Rare Bear Featured in 2009 Air & Space Smithsonian Article

After a winter spent licking the wounds from battles lost last fall, the Bear stirs, indifferent to the bracing wind and brilliant sunshine. It emerges slowly from its cave, pauses to orient itself, then gravitates toward its natural hunting ground: not a forest or a river full of salmon but the ramp of the Reno-Stead Airport in Nevada. Here, for four decades and counting, the Bear has stalked its prey: Sea Furys, Lightnings, Super Corsairs, and, tastiest of all, the fleet, slender thoroughbreds known as P-51 Mustangs.

Story by Preston Learner Photography by Tyson Rininger and others.   continue>>

Pilot update May 2011 from Stewart Dawson

I am honored that Rod Lewis has given me the opportunity to fly and race Rare Bear. After flying the airplane it is hard to describe how much horsepower this airplane has and how much speed it is capable of attaining. With Dave Cornell and crew in place, and the amount of time they have had to work on “Bear”, I believe that the “Bear” has the potential of being better than it has ever been. John and I should start test flying the “Bear” in the middle of June and she should be ready to race by the end of July. I want to thank Rod for his commitment to this race team.    continue>>