Steve Hinton Jr. - 5 Time Champion !!!

[Warbirdnerd]

I heard that Clay Lacy's P-51 was hit by lightening on Saturday evening and it left a hole in the wing. A photographer said he got a great shot of the Mustang with said bolt attached to the wing and a rainbow in the background.

Linked from the Facebook page, an amazing shot...

[Speedy]

Not to pick nits, but....

Stevo is a 4 time champion. 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013. It was a no-contest in 2011.

And the 'stock' motor in Precious Metal was not stock at all. A lot of that was "the sky is falling" on the part of the team--on purpose. They took the banks and oil pan off the new race motor (yellow) and grafted it onto the lower-end of last year's race motor (red). Last year's motor was one of the ex-Miss Budewiser motors and there was nothing 'stock' about it. They did a good job Frankensteining the parts together in a short period of time. They called it a 'ferry motor', but come-on...the sum total was still stronger than what they worked with last year.

[Taigh Ramey]

Wow, what a shot for sure.

So one could make the argument that God approves of Bob Hoover and has a different opinion of Clay...

[RandolphB]

And the 'stock' motor in Precious Metal was not stock at all. A lot of that was "the sky is falling" on the part of the team--on purpose. They took the banks and oil pan off the new race motor (yellow) and grafted it onto the lower-end of last year's race motor (red). Last year's motor was one of the ex-Miss Budewiser motors and there was nothing 'stock' about it. They did a good job Frankensteining the parts together in a short period of time. They called it a 'ferry motor', but come-on...the sum total was still stronger than what they worked with last year.

To make things clear, as I am a Member of Team PM and have spent the last year of my life helping with this year's build:

There were no "Sky is falling" deceptions on purpose. It was falling at many turns along the way. I can't count the times in the last 2 months when Thom walked in and said, "That's it, we're done without such and such.", only to have a hard won solution work out just in the nick of time. You have to remember this is a low buck, not unlimited pocketbook team.

You are correct on the combination of parts. The red portion is last year's engine- which goes back to the Bud series boats, which means it is a very tired bottom end. There isn't much special Secret Squirrel stuff down there...it's a bottom end. The new engine did a 10 minute test run, after which it was found to have destroyed a crank bearing. Chasing down the reason hasn't happened yet, as the issue was getting anything running into the airframe and getting to Reno in time. In trying diagnose the issue, the top end had been disassembled and basic engine dynamics such as ring end gap, valve lashes and other clearances were checked. When no issue was found with that portion of the engine, Thom made a command decision to use the bottom end of the very old engine with the refreshed top end parts. The top end sports such things as new rings, and valve train components. He called it a ferry motor in his first post, as I believe he saw it as having about the same performance as a ferry or stock motor, not a full bore racing engine.

Certainly there was more engine than last year, as it had a fresh top end with new rings, seals and other components usually replaced in a top end rebuild. That said, I believe everyone on the team viewed it as having basic stock performance- between the nice new parts, and the worn old parts. It was not a wolf in sheep's clothing engine to fool everybody into thinking otherwise. From the time the new build engine destroyed itself, to the time the composite engine ran was almost exactly 48 hours. All done under the gun of having enough time left to even get the aircraft to registration at all.

We went through hell getting the airframe mods (strakes, wingtips, canopy, filling rivets and painting, etc) done over this last year- and hopefully have the time to concentrate on more of just an engine program. We still have a lot of work ahead of us to be ready for next year, but the team itself grew together and took a huge step forward with our actual finish in the Gold Unlimited Race....

[Invader26]

Bravo to the troops at "Precious Metal"...

Two things keep aircraft flying; the attitude and the attitude!

[Babalon]

And the 'stock' motor in Precious Metal was not stock at all. A lot of that was "the sky is falling" on the part of the team--on purpose. They took the banks and oil pan off the new race motor (yellow) and grafted it onto the lower-end of last year's race motor (red). Last year's motor was one of the ex-Miss Budewiser motors and there was nothing 'stock' about it. They did a good job Frankensteining the parts together in a short period of time. They called it a 'ferry motor', but come-on...the sum total was still stronger than what they worked with last year.

