2025 Sight Seein' Mooney Classic Racer #9

 Today was another nice day to go down for a relaxing breakfast. Several of the racing teams along with Angela and Allison got to enjoy trading stories of their individual race adventures. Since Angela and Allison had not been on a 'brass ring carousel', Ms. Denise treated them to a ride near the park complex the night before. Again the beauty of the area is very impressive and all of locals have been very nice. This year's race feels 'closer' on a familial level than many races in the past. The teams are still competitive but also more relaxed and communicative than in other races that the team has participated in before. That is a positive development because above all else, the idea of the race is to be supportive of females helping to grow the aviation industry, as well as, helping each other to learn better pilotage, and maximizing the potential from their machines. Today if time allows, Teresa and Denise will catch-up with Teresa's nephew who just moved to...

 After 4 days of constant stress, heat, thirst, and endless miles passing just a 1000 feet under the plane's belly, today was a very welcomed chance to just stay grounded and enjoy a typical summer weekend. After a wonderful breakfast of French Toast, the ladies got caught up on some laundry before heading over to the airport for the public activities on the field. There were thousands of people enjoying military static displays and planes on Felts field. T n' D even signed a few autographs for kids along with other racers including the #8, Tropic Thunder team in attendance. Later Teresa was thrilled to actually get her BAG delivered so now she has duds and shoes for the fancy awards banquet on Sunday night. During the day, Teresa and Denise walked the park and promenade along the river and enjoyed the antics of a coterie (yep that's the word?) of groundhogs. Gorgeous views abound in the Spokane area though it is a tad cooler air temps than the rest of the country has been ...

 Along the way, Teresa and Denise were so fortunate to meet Team #25, the LUV flyers, Erica and Lauren in a Piper Cherokee 180. As many of you know, this happens to be one of Teresa and Denise's favorite airplanes on earth after racing the Purple Hearts Cherokee Archer in several Air Race Classics. T n' D formed a firm bond with this team as well as Team #29, Poison Ivy consisting of Ivy and Misty racing a Cessna 182 who they enjoyed and mentored along the route. Team 29 sent over a couple of shots during the final leg of the race and also did an on-camera stand-up for Channel 5 TV local media. Team #4, Angela and Allison finished strong and landed safely conquering their first air race. We are so proud of both of these new teams and were thrilled they had a great time and got to see a huge chunk of the country by air. Finally, Teresa has been asked to fly a back-up handicap run with Team #28, Two Girls One Plane, Kitty and Wilba, so that should take place around 5pm tonight. T...

 Well today is the day - the big finish to a 2000 mile race. The ladies had a nice evening to relax, rehydrate and get some needed cool rest before the hub bub of activities begin for the weekend. After an enjoyable breakfast with the 'Poison Ivy' Team #29, mother and daughter team of racers, T n' D shuttled to the airport around 8:30 and checked the flight plan and pre-flighted the plane. The ladies took off at 9:43 pdt and the plan calls for a 157 mile jaunt with a flyover Tenda, WA with the final race ending in KSFF, Spokane, one of the oldest airports in the country. There looks to be some light precipitation in the area but there should be no major issues with winds or rain. We'll send more photos at the end so stay tuned. We will also post pictures over the weekend activities as they are received. Good Luck Team #9 - Finish Strong! -ed- GA planes rarely seen fully accelerating near the surface closing in on 200knots! This is the SPRINT to the low approach finish l...

 The team took a relaxed break in Jerome to try to get refreshed and greet their Baby Birds Team #4 at the airport. The weather is holding well with no major winds or problems though racing conditions with no vents and the sun beating down makes for a cockpit more akin to a sauna than a luxury touring experience. At just around 2:00pm PDT Sight Seein' Mooney entered into Oregon airspace. Obviously no big deal to the race but for the plane, this will be one of the last Continental U.S. states that the plane has not been to while piloted by Teresa. Tonight the duo will lounge poolside and cool-off in La Grande, Oregon and tomorrow after a leisurely breakfast and morning, will launch for the final leg into Spokane. Incidentally, that stop will be the 47th U.S. state on the list. On the way back to take Denise home to Connecticut, the ladies will grab Michigan for a stopover which will complete N201CN's Continental U.S. dance card. So at 2:44 finally the ladies can take a break for...

 To take advantage of the cooler morning air, most of the team try to get gassed and back in the air as quickly as possible in high terrain. If racers have the ability to carry enough fuel to do more than one leg safely, they can simply fly-by the timing line and continue on to the next stop. Typically at the speeds that the Sight Seein' Mooney is racing, they choose only to carry enough fuel to get to the next stop with a safety reserve. It saves weight but of course it means the necessity of doing more landings and hot starts on a fuel injected engine. All in All though, these are toasty times in the Northwest so the break from the heat in the cockpit is welcomed. This is beautiful scenery in this area so the team sent a few extra photos of some of the sites. Overall though as the hills undulate beneath the plane, it can be lonely terrain below.  -ed- HOT racers - both with coolers, Teresa with an oxygen canula Tri State area - Green ring is glide zone if loss of power Quick...