Message From The Bear Cave

To begin with, let me apologize for not updating everyone while the Reno Championship Air races were in progress, but we were all VERY busy, working up to 18 hour days.

The engine installation went very well with the new crew, Dann Slinker, Emmanuelle Richards,Stacy Thomas, Dave Mooney, Scott (Chip) Crawford , Elliott White,Andrew Karolack and Scott Litster.Ray Din is now back with the crew, also. Chris Rakeshaw did her usual good job with the trailer and helped in the hospitality area. Greg Shaw, the crew chief and Bill Hickle, who has been associated with the Rare Bear from the beginning as well as Clark Thompson were also on hand. Eric Ahlstrom handled the Garmin radio installation and coached Emmanuelle on the instrument panel wiring.

Our first problem that we encountered was a real head-ache. After pre-oiling the engine, we found the oil was only up to the 14th cylinder. Due to the fact that the engine had all been pre-oiled at the time of assembly, we decided to chalk the Bear and run the engine for 30 seconds or so, as we decided we just needed more RPM's to push the oil to the top of the engine. This pushed the oil up to the 15th cylinder and no further. Back to the drawing board.

The crew then started checking all the oil pumps. At the first inspection, everything appeared normal. Forty Eight hours after we first found the problem, we found the reason. The fittings on the front sump pump were too short, thus not pumping enough oil to allow it to get to the top of the engine. We were afraid that we would have to have these fittings hand-tooled, but decided to check with Aviation Classics at the far end of the base. They couldn't order any, but told us there was an old 3350 engine out back under the sage brush and we were free to go look and take what we needed, if the parts were there. THEY WERE THERE! The crew took them back to our hanger, cleaned them up, installed them, chalked the Bear, ran the engine up and LOW AND BEHOLD, we had oil pressure.

By this time, everyone of us was worn out, having worked almost around the clock, but you should have seen the celebration. I know , in my case, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, or both, but we all did a little tap dance and hi-fived everyone we could get to.

The parade of spectators behind the Bear as we towed her from her "cave" out to the tarmac at Stead for her run-up looked like a parade. It was wonderful!

We ran her up a few times at low RPM's to let the engine seat.

We towed her back to the "cave" and worked on improvements and small gremlins all day, then each evening we towed her back to the tarmac to put more time on the engine at higher settings each time and for longer periods. Everything looked like a go.

Tuesday evening, we ran into another problem. A bracket for the prop was found to be broken. It was impossible to buy another one, so we had to call in a machinist to make a new one from scratch, thus aborting the evening run of the engine. This was fixed before anybody went to bed.

Wednesday morning, after only a few hours sleep, the crew went back to work getting her ready for Tech inspection. During this inspection, it is required to recycle the gears more than one time. During the last recycle, a bolt about 3/16 by 1 1/2 inch long, that had been overlooked, fell down from somewhere up in the engine area, lodged in the retract landing gear mechanism, and chewed up some teeth in the gears.

Although this type of repair usually takes about 3 hours, and we only had about one hour left of the last qualifying period, the crew went feverishly to work, never giving up. The repair took about 1/ 1/2 hours, thus we missed qualifying for the Reno National Championship Air Races by about 30 minutes.

Wednesday evening, during the run-up out on the ramp, we discovered that our alternators were not working properly. The alternators have since been tested and it appears that the problem is in the circuitry, which is being worked on, at this time.

When you consider the fact that 7 weeks ago the engine parts were scattered between the Van Nuys hanger, Aircraft Cylinder and on pick-up's in between and the prop needed to be assembled, then everything trucked to Reno, and attached, then time put on the engine, the rest of the paperwork submitted, breaking in a brand new crew, etc. to come this close was a major accomplishment, and a bitter disappointment.

While we were feverishly working, Dago Red managed to take one of our records away from us. Skip Holm qualified Dago Red at : 497.787. We thought it was real considerate of him to leave the 500 MPH lap for us to accomplish next year. In my capacity as co-ordinator for the announcing stand, I delivered the official time of the Gold Race to Skip out on the tarmac after he and Dago Red won. He gave me a big hug and I told him to enjoy it while he could, because WE WERE BACK.

