by admin | Nov 16, 2016 | Media
Friends and Fans Mourn the Passing of William “Bill” Kerchenfaut
By: Scott Germain
Air racing, as a sport and a family, lost a pioneer and luminary during the early morning hours of Friday, November 11, 2016. William “Bill” Kerchanfaut passed away in Santa Clara, California, after suffering a stroke several days earlier. His sister and close friends were with him.
“Kerch,” as he was known to friends and fans alike, got his air racing start in 1968 while serving in the Air Force. He was stationed at Edwards Air Force base when Darryl Greenamyer brought his Bearcat there in preparation for a speed record attempt. Kerchenfaut asked if he could help, and the rest is literally history.
Greenamyer’s Bearcat, manned by a team of racing superstars and engineers, gave Kerch the opportunity to learn from and work with the greatest. He fit right in, thriving in the environment. After the airplane retired, Kerch worked on a large number of modified racers. From Darryl’s Bearcat to Sherm Cooper’s Miss Merced, and JR Sandberg’s Tipsy Miss to Bob Button’s Voodoo, Kerch was always thinking, designing, building, or maintaining the hottest racers.
As a crew chief, Kerchenfaut’s record is second to none. John Crocker’s ‘Sumthin’ Else’ won gold for the first time in 1979 with Kerch in charge. He racked up 14 more wins with Strega, Dago Red, September Fury and Voodoo. Always quick to say each victory is a team effort, Kerchenfaut was an inspiring crew chief and leader. He brought team members together to pull on a singular rope: win gold at Reno.
Kerchenfaut’s contributions to the sport are many, but when he teamed with ‘Tiger’ Destefani and engine builder Dwight Thorn on Strega, they changed history. Kerch was the force that could (mostly) corral these strong personalities and take charge of the airplane’s development. As a result, Strega’s speeds and reliability soared – and so did the wins.
His next major achievement came as crew chief of Dago Red. During the 2003 races, Skip Holm piloted the modified Mustang during Friday’s heat to win at an average speed of 507.105 mph – the first time any racer had broken the 500 mph barrier. Kerch was especially fond of those times, saying that racing team was probably the best the sport would ever see.
For racing fans, speaking with him meant feeling you were part of the event. Kerch always had time for a hello and a chat. “But that’s the one thing you can’t buy or borrow at Reno,” he said. “Time. You have to manage your time.” If he wasn’t physically working on the plane or going over telemetry, he was planning the team’s activities, or watching the competition. If all the work was done, you could find him interacting with team members, other racers, and fans.
“I’m just a guy with a screwdriver,” was probably his favorite saying, but everyone knew this was overly modest. Kerch’s mechanical abilities, which were varied and had unusual depth, actually paled in contrast to his people skills. Kerch could bring the most diverse team together, motivate them, and give them tools they needed for the job. Even the junior member of a team was given a say at crew meetings. He was inclusive, not exclusive. He was ethical and a speaker of the truth; a rare combination that sometimes rubbed the wrong people the right way.
Those that knew Kerchenfaut will remember him, his accomplishments, and time spent together on an entirely different scale. To crew with Kerch meant to truly be part of a team. To be called his friend meant you received his loyalty, trust, and those wide-ranging and deep-thinking conversations. He obviously cared for his friends, and carefully cultivated and maintained those relationships.
While his presence will be missed, all that knew Bill Kerchenfaut will agree they are better people for knowing him.
“We need to take care of each other,” he would say. “We’re all in this together.”
The thousands of people he touched and inspired are, indeed, together as they remember their friend.
by admin | Nov 16, 2016 | Media
Reno, Nev. – The Reno Air Racing Association today announced that tickets for the 54th National Championship Air Races, taking place September 13 – 17, 2017, are on sale at airrace.org.
General admission tickets, pit passes, Chairman’s tent and awards banquet tickets can now be purchased online. Reserved seating will be available for purchase online in early March 2017.
“We are coming off a great year,” Reno Air Racing Association President and CEO Mike Crowell said. “And we are very much looking forward to next year. We are planning for a number of new and exciting additions to race week, so purchase your tickets now and come join us for the world’s most unique air racing event.”
