AIR RACE 1 WORLD CUP – DAY 1 Friday 17th November
After a week of unpacking, re-assembling, test flying and practice, the Air Race 1 World Cup Thailand, presented by Chang, wowed the crowds with two dramatic races on Friday 17th November, starting three days of wingtip to wingtip action at the U-Tapau Naval Air Base, Pattaya, Thailand.
The first of the heats, the Silver race, was dominated by #15 ‘Last Lap Player flown by Texan Ryszard Zadow, whose modified Cassutt racer lapped the entire field except #9, ‘Outlaw’, flown to second place by Scott Holmes from Edmonton, Canada. There was a close battle for third with fast-starting British pilot Trevor Jarvis in #58 Sonic Zoom, being chased and eventually passed by #27 ‘Once More’ flown by Kent Jackson from Washington DC and by #26 ‘Fast and Easy’ flown by Paul Newman from Ohio, USA. The final finisher was Steve Tumlin in #52 ‘Fiesty’, after Des Hart from Scotland in #81 ‘Sleeper’ was forced to retire with an overheating engine.
The second, Gold, race saw #99 ‘What Airplane Honey’, flown by Tim Cone of California taking a convincing victory after a spectacular pass on early race leader #69 Philip Goforth of Texas, who continued to finish second. Third place went to the home Team Siam Air Racing #22 ‘Hysteria’ of Bangkok-resident Parisian Lionel Mougel after overtaking #79 Justin Phillipson of California in ‘No Strings Attached’, which finished ahead of Floridan Chip Maples in #40, Miss USA.
A number of potential front-runners were sidelined, including #4 Jerry Marshall in ‘Tumbleweed’ which retired from the Gold race, Steve Temple in #45 Quadnickel which suffered starting problems and Thom Richard in ‘Outrageous’ after a late propeller change. All will be back in action for Saturday and Sunday as the Air Race 1 World Cup Thailand, presented by Chang, reaches its climax.
