Warbird Information Exchange

Would any of youse troops who've been there give me some info. please?
F'rinstance:
Since I can't go for the enite 5 days, which two would give me the most/best action?
How's the viewing situation?
Where, exactly, are the races held? It would seem to me the RNO is far too busy for them to be held there.
Stuff like that. Any info. would be helpful 'cause I don't know nuthin' about it except that the planes go really fast...duh

Mudge the researcher

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Land of the free because of the brave

I know the races are held at Stead Field.

Just pitchin' in.

tc

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"There are two types of people here; airshow whores and airshow prostitutes. The whores, like you and I, do airshow stuff for free, whereas the prostitutes are paid" - Reg Urschler

The best action days can vary. Usually qualifying days early in the week are the only time you'l see all of the top racers fly because they start blowing up and dropping like flies soon after. Sunday is the finals of course, but I'd say best bang for the buck is Friday and Sat. That's when all the heat races take place, and the most races per day are held. I'll warn you though, if you come for those two days you will beg, borrow and steel a way to stay for Sunday. The races are held at Stead field which is about 20 miles north from RNO. I was amazed at just how populated an area they hold the races though. If you make it down, be sure to stop off and say Hi to my friends at the Warlock T-6 pit. You couldn't meet a nicer, or more dedicated bunch of air racers.

Start here http://www.airrace.org/indexJS.php

Mudge, I would go for a Sat/Sun trip. You fly out there on Friday PM, get set up, go to the races on Sat and Sun. American used to have a red eye that departed around midnight and I would ge back into San Antonio around 7:45am, call work and say I'm running late. The Sunday gold is a race not to be missed. There used to be tug races on Saturday night and party's, etc and then Sunday, its game day. There are a lot of places to stay in Reno which is over the hill to Stead. The Gold race usually starts around 4:45PM on Sunday. You will love it and want to go back the next year...

Lynn

Ah 'preciates the info.

Mudge the educable

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Land of the free because of the brave

Beware Mudge its verrrry addictive. Views from the Pits are goo, from the grandstands are a bit better.

You have to buy separate tickets for general entry and pits entry, there are two grandstands one, prepaid reserved seats one paid on the day. All the startups and presentations are in front of the grandstands.

A very friendly show and great fun!

You will get some cracking advice here and they are almost as friendly as here

2006 was my first visit to Reno, five of us guys flew down from Winnipeg to Reno via United airlines on Thursday and returned Monday, we had a great time.

We stayed at the Sands Hotel - old but reasonable in cost - four nights for a room with two queen beds $310US tax included. Most hotel / casinos have free shuttles from the Reno airpot to their hotel, a nice touch and saves the taxi fare (~ $30.00 one way)

Next visit I will stay at a hotel on the main strip like the Eldorado, the Eldorado has better meals, we had breakfast at the Eldorado each day as the pickup point for the shuttle bus to Stead field is at the Eldorado.
The airace shuttle bus is $18.00 for a daily round trip ticket via a greyhound type bus. The bus shuttle tickets at a sidewalk booth at the Eldorado

I would be sure to buy on line in advance the reserved grandstand seating for Sunday's final races, we bought in June, the the seats were great, bring or buy stadium seats as the alum, bench seats are hard.

We bought pit passes tickets on line also but we had to exchange these pit tickets for pit passes at a small ticket booth at the pit entrance so why would one bother buying in advance to end up in line with folds buying pit passes there. However going through the pits was very worth it.

Daily entrance tickets can be bought on the air race gate entrance - lineup is not too bad.

Military members get in free - a herc pilot in our group saw that sign at the ticket booth, said yipeee, showed his id and got in free for all days.

Food was ok to good, prices in line with other airshows, the beer price was reasonable and tasted great on Sunday in the grandstand.

Weather Friday was windy and cold +42F, so bring very warm clothes just in case, we're from the frozen tundra, has some warm clothes but still felt cold.

Hope this helps - have a great trip.

my reno pics at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89033098@N ... 291709080/