2014 Reno Gold Air Race - Precious Metal cockpit view
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ย. 2014
- Precious Metal - Appropriately disqualified or not?
What’s the difference between 3rd place and 8th place at the Reno National Championship Air Races? Five aircraft of course, or could it be the decision of a single person on the showline. But the difference for a team is one that could make or break them from returning to race the next year.
Today Team Precious Metal raced and placed 3rd in the Breitling Unlimited Gold race in front of thousands of cheering fans. The crowd went wild as Thom and Precious Metal crossed the finish line in the best position ever accomplished by PM.
But there was just one problem. The team was notified in the pit that a single individual disqualified Precious Metal for crossing the east showline on lap two, well after the announcers officially called it “a clean race”. Even with onboard video evidence confirming the lack of infraction, the officials would not allow the uncorroborated judgment to be contested.
Whenever there is a pylon cut there are multiple judges that have to arrive at a unanimous decision on whether or not the aircraft cut the pylon. On the crowd line the required judge attendance is different. Only one person is required to disqualify any aircraft. This leaves an abundance of room for human error.
The Precious Metal administration has compiled evidence, including this video to exonerate Thom and PM from the disqualification. The officials reviewed the evidence and dismissed it immediately because cutting the show line is non-contestable. Video evidence is not admissible. What would our court system look like if video evidence would not be allowed? What about instant replay review in major sports?
Please review this PM onboard video footage and determine if an infraction, in fact, occurred. Feel free to share this post with your friends and get their interpretation of who was in the wrong; Thom, or the observer on the ground?
The gyro-stabilized camera clearly shows the pylons and how close they were to the aircraft. It does not show the presence of the showline, which would have to be to the left of the aircraft in order to be rightfully DQ’d.
As always, the first priority is the safety of the pilot, crew and fans, followed by fairness in the race. Great pride is taken in what the team does year round to make for good entertainment and working its way to the front of the pack. We ask for you to support the PM team, air racing, and hope for your loyalty going forward.
Race on! - กีฬา
Great demonstration of safety, flying, technology, machinery, teamwork, and RACING!
That was a clean race. Please come back next year. PM
I have never saw a video like this. So much concentration that needs from these pilots so fast, low and near each other, and so adrenaline rush.
Too bad for the disqualification.
I watched several times and didn't see the showline. The fans are not the ones that need to be convinced, that would be RARA. I am so sorry for team PM and Thom that the powers that be won't even take into account this video. That is wrong!
As a fan, I can only hope this doesn't totally sour you on the Reno races and that you and your team will return next year and years to come. Thank you for the ride along...fabulous.
Great video! ...We see new uses for gyro-stabilized camera gimbals every day! Nice!
thanks for the ride
That was a clean race. Please race next year. Go PM.
That was fantastic!
steel balls man! great racing! congratulations
Many thanks from your many fans in Australia , great footage , and again , you were robbed ! Neilo .
The top of his helmet to the bow on the canopy makes a good G gauge.
Looks like "maybe" he cut right at 8:24 We cannot be sure due to angles. Looking again, you can clearly see he is close to but outside the last two white markers on the turn in question. I 'd have to judge he was in the green zone! Nice Flying Thom!
A picture is worth a thousand words! It is obvious that the observer had NO video or pictures to support their decision. Therefore in the open courtroom of I would support Thom and the PM Team! The observer did not even have a helmet cam? I must also ask Mr. Sanders to take a look at this video and see how comfortable he and the 8 Team feel about their placement. At some point there needs to be accountability for the timing of the call, the observer (failing to provide information timely) and the inability to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Thom you ran a clean line, safely throughout as demonstrated by your video. I am very disappointed on the race money not afforded you for a terrific race. To all of you thinking PM Team is sour grapes for this call your wrong. Its about the integrity of the race and those whom perform, even for that observer.
I don't give a damn about "Air Race Rules" or anything else...All I know is that the this is the first time that I've ever felt like I was actually in the cockpit of a Mustang and God it's "Orgasmic"....a dream come true...nothing else matters not women; whom I love dearly, or anything else on this Earth or in Heaven...ironically; a Russian designer, the British "Merlin engine and North American Aviation created this wonderful Aluminum Valkyrie that ruled the skies! God; it doesn't get any better than that!
Thom and Ben-You guys were robbed!
