Warbird Information Exchange

Just saw this in "Air Classics' facebook page.

BARDAHL SPECIAL UP AND FLYING

"On 4 September, AIR CLASSICS was invited along to take photos of the second flight of Justin Zabel’s P-51D “Bardahl Special” flown by Steven Hinton (the first flight had taken place a couple hours earlier). Fighter Rebuilders did an incredible job of turning the stock Mustang into a very mean Reno racer with clipped wings, modified belly scoop, and a super-hot Vintage V-12s Merlin. Full details will be in our November AIR CLASSICS".

From Blackbirdfan - It should be a good race between Miss America, and Bardahl, that is assuming Bardahl gets assembled and all the kinks worked out in time. It will be two very different engines, with similar airframes behind them. I'm going to guess the winning speed will be greater than 470. Bardahl might have the better pilot with Stevo at the stick, but it could also be Steve Couches at the stick. That said, Miss A does have two fully prepped race engines. The primary engine has won at Reno in the past in another aircraft. The second race engine was Galloping Ghost's second race engine. Both are Allison Rod engines. The primary race engine has a custom blower and custom nose case on it.

There will be another epic race in the Gold. That will be for 4th and 5th place. Two very evenly matched R2000 powered Yaks will be going at it. Sam Davis's "Miss Trinidad" vs Scotty Crandlemire's "Rushin Thunder" Both of these should be 400+ capable. Will they be able to catch Dreadnought? Unlikely unless Dreadnought has an issue. Still, they should both be ahead of Argonaut and 924.

The Silver heat could also have some cool stuff in it, including the only flying H model Mustang in the world. (I'm not considering the Whittington's H model as it hasn't flown in years to my knowledge.) Vicky Benzing will have Clay Lacey's former Miss Van Nuys racing this year. That will be very cool to see on the course. Swamp Fox, Boise Bee, Miss Mavel (Ex Georgia Mae), Sparky, Sweet and Lovely, and Speedball Alice should fill the Silver.

The Bronze should still be a cool race with Pretty Polly, Sneak Attack, Man O War, Lady Jo, Wee Willy, Spam Can, Bunny, all filling out that race. We could have a fun race between Pretty Polly and Sneak Attack.

Lets hope for no smoke this year, no crashes, and just a fantastic final year of Reno. I'm working on getting some evening ramp photoshoots lined up. Right now I have 3, with an engine run for sure.

Will

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Steve is bringing the H to race for the first time according to a FB post I saw and no, definitely not racing Bardahl. Steve O is entered as the pilot and removing him would be like removing Verstappen for someone else. Ain’t gonna happen. There’s no maybe ifs about it.

Wasn't there a similarly named Mustang racing circa 1969-70?

IIRC, yellow and black checkerboard, I think the pilot was named Ed Weiner or similar.

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I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Bardahl Special - https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDo ... rial=23143

Bardahl Miss - https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDo ... rial=21100

Bardahl II - https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDo ... rial=23760

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45-47=-2

The Coutches H has been to Reno before, but never raced there. Same with the Bearcat.
Mike Coutches did race the H once though, in the 1970 California 1000 at Mojave.

and "Forza Ferrari"

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old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers