Rod has taken over flying for team Aerochia from Darryl Greenamyer. Look for some outstanding racing from this former F-16 pilot.

Darryl Greenamyer is an American aviator. He started his flying career in the reserves.  He then started work with Kelly Johnson at Lockheed where he eventually became an SR-71 test pilot at Skunk works/Area 51. While working at Lockheed he met many of the engineers who would later help him make modifications to future race planes. He won his first victory at the Reno Air Races in 1965. He is the only pilot from the 1965 season still racing. He is the third most winning competitor in Reno Air Race history. In 1994, Greenamyer led a mission to restore the Kee Bird, a B-29 aircraft which crash-landed in Greenland in 1947. Other accomplishments include breaking the low altitude speed record of 998 mph (1,606 km/h) less than 80 ft (24.3 m) above the desert floor in 1977 using a modified F-104 Starfighter. The Starfighter was built by Greenamyer using parts from different ships; the nose section was borrowed from a NF-104, i. e. a Starfighter modified to zoom to the edge of space. Greenamyer's plane, nose section and all, was lost when he had to eject, immediately after he set his record. His new record remains unbroken to this day. Darryl has domniated the Sport Class in his highly modified Lancair Legacy built by Andy Chiavetta, of Aerochia up until 2006 and continues to be the most revered pilot to beat!!!

Scott Nelson is living in San Luis Obispo, CA  where he is the chief pilot for a 135 operator. In September he will be racing a new and exciting aerobatic aircraft from Germany called a Sbach 342. While this aircraft is not really designed to be a racer, it is very fast and Racing at Reno will afford the opportunity to demonstrate just how fast this acro plane can go!  See more info at www.sloair.com.

Scott has competed at Reno in 2006 and 2007 in his Glasair III and has reached speeds of 272 mph. 

Three-time Formula One Champion, John Parker, has dedicated his life to air racing, much to the chagrin of his wife Jan. They make their home together in Reno, Nevada.

After John was placed on reserve status from the Air Force in 1965 he joined American Airlines. Soon John found himself building engines for Formula One race teams, working as a mechanic at the air races, and assisting racers as a “Speed Merchant”. John’s passion for air racing quickly turned into a business, and in 1967 John founded American Air Racing.

American Air Racing has evolved over the years to include aircraft and equipment leasing and technology development. But the main focus of American Air Racing is to offer complete builder support and to perform speed modifications for kit-built aircraft. John and American Air Racing are dedicated to the development, improvement, and building of Thunder Mustangs, and also specialize in Glasairs and Lancairs

Winning his first Reno Formula One Championship in 1977, John continued to add to his trophy case with Championship victories in 1978 and 1980. His scratch-built Formula One racer, American Air Racing Special, now resides in the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. John placed second in the original CAFÉ 250 and won the CAFÉ 400 in the twin-engine division in 1983. In 1988 John was the third person to enter a scratch-built aircraft in the Unlimited Division at Reno. John placed fourth in the inaugural Sport Division Gold final at Reno in 1998 in his kit-built Glasair, race 300. The past years have seen John campaign his Thunder Mustang, Blue Thunder, in a relentless search for increased performance. With John at the controls, Blue Thunder captured second place in the Sport Division Gold final in its first year of racing.

The American Air Racing team supports and participates in Sport Racing to demonstrate its sponsor’s products, such as Hartzell Propellers and Snap-on Tools, in a real world environment. Through racing, American Air Racing is able to display its capabilities to the sport aviation community. American Air Racing is committed to promoting enthusiasm and interest for the sport of air racing.

From a humble beginning, John has become an air racing icon. For John Parker, air racing is not a sport; it is a way of life. www.americanairracing.com www.bluethunderairracing.com

Jon Sharp of Mohave, CA has been on the racing scene since he began riding tricycles. His trophy case is packed with memories of slot cars and go carts. But these trophies pale in comparison to what he has achieved in his later years in air racing.

1981 marked the beginning of the AEROMAGIC/NEMESIS^® Dynasty. Since that time, he has been a contender for the Reno National Championship every year, with wins in ‘82, ‘86 with AEROMAGIC, and ‘91, ‘92, ‘93, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98 & 1999 with Nemesis. His team has taken home the “ Fastest Qualifier” trophy at Reno 9 times. Twice with the Cassutt racer, AEROMAGIC, once with a Sport racer called BLUE STREAK and six times with the Nemesis. In addition, Nemesis has set speed records on every course she has flown, has been victorious at every regional race throughout the United States and Canada, and holds the Fastest Qualifier Trophies at each of those races.

Jon works at the fabled Lockheed Martin Skunks Works Company as an Advanced Composites Engineer. This job is the result of almost 20 years of work in the composites industry, starting with George Applebay building Zuni gliders in Albuquerque NM, and including work for his arch rival Jim Miller. Much to Mr. Miller’s disgust, the engine that has beaten him for the last eight+ years began as one that he sold to Jon in the mid-80’s. This is the same engine that Jon races with to this date.

The introduction and victory of the Nemesis racer in 1991 marked a triumph of engineering and technology in the sport of air racing. It was the first time in the 53 year history of the class that a brand new racer has won the National Championship.

Since winning the 1991 National Championship, the Nemesis is undefeated in the last 47 of its 50 total starts, giving it the highest winning percentage of any racer active today.

Nemesis retired into the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in July 2000. Its predecessor is the NemesisNXT, a two place, side by side kit aircraft available now.

Craig is currently serving as the Sport Class Vice President as well a instructor/check pilot. He flew a modified Glasair III for six years and is currently rebuilding the plane to make it competitive for the years ahead. While not competing he shares the duties as the pace/starter and safety pilot during race week.