Great cockpit cam footage and it tells the tale indeed. Now I had a lot of insight to this "protest". Boys; I was that "Fly on the Wall" photographer in the tent behind the hanger where you ducked-in with the RARA Officials to request an appeal. OMG.
Precious Metal actually took 2nd I feel. That East line judge just might have mistook the yellow belly on Voodoo for PM. The reason that I say that is that I was a credentialed Media photographer and was watching this gold race along side of a veteran pilot and air race official. We both mistook Voodoo for PM on the start at a distance-from our position on the North side of the ramp. Voodoo looks like a purple racer from above and a yellow racer from below. It took a few laps to figure it out. Can we please see Mr. Hinton's on-board video footage if it exists? For what other reason could a solo judge make this clear mistake? Benefit of doubt goes to honest mistake here.
I have to say that under the circumstances both Thom and Ben acted very professionally and with integrity on their appeal. I can't say as much for the RARA officials. I was sickened by their responses. I was certainly "THE" impartial observer in this discussion.
Thom perhaps you will not bring this up-and will let the Video footage do the talking-and it does. However-It must not go un-reported that the words from the officials mouths were very disturbing; if not damning. Here are some of the quotes that I hopefully have somewhat close to the actual verbiage from RARA officials. I did not audio-record the appeal nor take images during this discussion. I did take-in 100% of it all-as I was right there at the table.
1) "Thom we are not saying you aren't a good pilot"
2) "The Awards Ceremony starts in 5 minutes and we "Already have the Trophies cut"
3) "That judge has 10K hours in F-100's and I flew with him in Korea and I'm standing by his decision. You are disqualified!"
This was obviously a clash between old school RARA and a new wave racer. Period. Thom politely asked the officials to review the camera footage; contending that a mistake had been made. One official started to review the footage- and he was obviously enlightened. He quickly left to find and bring a higher level official into the tent. This happened yet again over the course of 20 minutes.. When the head honcho finally appeared he had his mind already made up. This is disturbing to me: as he viewed the video, he was completely disoriented on what he was watching and claimed he could not relate the on-board footage to the race course. Wow! Thom would politely restart the video and point out the starting chute and each pylon along the first lap to this gentleman. This official was apparently unaware that the second pylon is cut on the start. The first time you round pylon number two is on the second lap! Just when the footage advanced to lap #2 with PM heading for pylon #2 ( where the infraction was claimed; and they claimed Thom went wide somewhere between 150 and 500 feet out-depending on which story they gave) the official stops watching! and says "I'm standing by our decision".... Thom then closed his laptop and he and Ben left. What Thom and Ben did not witness was what happen next: The officials lauded the fact that PM was "Way Wide and Off course". Sort of in a bravado chorus. It was mean spirited from my viewpoint. Then they caught a glimpse of my press credentials-pointed me out and moved their conversation away from the tent saying " Boys lets get this banquet started".
Team PM was robbed.
Thom/Ben Message me-need to confer..have brainstorm on new race course.. and can you post tail cam footage too?
Thanks
RL888 etc
Rich Lewis
> 3) "That judge has 10K hours in F-100's and I flew with him in Korea and I'm standing by his decision. You are disqualified!"
Nobody gives a shit if the guy has a million hours flying a barn across the sky, flight experience has absolutely nothing to do with being a judge. This guy doesn't question his dumbass buddy because he lacks a pair of balls to do the right thing and stand up to a washed up old bastard that has no business being anywhere near aircraft.
> The reason that I say that is that I was a credentialed Media
photographer and was watching this gold race along side of a veteran
pilot and air race official. We both mistook Voodoo for PM on the start
You'd have to be an idiot to mistake these two aircraft, even from a distance. PM was the only aircraft in the race with coaxial propellers, which can be distinguished from virtually any distance by sight. Even a legally blind person could distinguish the difference because coaxial propellers have a completely different sound profile from a regular single propeller.
The PM coaxial propellers create a much higher pitch and keep a consistent engine tune as it passes by, compared to a regular single prop where the buffeting by the prop wash introduces a LFO to the engine noise as the plane passes by.
Pylon Judges do not call dead line cuts. RARA Race committee people monitor those dead lines and make those calls.
"That judge has 10K hours in F-100's and I flew with him in Korea and I'm standing by his decision. You are disqualified!" This an argument from authority, classic Reno Air Races. Giant Egos Everywhere
WOW ! i didn't know I could hold my breath for 27:19. What an exciting video !!!!!!
Thanks for this great video. I would like to know what sort of stabilized camera mount you were using?
