ORIGINS
The Society was formed in the summer of 1985, after the first
Symposium. We started talking about doing something in 1984, but it wasn't
until we saw the great response to the Symposium that it made sense to create an
organization.
The Society was formed in late 1984 by a small group of dedicated air racing enthusiasts who wanted to pool their efforts and knowledge with others having the same love of this great aviation era. The first Air Racing History Symposium was held in Cleveland, Ohio in May of 1985, and the Society became an official association shortly thereafter.
PURPOSE
To preserve the complete, and accurate records of air races, race pilots and race planes by
working together and combining the knowledge of many people.
The Society exists to bring together all those men and women who have a serious interest in the history of pylon and long-distance air racing throughout the world. By working together, we feel we can better enjoy our mutual interest and preserve the records of this momentous human and technical progress for generations to come.
STRUCTURE
President; Tim Weinschenker,
Kenn Smith is the Secretary/Treasurer.
The Executive Committee includes the officers, plus , Bill
Meixner, Adam Snelly,
Joe Stamm, A. Kevin Grantham and Chuck Hughes.
MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS
The Society asks only that a prospective member have a sincere interest in air racing
history. Annual dues are $20 in the U.S.A., and $23 in U.S. funds elsewhere.
Benefits of Membership
GOLDEN PYLONS
The Society’s bi-monthly newsletter adverages six pages per issue. It includes news
of old raceplanes and racepilots, of reproductions of old raceplanes, research aids and
advice, news of personalities, a calendar of current events (including races), ads, book
reviews, wants and disposals and the occasional editorial.
ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
Our annual Air Racing Symposium is held the first weekend in May, on Cleveland,
Ohio’s west side, near the scene of the 1929-1949 National Air Races. Members and
specially invited experts present illustrated programs about all aspects of air racing
from 1909 to the present. The auditorium is lined with displays of race plane models,
paintings, scale drawings, photographs and artifacts. While the formal program begins on
Friday evening, members gather as early as Thursday for their annual reunion with fellow
enthusiasts from all over the country. The Symposium has been described as a
"semi-structured bull session".
AIRSHOW DISPLAYS
Since 1991, we have been working with fly-ins and Airshows having historic static and flying air racing displays. We have organized displays of scale models, posters and other educational items, in an "Air Racing Information Center" at Oshkosh, Dayton, Indianapolis and Cleveland.
Our past schedule of displays includes the Aviation World’s Fair, the Dayton Centennial of Flight, and Cleveland’s Lakefront Airport National Air Show. Members, future members and anyone else who’s interested is welcome to stop by.
CAMARADERIE
A major goal of all Society activities is to bring together people of all ages to share
their mutual interest and knowledge of the glory days of air racing. All our events have
shown they can pull together people from many locales and backgrounds who wish to meet
their fellow enthusiasts and share a common passion.We offer a rare opportunity to meet
people you have previously known only by name and reputation.
RESEARCH ASSISTANCE
Whatever your special air race interest, you’ll probably find at least one Society
member having the same specialty. Using the newsletter and the Symposium, you can let the
membership know what information you need,and what you have to offer. Whether you have
questions about race results, pilot’s wives or minute details of color schemes, our
experts stand ready to help solve your problems.
AIR RACING ERAS
GORDON BENNETT TROPHY RACES: 1909-1920
This first important era of air racing brought to public attention the likes of Glen
Curtiss, Maurice Prevost and Jules Vedrines who flew Bleriots and Curtiss and Wrights and
Deperdussins.
SCHNEIDER TROPHY RACES: 1913-1931
These great seaplane racers were the fastest aircraft in the world, brought true speed to
aviation, thanks to pilots like Jimmy Doolittle, Mario de Bernardi, John Boothman and
David Rittenhouse. They flew craft built by Curtiss, Supermarine, Macchi, Gloster and
Sopwith. Aviation progress resulted from the use of huge V-12 engines and advanced
streamlining.
PULITZER TROPHY RACES: 1920-1925
These military pylon races brought the USA to the lead in speed, with pilots like Bert
Acosta, Al Williams and C. C. Mosley flying Curtiss, VervilleSperry and Loening military
racers.
LONG-DISTANCE RACES: 1920's 1930's
Some of the greatest races were over long courses from one country to another, such as the
1934 MacRobertson Race from England to Australia that was won by the deHavilland Comet
racer. Others such as the ill-fated Dole Race from California to Hawaii in 1927, won by
the Travelair "Woolaroc", revealed the true hazards of long-distance flying.
CLEVELAND AIR RACES 1929-1939
The "Golden Age of Air Racing" in which custom-built raceplanes ruled the roost.
Lowell Bayles, Roscoe Turner, Tony LeVier, Art Chester, Steve Wittman, Harold Neumann ,
Jackie Cochran. Gee Bees, Wedell Williams, Keith Riders, Lairds, Folkerts and many others.
The classic Thompson, Bendix and Greve Races.
POST-WAR AIR RACES 1946-1960
Unprecedented speed from cut-down, souped-up ex-military fighter planes:
P-38 Lightnings, P-39 Airacobras, P-51 Mustangs, F2G Corsairs, Cook Cleland,
"Tex" Johnston, Paul Mantz, Anson Johnson, Beville & Raymond in the
Thompson, Bendix and Sohio Races. Women pilots in modified AT-6 trainers. Midget racers of
the 190 cubic inch class: Bill Brennand, "Fish" Salmon, Steve Wittman in Cosmic
Winds, Buster, Swee’ Pea.
RENO AIR RACES: 1964-2012
The current era began in 1964 with Bill Stead’s experiment in the Nevada desert.
Unlimiteds (Mustangs, Bearcats, Sea Furys and Yaks flown by Greenamyer, Sheldon, Lacy and
Destefani) Formula Ones (Miller pushers, Cassutts and Shoestrings raced by Cote, Falck,
Sharp and Miller) Sport Biplanes (Pitts, Starduster and Mongs flown by Christian and
Boland) AT-6s (raced by Van Fossen and Dwelle) and Formula Vs (Sonerais and V-Witts raced
by Dempsey and Terry).
Kenn Smith
Secretary/Treasurer
7017 Anthony Ln
Parma Hts, OH 44130
(440) 842-0484
You are the
Updated Friday, March 22, 2013
