Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:24 pm
Neal Nurmi wrote:If it's the news you talked about at PRS I will be very pleased!
Well, then start smilin'.
Gary
Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:35 pm
retroaviation wrote:Neal Nurmi wrote:If it's the news you talked about at PRS I will be very pleased!
Well, then start smilin'.
Gary
Oh come on... Let us in on it.
Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:09 pm
Hehe, I know, I know...
Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:47 pm
Kinda fun, isn't it Django?! 
Scott
Scott
Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:47 pm
Sorry y'all...I'm out of town, performing inspections on a couple CAF aircraft.
The long and short of it is this...and I'll start with the bad news...........
During PRS, I decided that there was indeed, no way in heck I was going to be able to finish Another Solution in time for Reno in September. Only those who know me well can even come close to possibly understanding how difficult this decision was for me to make. I feel like I've tried about as hard as I could have to get the thing finished, but I just couldn't get it done. I don't know if I've ever actually accomplished anything within the deadline given.
And it's not only about how mad I was at myself, but I was also worried (and still am to some degree) about those who have come forward to help sponsor the little racer. I feel I've let them down considerably. I still have every intention of racing Another Solution at Reno next year, but there was simply no safe way to pull it off this year. That sucks. 
Now, for the good news......
Upon hearing my decision to stand down this year, fellow racer (and IF1 Vice President) Gary Davis, came up with what I thought was a pretty cool idea. You see, he's got two airplanes to race this year...Scarlet Screamer, which is a real hot-rod Cassutt racer, and another little racer, which started out life as No Big Thing, then Wood-Stock, then Spud Runner. It's new name is Time Bandit. What's especially cool about Time Bandit is that it, like my airplane, is a Shoestring. There have only been a handful of Shoestrings ever built & raced, and Gary wants me to fly this one for him!!! He's going to be busy with Scarlet Screamer, although I might let him fly Time Bandit for one race or so. But what an honor it is for me to be chosen to fly this historic airplane for him.
Another neat thing about this airplane is that it was built only one year after the original Wagner Solution, and they've raced each other. Gary brought the airplane to me last week for some final assembly, and I can't tell you how neat it is to have TWO Shoestrings that have raced one another in times past, sitting in the same hangar, under my care. My engine sponsor mentioned to me last week that my engine should be shipped to me this week, so the plan is to install it on Time Bandit for this year. I have some photos that I intend to share with y'all, but that'll have to wait until my return to Midland this weekend...IF y'all want to see them, that is.
So, there's the news. It's bitter-sweet for me really, as I'm still bummed that my airplane won't be finished for this year. But next year, won't it be cool to watch both of these Shoestrings racing each other once again?
Gary
The long and short of it is this...and I'll start with the bad news...........
During PRS, I decided that there was indeed, no way in heck I was going to be able to finish Another Solution in time for Reno in September. Only those who know me well can even come close to possibly understanding how difficult this decision was for me to make. I feel like I've tried about as hard as I could have to get the thing finished, but I just couldn't get it done. I don't know if I've ever actually accomplished anything within the deadline given.
And it's not only about how mad I was at myself, but I was also worried (and still am to some degree) about those who have come forward to help sponsor the little racer. I feel I've let them down considerably. I still have every intention of racing Another Solution at Reno next year, but there was simply no safe way to pull it off this year. That sucks.
Now, for the good news......
Upon hearing my decision to stand down this year, fellow racer (and IF1 Vice President) Gary Davis, came up with what I thought was a pretty cool idea. You see, he's got two airplanes to race this year...Scarlet Screamer, which is a real hot-rod Cassutt racer, and another little racer, which started out life as No Big Thing, then Wood-Stock, then Spud Runner. It's new name is Time Bandit. What's especially cool about Time Bandit is that it, like my airplane, is a Shoestring. There have only been a handful of Shoestrings ever built & raced, and Gary wants me to fly this one for him!!!
He's going to be busy with Scarlet Screamer, although I might let him fly Time Bandit for one race or so. But what an honor it is for me to be chosen to fly this historic airplane for him.
