TravelStream™ news feed for member teamzipper on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/teamzipper en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:25:53 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1222097460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1222097460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1222097460/tpod.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:25:53 -0400 Reno Air Races of 2008 with Team Zipper

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ST LOUIS, Missouri, United States

FINALLY HOME AT LAST...
ON SATURDAY, LENENE DROVE ME TO MOJAVE (2.5 HRS) THEN I FERRIED THE PITTS TO THE NEW OWNER IN YAKIMA WASHINGTON, BY WAY OF MOJAVE, REDMOND OREGON, THEN YAKIMA.(6.5 HRS FLT TIME) THEN 2.5 HOURS BY CAR TO SEATTLE, SPENT NIGHT THERE, LOOKED AT GLASAIR FOR SALE, THEN AIRLINES TO SPOKANE, SALT LAKE CITY, THEN FINALLY TO ST LOUIS AND MY OWN BED AFTER 3 WEEKS. MEANWHILE LENENE FLEW HOME SAT ON AA.
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BLOG ON THIS TRIP.
WE HOPE YOU AGREE IT HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE COMPETING IN THE RENO AIR RACES AND WE THANK ALL THOSE WHO WISHED US WELL AND WENT ALONG WITH US IN SPIRIT IF NOT IN PERSON. A REAL BIG THANKS TO THE JIMMY JOHNSON FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT, MY CREWMEMBERS MIKE, JIMMY II, JIM AND JACKIE, ROD, LENENE, BOB, LIBBY, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO HELPED US GET TO RENO AND FLY. TOM WHO HELPED GET ME OUT OF BLYTHE AND ALLEN, SONNY AND THE BLYTHE AIRPORT GANG,
AND AN ESPECIALLY HUGE CHUNK OF CREDIT GOES TO THE SUPPORT OF MIKE SCIMONE AND AFS FILTERS FOR THEIR BELIEF IN US AND THEIR VERY KIND AND GENEROUS BACKING.
THANKS LENENE FOR ALL YOU DO.......ZIP
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221577800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221577800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221577800/tpod.html Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:28:08 -0400 Reno Air Races of 2008 with Team Zipper

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Ojai, California, United States

Pics of Reno races, Mt Whitney where we climbed 42 yrs ago..yikes!..lla
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Ojai, California, United States

YESTERDAY, AS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW WAS A GREAT DAY FOR US. WE LAUNCHED FOR THE SILVER FINAL AT 0800 AND ONCE AGAIN, I JUMPED INTO THE LEAD AS THE GREEN FLAG DROPPED AND HELD THE LEAD THRU ALL THE LAPS TO FINISH FIRST AS THE 2008 BIPLANE SILVER CHAMP.
MY FRIEND TOM ABERLE WON THE GOLD AND ESTABLISHED THAT THE TWO SLOWEST CLASSES ARE NOW T-6 AND FORMULA ONE, NOT BIPLANES.
JOHN LOHMAR ALSO WON THE T-6 SILVER FIRST PLACE AND WE NOW HAVE MATCHING TROPHIES TO SHOW OFF AT CREVE COEUR.
I LEFT RENO THIS AM AS DID LENENE IN THE HONDA AND SHE CAUGHT UP WITH ME 7 HOURS LATER AT MOJAVE WHERE I HAVE MOVED IN TEMPORARILY WITH CHUCK COLEMAN.
WE ARE NOW BACK IN OJAI AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A REAL BED TONITE.
I HAVE BEEN OFFERED A GOOD DEAL ON SELLING ZIPPITTS AND AM TOYING WITH A SPORT CLASS NEXT YEAR.
REGARDS TO ALL....ZIP AND LENENE
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221262020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221262020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221262020/tpod.html Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:33:59 -0400 Reno Air Races of 2008 with Team Zipper

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Reno, Nevada, United States

THIS AM, ZIPPITTS WON THE SECOND SILVER BIPLANE HEAT RACE AT A SPEED OF 186, THE FASTEST YET, EVEN FASTER THAN QUALIFYING.
THEN THIS AFTERNOON, JOHN LOHMAR WON HIS SECOND SILVER HEAT RACE IN THE T-6 CLASS.
SO IT HAS BEEN A GOOD DAY FOR THE CREVE COEUR CONTINGENT.
OUR FRIEND ROD VON GROTE AND DARRYL'S PILOT CONTINUES TO HAVE ENGINE TROUBLE AND HAD A FAILURE MIDWAY THRU THEIR HEAT RACE AND HE HAD TO DEAD STICK IT BACK IN. AS EXPECTED, JON SHARP'S NXT WON WITH A SPEED OF ABOUT 390.
STILL VERY HOT HERE AND COLD AS 40 IN THE AM IN OUR RV WITHOUT HEAT.
WILL TRY TO SEND SOME PIX TOMORROW. TOMORROW IS AN OFF DAY FOR US AND WE RACE AGAIN IN THE FINAL ON SUNDAY AM, MEANWHILE JIMMY AND SUSAN HAVE TAKEN OFF FOR LAKE TAHOE.
KEEP WISHING US GOOD LUCK.....TEAM ZIPPER
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221173160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221173160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221173160/tpod.html Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:54:15 -0400 Reno Air Races of 2008 with Team Zipper