Meanwhile, back at the "Bear Cave" we might have been out, but we weren't down. So many people were asking "Where is the Bear", that RARA agreed to give us a time slot just before the Gold Race on Sunday to show the fans that the "Bear" did indeed have an engine, and could run under her own power for the first time in 3 years.

The famous Reno winds kicked up just before the Gold Race began with gusts up to 50 MPH's, and dust was blowing everywhere.

After the introduction of the Planes and Pilots in the Gold Race, and they taxied to the launch point, OUT OF THE DUST, very dramatically, came the "BEAR", under her own power!

The announcer said, when he saw it, "Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a race over there, but here, to your left is the BEAR!" We got a standing ovation from thousands of Race Fans. John Penney taxied her the full length of the tarmac, and as the people saw her, it was like a wave you see at a football game, with the fans standing up as she approached. On John's way back to the center line he was given the race frequency and he thanked all the Fans and Fansponsors for their support, and pointed out that the fans had made all this possible.

When John and the "BEAR arrived back at the center line, the crew ran out with the chocks, chalked her up, then John ran her up to about 2500 RPM's. The crowd went crazy. At last, after 3 years, the SOUND of the Rare Bear!

Meanwhile, in the pit area, one of our new sponsors and crew member, Charlie Brand from Tuna Graphics, was selling our new line of merchandise as fast as he could open and shut the cash register. A number of our Fansponsor's helped man the booth for the whole race week, including Mr. and Mrs. Ron Winner, from Indiana and Libby Yunger and her guest Bob, plus Dave and Barbara Wisenor, who run our web-store and Sandra Slinker, wife of Dann Slinker and their 2 children. All in all, this was a family affair!The fans were behind our effort all the way. It was very gratifying.

Our raffle tickets of the oil painting done and donated by Bret Donaldson went very well also. The official ID necklaces for all sponsors designed and made by Duane Hover, were a big hit and a wonderful collectors item.

The new crew polo shirts were so popular, some members were offered up to $200.00 for the shirt off their back. Of course, nobody sold them.

The B B Q went very well with about 100 fans and crew members attending. Lyle thanked all Fansponsors present, and brought everyone up to date on the project and filled in with some of the recent history on our trials and difficulties that we had encountered, some expected and some not expected.

Through it all, we persevered , as we had promised the Fansponsors that we would "GIVE IT OUR VERY BEST SHOT!" Having been there for most of it, I can tell you that everyone connected to this project, who stuck with us to the very end, did just that. They gave it everything they had , and then some.

Now for some good news!

We are ready to teach Skip Holm and Dago Red a lesson next year, and he has already been warned!

We are also going to Nellis AFB for the week of October 5th. We have been invited to a demonstration race for the Nellis AFB Airshow. How long do you think it will operate under the Gentleman's agreement clause?

Anyone who can get there will finally get to see the "BEAR IN THE AIR"

We still have some bills to clear up and we have to cover the insurance premiums each month, plus the hanger rent. We are also working on the alternators and that whole system, which will take cash.

We have welcomed some new cash sponsors to our family also.

Doug Coates Estate
Dodge Brothers Automotive
OSI Software
Stinson Air Center
Western States Equipment Company
Air Classics
AeroShell

The bottom line however is, The Rare Bear Fan Sponsor, Inc. started the ball rolling, and carried the large part of our climb to a HEALTHY RARE BEAR.

On behalf of Lyle Shelton, John Penney, the Rare Bear, the Rare Bear crew, and myself, Project director, we would like to thank the fans for their faith in us, their financial support, and their moral support.

WE HAVE JUST BEGUN!

Due to the fact that we did not race at Reno, all present members will automatically retain all privileges, and will be sent new membership cards for 2003, plus a new patch for their jackets.

We'll see you next September, if not before.

We will keep in touch and we will keep building the Fan Sponsor membership up to the maximum number of members.

Thanks for being a member of the "Rare Bear" family!

Sharon Coates
Director Rare Bear Fan Sponsor Club, Inc.