Why Reno Racing REALLY Ended (It wasn't the crash)

The Reno National Championship Air Races are officially done after 2023. There won't be any more racing happening in Reno after they announced that 2023 would be the final year. There are, however, more types of racing that will be happening in the future, but all of those plans are uncertain. Buy your tickets now, and lets give Reno the sendoff it deserves.

[Reever]

The city of Reno use to rely on events like the air races, balloon festival, Hot August Night and the rodeo. Those events drew people in from Sacramento and the bay area. Now Reno has grown so much that they rely less on tourist revenue. Something else as far as sponsorship goes, the casinos aren't involved in the races like they used to be. Perhaps another community would see the value of the event.

[nancyd]

Encroachment of housing around the airport rests at the feet of the Reno council. They have expressed disdain for the way-of-life in the area. 5, 000 new homes, then 4, 000 new homes, etc. The council overrides the impacted citizens. Even NDOT has no plans to add lanes to 395. This is just in the area around the Stead airport. Three Reno council members resigned, and the remaining members select the replacement, not the citizens. Their aggressiveness of encouraging Californians to move to Northern Nevada has destroyed the entire area.

[Britcarjunkie]

Money (or, lack of) has ALWAYS been an issue with the Air Races. I know guys that tried racing their P-51's in the early '70's and only did it for a couple of years, and complained about the cost of getting there, versus what you "could" win. For many of the Unlimited & T-6 class pilots, it was more for fun, than for the prize money, but sadly, most of the old guard are retired, or have passed on.

The owners of Strega, Voodoo, Rare Bear, and Precious Metal, retired from racing because of the cost - and the fact that they've gotten their planes to go about as fast as is possible. Not to mention the fact that those planes are becoming irreplaceable today, unless you want to spend boatloads of cash, and have one built from scratch.

Clay Lacey even sold off his '51, something I thought wouldn't happen in a million years! (I presume his age was a factor there...)

Sad part is, it throws into doubt as to wether or not we'll ever see the restorations of Tsunami, or Dago Red (and I've already seen for sale ads for two Sea Furys that used to race, that are still being put together again after accidents) if the races do end for good.

Another problem is the cost for fans that travel to the event: I had to temporarily live in hotel rooms from September 2020 to April 2021 due to a remodel (I live in Sparks, and moved there in 2010, mainly to get to the races easier). During events, all of the big hotels started jacking up rates to $500 PER NIGHT during events!!! With the economy & housing the way it is, people are struggling to pay rent, or make a house payment - where are they going to find upwards of $2500 just for a hotel room during the races? It ain't happening, and that's why attendance is down, along with the fact that many younger people just don't care: they'd rather chat online than to see old airplanes race. Similar problem exists in the vintage car hobby - us older people already have the cars we want, and younger people only want new.

Knowing how things do tend to go full circle, perhaps in 20 years, interest in air racing will make a comeback: afterall, where else do you get to see planes flying all out?

Brian, I clicked on this expecting a blast video, I was pleasantly surprised by your full understanding and your calm demeanor in this situation. Im very sad to see the races gone. With folks like you maybe there is hope for another area. Well done Sir.

[jimsandoval]

I didn't expect this video to be this good. Thank you for taking so much of your time to bring us so many facts about aviation and the things that are going on. I really enjoy it watching.

[michaelparsons]

Very well thought out explanations. Greatly saddened with the airport authority's unanimous decision to end racing at RTS. So many amazing races over the years and people that have become lifelong friends. The growth in the Stead area has been massive over the years. If anyone seeing your video is on the fence about attending, book your room and buy your tickets now. Hotel prices are up in expectation of large crowds. Also, purchase the pit pass (extra). Covered very well in your video. I've spoken with Chuck Yeager, Bob Hoover, Deke Slayton, Hoot Gibson, Lefty Gardiner, Darryl Greenamyer and many others over the years. Such an amazing event!

[Txdvsz]

Was very lucky to attend several races in the 70's. The Red Baron P-51 with a Rolls Royce Griffon engine, counter rotating props and flown by Darryl Greenamyer stands out as a favorite of mine. Still have a picture of me standing next to it. Unfortunately it was destroyed in a harrowing crash while being piloted by Steve Hinton soon after. Also worked with many of the pilots and mechanics at Minter Field Shafter, California that were in the crop dusting business. Bill Destefani and Ron Hevle come to mind. Will remember those days forever. Thanks for the memories!

[blueblue]

Ladies and gents everything changes. The sport couldn't sustain itself for all the reasons so well stated here. I went once in the mid 80's. Three of us who were pilots rented planes and took our non flying friends up from LA through the Owens Valley to Reno. Took a shuttle out to Stead. Spent the day and repositioned up to Tahoe for the night. Had a total blast and there is nothing like hearing those big unlimiteds rip by. But we all agreed we probably wouldn't do it again. The trip was expensive and the logistics of flying in, getting out to Stead, and flying back out were not easy. The races themselves while fun left none of us with an overwhelming need to see them again.

Fast forward to is a lot of competition for the entertainment dollar and the races just couldn't keep up with other options. That and the horrendous cost of maintaining and operating those airplanes were the real deal breakers.

It's the end of an but not our memories.

