Air Race Classic to stop at Pinedale Airport June 16 & 17
All-woman pilot airplane race includes stop at Ralph Wenz Field, public invited to visit
June 15, 2014
The 2014 Air Race Classic (ARC), an all-woman pilot airplane race, will be held June 16–19. Racers will zoom through ten intermediate stops in four days enroute from Concord, California to New Cumberland, Pennsylvania in the quest for the fastest time. Pinedale’s Ralph Wenz Field will be the third route stop on the air race which spans over 2,338 nautical miles. Most of the pilots will make their stop at the Pinedale Airport on either Monday, June 16 or Tuesday, June 17th.
The race is an annual all female pilot air race in which pilots race against their own best speed in the small airplane of their choice. Racers will undergo briefings, flight planning, and fly-by study prior to take off. There are, however, limitations: the aircraft must be "stock" models (no experimental) and have their handicap speed identified with a check pilot.
Many of the pilots not only for the experience, but compete to refine their flight skills as the route changes each year in order to keep the race challenging.
The Air Race Classic carries on the long tradition of women’s air racing that dates back to 1929. Air racing became popular in the 1920’s, but women pilots were forbidden to race against the men in that era, so the ladies started their own.
The race is extremely unique and attracts competitors from all ages and regions of the world. In 2013, there were pilots from Kosovo, Japan and Italy who joined other US pilots in the ultimate four day air race challenge. Collegiate teams make up nearly 20% of each years racers.
This year’s ARC will have fifty-two teams and over one hundred female pilots compete for the championship title in the transcontinental air race. Follow the ARC teams online through GPS tracking at https://www.facebook.com/AirRaceClassic or https://twitter.com/2014ARC.
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