2016 Red Bull AIR RACE at Indianapolis

DAN'S PHOTO JOURNALS

RED BULL AIR RACE
at Indianapolis

Saturday-Sunday, October 1-2, 2016

E.T. drove down from Michigan and showed up at my house
at 10 p.m. last night. We had some drinks and talked till
4 a.m.

The dog barking got me up today at 10:30 am.

Temperature is in the 50s, but it is dry out.

We parked in the middle of North 40, getting there around
2 p.m.

We were too late to see any of the side attractions that were
scattered around the outside of the north stands.

Dan's Photo-Journal Index

SATURDAY

We sat in the middle of the North Vista.

We watched planes practicing and qualifying.

Eventually it rained on us twice. Luckily for me I had an
umbrella.

The day was cloudy and cold. I was glad I was wearing jeans,
but wished I would have brought a jacket.

We left around 6pm as rain was not stopping the third time.

Got up at 9:30 and hoped to be at track by 11:30 a.m.
Finally hit the road at 1:06 p.m. Took I-65 all the way to 30th
Street. Parked on side street next to North 40 for free! They
have a gate there where a road intersects, which lets you
into the north 40.

After entering track at turn 3 – ET wanted to head straight to
seats to see planes, so I didn’t get to hit the bathroom or the
snack bar.

We were sitting in the middle of the section and had to make
a lot of people get up. As soon as we sat down, the race
was over. I began drinking beer.

Soon the airplanes were back and racing. I met the guy
sitting to my left. I drank about 4 beers and ate some of the
snacks I’d brought.

Watching this race in person is much better than watching it
on TV.

There are two classes competing. The master class are the
best pilots in the fastest planes. Then there is the Challenger
class with slower planes and pilots who are working toward
one day joining the master class. Both classes run the same
course.

Toward the end, a wild bunch of people came and sat at
the seats in front of us, which had been empty all day. They
were having a good time and were pretty funny. When the
planes begin their run, they turn on smoke. These guys
would all yell “Smoke On!” when this happened.

The thing was over at like 4pm, I left immediately and
headed down the back stairwell to get to the bathroooms.

Soon, back to our car, we had zero problem getting out of the
neighborhood and back on to 30th street. Cruised right
home getting there about 4:35pm.

SUNDAY

Good sized crowd for practice and qualifying.

Bicycle Trick Area

When a plane's wing clips the cones, they collapse like this.

Back home, I fired up the grill and my friends who attened
the air race started showing up. First Gregg Epps in his
jeep, then Mark Moriarty on his Harley, then DR in his Vette,
then Brian and Joy in their MX5, then Tim on his Triumph
motorcycle.

The other day I went to a German butcher shop and bought
Italian sausages, brats, Kielbasa, frickadella and jowl bacon
along with a jar of German sauerkraut. Joy brought some
chicken too.

I grilled it all up and then we ate it all up.

Everyone left around dusk except Tim.

After he left, ET. and I went in to watch the Formula 1
Malaysian grand prix on TV. E.T. was apparently too tired,
and fell asleep.

Stunt Pilot Matt Chapman Performed

Video Showing Part of the Speedway's Air Race Course