[Aeronca]

You really did a good job of objectively looking at it from all the angles and financials. Well done sir. The last of the World War II generation's joy, with all the surplus fighters and aviation being a cutting edge field. The Pond racer was just about the last attempt to make it work with modern ideas and it was just too complex an engineering problem for the cost return. Sad to see it, but not surprised at all. Galloping Ghost was the start of the final turn into this landing.

[PacificAirwave]

Back in the day you could hang glide off Peavine Peak just West of Stead. Just a gas station and and big parking lot to land next to. A few years later and housing developments were filling it all in :-/. My only trip to the Reno Air races and I got to shake hands with Bob Hoover in the pits at the end of the day. Me and a pilot friend...'that's Bob Hoover' and he motioned us both over and gave us hand shakes and said hi and chatted with both of us for a bit. What a gem of a guy! A hero to me! Sometime earlier that Summer Ben saved my ass on a landing at that gas station. Ridiculous lift, A black weather system blew over Peavine Peak from the SW and I when I saw it tried for the ground a couple times. And I kicked out of the harness at 200' planning on landing and everything was going up. Three or four turns and I was back up 1000'. Dewii, Paul, and a couple others were blasting their way up the highway to the North. I just wanted to be on the ground! Ben grabbed the front wires on the glider (lots of ecouragement from me) and if he hadn't have been there I'd have gone tumbling across the desert in 40mph winds.

[gcrauwels]

Unfortunate. The same thing is happening to small auto race tracks, where developers get their way and drive them out. That aspect is a big one.

[sfbfriend]

Sad to hear, I have only been to one that was the 50th and I loved it. I have been around the war birds since the mid 80's. I worked for Elmer Ward for 22 years and because of him my love for the war birds grew. Use to fly to some air shows with his son. This is probably the end of an era, at least for Reno.

[yz]

Entered the Air Force in '74, a recip engine guy, worked on O-2 Skymasters, T-29 Convairs, RC-121Super Constellations, C-47, and such for 4 years until crosstrained because of the retirement of these great planes! Attended Reno in '89 while stationed at a "classified" location in Nevada and got to hear the "throttle to the wall" whine of Rare Bear's 3350 that none of the Connies were able to achieve, the sweet melody of a flock of Mustangs racing by and the slow, hammering ballet of the T-6s as they floated up from the valley and crossed the finishline pylon!
Wow! That was surely a Bucket List occasion!

[SuzukiWalker]

My father bought the family to the very first Reno Air Race in 1964 and have been attending almost every year, I've got and original advertisement card along with the ticket from '64 (it cost $4.00 for a ticket )back in the day it was all farm land and nothing until you got into Reno. Man has it changed, I can't imagine Reno without the races, although with as much of the land thats been swallowed up I'm surprised its lasted as long as it has!

[SQLRYAN]

i started going to the races in late 70's. Reno Stead airport was really out in the boonies back then. Great memories of watching aerobatics by pilots like Art Scholl and Bob Hoover, intoxicating sounds of unlimited class whizzing by. Met Pappy Boyington at the races one year. That was a treat. All good things must come to an end and this is it for Reno. Where am I gonna get my fix of smoke belchin' radial engines screaming at sky high manifold pressure after this year? (Yup, I'm a round engine guy).. Thanks for posting this well thought out video.

[TruePatriot]

Thank you for sharing this very sad news. We were there in the early 'oughts--in the pits--it was an unforgettable experience. I know I will never be in an elevator with 5 WWII "Aces" again, in my life, nor get yelled at for leaning on "Risky Business" (by a busybody non-owner/non-pilot) nor INVITED to lean on a WWII Yak, by it's owner, for a picture! We really appreciate the Reno Air Races community, and your very thoughtful, respectful video, sharing this very sad news. Here's hoping your "ambassador-level" presentation will change the hearts and minds of those who are in positions of power, to save this irreplaceable piece of living American aviation history. Subscribed.

[SharpeRacing]

Same thing has been happening to stock car short tracks around the US too. At first the track was far away from the surrounding cities that it wasn’t cause for alarm. But when the same cities grow, they encroach on these tracks and homeowners and businesses can ultimately pressure these tracks to close and be demolished. Even if the track has historical significance there.

[steveroberts]

Great explanation of Reno's demise. I attended every year from 1986 thru 2000. We had seats near the top of the stands at Start/Finish line. Spent many hours in the pits chatting with pilots and mechanics. I have many autographed programs including my prized RA Bob Hoover signature. We also met pilots and crews in the dining room at Circus Circus where we always stayed. Reno week was a 100% aviation "orgy". I'm glad I invested in Skyfire videos every year so I can relive much of those memorable events.

[JonBooth-bicl]

Certainly a sign of the times . I have difficulty finding enough funds just to put fuel in my truck and a trip for groceries as do many of my peers, so finding funds for your type of racing boogles my mind . Good luck in your future endeavers and thanks for sharing .

[NatendoSwitch]

I was honored to be seated at their last show and to have finally seen it. I'm sad to see it going. Such a wonderful crowd and community. The adrenaline was non-stop and I took some of the greatest photos and videos I've ever captured in just a few hours. You captured us in the crowd shots around 5 minutes in.