9:15 Passing a sea fury. Wow. Looks clean to me.
You were simply robbed of the 3rd place!
This call by Reno Air Race judges has to be questioned. The structure of any competition is fair or who would want to participate? Reno Air Racing is trying to come back. The group needs to be open to new competitors. Some people think the sport is due to evaporate with the old legendary fliers and be left to history. This sport carries an amazing spirit of ingenuity on many levels. The Reno Air Race Association I suspect is looking for notoriety. This film is new technology. Fascinating to see this view. The frames of film showing the turn in question is clearly visible. The judge that violated the Precious Metal team can easily scribe his case on the film! The film does not appear to show the violation in question, however and should be allowed to bring Precious Metal it's true right to third place. We're at the point of GPS on aircraft to scribe their ground track. The next generation of racing is underway. I ask anyone watching this film to contact the Reno Air Race Association. Thank the Association for hosting this one of kind sport, then ask them to please restore the spirit of competition and fairness.
That Sucks...........I would be PISSED !
SHARED WITH A BROKEN HEART! I LOVE THIS TEAM AND TO HAVE ONE BIAS JUSGE THAT WANTED ANOTHER PLANE TO KILL SUCH A GREAT PERFORMANCE AND GIVE IT TO HIS FAVORITE PLANE IS BEYOND INJUSTICE ITS A RENO KILLER!DO THEY UNDERSTAND HOW MANY GO AS PM FANS? IF NOT THEY WILL!!!!!!
Also shared.
I wish I could have better understanding on the matter, but even though, I see no wrong doing as per the on board camera!! Hope everything goes OK with you guys. Cheering for the PM Team.
beautifully flown thom ! great 38 !
How do you communicate amongst one another to ensure you don't hit each other?
I expected them to shoot machine guns at each other
Please write as viewers and fans to the Reno Air Race committee to question the DQ for third place. RARA needs to explain the call and back it up to take 3rd place away from Precious Metal. Thanks to all who are fans and watching.
Sounds like you were robbed looked like a clean race. What's the top speed of this flying straight and level? Great video!
440 mph
That's a stock Merlin, PM could go closer to 500 with the Griffon engine and clipped wings.
So very sorry for all of you....politics and racing....grrrrrrr. I see a lot of safe, honest and observant flying. BUT, PM sounds awesome in this vid. Thanks for the view and next year you'll kick some butt!!!!
I've watched this three times now and used freeze frame. I don't see a "show line" cut. Where on on what lap do the allege this happened?
In the description it says: "The team was notified in the pit that a single individual disqualified Precious Metal for crossing the east showline on lap two" From what I've read, it occurs around 8:29
Horse feathers!
he was no where near the showline
Thom, I love the energy you have had and I am far too knowing of the investment of hours, dollars, and man-power you have made. I have watched through heavy lenses as you have re-engineered a fabulous aircraft. This kind of thing is why your predecessor left the event. If that one person has it out for you, you are done. I am directly implying that this line judge was less-than-honorable. There is no knowing why. I was unable to attend this season so I cannot speak as to the true line taken by you. This video is very compelling though. There is a precedent and stigma for this particular aircraft that is not small. I feel terrible for you being DQ-ed simply for being in the "wrong" plane. So, RARA, you "taught" another PM pilot a "lesson". Huzzah...
Welcome to the world of airracing.. In particular RARA style of air racing..., Ron had been royally screwed in PM and he didn't get the chance to defend himself. It's like PM is jinxed. But no matter what, RARA is always right... uh huh....
9:06 staticey
If a "judge" discovers a foul he should have three seconds to establish it. and not after he discovers and doesn't like the results of the race! We call that common sense.. the "judge" cut his judgement too close not PM..
it is obvious to this private pilot that PM got robbed. I don't understand why the judges would act in such a way. Really bizarre. Then they go and put up a post on the website trying to justify their bad call. Really tacky
The "Judge" was probably some ol'feebled geezer trying to impress some one for some reason with his in-ability to be a "judge". With some luck,next year he won't be around or they'll be smart enough not to ask him back to be a "judge". Too bad I like PM and Thom. Hopefully THEY will be back next year. All that hard work,effort and expense. Chin-up Gents you did a excellent job! I saw nothing wrong. Good luck next year!
Bullshit. That was about as clean as it gets. The game is afoot watson. Politics me thinks.
That was a clean race. Please come back next year. PM