Air Racing History
From Powersports Information Wiki Source
History of Air Racing
Plane racing first began in 1910, in Los Angeles, USA and Long Island.
A few races were held across Europe - Paris to Rome was one notable race. There were also circuits in Begium, France and Monaco.
All plane racing was suspended during World War 1 because of the legal wranglings of the Wright brothers who defended their patents vigorously - until newspaper tycoon, Joseph Pulitzer established the Pulitzer Trophy races in 1920 at Mitchell Airfield, New York. The course was 186.5km (116 mile) long with a total of 37 planes competing and was won by Corliss C. Mosley, in a Verville-Packard biplane.
The Pullitzer races went on to become the largest development of air races - eventually known as the National Air Races. These National Air Races were stopped after a p-51C Mustang, flown by Bill Odom, crashed into a nearby residence in 1949. killing three people.
In 1964, World Unlimited Hydroplane champion, Bill Stead, revived air racing in the USA with the National Championship Air Races, held in Reno. These included,: cross country and closed course events. The 38th Reno Air Races, held in 2002, included six classes: AT-6, Formula One, Jet, Sport, Sport Biplane and Unlimited.
Europe has never been able to raise enough interest or cash to hold such large events, although the Royal Aero Club in the UK do run a small series of handicap races for any plane able to fly at 100mph.
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