Another neat thing about this airplane is that it was built only one year after the original Wagner Solution, and they've raced each other. Gary brought the airplane to me last week for some final assembly, and I can't tell you how neat it is to have TWO Shoestrings that have raced one another in times past, sitting in the same hangar, under my care. My engine sponsor mentioned to me last week that my engine should be shipped to me this week, so the plan is to install it on Time Bandit for this year. I have some photos that I intend to share with y'all, but that'll have to wait until my return to Midland this weekend...IF y'all want to see them, that is.
So, there's the news. It's bitter-sweet for me really, as I'm still bummed that my airplane won't be finished for this year. But next year, won't it be cool to watch both of these Shoestrings racing each other once again?
Gary
Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:20 pm
Gary
Congratulations on getting a ride for Reno this year, sorry to hear it won't be yours, but this will give you more time to make her perfect.
Keep the updates coming on both racers please!
Fly safe
Chris
Congratulations on getting a ride for Reno this year, sorry to hear it won't be yours, but this will give you more time to make her perfect.
Keep the updates coming on both racers please!
Fly safe
Chris
Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:34 pm
Gary -
First, I will almost guarantee you that all of your sponsors will stand by you in your delay. I think most of them understand that you set a high bar for yourself and would rather there be a 1 year delay to get a perfect racer on the course than to try to rush it out and not be competitive (will not say anything about unsafe as I know you'd never do such a thing as put an unsafe aircraft in the air).
Second, I can't wait to see the updates and pictures of Time Bandit. I do have to ask though, is the paint scheme anything like that of this one? -
Sorry, had to throw it out there. I love that show and love watching you build/repair/modify/stress out/play with hairy scary things/everything else that you do relating to airplanes.
First, I will almost guarantee you that all of your sponsors will stand by you in your delay. I think most of them understand that you set a high bar for yourself and would rather there be a 1 year delay to get a perfect racer on the course than to try to rush it out and not be competitive (will not say anything about unsafe as I know you'd never do such a thing as put an unsafe aircraft in the air).
Second, I can't wait to see the updates and pictures of Time Bandit. I do have to ask though, is the paint scheme anything like that of this one? -
Sorry, had to throw it out there. I love that show and love watching you build/repair/modify/stress out/play with hairy scary things/everything else that you do relating to airplanes.
Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:37 pm
Gary -
That's great news, you are doing a wonderful job on Another Solution and I am happy to hear that you are now under no pressure to finish for 2008. Looking forward to seeing you and Time Bandit this September and Another Solution in 2009!
That's great news, you are doing a wonderful job on Another Solution and I am happy to hear that you are now under no pressure to finish for 2008. Looking forward to seeing you and Time Bandit this September and Another Solution in 2009!
Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:00 pm
Gary,
I can't sufficiently express to you how much we all enjoy following your progress.
Although a difficult decision, it is the right one. Those of us which have built/rebuilt a project have a full understanding.
Remember the 90/10 rule, and you're not even at the last 10% yet.
Keep up the good work and please continue to keep us updated. We can relive our past and our dreams through you.
Thanks,
Sully
I can't sufficiently express to you how much we all enjoy following your progress.
Although a difficult decision, it is the right one. Those of us which have built/rebuilt a project have a full understanding.
Remember the 90/10 rule, and you're not even at the last 10% yet.
Keep up the good work and please continue to keep us updated. We can relive our past and our dreams through you.
Thanks,
Sully
Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:05 am
CAPFlyer,
Sorry (well, maybe not) to say, the winged version of Time Bandit doesn't have quite the same paint scheme as the one you posted!
Scott
Sorry (well, maybe not) to say, the winged version of Time Bandit doesn't have quite the same paint scheme as the one you posted!
Scott
Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:55 am
pics we need pics!!!
Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:54 am
Still out of town. Gimme a couple of days.
Gary
Gary
Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:10 am
Hey Gary,
Do you want me to "feed the lions" (so to speak) with a photo? Just give the word.
Scott
Do you want me to "feed the lions"
(so to speak) with a photo? Just give the word.
Scott
Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:38 pm
Second Air Force wrote:Hey Gary,
Do you want me to "feed the lions"
Scott
Nah...nobody's really all that interested in this ol' project anyway.
Gary
Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:45 pm
retroaviation wrote:Second Air Force wrote:Hey Gary,
Do you want me to "feed the lions"
Scott
Nah...nobody's really all that interested in this ol' project anyway.
Gary
If you weren't such a cool guy I'd slap you for that. Bring on the pics...Please.
Eric