1938 NAR

Opening ceremony of the 1938 NAR with the US Marine Squadron
fly-by in Grumman F3F-4 's, our last bi-plane fighter.

The growth and expansion of the National Air Races and the Cleveland Airport had been somewhat coincidental.
Behind the scenes one finds the hand of Major John Berry, airport commissioner. Under his direction, the
Cleveland Airport has gained top position among commercial airports of the world. The world's busiest airport is
able to maintain operations of the NAR and commercial traffic. Permanent stands to handle huge crowds and
parking for about 30,000 automobiles because the 1040-acre has plenty of room. After a conference in
Washington following the successful 1937 Air Races Cliff Henderson managing director announced that more
than $102,000 in prize money would be awarded in 1938. This allowed a full year for designers and builders to
make ready for the 1938 event. A change in racing regulations announced that planes entered in the Bendix
could not be entered in the Thompson Trophy Race. The 1938 NAR staged as the second annual event, under
the five year option obtained by the NAA organization. The organization sponsoring the Cleveland show is a not-
for- profit, made up of individuals and Corporations of the City of Cleveland. There were only three major
events in the September 3-5 National Air Races, with only one race per day there had to be a lot of Military and
stunt flying going on. Each day after the flag raising, the TEXACO FIRE CHIEF BAND played the National
Anthem. Len Peterson opened the day's events with a novelty aerobatics act flying a 2 place 90 h.p.135 mph
Dart, courtesy of the Dart Manufacturing Co. Harold Johnson flying the 6 ton Ford Tri-motor had the spectators
spell-bound with loops, rolls and spins. Mike Murphy took off and landed a pontoon equipped Piper Cub from
the grass, he later took off and landed a wheeled Cub from the top of a speeding automobile. Capt. Alex
Papana, on leave from the Romanian Air Force was back again in his Bucher Jungmeister to perform a great
aerobatic routine. Champion Woman Glider Pilot of Germany, Hanna Reitsch performed aerobatics. Emil Kropf,
also of Germany, demonstrated the amazing short take-off and landing ability of the Feisler-Storch. New records
were posted in both the Greve and the Thompson Trophy Races. Several new ships in this year's line -up.

Captain Hanna Reitsch and her glider
(The only woman Captain in the German Army)

A new rule for 1938, no aircraft entered in the Bendix Race could compete in the
Thompson Trophy Race. 10 starters left the Burbank Airport before dawn with storms
forecasted from Arizona to St Louis. Four of the starters were out due to mechanical
problems. Jackie Cochran and Frank Fuller were the favorites in their civilian version
of the new Seversky Army P-35.

Jackie Cochran's Seversky Frank Fuller's Seversky

Paul Mantz Orion Max Constant Beech

Place	Pilot	Race No	Aircraft	Time
1	Cochran	13	Seversky	249.77
2	Fuller	77	Seversky	238.60
3	Mantz	23	Lockheed	206.58
4	Constant	31	Beechcraft	199.33
5	Hadley	44	Beechcraft	181.84
6	Hinchey	72	Spartan	177.45
DNF	Armisted	61	QED	7
DNF	Perlick	85	Beechcraft	8
DNF	Cordova	99	Bellanca	9
DNF	Gehlback	92	Wedell-Williams	10

7. Out at Winslow AZ.
8. Out at Wood River IL
9. Out at Bloomington IL
10. Out at Kansas City KS

Greve Trophy Race

Open to Motors of 549 Cubic inch Displacement or less. Greve Trophy Race
20 laps on a 10 mile course Total Purse $25,000 The Cleveland Pneumatic
Tool Company is the sponsor of the LOUIS W. GREVE TROPHY RACE.
Tony LeVier flying the Keith Rider Firecracker went into the lead followed close
by Art Chester in his new racer "The Goon". The lead changed several times till
Chester cut a pylon giving LeVier a half a lap lead. LeVier won by seconds and
Chester was second. Joe Jacobson was third in the new all wood Keith Rider
Eight Ball, Earl Ortman Flagged down in the 18th lap was awarded fourth place
in the Marcoux-Bromberg Jackrabbit. George Dory flying another Keith Rider,
crashed into trees on a dead end street and was seriously injured but survived.

Place	Pilot	Race No	Aircraft	Speed
1	LeVier	70	Firecracker	250.886
2	Chester	5	Goon	250.416
3	Jacobson	18	8 ball	218.478
4	Ortman	22	Jackrabbit	192.503
DNF	Crosby	52	CR-4	1
DNF	Dory	17	Bushey-McGrew	2

1. Out on lap 14 exhaust manifold came off
2. Broken connecting rod. Crashed seriously injured

Thompson Trophy Race

Thompson_color_small.jpg (4318 bytes)

The Thompson Trophy Race was also increased in number of laps to 300 miles
causing existing racers to need larger fuel tanks. Three new aircraft entries were
the Keith Rider all plywood R-6 Eight Ball and the Twin Wasp powered Military
Aircraft HM-1developed from Frank Hawks Time Flies by Howell Miller. Another
new aircraft, the Pearson-Williams "Mr. Smoothie" powered by a Curtiss
D-12Conqueror engine was capable of 375 mph. During a test flight the aircraft
made a hard landing, causing damage to landing gear and was not able to race.
Earl Ortman was off to a good start and led the pack with his throttle at maximum
power for five laps, his engine could not stand the strain and Ortman had to pull
back on the power which allowed Turner to pass him and move into first place.
Roscoe flew a flawless race, never cut a pylon, his engine performed flawlessly.
Earl Ortman was able to hang on to second place and Steve Wittman was third.
Roscoe Turner was now the only two time winner of the Thompson Trophy Race.

Fred Crawford congratulating Roscoe on winning the 1938 Thompson Trophy

Place	Pilot	Race No	Aircraft	Speed
1	Roscoe Turner	29	Laird-Turner	283.419
2	Earl Ortman	3	Marcoux-Bromberg	269.718
3	Steve Wittman	2	Bonzo	259.187
4	Leigh Wade	41	Military Aircraft HM 1	249.824
5	Joe Mackey	25	Wedell-Williams	249.628
DNF	Joe Jacobson	18	Eight Ball	1

1. Out 27th lap

Photo's are from the Likovetz and Hansen collection unless otherwise noted.

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