Kevin Eldredge has competed in the Sport Class since 2000. A commercial pilot and investor from San Luis Obispo, CA. Kevin is now building a new NXT Racer called "Tracer" to show off a new 1000hp Trace Race engine for 2010.

Relentless is still  Relentless and now that testing is complete the NXT is ready to ROCK!!! Keep up on the happenings at www.relentlessairreacing.com!!!

Super Glasair III Sport Class Racer - Luckymojo #47, Pilot Gary Lee Mead will be at the stick as he rips around the pylons at speeds in excess of 300 mph. Mead, 47, made his rookie debut last year at the 2007 Reno Air Races opening with a qualifing speed of 304.77. He finished 3rd in Sport Gold after being schooled by the veteran racers.  Born and raised in Southern California, Mead now resides in Arroyo Grande, California. Mead is currently owner/operator of two high volume businesses, the first Mi Amore Pizza and Pasta in Lompoc, California and the second, Danny Buoy's Irish Pub in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands BWI. He has always enjoyed a passion for flying and calls San Luis Obispo Airport in California his home away from home! His aspirations now include building a new Air Racing Team. Luckymojo47 experimental Super Glasair III is powered by a Lycoming TIO-540 —twin turbo—400 hp engine.  The plane is no newcomer to Reno with previous visits piloted by Kevin Eldredge in 2003, 2004 & 2006 achieving a Glasair Record Speed of 315 mph on the track.  Gary has heard the word on the street is that all the teams are stepping it up this year-Mead has lightened up and fine tuned Luckymojo47, with engine and airframe speed mods and added a new specially made 3 blade racing prop. He has also worked on his pylon skills for 2008 and is looking forward to the intense competition. If everything goes as it is suppose to this year you should see Mead lay down speeds in excess of 324 mph .  "Sport Gold is going to be the most exciting event at the races this year. Guaranteed!"  Watch out Pete!

Special Thanks to Sponsors- Golden State Propeller, SLOAIR.com and Hartzell and for all your help Grant Semanskee, John Kerner and Larry & Rick from Curtis & Associates Aircraft Maintenance, Mike Kunde from Hanger 46 & Ray Leslie. 

For Sponsorship inquiries call 805.729.0285

Lee Behel of San Jose, California is one of the founders of the Sport Class and presently serves as it's enthusiastic President.  He campaigned a Questair Venture for 4 years before acquiring an Andy Chiavetta built Lancair Legacy in 2002.  Lee has managed to squeak a little more speed out of his airplane every year since 2002 and has had the fastest normally aspirated airplane in the Sport Class for the last several years.

 Lee’s background includes 24 years with the Nevada Air National Guard where he accumulated 2500 hours of F-4 Phantom flight time and flew other military aircraft including the F-101 Voodoo.  He retired in 1996 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Mike Dacey is a building contractor out of Pismo Beach, Ca. With 25 years flying experience he has over 3000 hours in single, multiengine and jet time. He has flown the Venture to 3 first place wins in the Sun 100 race in Florida, and placed 4th in the Sport Class in 1999 at a speed of 282mph.

In 2007, Mike took 3rd place on the heals of the NXT's at over 350 mph. Over the past year Mike has made some very interesting modifications to his Venture and has been ripping up the sky over San Luis Obispo and reported speeds close to the 400 mph mark!

This is the plane to watch in 2009!!

George is a retired businessman from the manufacturing industry and is a native of the Seattle area. This will be his second year racing in the Super Sport Class. George has built and raced motorcycles during his younger years and has built and raced R.C. Aircraft. He transitioned from R.C. to full scale aircraft in the early 80s and flew some sportsman aerobatics and has been a member of the EAA and IAC since then. He is currently flying and racing the Thunder Mustang  "Rapid Travel"  that he and his Dad built over a 5 year period. Over the last several years he has been developing a supercharger system for the falconer V-12 that powers it.

David Sterling of San Diego, CA flies race 8, a Lancair legacy that he built. The airplane construction took three years. David was a graduate of PRS 2006 and entered his Legacy that first year.

He was successful during his first year finishing in seventh place in the Silver Division. His flying experience ranges from sail planes to Boeing 747's. He is currently a Captain for Continental Airlines and has a about 26,000 hours in his log book. He has been a good addition to the growing list of licensed Sport Class Air Racers.

Dave Morss of Redwood City, CA is a Three time Sport Class Gold Champion who currently flys his own Lancair Legacy that he built over a one-year period. He is a test pilot and has amassed an amazing 27,000 hours in over 300 different types of aircraft including 35 prototype first flights.

A Pylon racer since 1980, Dave has raced in Biplane, Formula One, Unlimited, Jet and Sport Class. He has competed in more races at Reno than any other pilot in the history of air racing. In Sport Class, he won 1st place Gold in 1998, 1999, 2000; 3rd place Gold in 2002 and 1st place Silver in 2003 and 2004. His fastest speed at Reno so far is 444.723 m.p.h. flying an L39, Tejas Pistolaero.

Dave has won many awards including the NAA Pulitzer Award 1998, 1999 for Sport Class records, Spirit of Flight Award 1998 (Society of Experimental Test Pilots), a two time recipient Bob Downey Memorial Award for most inspirational competitor (IF1) and the George Owl Outstanding New Design Award (IF1). Additionally, he set thirteen world speed records, ten of which stand.

Lancair, Continental and Hartzell have sponsored Dave and you can read more about his flying and flying experiences on his website