March, 1999

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FARUNI
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MARCH/APRIL 1999
'i'l
THE IF1 JOURNAL
FORMULA FORUM
application available from the
Secretary,
VOLUME X
NUMBER 2
Will Dennis. For
nrles, send a check for $7.50,
payable to IFI to cover cost of
Seclng
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tFl tNc.
International Formula One
folon Air Racing Inc. All
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rights reserved.
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Formula Fomm O 1999
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COVER PHOTO
Ray Cote, Reno Gold 1998 - second place
and still competitive after 31 years
Neal Nurmi photo
FORtr,TUL/I FORAM, MARCH 1999
CONTENTS
3. President's
Jon Sharp
4. sth
Editorial
5. 1998 Treasurefs report Roger Sturgess
6. Pilot
Ray Cote
Page
Column
Profile
8. Centerfold
13. The Cote Record
14. Odds
15. For Sale
PaulWhite!
AlWimer
President's Page
Jon Sharp
We have two issues that have cropped up
since the last Formula Forum that have
an impact on IFl. First, we received a
notification from Reno that their
"rookie" training school will be held this
year in June. As you may remember,
this was set up last year as a training
seminar with "ground school" sessions,
race course familiarization and
checkouts by the class Pilot Committees.
The rookie school, while strongly
encouraged and open to all classes, was
primarily aimed at the 'hew" Sport and
T-28 pilots. The training session was
such a success that it is now
MANDATORY for ALL rookies in ALL
classes. Quoting from their letter: "Any
prospective Racer who has not
previously raced at Reno, or any racer
who has not raced in the last two years,
must attend and be certified by their
class. Since there will be six classes
racing in September, and time is critical,
we must have these pilots certified by
their Class through the "rookie school"
process. Certification flights during race
week will only be approved for students
who attend the rookie school and require
additional training to certiS"'.
Your Board of Directors, certainly
supports any and alJ opportunities to
enhance racing safety and pilot skills.
We also see that this requirement could
stifle growth in air racing, particularly in
IFl. This due to the uniqueness of an IFI
racer being trailered to events, coupled
with the fact that, in most years, IFI
races more than one event, RARA might
reduce the mandatory nature of the
requirement. We will be discussing this
with Reno, describing our FAA approved
training program and procedures in
hopes that our systenr, of 5l years, will
clear up any concems.
Second on tlre hit parade is racing
insurance. As a refresher, the Air
Racing Council of the US (ARCUS) was
formed several years ago to get all racers
together under one umbrella to encourage an insurance underwriter to provide
liability insurance for air racing. This
was triggered by the fact that Reno
would no longer be able to provide
liabilrty coverage. Remember when the
entry fee at Reno was $450? Most of
that was for liabiltty insurance costs. As
premiums escalated (well into 6 digits)"
Reno's ability to add money to cover our
liability became cost prohibitive. I don't
need to tell you that with no liability
insurance we have no races! Enter
ARCUS. The creators of ARCUS, Jack
Sweeney, Rick Leonard, and Bob
Cannon, got all the classes mto a group
(with pilots that is some feat). ARCUS
was suddenly more than 100 members
strong and that leverage got us AAC
Aviation Insurance as the only underwriter willing to step up to the plate so
we can race ourplanes. The agency
handling this in the last couple of years
has been NationAir, with Bob Cannon as
the service agent. Bob has since left
NationAir and has started his own
agency, and will, in addition to NationAir be writing air racing insurance for
the AAC Aviation lnsurance Co. The
underwriter is offering a discount on
liability coverage if written through Bob
Cannon. Please feel free to check with
either agent for Air Racing liabilrty
coverage. Of note, remember that
ARCUS was formed to get a large
enough group together to make it
worthwhile for an underwriter to step up
and help us. In this case large numbers
rather than a handful make the system
go. This remains the single most critical
matter for the continuation of air racing.
May speed be with
you,
FORMULA FORUM, MARCH 1999
Jon.
5t^
Column - Editorial
I went out to dinner with my old
Northrop group last week - minimal
budget this year, so it looks like the
retirement will stick; third time's a
charm they say. One thing people
always ask is, 'Now you have all that
time, what do you do with yourself?"
Well, with aviation and air racing,
were yesterday. Even that illustrious
joumal has stumbled of late, but with
Deke Slayton's guidance the Forum has
photography and computer desktop
publishing, the production of the Forum
is one thing. Then there is rallying, two
60's cars, white water canoeing,
camping, modeling trains, philately,
reading, wine, history, genealogy, and
honey do's. They told me I needed an
Commander? Al Wimer's very complete
records can answer any question I have;
he can produce a print of prelty much
assistant!
