| "We,
the racers, are deeply grateful to all who have assumed
responsibility for the preservation of this historic
competition, the last of its type in the World." --
Mike Jones
Sport Class President
Editorial
by
Mark S. "Bear" Daniels
The Reno National Championship
Air Races® "Invitational" (the ® denotes the
name is a registered trademark, not that the event is
necessarily of "National Championship
caliber...") concluded five days ago, but the heat
is still on in regards to the Reno Air Racing
Association's (RARA) treatment of a three-time National
Champion race pilot and contender in the Sport Class.
John Parker is the US Air Force
retiree who flew his American Air Racing Thunder Mustang
TM-1, "Blue Bijou," Race 351, to a 327.668
finish in the Sunday 2002 Gold
Sport Class event -- 1.299 mph behind Greenamyer in his
modified Lancair cabin plane.
Greenamyer wasn't much faster,
finishing first at 328.967 mph, though a pylon cut did
affect his final time and speed. The stage was none the
less set for an exceptional series of all out
competitions -- a "rivalry," if you will --
between the two Air Racing legends. Unfortunately, the
Good Ol' Boy network at RARA has to step in -- whether it
is wanted or not -- and before you know it, an impressive
rivalry with the potential to draw in large numbers of
new fans, not to mention new Sport Class pilots,
is put on hold.
John watched some of the
critical Sport Class races pitting Daryl Greenamyer and
his Lancair racer against a field that included other
Lancairs, an SX-300, several Harmon Rockets, an RV-4, a
Vari-eze, and a slew of Glasair kitplanes. John sat in
the back of a pick-up truck watching a few of those races
from his American Air Racing headquarters, just off Alpha
Avenue on Reno-Stead Airport's Southwest side.
RARA banned Parker earlier this
year in a letter written July 23, 2003, in which they
stated that Parker had interfered with the relationship
they had with the Airport Authority of Washoe County
(AAWC) and the tenants at Stead Airport, which is located
eight miles north of the City of Reno off US Highway 395.
RARA refused to disclose why
they banned the three-time National Champion in
International Formula One, homebuilt Unlimited pioneer
and Air Racing entrepreneur from the field. John was
denied due process by RARA and the Sport Class and told
that the issue was "non-negotiable."
Rumors are, of course,
circulating, but a new piece of evidence has fallen into
everyone's laps, coming from Sport Class President Mike
Jones, who never did answer Silver State News' second
series of questions regarding why the Sport Class wasn't
representing Parker and its pilots in this dispute since
the rules were on Parker's side.
Here is that evidence, an e-mail
exchange between John Parker's son, Russel E. Parker, and
Mike Jones, President of the Sport Class:
From:
"Russel E. Parker"
Reply-To: "Russel E. Parker"
To:
Subject: Support
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 21:39:22 -0500 (Central
Standard Time)
Mike Jones,
I would like to know why the sports class chose
not to support John Parker. Does he meet
the qualifications set forth by the sports class?
I don't understand how an event promoter like
RARA can intimidate the Sports Class, to the
point were they will not support one of their own
members.
Perhaps I don't see the big picture, any thoughts
you might be able you share with me would be very
helpful.
sincerely,
Russel E. Parker
Date:
Wed. Sept. 15, 2003
Russel E. Parker,
The action that precipitated the rejection of
John Parker's entry to the 2003 Reno National
Championship Air Races threatened the very
existence of the event. John, from what we
have learned, was calling to question the
organization's agreement with the Washoe County
Airport Authority and the F.A.A waiver permitting
the air races.
These accords are, at best tenuous.
This isn't table tennis and it should be obvious
to even John that, in today's litigious
environment, those who sanction events of risk
are themselves exposed to liability. We,
the racers, are deeply grateful to all who have
assumed responsibility for the preservation of
this historic competition, the last of its type
in the World. |
Mr. Jones is
quite the interesting fellow. Despite giving minimal
answers, it would seem that Mr. Jones had more
information in hand than what he initially indicated.
According to Jones, "The
action that precipitated the rejection of John Parker's
entry to the 2003 Reno National Championship Air Races
threatened the very existence of the event. John, from what we
have learned, was calling to question the organization's
agreement with the Washoe County Airport Authority and
the F.A.A waiver permitting the air races."
This serves to
"finally" provide "the foundation"
for the Reno "Invitational" National
Championship Air Races banning Parker from their event.
Provided, RARA doesn't change their story(ies) once again
and provided that no new evidence is discovered during
the SSNS investigation to this matter.
SSNS feels that you readers
shouldn't hold your collective breath for either scenario
not occurring! <G>
Continued...Page 2
|
