The Reno Air Racing Association reports that two fan favorites will return to Reno for the 54th National Championship Air Races and race in the Unlimited class.
“We’ve spoken to Bob Button, who owns Voodoo and Tiger Destefani who owns Strega, and they have informed us that both planes will be coming to Reno this year,” Mike Crowell, president and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association said. “We’ve heard from our fans that they want more excitement in the Unlimited class and we are thrilled to help bring that excitement back to Reno this year.”
Voodoo won Unlimited Gold in 2016 and Strega won Unlimited Gold in 2015.
“The two fastest piston airplanes on earth are coming to race in Reno this year,” Bob Button, owner of Voodoo said. “Voodoo is looking forward to racing Strega for gold in September.”
“It looks like it’s gonna be a shootout between Voodoo and Strega,” Tiger Destefani, owner of Strega said. “Jay Consalvi will be flying Strega and he’s looking forward to his first win!”
The races are slated for Sept. 13-17, 2017, at Reno-Stead Airport.
This is awesome news. I can’t wait to see these two Mustangs go at it!
Voodoo is hangared and maintained at Yolo County (KDWA) near Davis, CA. A big N. Ca Cirrus shop is on that field. We got a chance to visit Voodoo in it’s hangar when they were getting it ready for last years Reno Air Races. Button told us it costs a ton to maintain the beast and that’s a big reason why fewer and fewer are still flying and racing.
It would also be interesting to learn if any new competitors will be there, via who will take part in the Pylon Racing School (aka “Rookie School”), if the Association still conducts that. Rookie School began when I was with the Airport Authority, as a means for new participants to prepare for the Air Races, and typically took place in Spring.
Of the two only Strega wasn’t there last year. A couple other BIG NAMES just sat it out. What about them?