One thing that is apparent from
genealogy is that historical information is
very fragile; it disappears in the
twinkling of an eye or the passing of a
keyperson. Records are destroyed as
junk or by natural disasters. As I
researched the arlicle on Ray Cote, I
looked at the resources we have available
for Fl air racing; Reed Kinert's series is
a little sketchy on the early days, but
does a good job from 1968 on to the
70's. Reed died in 1976 and Dusty
Carter carriedthe ball for '77:78but
from then on not much. John Tegler
covers Reno ('64-'83) well and is almost
ready with "Gentlemen, the race
continues" to bring us up to date, but
even he does not include complete race
results.
My most fruitful resoruce for the '80's is
the NAG RAG or as it is now known by
it's PC name of "Professional Air
Racing". Bless you Sylvia Sweeney for
your exquisitely detailed race reports;
tiny incident caught and sealed in
the amber - well slightly yellowing pages. If you were there, she takes you
back to &at half forgotten runway as if it
every
FORMULA FORUM, MARCH 1999
covered the facts for F1 at least, even
the prose has not been as colorful or
if
informative.
Where would I be without the
any airplane at any race. His Fl history
will be going to the Smithsonian,
available to historians, but not readily
available on a bookshelf. Formula One
is in relatively good shape in regards to
historical records; perhaps people care
enough about Unlimiteds to preserve the
past, but what about T6 or Biplanes?
There were 10 years of pre-war
Cleveland National Air Races, but Reno
1999 is the 36'h and September's
happenings will be history in the coming
millennium. It is not easy, but today's
notes and photos are what the future will
use for history. There is not much
interest from publishers, after all, how
many air racing books are out there?
But it can be done as is shown by Bob
Hirsch's book. Don Berliner is rumored
to be doing a book on post-war air racing
and Bill Johnson one on tlle 70's races
which perhaps will fill the bill; I hope so.
It took Ray Cote, Al Wimer and myself
to reconstuct which airplanes he had
raced and when; none of us had the
complete story readily available. A CD
with all the race, pilot, and aircraft
information in an addressable data base
would be nice. Think how great it would
be to punch in a query "Ray Cote" and
have his entire record scroll onto the
screen. Sounds hke one more project for
retirement.
1
998 Treasurer's Report
Roger Sturgess
Reno Distribufion
Income
$
Purse
Tech fees
57200
5500
Expenses
$
payout
Tech payout
Purse
Remaining from
10o/o
to
IF7
Remaining
purse
il70
7l7
Purse
Owners
I75O
Donated to Sally
Roberts
4703
Donation
Total Donation to Mrs.
717
6453
Redistributed to
Tech
50030
5350
1750
150
Roberts
4853
4g53
Total
6270A
Present state of the economy
Bank monies as of
Women's
February Z3'd
Wiog
IFl
1g296.g0
5655.67
12641.13
IF1 petty
Total
W99
cash
IFl monies
175.00
12186.13
There are no outstanding debts as of this statement and there are incoming dues as I type this.
I
if a tragedy such as Dick' crash occurs, then any remaining money be
paid, equally, to the owners immediately and they can donate such as they think fit.
suggest that in the future,
Cheers Roger.
FORMT]LA FORAM, MARCH
1999
5
Pilot Profile
Bill Rogers
with Al Wimer
Ray Cote
In the late '70's, a racer coming into
Formula One felt as fi:ustrated as any
tryrng the same thing today. They were
years of racing in the Formula One class
since that first competition rn 1966...a
record that to date has remailed an
faced wlth a dominant airplane and a
urassaiied legacy for all who have
pilot who had won eight straight Reno
championships. The Shoestring was a
magic machine (a good Shoe would
always beat a good Cassutt or Owl), and
Ray Cote had the origmal and the best.
The team had a major natronally-known
followed rn subsequent years.
sponsor and an expert crew that never
made mi$akes. A situation eerily
familtar to our current Baby Boomers.
Ray Cote, a 37,000+ hour veteran pilot
frorn El Cajon, Califomia, has been
active in Formula One air racing sirce
his first appearance at a race nreet ur
Lancaster, Califomia in 1966.
After acquiring his first racer in I965,
the onginal Mercury Air Special known
as SHOESTRING, Cote embarked on a
long range modification program for the
plane and in his l6 years of ownership,
he won 41 races including 9 national
championships. Only one other Formula
One racer has more wlns ln ths -50 year
history of the sport.
