Speculating on the Future for the Rare Bear:

What is in the future for the Rare Bear Racing operation? That depends on the Reno Air Races form and continuity. I asked RARA Race Director Mike Houghton about his/their thoughts about this last September. He and his executive committee and Directors (and anybody else) are not sure what will happen. There is no alternate site at this time if Stead gets too crowded and congested. It becomes apparent in driving around the Unlimited course on the ground that there are some good sites for industrial expansion in the middle of the valley, north of Stead airport. There are probably residential developers who would like to build homes on the slopes around the present course with such fine views across the valley to the mountains on the other side!

I know that many businesses in Reno like the economic impact and income from the annual Races. However, you can bet that the local government (county/city) agencies, who now own the property under the race course, would prefer monthly payments from commercial/industrial lessees. The once-a-year income to local businesses might not have much effect on keeping the race course acreage open and clear indefinitely.

I can guess that there could be possibly ten years of Unlimited racing in the present Stead situation. So we can plan to race the Bear for about that long.

General Plans for Next Year 2005:

Kent Di Li cleaning engine parts

For several weeks, we have been working on a new, improved engine at Van Nuys airport. Mel Gregoire and his co-worker Di Kent will be doing most of the work. Bill Hickle will be assisting this project substantially. Dodge Brothers Auto and Tony Dodge have agreed to sponsor a substantial part of the cost of this engine program. We intend to build a QEC (Quick Engine Change) unit, almost complete from firewall forward with an engine mount and most accessories and lines and fittings. With this QEC we should be able to change an engine at the races in about eight hours. We plan to make some changes internally in the engine to attain greater efficiency and reliability: possibly some added horsepower also. We will be using some proven automotive technology that was never incorporated into engines of a 1950's vintage, such as the Bear's R-3350.

If we are to run in the years ahead as a top competitor and winner, we must make the Rare Bear faster. I hear that #7, Strega, is coming back with substantial sponsorship. They will be fast! Also, Dago Red's fine organization has them going faster than I would have believed a few years ago.

Mel Gregoire inspecting gears

We have to reduce drag and run a more reliable engine if we are to continue running up front. We haven't reduced drag in a long time, so we must focus in that area. With some of the prize money and some sponsorship help we will try to make progress in this area. Our good friend and sponsor-booster, Bob Kraemer, has offered to sponsor us substantially in aerodynamics clean-up projects.

Troy Ervin, Lindy and Dick Bures, Mel Gregoire, Kent Di Li, Emmanuelle Richard and Lilly-the-black-Lab in the engine shop

Of course, there will be the normal heavy maintenance load of just keeping the airplane in a safe and airworthy condition. All our past modifications make it very difficult to work on. It takes four to six thousand hours per year of crew time, just for normal maintenance operations with no additional "mod" work! Chip Crawford and his Reno crew will handle this work. This will be in coordination with Chief Engineer Bill Hickle, who has been with the Bear project since "day-one" in 1969. Bill knows the airframe and systems better than anybody. Reno Crew Chief Chip Crawford and our mechanics will work closely with Bill.

Our Chief Engineer, Bill Hickle and I met with engineer-aerodynamicists from the Seattle area recently. They were in Reno attending the AIAA aeronautical engineering society annual meeting, and they split off for some time with us and the Reno tech crew. We'll pursue the feasibility of some drag reduction ideas.

We certainly have a big challenge in our preparation for this year 2005. We had a little bit of good luck in winning Reno last September against Dago Red and the others. Our pilot John Penney flew a smart race. However, if we are to have the fastest plane and win in the future, we must reduce drag and improve our engine reliability. This will require all our energy, skill and money. But, if we are going to compete like we have in the past, we must make the Rare Bear faster!

Our mechanic Team performed very well last year and worked some long hours - especially during Race week. With a new spare engine and drag reduction requirements as well as normal maintenance, there is a big job ahead. Most of the team mechanics are full time professionals with A&P certificates. I'm sure they can do a very fine job!

Lyle Shelton,