A good day at the races.

After too much time, I finally got in another SARL race. This one was the Aircraft Spruce sponsored Tennessee Valley Air Race IV. We had a field of 18 aircraft, with three in the Sprint class.

I had only completed my annual inspection test-flight the day before, so it was another episode of wondering how my work was all coming together.

During my annual, I had sent my EFI engine controller back to the factory for a starting modifications. This wiped out the EC3's memory of the fuel air mixture map, requiring another long process of flying and observing an O2 sensor and programming the unit. Blah, blah, complain, complain.

So, whenever I do all this stuff, it's back to being a test pilot again. Well, I was really itching for another race, so I headed down to Courtland, AL. Very much fun.

On the way down, I continued to program the EC3 in both the primary and backup modes.

The race course was shaped like a bow tie, with the start/finish line at the knot. One very cool thing, one of the turns is a Saturn 3 rocket that is standing near a highway. Click on the map to see it better.

My start was terrible, I messed up my GPS and started heading off in the wrong direction! I was a mile or two off course before I got that squared away, all the while I was focusing on the engine, but it was strong, and turned around 3,150 RPM for most of it.

Flying the plane presents all sorts of different challenges during a race. First, the engine naturally sounds different, and the aircraft handles and trims out differently. You have to pay stricter attention to the engine gauges, and keep it exactly on-course, and pay strict attention to altitude.

When I got down, I was sure Dave Adams in his Long EZE had beaten me, due to my extremely poor start. I was really surprised to learn I beat him out by one mile an hour. The icing on the cake, I also won the Aircraft Spruce Diamond Prize - Fastest aircraft with an O-320 or smaller engine. $200 gift certificate - sweet!

Here are the official results: http://www.sportairrace.org/id450.html

When I get on the ground after these things, I am really spent - especially if it's been a while since the last one. But then I was wandering around the ramp thinking to myself, "That was REALLY fun". And it is.

So, go ahead and plan on making a race near you next year. It'll make you a better pilot and you'll have a total blast.