In the mid-'70's, at the height o.f'hi,s
dominatton. I wa.s on the tech crew snd
everv \)ear hqd the privilege o-f tearing
dow'n # I6's engine - it was
clear to ne that eventthing
was legal. rn.fau eoch -tear
the parts were more stock,
heavier. less moclified. I am
convinced that with a lack
re a
I compe
ti ti
of
on. Ilcn,
g
how stock on engine he could
c
ha
IIe
n gc
cl h i m.s a l.f b-t'
bttild and still
win.
.s
ccin
Ecl
In 1978 he obtarned sponsorship from the Circus Circus
Casino and SHOESTRING
was repainted rn a beautiful
clown motif scheme by Paul
White; at each event the crew
were decked out in clor.^m
Ray and Gladys Cote
This
Al Wimer photo
7l
year old multi-rated pilot,
married for nearly half a century to
Gladys and the father of three children,
has established a memorable record in 3l
FORMAI,A FORUM, MARCH 1999
costumes and Ray raced in
makeup.
Intending to retire from racing
after a stellar career, Ray donated the
plane to the San Diego Air N{useum in
late '81 He was, however, persuaded by
Ward Garland, then Fl President, to
purchase another modified Shoestring
He renamed her AILEY CAT and
tumed her into a contender again,
winning his 12th national cliampionship
at Reno in 19Bq ... becoming the only air
racer to win 12 national titles
It is not generally known that Ray raced
other airplanes. At the '86 Richland race
he was altemate pilot on Phil Fogg's
white Polen Special, LIL HONEY and
Mesa 1976
Bill Rogers photo
W, the Wagner Solution from the
Wagner estate to keep the airplane
racing. He renamed it JUDY in her
honor and won 2 morenational
championships.
At &is time he also bought the ex-Jim
Stevenson Owl" #11 FANG; mostly his
long-time crewchief, Paul White, raced
it, but Ray flew Heat 28 at Reno '79.
Another acquisition (from Peter
Friedman) was Cassutt #69, which he
(Gladys?) renamed Passing Fancy. The
airplane was too small for Ray or Paul,
so Chuck Wentworth flew it at Reno in
'81, before being sold to him. Chuck
drastically modified the plane to it's
current configuration and won Reno '83
with it.
Ray Cote sold JUDY in 1986 to Alan
Preston, but acquired an Owl racer,
OR-71-1 AIOHA, laterthat year from
Phil Fogg whose business interests were
preventing him from racing. The Owl
had been a former national champion in
builder Vince Deluca's hands, but had
been racing with orily modest success for
l0 years until Cote's acquisition
with Phil flyrng f4, Ruy raced #6 to 4e
and last place in the Silver. In '88 he
flew #87 POGO when Kathy Gray could
not get to Reno in time for a Heat race.
Then there was his foray into the
Unlimiteds in Preston's P-51 Dago Red
in a Heat 1A at the '87 Reno event and
rumors of a T6 ride.
Ray Cote retired again in early 1990,
and sold the Owl to Bill Ippolito.
Although retired as a race prlo! Ray
remained active on the race crews of his
old airplanes, where his technical
expertise was much in demand. He came
out of relirement and reacquired his
former Owl in mid-'95 after Ippolito had
problems with the plane. Ray recorded
his second best race speed ever, a
rernarkable 248.386 at Lancaster,
Califomia in late '96 in this aircraft.
Of course Ray has been involved in
aviation since childhood, after his dad
took him up in a Waco at age 6. From
Woonsocket, R[, Cote became a Naval
Aviation Cadet in 1942 andwent on to
fly F-4U, F6F & F8F as a carrier based
fighter pilot. Recalled to active duty for
the Korean conflict to instruct, he was in
Thailand flying Spits & Bearcats, and in
Indo China on Sea Ofters! After Korea
he retumed to civilian life and instructed,
fly.g anything with (or without) wings.
In 1964 he joined Ryan (now Teledyne
Ryan Aeronautical) as chief pilot and
Flight Services Manager.
FORMUIA FORUM. MARCH 1999
The Gineqis eomes to Town:- Remo *79
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CrewChief FauI Vilhrte
F0RWUL4 F{)RUM,
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Roge ns trHaotcs
Daughter Bobby does makeup - San Diego
qJ
r{#rb-
Downey's Old Tiger meets the pEkFanth;;
Race Facel
FORMLTLA FORTIM, MARCI{ trggg
As well as top level corporate flying,
Ray was also chosen to do initial testing
and record flights on the Ryson
Cloudster motor glider, the replica
SPIRIT OF ST LOIIIS in 1979 and
manned prototypes of drone aircraft.
been employed often in the Comrnittees
and on the Board of Directors of Fl.
