure to follow the red golf carts for great service and outstanding fuel prices! 



 Handicapping for the Race 

 

 

 



 

 

Every airplane in the Air Race Classic receives its own handicap speed, that speed which is the fastest it can go at max power settings. To win, you have to beat your handicap by flying the best race possible, straightest line, find the tailwind, anything that will help you fly faster than the fastest you can go!

 

Earlier this week we flew our handicap flight, but the data logger did not transmit sufficient information for our handicap speed to be determined. So, we hope to fly again this weekend after Donna gets another data logger. Keep your fingers crossed for us, that this next one will be successful





Highlight on our Sponsors-ACS Products

 

 

 

We so appreciate our sponsors and without them we would not be able to participate in the Air Race Classic. We want to thank our sponsors and would like you to visit their websites, get to know them better, and thank them too.

 

 

 ACS Products: "Flo" Platinum Level Sponsor

 

Our Race plane is named for Flo Irwin. In the summer of 1956, Flo and Bob Irwin founded Fullerton Air Parts at Fullerton Municipal Airport in Southern California. Bob, born and raised in Kansas City, MO., a pilot since the 1940's and active in the CAP and other aviation groups, knew airplanes and the parts that were needed to keep them flying. Flo, a native of Rochester, New York, had no aviation background but learned the business quickly and knew what it would take to keep customers coming back... fair prices and good service. Fullerton Air Parts grew into one of the largest retail aircraft parts suppliers in the western states during the next nine years. 



Flo and Bob Irwin, along with their son John, moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona in the fall of 1983 and founded ACS Products Co., which manufactures a line of products which is distributed by Aircraft Spruce.

 Flo Irwin passed away on June 10, 1989, but the legacy of this warm, outgoing, and talented businesswoman lives on in the businesses she founded and built to serve the aviation community.

 

 John Irwin, his wife, Frances, and Bob Irwin now manage the ACS Products Co. operation. Bob Irwin is an instrument rated pilot with more than 2000 hours logged and based his 1968 Navion Rangemaster at Lake Havasu City until May 2000 when Bob retired as a pilot, after fifty years of flying, and moved the Navion to Chino Airport for his grandchildren to fly. Prior to acquiring the Rangemaster in 1976, Bob owned a Vultee BT-13B and a 1949 Ryan Navion. John and Frances both received their private pilot license in the fall of 2012. Their 1968 Cessna 182L is the race plane we have named for Flo. 

 



ACS Products has been supplying aircraft parts and accessories to the aircraft industry since 1985.  The majority of our products are stocked by our distributors. If you are looking for a customized version  of a stock product, or development of your own idea, you may deal directly with us. ACS Products occupies a 10,000 square foot facility located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The company includes a complete CNC turning and machining department, metal spinning department, welding department, assembly, testing, and inspection department, and an engineering department. Our CNC turning and milling department enables us to produce high quality parts at very competitive prices. The spinning department produces parts using the "spinning process"  which forms three dimensional parts out of flat stock, thereby reducing material loss and cost. All welding requirements are performed by certified welders using TIG and brazing processes. All products are subjected to critical first part, in process, and final inspection. Flight critical products like cables are 100 percent functionally tested. We also have an Engineering department to help you take your idea or print from prototype to finished product quickly and inexpensively. Thank you so much to ACS family for their support of our race team!



EAA Chapter 681

 

Yesterday the team paid a visit to our EAA Chapter 681 for the last meeting before they go dark for the summer (you racers that have been here in the summer, know why we don't meet! Whew, its hot!)

 

 

Our EAA chapter is a huge supporter of our race teams, and our Rio Colorado 99s chapter, and we so appreciate them. Last year they were a tremendous help for our race start, volunteering for hospitality and greeting racers as they arrived, helping with inspections of the aircraft, and organizing the take-off of 50+ airplanes in record time.

 

 

They were excited to hear about this year's race, and are ready to follow along as we race from Pasco WA, to Fayetteville AR. Thank you all for the donations to the team for the tee shirts and hats!

 Y'all are the best!

 



 

We made the local paper!

 

 

 

Local pilots competes in annual air race

 

Lake Havasu City, AZ – Local pilots, Pam Rudolph, Frances Irwin and Shannon Hicks-Hankins will soar across the country as they compete in the 2013 Air Race Classic (ARC) this summer which begins June 18th in Pasco, Washington and spans over 2,128 nautical-miles.

 

Racers will undergo briefings, flight planning, and fly-by study prior to take off. The race is an annual all-female-pilot air race in which pilots race against their own best speed in the plane of their choice. There are, however, limitations: the aircraft must be “stock” models (no experimental) and have their handicap speed identified with a check-pilot. They will zoom through eight intermediate stops in four days enroute to Fayetteville, Arkansas in the quest for the fastest time.