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Reno, Nevada, United States

HELLO FROM RENO
TEAM ZIPPER QUALIFIED IN THE TOP OF THE SILVER GROUP AND SO DID JOHN LOHMAR'S RADIAL VELOCITY TEAM.
THEN WE BOTH WENT OUT AND WON OUR FIRST HEAT RACES. YESTERDAY I WON BY 11 SECONDS AND ABOUT 6 MPH. JOHN WON HIS RACE THIS MORNING BY AN IMPRESSIVE MARGIN SO WE ARE ALL PRETTY HAPPY.
TOMORROW AM, I HAVE THE SECOND HEAT RACE AND I'M ON THE POLE AND SHOULD DO OK. MIKE SCHWARTZKOPF HAS ARRIVED AND IS BUSY HELPING. WE ARE WAXING AND TAPING EVERYTHING. STILL RUNNING BORROWED WHEELPANTS.
OUR GOOD FRIEND DARRYL GREENAMYER AND HIS PILOT, OUR NEAR GODSON, ROD VON GROTE HAVE HAD SOME BAD LUCK WITH THEIR EXOTIC LANCAIR LEGACY WITH THE GEARED ENGINE PUTTING OUT ABOUT 800 HP. IN TODAY'S FIRST HEAT RACE HE ABORTED AFTER 3RD LAP AND LANDED EARLY. MEANWHILE JON SHARP WITH THE NEMESIS NXT SET A NEW SPORT PLANE QUALIFYING RECORD OF 406!!! FAST ENOUGH TO BE IN UNLIMITED SILVER.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221058140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221058140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1221058140/tpod.html Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:56:57 -0400 Reno Air Races of 2008 with Team Zipper

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Reno, Nevada, United States

IT IS EARLY MORNING AND TODAY WE DO THE FIRST RACE. I AM FIRST IN SILVER AND WILL START ON THE POLE POSITION UNLESS SOMEONE QUALIFIES FASTER. WE FLY AT 1315 IN THE PM. JIM AND JACKIE YAISER ARRIVED YESTERDAY AND WILL BE HELPING.
I REALLY HAVE MY EYE ON A SPORT RACER THAT WILL MAKE IT FROM STL TO RNO IN ONE HOP. WHAT A TREAT THAT WOULD BE COMPARED TO 10 LEGS IN THE CRAMPED PITTS, PLUS I COULD HAVE LENENE IN THE RIGHT SEAT HOLDING MY COFFEE MUG.
MORE AFTER THE RACES TODAY IF I CAN GET BACK ONLINE....ZIP
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220901480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220901480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220901480/tpod.html Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:39:02 -0400 Reno Air Races of 2008 with Team Zipper

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Reno, Nevada, United States

HI all...today was the first day to qualify for the races....George wanted to get a faster time, but with the borrowed wheel pants that don't fit and are heavier, he averaged 185.3 which is 3 mph. less than he did last year. The old plane, Zipper, Formula one, which George sold to a guy in Florida has no pilot...the guy who said he was going to race it has backed out and no one else will do it either...George also said "no" when asked. they want pics later today, the plane has been used for promotional purposes but has not flown since it was moved to Fla.
Weather here in good, and no wind so far. depending on how other planes fly, we may change position soon. Whether we are in gold or silver will determine when we fly next.
Jim and Susan waxed the Pitts, I swept the floor and ran errands, talked on the phone.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220765040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220765040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220765040/tpod.html Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:25:47 -0400 Reno Air Races of 2008 with Team Zipper

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Reno, Nevada, United States

Trying to upload pictures -- hope it works this time
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220758920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220758920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220758920/tpod.html Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:06:07 -0400 Reno Air Races of 2008 with Team Zipper

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Reno, Nevada, United States

This is Jim Johnson trying to add to George's blog. I was sending a note and seem either to have sent it or lost it so I'll try again.

Saturday-- trying to get ready by doing several mods to the plane. Installed the composite prop, finished installing the wheel pants, did a little rigging to the wings to reduce left wing drag. We removed the large battery and installed the small one (20 lbs) savings. The ground cart (battery on luggage cart) worked as we wanted. So all seems to be going good.

After the flight the composite prop did do as we had hoped so back to the old prop for now.

As you may have heard by now the Formula 1 racers lost a plane today. Not good, will find out how it effects the Races tomorrow.

Anyway, as you this is my first try at this--Carol, we now have wire-less in the hangar. Will wonders never end. Will now try and upload some pictures. Test of the pudding.



]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220560620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220560620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/teamzipper/1/1220560620/tpod.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:43:13 -0400 Reno Air Races of 2008 with Team Zipper

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Reno, Nevada, United States

WELL, WE ARE SITUATED IN THE PITS HANGAR WITH A NICE SPOT NEXT TO MY FRIEND TOM ABERLE, ON THE WALL AND SECOND FROM THE DOOR. OTHER GUYS/GALS ARE ARRIVING AND I'M SEEING SOME OLD FRIENDS, LIKE JETHRO, ETC.
OLD ZIPPER, NOW INVICTUS HAS ARRIVED WITH THE DRIVER, HOWEVER THE CREW IS STILL A LONG WAY AWAY AND MOST OF IT IS STILL IN THE TRAILER. I HELPED UNLOAD THE FUSELAGE WITH IT'S WILD DECORATIONS.
MY CREWCHIEF JIMMY AND HIS BRIDE LEFT SALT LAKE CITY THIS AM AND SHOULD BE HERE LATE AFTERNOON.
LENENE LEFT OJAI AT 5AM AND WILL ALSO GET HERE ABOUT THE SAME TIME. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE WHEEL BRAKE FIRE I WOULD BE HELPING HER DRIVE.
THANKS FOR ALL THE COMMENTS MADE ON THIS SITE AND I REALLY ENJOY THEM.
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