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by admin | Sep 6, 2016 | Media
Company was a gold sponsor of the NBC Sports show last year
Reno, Nev. – The STIHL National Championship Air Races today announced that STIHL has signed on as the presenting sponsor for the 2016 and 2017 races.
“STIHL partnered with us last year as a gold sponsor of the NBC Sports show and we are thrilled that they have decided to come on board in such a big way as the presenting sponsor of the 53rd and 54th National Championship Air Races,” Reno Air Racing Association President and CEO Mike Crowell said. “Organizing and putting on the air races is a tremendous undertaking each year and we are very glad to partner with STIHL to bring this year’s event to our fans.”
STIHL, the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America*, is known for power, precision, and quality engineering. The company offers a full line of high-quality, handheld outdoor power equipment including blowers, trimmers, brushcutters, multi-task tools, and chainsaws. STIHL products are available only through STIHL servicing dealers, and not mass merchant retailers.
“We were first introduced to the STIHL National Championship Air Races by our employee Andrew Findlay who races in the experimental class,” Roger Phelps, Corporate Communications Manager of STIHL said. “We were so impressed with the event, and the popularity that the pilot NBC Sports program enjoyed, that it was an obvious choice for us to grow our support. We are proud to be a part of bringing this unique and exciting event to fans around the world.”
Additional tickets are on sale for the 53rd Annual National Championship Air Races held September 14-18, 2016 at Reno Stead Airport. For more information, or to volunteer, visit https://airrace.org.
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*“Number one selling brand” is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2015 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.
by admin | Aug 19, 2016 | Media
Reno, Nev. – The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) will hold a mock emergency tabletop exercise this coming Tuesday, August 23rd from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Regional Emergency Operations Center. The media is invited to attend.
“As a large scale event held just north of Reno every year, it is incredibly important to increase awareness among staff and stakeholders about what to do if an incident should occur,” RARA President and CEO Mike Crowell said. “This tabletop exercise will give us an opportunity to think through potential incidents, understand the needs of first responders and be even more prepared should a tragedy occur.”
WHO: RARA and First Responders
WHAT: Mock emergency tabletop exercise
WHEN: Tuesday, August 23rd, 2 – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Regional Emergency Operations Center, 5195 Spectrum Blvd, Reno, NV
by admin | Aug 8, 2016 | Media
The deadline to apply for media credentials is next Monday, August 15th. If you’ve already applied and received a confirmation email, there is no need to apply again. If you have applied, but have not received a confirmation email, please contact [email protected]
If you have not yet applied and are hoping to cover the 53rd National Championship Air Races, please apply here by next Monday.
by admin | Jul 28, 2016 | Media
RENO, Nev. – For the first time in its 53 year history, the STIHL National Championship Air Races will feature two on-site concerts this year. The concerts, which will be on Friday and Saturday night, will occur after the day’s final air race and are free to race attendees.
“We know that when the final air race is complete, it is sometimes a rush to the gate and our fans occasionally experience a traffic jam,” Mike Crowell, President and CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association said. “This year, we are going to showcase two great bands after the final race Friday and Saturday which will give our fans an opportunity to mix, mingle and avoid the traffic jam.”
The Juantanamos, whose music reflects the diversity of their surroundings by drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical styles, will perform Saturday night. The band will present over two hours of live music including some of rock’s biggest hits, songs from their debut “Ghost Tracks,” a sneak peek at a few songs from their upcoming second album, and a surprise special guest appearance sure to bring down the hangar!
The Nick Lawrence Band, focused on Texas country music with a twist of southern and alternative rock, will play Friday night. The band’s newest release, “Moonshine,” hit the online market in April 2016 and features two tracks that listeners are particularly captivated by, Hashtag Moonshine and Backside of Blue. Nick Lawrence has opened shows for artists including George Strait, Gary Allan, and Diamond Rio and has performed the AT&T Center for San Antonio Spurs halftime concerts.
Tickets are on sale for the 53rd Annual National Championship Air Races held September 14-18, 2016 at Reno Stead Airport. For more information, or to volunteer, visit https://airrace.org.
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