Any racer will tell you a good start is vital, and now Thom Richard and Steve Senegal have unfortunate first-hand experience in just how true that is.
Richard, who’s been having engine issues all week at the Reno air races, aborted his start this morning in the Formula One Gold main event due to yet more engine trouble, and when Steve Senegal got the tail up on Endeavor there was a very slow moving Richard right in the way. With the runway crowded by the usual 3-abreast take-off Steve’s only hope was to pull back on the stick and hope there was enough energy to vault Richard, but there wasn’t and the two race planes tangled.
Apparently the only injury was a cut to Richard’s hand, which was holding the canopy during the impact; Senegal was unharmed. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage and while we didn’t talk with Richards, Senegal said he and Endeavor would be back in 2017.
Past the crashing, Lowell Slatter simply ran away in first place with a fine 256.728 mph posting in Fraed Naught. Vito Wypraechtiger cruised to second at 234.873 mph as he couldn’t catch Slatter and wasn’t be challenged Justin Phillipson at 227.871 mph in No Strings Attached, a Shoestring clone.
James Jordan in the fast Miss Min was penalized 16 seconds for visibly arguing pylon placement and ended up a tick behind Phillipson at 227.735 mph.
Steve Temple finished off the field in Madness. He posted a 222.944 mph average.
