Before we begin with the silly speculations, we must first think about the brutal reality that the man pictured above, Art Vance, will not be with us in Reno 2006. Long time air race check pilot and racer, Vance was killed in a crash on 8th October, 2005. He was flying the Planes of Fame Hellcat from Tennesse to Arkansas when he crashed after hitting power lines by a freeway.

It just won't be the same, but we move on best we can. Someone else will be named to take his place, but not to replace him. Rookie racers will learn and get certified like before, but under another watchful eye. Vance helped to keep an extremely fast and dangerous racing sport, safe. He will be missed.

2005 set some records that we as P-51 fans don't want to see broke ever again. The records, (unofficially tallied by me) include that fact that only one P-51 Mustang was in the Gold Final. Another record was tied, that all P-51s DNF the race, set back in 1975 and almost tied in 1985 when 5 out of 6 DNF or were DQed. Twice before there were only two P-51s in the Gold Final, 2003 and 1998. We hope these records stick and are never broken again.

The way things were shaking out during the week, it looked like a year for a surprise winner. We did not get that, but almost as Martin in his less-modified P-51D made some big noise on the first few laps of Sunday's Gold. The fastest P-51 goes to Ike Enns who finished 4th in Silver at 374 mph.

We saw Strega go through some terrible luck with bad bearings in two race motors. We saw two usual gold contenders Miss America, and Voodoo fall out with broken airplanes. The Griffon powered modified P-51 Precious Metal, did not come this year, Risky Business is still in restoration. Stu/Bill Eberhardt was just running a stock merlin this year. Oh yea, and Dago Red, 5-time Reno Champ was not at Reno, "retired" they say. That would have put 8 or so P-51s worthy of Gold speeds, instead we got one. That's racin'... or so I've heard.

What about the Sea Furies? Furias is still getting put back together and did not make it to Reno, and the big let down for many (sea fury fans) was September Fury, now with Kerch on board, had engine troubles and did not show. Dreadnought was tough and steady all week in second. Other than September Fury, the sea furies seemed to hold very tough this year capturing nine out of the top eleven spots.

Rare Bear has won Reno many times but will have a new pilot next year. Lifetime wins between the P-51 and Bearcat, are close with the mustang just ahead. The sea fury - only two! I can only find a sea fury win in 1983 and 1986.

There are two big stories brewing for 2006. One is the return of the Leeward Air Ranch "Special", N79111, raced many years ago and has been in storage for some time. Way back in 1949, N79111 raced as "The Galloping Ghost", and she shall return in 2006. This is a huge unknown. Last raced in 1989, the Special had many problems and did not finish any heats. Years before they put up numbers in the 400's. So it is capable of fast speeds.

I was told by a veteran race pilot, that this is a very fast airframe. All you need is a 150K race motor, huge support crew, tools, bunch of spares and a year to get ready Then you have a top contender. Sounds hard, and it is. But this is great news - good luck to all involved.

The other big, big unknown is Dago Red. It is for sale as I write (October 12, 2005). 1.5 million will get you the world's fastest P-51 racer, a race trailor filled with whatever is left from many years of racing and a huge fan following. Put this racer in the right hands and you will have another win.

Now we have a race. A healthy Rare Bear, Dreadnought, Furias, September Fury, Spirit of Texas, Strega, Dago Red, the Special, Ridge Runner III, Voodoo, Miss America and maybe Merlin's Magic or Riff Raff? Wow ... 2006 will be cool. And I'll try to talk Gerry into modding Polar Bear for a mouse motor (with a puke green case), new wing tips, new prop, spray bar, new scoop and door, flush up the stress door screws, custom race fairings and parting with a few more bucks for a shiny clear coat and some wax ... oh, after we bondo the wing and fuselage :) ... now we're really getting somewhere. Sounds silly?

If I had said in August that only one P-51 would be in Gold on Sunday and none of the P-51s would finish the gold race and that 9 out of 11 top spots would go to sea furies ... that would have been silly.