To make things clear, as I am a Member of Team PM and have spent the last year of my life helping with this year's build:

There were no "Sky is falling" deceptions on purpose. It was falling at many turns along the way. I can't count the times in the last 2 months when Thom walked in and said, "That's it, we're done without such and such.", only to have a hard won solution work out just in the nick of time. You have to remember this is a low buck, not unlimited pocketbook team.

You are correct on the combination of parts. The red portion is last year's engine- which goes back to the Bud series boats, which means it is a very tired bottom end. There isn't much special Secret Squirrel stuff down there...it's a bottom end. The new engine did a 10 minute test run, after which it was found to have destroyed a crank bearing. Chasing down the reason hasn't happened yet, as the issue was getting anything running into the airframe and getting to Reno in time. In trying diagnose the issue, the top end had been disassembled and basic engine dynamics such as ring end gap, valve lashes and other clearances were checked. When no issue was found with that portion of the engine, Thom made a command decision to use the bottom end of the very old engine with the refreshed top end parts. The top end sports such things as new rings, and valve train components. He called it a ferry motor in his first post, as I believe he saw it as having about the same performance as a ferry or stock motor, not a full bore racing engine.

Certainly there was more engine than last year, as it had a fresh top end with new rings, seals and other components usually replaced in a top end rebuild. That said, I believe everyone on the team viewed it as having basic stock performance- between the nice new parts, and the worn old parts. It was not a wolf in sheep's clothing engine to fool everybody into thinking otherwise. From the time the new build engine destroyed itself, to the time the composite engine ran was almost exactly 48 hours. All done under the gun of having enough time left to even get the aircraft to registration at all.

We went through heck getting the airframe mods (strakes, wingtips, canopy, filling rivets and painting, etc) done over this last year- and hopefully have the time to concentrate on more of just an engine program. We still have a lot of work ahead of us to be ready for next year, but the team itself grew together and took a huge step forward with our actual finish in the Gold Unlimited Race....

You guys have any of that footage from that fancy onboard that you were flying around the pylons with? Great job by your team this year.

Clay Lacy's mustang DID NOT get touched by lightning, simpley a spectacular shot and lucky angle by the cameraman. The lightning in the image though did strike relatively close, somewhere around the end of runway 14, but the legends in the photo were safely on the other side of the field.

Rare Bear was having carb issues all week and the crew was working relentlessly on it all week. Word of mouth was the first carb was too rich, the second one was too lean, and the third one was better than the first two but the Bear was still a few hundred horsepower short from ideal.

[DH82EH]

Hey Randolph,

Thanks for the first hand info. It's always hugely appreciated.

Andy Scott

[RandolphB]

You guys have any of that footage from that fancy onboard that you were flying around the pylons with? Great job by your team this year.


Rare Bear was having carb issues all week and the crew was working relentlessly on it all week. Word of mouth was the first carb was too rich, the second one was too lean, and the third one was better than the first two but the Bear was still a few hundred horsepower short from ideal.

I have heard the camera system didn't do 100% of what it is designed to do...which is- the ability to tilt and remain level as the aircraft banks through turns. The intention was to provide a view much like NASCAR gives from their cars. I am aware they got footage, but haven't seen it yet. The system was custom designed and built by a company known for 3D aerial mapping in the hanger next to the Museum. Lots of bugs to work out on something as high tech and custom as this.

I really respected The Bear's Team. Those fellows worked tirelessly the entire time I was there...and I arrived on the 6th. They picked up the rope for a highly modified aircraft and tried to figure out how everything worked and how to make it fast. I have heard it said that a normal A & P would be clueless on this aircraft, because it is so far past being stock. I understand that thought after my own last year...

[garbs]

Thanks for the clarification, RandolfB - I certainly made no effort to belittle your team's efforts. I wonder if you were the gentleman I spoke to in the pits.

Thanks also to Taigh for the gen on the Heritage Trophy - if you're not there as they present, it's hard to tell who won anything.

Time for some other thanks - with the military so obviously absent, the CAF So Cal Wing really picked up the slack. They opened every show with a beautiful formation during the National Anthem and came back later each day with some solo/formation work:

[garbs]

Forgot a solo shot of the zero:



Tigercat really fills the frame on takeoff:



They left a couple of them parked out on the ramp, with some nice backdrop scenery:






No lightning strikes though - that shot is amazing whether it hit Lacy's P-51 or not

This one was a new paint scheme for me, being a mid-westerner;



Lots more to sort

Later

[garbs]

Rare Bear was having carb issues all week and the crew was working relentlessly on it all week. Word of mouth was the first carb was too rich, the second one was too lean, and the third one was better than the first two but the Bear was still a few hundred horsepower short from ideal.