Ray Cote, a veteran in his fourth decade
of air racing, having competed n 127 Fl
races (see p 1 3), continues to add to his
unprecedented air racing
record of 61 wins and 72
national championsh ips,
and confidently looks
forwardto each racing
season... while his peers
will look back on their
careers and say
"I
raced
against Cote", far fewer
can say "I beat Cote'" and
his legacy grows with
everypassing year- So
does his will to win it
seems. I have always
thought of Ray as our A.J.
The Cote fleet -
Foyt - slightly easier to
work for perhaps,
Shoestring and Fang, San Diego 1980
(although his crews might
contest that), sometimes
Ray is an ATP on multi-engined piston
controversial, but a complete racer, and
andjets, he has ratings on sea-based
always a wonderful pilot - a legend in
airplanes, gliders and helicopters as well
Formula One air racing.
as instructor, A&P mechanic and a
control tower rating! His expertise has
Long may the pylon judges cringe at his
approach.
3
Two Shoes; Coie also raced the Wagner machine; last race
with tail-holders
Bill Rogers photos
t0
FORM{II,A FORTIM. MARCH Iq99
I
Shoestring - 9 Championships
Al Wimer photo
Circus Shoestring - now in the San Diego Aerospace Museum
Bill Rogers photo
FORML.LA FORUM, TIL4RCH 1999
lt
Judy - 2 Championships
Al Wimer photo
r rS*-=
Alley Cat - 1 Championship
I2
FryRMUL4 FORLIM. MARCH
Birgitta Nurmi photo
1999
The Cote Record
Al Wimer
SUMMARY OF RAY COTE'S Fl AIR RACING CAREER
Total number of races flown:
120*
Number of races flown in #16
62
Number of races flown in#44
20
Number of races flown in#4..
35
Number of races flown in #11:
I
Number of races flown in #g7
I
Number of races flown in
.
#6:
I
* NOTE: These do
not include 7 races in which he was disqualified for various
reasons (3 at '66 Lancaster, 3 at'76 Mojave and 1
at'gg Reno).
Total Top-3 Finishes:
First place:
61
Second place:
Third place:
ZJ
Winning percentage of races flown:
sr%
Top-three finish percentage of races flown;
77%
9
\
l'
I
Reno'98
Al Wimer photo
FORMT]LA FORT]M, MARCH lggg
l3
Odds and
Bob Pauley is spearheading an effort to
have the New York Times add air racrng
heros to their annual list of Sports
Champions. Sounds sensible to me as the
NY Times is the US newspaper of record.
He also informs me that the photographer
photo last issue was taken by Philip
Robert Jones has sold his Cassutt
project to a guy in Pismo Beach to build
a sport plane out of it. No changes
planned for #57 at present.
Handleman using Ken Mountain's
The ceremony
camera.
Detroit, MI.
Per 'Autoweek', veteran Porsche racer
David Murry has a deal to attempt to
qualiSr "Phoenix Air Racing's" Ford
Taurus in two Winston Cup races this
Nevada has changed area codes for the
entire state except Las Vegas. This
year. Hello Patrick Dial, are you out
there somewhere with our money?
Neal Loving, pioneer black aviator and
designer/builder of the WR-l midget racer
LOVING'S LOVE died Dec. 18, 1998.
He was the first double amputee to
qualifu as a race pilot with PRPA He
qualified and raced the plane at
Chattanooga in 1951. His airplane is on
permanent display at the EAA Museum.
Bob Hirsch still has his history of
"Goodyear and Formula One Air Racing"
available from him at8439 Dale Ave.,
Buena Park, CA 90620. This 2 volume
set has many excellent photos, lots of not
quite so accurate 3-views and criptic,
sometimes inaccurate text. Even so it has
a place on your bookshelfifyou can
affordthe $45 + S&H asking price.
15th Annual Air Racing History
Symposium. The annual symposium of
our friends in the Society of Air Racing
Historians will be held April 30 - May 2,
1999, atthe Holiday Inn - Airport,
Cleveland. For more information contact
Tony Ambrose at 4401255-8100.
I4
FORMULA FORUM, MARCH 1999
Air Racing inductee to the Motorsports
Hall of Fame for 1999 is Lyle Shelton.
means that
will
be held June 10'h in
RARA is775-972-6663 after
May lSth..
RARA has invited everyone to this
year's Rookie School on June 25,26,27.
Bill Eck says everyone who has not
previously raced at Reno, or who has not
raced in the last 2 years must attend.