 

Both Pam and Shannon return for their second ARC while this will be Frances’ first race.

 

Rudolph holds a Private pilot certificate, single-engine land and sea, with 1,800 hours logged. Pam returns to the race for, “the adventure of seeing new places, honing my skills and because it’s so much fun!” A retired pharmacy technician, she owns a Bonanza and this year earned her seaplane rating. She enjoys flying back and forth to Florida several times a year to visit family.

 

The ARC carries on the long tradition of women’s air racing that dates back to 1929. Air racing became popular in the 1920’s, but women pilots were forbidden to race against the men in that era, so the ladies started their own.

 

Frances is a Private pilot, single-engine land, with 116 hours logged. She is racing “for the personal challenge and camaraderie of other female pilots, skill development and fun.”

 

Irwin developed her interest in aviation through her employment with a leading distributor and manufacturer of aircraft parts. She and her husband, John, are both new pilots, and they enjoy flying together.

 

Shannon is an Instrument-Rated Commercial pilot with single-engine land and sea, multi-engine land, instrument flight instructor, and advanced and instrument ground instructor certifications and 5,775 hours logged.

 

Shannon races, “because it is fun and challenging. The amount of knowledge you gain from the experience is extraordinary. I love the excitement.”

 

Shannon does office work for her family business and teaches flying part-time. A graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, she has been flying for more than twenty-five years. For three years, she was a captain flying FedEx freight for Empire Airlines in a C208. Her husband, Jon, is also a pilot and an aircraft mechanic.

 

This year’s ARC will have forty-seven teams and over one hundred female pilots compete for the championship title.

 

When she’s not up in the air, Pam enjoys quilting, a hobby she started when she and her husband, Bill, retired to Arizona. Frances enjoys skiing, camping, off-road riding, boating, paddle boarding and hiking with her dogs Buddy and Darla. Shannon loves the outdoors and adventure, travel, hiking, mountain biking and water sports. All three pilots are the members of the Rio Colorado chapter of the Ninety-Nines.

Pam Gets Checked out in the 182, Team Race Practice

 

Saturday our team found we all had a few hours free in the morning at the same time-unusual for us! So we took the chance for me to fly Frances' 182, our race plane. Different for me, as I fly a Bonanza and I've always flown low wings. But Shannon is a great teacher, so no worries. We wanted to try it at full power, and see what kind of speeds and fuel flow we could expect. And, practice a couple fly-by's, because that's the most fun of racing:)

Then we went down to the ACS SIM lab ACS SIM link to draw the line on our charts, and program the route into all our technology. We talked about our strategy, what altitudes to fly, restricted areas we need to avoid, and how far we might go each day. Or course we know, like Tookie's told us....plan all you want, but be flexible because odds are, it will never go like you planned!

Last year's race...after planning every hour of every day for a week, this is the only preplanned event that happened....seeing the sunset at Benton Harbor:) But how beautiful?! So worth it..

 

 

Lance Loves the Ladies....

Lance Forrest, our first "Ground Crew" level $100 doggie sponsor. He gets his name on the race plane, and the undying admiration of the ladies and their race pilot people! He is one handsome puppy with his blue ribbon, won for Best Eyes.
Would you like to be a Ground Crew sponsor, too? Check out our sponsor levels at I want to Sponsor the team We'd love to have you share in the adventure!

 Darla, with Pilot Frances

 Chloe, with co-pilot Pam

Roxy, with team mate Shannon

 



Let the 2013 Handicapping begin! Each airplane entered will have its own unique race handicap. The handicap will be based on that airplane's individual performance. This allows airplanes of different types and different horsepower to fairly race against each other.

The ARC Handicap Team is in action now matching Racers with Handicap Pilots to accomplish the 2013 Handicap Flights by May 15^th. All Racers in Competition Class and Handicap Pilots are required to read all the assigned handicap documents and watch the handicap videos PRIOR to the Handicap Flight.

 

Here is video of our team from last summer, practicing flying at full power settings and timing fly-bys:

 

http://youtu.be/6ow1CBsF0jA

 

 

January has been a month to start fundraising for the upcoming race. We have many different sponsor levels and appreciate any support you can give the team!

We were busy out at the Balloon Festival, you don't see Shannon because we had her in the Sim, flying all day. Shannon would demonstrate the ACS Flight Simulator, while Frances and Pam collected donations out front. For your $20 donation, we offer a team shirt, hat, visor, or chili pepper cooker. You may contact us through this website. Thank you for your support!

Three of a Kind Racing - Classic 27

Setting up our first blog. Here is the team-Pilot, Frances Irwin, Co-Pilot, Pam Rudolph,

 and Team mate Shannon Hicks Hankins