So let me get this straight...the Bear said the first was too hard and the second was too soft? Shouldn't the third one have been just right?

Sorry - couldn't resist

[N3Njeff]

So let me get this straight...the Bear said the first was too hard and the second was too soft? Shouldn't the third one have been just right?

Sorry - couldn't resist[/quote]

now that is funny!

I seem to remember reading many years ago that Lyle had carb issues and might have borrowed one from a guy who had a skyraider???

Last edited by N3Njeff on Wed Sep 18, 2013 11:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[N3Njeff]

And the 'stock' motor in Precious Metal was not stock at all. A lot of that was "the sky is falling" on the part of the team--on purpose. They took the banks and oil pan off the new race motor (yellow) and grafted it onto the lower-end of last year's race motor (red). Last year's motor was one of the ex-Miss Budewiser motors and there was nothing 'stock' about it. They did a good job Frankensteining the parts together in a short period of time. They called it a 'ferry motor', but come-on...the sum total was still stronger than what they worked with last year.

To make things clear, as I am a Member of Team PM and have spent the last year of my life helping with this year's build:

There were no "Sky is falling" deceptions on purpose. It was falling at many turns along the way. I can't count the times in the last 2 months when Thom walked in and said, "That's it, we're done without such and such.", only to have a hard won solution work out just in the nick of time. You have to remember this is a low buck, not unlimited pocketbook team.

You are correct on the combination of parts. The red portion is last year's engine- which goes back to the Bud series boats, which means it is a very tired bottom end. There isn't much special Secret Squirrel stuff down there...it's a bottom end. The new engine did a 10 minute test run, after which it was found to have destroyed a crank bearing. Chasing down the reason hasn't happened yet, as the issue was getting anything running into the airframe and getting to Reno in time. In trying diagnose the issue, the top end had been disassembled and basic engine dynamics such as ring end gap, valve lashes and other clearances were checked. When no issue was found with that portion of the engine, Thom made a command decision to use the bottom end of the very old engine with the refreshed top end parts. The top end sports such things as new rings, and valve train components. He called it a ferry motor in his first post, as I believe he saw it as having about the same performance as a ferry or stock motor, not a full bore racing engine.

Certainly there was more engine than last year, as it had a fresh top end with new rings, seals and other components usually replaced in a top end rebuild. That said, I believe everyone on the team viewed it as having basic stock performance- between the nice new parts, and the worn old parts. It was not a wolf in sheep's clothing engine to fool everybody into thinking otherwise. From the time the new build engine destroyed itself, to the time the composite engine ran was almost exactly 48 hours. All done under the gun of having enough time left to even get the aircraft to registration at all.

We went through heck getting the airframe mods (strakes, wingtips, canopy, filling rivets and painting, etc) done over this last year- and hopefully have the time to concentrate on more of just an engine program. We still have a lot of work ahead of us to be ready for next year, but the team itself grew together and took a huge step forward with our actual finish in the Gold Unlimited Race....

I think you guys did a fine job! There was a nice article floating around FB that I stopped and read. I thought it said you guys went back to a stock engine. there was no mentioning of going back and building up another engine from the two.............hands down it was a nice article on the history of the airplane and how the current owner has the drive to make it a contender. 2014 should be good.

[airnutz]

I seem to remember reading many years ago that Lyle had carb issues and might have borrowed one from a guy who had a skyraider???

Did they share the serial number on that carb?

[RandolphB]

Thanks for the clarification, RandolfB - I certainly made no effort to belittle your team's efforts. I wonder if you were the gentleman I spoke to in the pits.

]

No offense taken, it's a privilege to be able to contribute some to the WIX forum. I've learned so much here over the years. I may have been the person speaking in the pits. I usually had a camera around my neck, as I was shooting the event for the Team to preserve the memories of what we were going through. Everyone was encouraged to speak to the public and share as much as we could with them (while not giving away secrets...). It was a taxing and exhilarating year to be involved at this level. I have perhaps 4000 photos of the build itself, and 10,000+ of the race event. I will be working with the Facebook page to start getting those out to the public to better be able to share in what our team has done for the year.