Great if your plane is complete and you
can afford the trip. Then on the Reno
website we are not listed. What gives?
Jon is addressing this.
RARA has decided to replace Sandy
Sanders and Hal Biestek as announcers,
according to the UL Newsletter.
I asked Ray Cote if he planned to retire
again, 'T.{o", he said, "I haven't beaten
Jon yet. We were close at Reno and the
last tweak we did got us 100 rpm - think
100 rpm". He aced his physical
and is very active flying all sorts of
airplanes. "Flying is one of the great
professions, and I don't know how long I
would live if I had to give it up", he said.
ofthat
F
For Sale
AIRCRAFT
Prior
t{
to purchase
an.t,
aircraJi,
please conlacl lhe
T'echnical
Direclor.for ony
IF'l Rules
corrtpliance ilents
lhal
ma.v appl.v.
Ads are free as a service to members
#2 NSEW Wagner "Okie Twister"
#19 Nllg Cassutt, "Okie Streaker"
Contact: George Budde: n (405) 733_1449
seats, guides, & valr,e covers.
$4.000 obo
Contact Will Larson. E (805) .s45_8357
t(6-50)
Carbon Cowling Molds by Robbie
Grove. Complete set with intake scoop.
Contact: S.Crandlmire: s (20g)SS4_0443
N25VS HooverlCassutt 6Frenzy,,
Fast, beautiful - with trailer, less engine.
Make offer, price very flexible
Contact: David Hoover.
573 -1323 Hangar: (5
t0)
7 86_3 422
#39 N390DG DG-l .,Shadow"
2"d at Lauglin, fast and sorted,
with trailer
Contact: Dan Gilbert e (313) 699-5649
#40 N5381 Cassutt o.Miss t.tSA'
Rebuilt and raced by patti Johnson in .96
Race engine, parts and props.
$1g,500
Contact. Chas. parson5;o (630)23 l_6634
Aircraft Design and Analysis Services:
Everything from compu terizedairfoil
tTlgt to complete aircraft drawings and
CFD analysis using NASA's pmalc-l2
Contact Gary James. c (gl7) 596_327g
Custom Embroidery: Team shirts, hats,
jackets etc. at racer rates for 12p",
Contact
All Star Warbirds,
Sandberg
PARTS
yellow tagged, bores +.015, new
valves,
I
#l
#24 N}4N[L Shoestring ..Spud Runner,,
1998 airframe restoration, eiectric
start
(removable), call for photo/specs.
$17,000
Contacr: Patrick Rediker r
|ZOA 465_0289
SERVICES
0-200 Engine Nice engine, needs prstons
& overhaul kit to assernble, lower end
t
A rp
Sharon
(612)783-8725
Parts for Sa.le: Cassutt ailerons for slab
wing, horizontal, elevator, rudder. Good
welding and powder coated. $125 OBO
Accessory case blanking plates.
Contacr: Stu Luce (g0g)ig9_4066
Graphite Race props
Run One or Follow One
Owens Composites
Contacr Steve Hill: e (505)
National Aeronautics has Cassutt parts
including Al and Steel landing gear legs.
Contact Ib or Sue Hansen:
c (303) 940_8442
Teledyne Continental parts at Racer
prices - Mattituck Aviation. Mention
IFI
Contact Phil Haponic.a (t800) 624_6680
LAUGHLTN Race Videos _ EAA Copies
$20.00 inc. P&p
Contact: Trish Sharp (905) 723_7636
Wanted: Cassutt, Uut f,rrt nOTEfn
1998 Starduster II, 0-360 Lyc., Beautiful
red/white Stits, lo0 TT + 91,4611.
Center
section aux tank.
Contact: Clu Colvin (9l g) 605_39_53
Wanted: Plans for a Cassutt Wilson Wing
Contact Harold Jackson: E 704434_069;
P.O.Box 1741, Shelby, NC 281-s l
Infornation on things of'IIil interest
.fbr
,sale or wanted should be ,gent to
the
Editor, or IFI W) David Hrtover.
107 Wllians Lane, fio,gter Cift. (:A
94104 650/573_t 323
g32_lt4t
FORilIULA FORI]M, MARC'H Iggg
I-t
Tight Fit - Ray Cote Reno'85
Neal Nurmi phbto
PYLGN A{R RACING - TFIE WORLD'S FASTEST ENGTI{ESPORT
INTEHNATIONAL
FORMULA FORUM
926 Rawhide Place,
Newbury Park, CA 91320
Roger Sturgess
?900 Sagamore Way
Los Angeles CA 90065