no matter what configuration they are. They are fun to fly, great traveling machines and always give me a renewed sense of life after a flight.
I had my first flight in January 2009 and have about 60 hrs on the airframe. I have never had a long cross country flight and when the SARL(sport air racing league) started up a few years ago, it was an event that got my attention. My pals Tom Martin and Wayne Hadath always had great stories of the races, and I longed to participate.
Well, the plane is finished, hours flown off, most of the gremlins dealt with, time available to get away from work, and a race in November in Taylor Texas. Hmmmm, things seem to be aligning well !! Now the weather gods just have to be nice !! Thankfully, they were.....kinda.
Like I mentioned, I have never been on a long cross country flight before, so there were lots of things going through my mind, what maps, control zones, US Customs, Canada Customs, flight plans, flight routes, weather, weather, weather, the race, the plane performance, my abilities, lots of things !! Did I mention the weather? Anyway, I'm going to go, and time to sort this out one thing at a time!
The weather was a little troublesome, we left a day early, crossed the border in Sandusky, Ohio and made it as far as Richmond, Indianna KRID, before the weather stopped us.

Overnight stop in Richmond, the front passed through the nite (planned that !!) and airborne at 7am wednesday. 5 hours later, and a fuel stop, Taylor, Texas was under our feet. 25 to 30 knot headwinds the whole trip down !! We were 9.1 hrs down, 6.8 hours back, about 1100 nm each way. We arrived Thursday, forecast for Friday was heavy rain, and they were right.
Skip ahead to race day.........
I was well prepared for the race before I left Southern Ontario. I had the race route entered into my gps, I had flown the course thanks to Google Earth and I had practiced the type of turn I was comfortable with for the race. I flew the plane at full power to see how it would react, and how different the controls would feel. The controls were abit heavier, but still lighter than the cherokee I used to own. I also did turns at full power to see what it was like. I admit, I was nervous before this was done. Was my engine going to make it? Was my tail gonna depart? Would my wing buckle? Everyone said no, but there was always that little voice asking the questions.
All of my testing reassured me that this was a solid plane and flying it at full race settings was a non event. The extra air going through the oil cooler actually made it run cooler than what it does at 23 square. Full rich, balls to the wall......purring like a kitten. ya gotta love it !!!
So, here it is, time has come, plane is fueled with amount and reserves I am comfortable with (lots extra for me). The ramp is buzzing, pilots talking, trying to get race ready, taking extra stuff out of the plane for weight savings, photographers snapping away. Have to get everything completed before the race briefing. I am feeling anxious, nervous, excited......dang.....I gotta pee !!!!
All the pilots and race staff are thoroughly briefed on race course and rules (which are also provided ahead of time) and given the race order starting with the slowest entry. This is so you know who you are to follow and who is following you should there be any passing on the course. The briefing concludes and all the pilots go to their planes and start up and taxi out in the order given earlier. I am still feeling the way I was earlier but maybe a little more calm and focused. Will I get lost? hopefully not !!
My start time has arrived, the flagman drops the flag and off I go, headed for the start line 3 miles away for this race. I am following an RV6 and he is clearly in view a couple miles ahead. This is great, I wont get lost as long as I see him, and as long as he doesn't get lost !! Trust your gps ! Across the start line, balls to the wall, check engine moniter.....everything is perfect, oil is 195, cylinders are good temp, egt is 1325, fuel pressure good.....perfect, continue on racing. Frequent checks of the engine reveal it is quite happy running at 100 percent power, and probably blowing some carbon out too.
Turn 1 is now approaching, will I get the turn right? Yes, no trouble, a complete non issue. I do notice that I am gaining on the plane in front of me, but this is a slow event as we are very near the same speeds. All passing is done to the right side of the forward aircraft, and radio calls of position are made. He is about a mile ahead, both in staright level flight heading to turn 2 some 28 miles away. I suddenly remember and say to myself "****, I forgot to open my ram air after take off", I open my ram air door and the plane gains another 1 inch of manifold pressure and I notice an instant increase in speed. I will be passing the plane ahead.......yeah baby !!
Once the pass was complete, I thought, hmmm, there goes my tour guide, I am on my own now. The Rockets that launched ahead of us are long gone and outta sight. Time to trust my gps, and I also had a current map of the area with the route on it beside me. No problem, not gonna get lost.
On my way to turn 2, pass completed, I find my self in a relaxed state?? What happened to all the nerves? I am flying the airplane at full power, gps has me on track, engine is running like a top, air is smooth, just me and the plane...... that feels so good, oh man, does that feel good. Look down at groundspeed....196 kts....yeah baby !!!!
The rest of the race is much the same as leg 2, I have settled down in a happy spot in my plane, engine is great and happy running full, navigation is a non issue, but most important, I am comfortable with racing now. I cross the finish line and head back to Taylor Airport to land. After the race everyone is on the ground recalling thier adventure over the past 45 minutes. Every comment is a memorable one. I find myself with adrenaline pumping and am very excited, not the calm that I felt during the race.

To best sum up the race itself, It was not the workload I had imagined. It was simple and at no time did I feel overloaded with tasks, it was completely safe and the most fun I have ever had in a plane (in the air that is). Why there are not 50 RV's out to every race is beyond me. You have to try it, if only just once, you owe it to yourself and your wonderfull flying machine to experiance this. Mike Thompson operates a first class event, and to all who participate and help with these.....THANK YOU. My life has become more fufilled because of it. I had a blast.
To all the rv'ers out here.....GET YOUR TAIL(#) TO A SARL RACE NEXT YEAR. even if you're not racing, it is a wonderfull event and you will enjoy the people and surroundings and get a chance to exercise the rv.