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National Air Races - Reno, Nevada

September 9th

I begin prep for our biggest trip to date; The National Air Races in Reno, Nevada. The races are over a week period; September 9-15. Unfortunately, the most logical date for us to fly out lands squarely on Sept. 11th. Trying to get me, my crew, and a bunch of film gear through multiple airport securities on such an infamous anniversary did not sit well. So, we flew out on the next most logical day, Friday the 13th.

September 13th

We land in Reno and head straight to the races. After scouting things out for an hour or so, we leave. As we do, the sport class races are occurring. As they rounded the home pylon, one of the plane's tail sheers off and he nose-dives into the ground from an altitude of 100ft. It was quick. We head to the hotel from there. When we get to the hotel, more fun is waiting for us.

Part of my plan is always to prepare for the unexpected. There are many things about traveling that I really don't have any control over, like the airport X-ray machines. After 9/11, all x-ray services at all airports were cranked to 11. It is, therefore, a fairly hazardous place for motion picture film. I choose to FEDEX my film to my locations. You have to be careful with this also. You must write in large unfriendly letters "DO NOT X-RAY" all over the box, or FED EX will. Anyway, we get to the hotel, and the film is not there. It should have beaten us there by 8 hours. This is much more disconcerting than the hotel not accepting my American Express, which they weren't. I found out that FEDEX had come, but no one was at the front desk to accept the package. I always travel with one roll of film in my carry on in case there is a problem with the main shipment of film. All of your eggs in one... This plan causes problems also when I refuse to let the airport folks x-ray the film can. Cut to: Me streaking over to the FED EX office and finally securing my film. Disaster averted. Oh, they accepted my card after Heather told them how to operated their machine. Anyway, time for some sleep. Lots of filming planned for tomorrow.

September 14th

We hit the ground running, after a nourishing breakfast at Denny's. Breezing in to the Air Race ground allows me to get a feel of the place before it's crowded with running engines and spectators. We fan out immediately. Heather buzzes off to meet folks and shoot dawn shots of aircraft. Me and the guys do the same.

I still had not picked my subjects yet. I did intend to interview and film Gen. Anders when he flew. That had already been worked out in advance. The question remained: which racer would I concentrate on? The time trials had already been going on for four days. I check the board and find out who is still in the running, and is still interesting. Many of the aircraft being raced were owned by large conglomerates. Their pilots were hired guns. This did not interest me. Then, I found my guys. A British Hawker Sea Fury named Argonaut owned and flown by brothers, Dennis and Brian Sanders.

We found them at their pit. I spoke with Dennis Sanders. He eyed me up a suspiciously, with good reason. Who the hell was I? Fine. I sent forth my weapon. Heather, however, received a similar reception. We finally got them to agree to an interview....tomorrow. Fine, I'll take that. In the back of my mind, I questioned my choice. Have I just wasted part of our trip on a couple of guys who don't want to be in the film? What if they are incredibly boring? We'll find out tomorrow. Plenty of other stuff to do.

The rest of Saturday was spent shooting B-roll, races and setting up our schedule for tomorrow, Sunday. The races on Sunday were the final races. Cash prizes will be awarded. The crowds will be larger. The one interview we were able to garner on Saturday was with Steve Hinton. Along with being a former Reno Racer, he now flies a pace jet during each unlimited race.

He flies a jet because it's the only thing that can keep up with the Unlimited Class aircraft. During the rest of the year, Hinton operates one of the most famous restoration facilities in the world, Planes of Fame in Chino, CA. At Hinton's suggestion we interview him in front of his P-38. Since this was already out on the active ramp, we were to violate Air Race regulations: No media on the ramp. But hey, Steve told us it was okay. That's our story and we're sticking to it.

That night, we explored the Casinos and ate twice our weight at the buffet. We collectively lost hundreds. I must point out, though, that Heather left ahead via the slot machines.

September 15th

Again with Denny's. When we arrive, we bolt right over to the Argonaut pit. Me and the guys start setting up while Heather patrols the surrounding area, looking for interesting things; planes, people, dogs, ect. The brothers arrive at the same time. They still seem distracted and hesitant. They have a race to run that day. They are in the Silver race. If they win it, they get to move on to the Gold race. Bigger prize money and respect. We triple team them. Heather talks with one while Kevin wires the other up with a mic. I shoot preliminary questions at them during the whole thing. I decide to interview them together. Magic.

They talk to one another, confer, argue, laugh, and support each other's answer. Couldn't have been better. I let them go with a torrent of thanks. We'll film them later that afternoon during the Silver Race. For right now, though, we have to find Gen. Anders. Not and easy prospect. The event is also an Apollo Astronaut reunion. Anders is somewhere in a secure area with some of America's biggest heroes. I'll just knock.

We locate Anders after unsuccessfully negotiating with the security at the door (tent flap). My ace, though, is Anders' cell phone number. We get a hold of him. Cut to Kevin and I being driven across the highly restricted tarmac with our gear to his P-51 Mustang in front of 50,00 spectators by one of America's living heroes. We set up and being to interview Anders in one of the noisiest places in the solar system. F-18's taxi by us at spectacularly close distances. Then, Heather comes waltzing up. No escort. Just her. Ah, to be a girl at an air show. No rules. We do intros and then finish up our interview. Back at the Apollo tent, Gen. Anders watches the trailer of the film with his family. The glare prohibits him from getting a good look at our portable DVD player. I'll send him a copy later. We part company and my crew and I get into position for the afternoon's Silver Race.

Kevin and I arrive at Argonaut's pit right as they are getting ready to roll her out to the field. Good time for some footage. As I setting up for that as I spot Hinton in his P-38 rolling by. I bolt up to the flight line to get a shot. As I do that, Argonaut starts rolling out. Make a decision. I choose to shoot Argonaut since she's part of our story. I hang with her as far as I'm permitted. Adrenaline's pumping. I then quickly mount the camera back onto the sticks and line up a shot of Hinton. The guy next to us sees me getting ready to shoot, and then moves over to block me. I did nothing to him. He apparently decided this would be a good day to ruin someone's life. At that moment, I decided he would lose his. Just as I was about to give the show organizers reason to remove me from the grounds, Kevin steps in and gently moves the guy to the side. Still having to get the shot, I concentrate on Hinton. Reason #438 to have Kevin on a shoot: Keep me from committing capital murder.

We set up and shoot a great race by the Sanders. They lost. Came in second. Okay. Now we'll huff it down to the grandstands for some b-roll during the gold race. Other side of the whole airport. Heart about to explode.

We get down there and set up in what becomes a mild middle east-style sandstorm. This has become a common occurrence here after 2:00 pm. By the time the race begins, I have a lot of trouble seeing the planes as they pass, and I'm not that far away from the course!

We depart the Reno Races to gamble, drink and eat that night after we pick all the dirt out of our eyes. Tomorrow, we visit Roy Rehm.

September 16th

Boy my head was sore in the morning. We drive out to Roy's, about an hour south of Reno. We pass a giant sculpture of Paul Bunyan on the way. I'll have to remember that.

We arrive at Roy's place around 11:30am. The homestead is exactly like it was when Heather and I visited it a year before on our scouting trip. Jake, Roy's trusted companion trots out to greet us with Roy in tow.

After the rigors of shooting at the air races, Roy's place was a vacation. I still had to keep my mind in high gear, producing, interviewing, shooting and editing all at once while trying to ask half-way insightful questions. The pace was much different, though, thanks to Roy.

He set aside plenty of time for us and whatever we needed to do. We interview him and then set to work shooting b-roll of his workshop and the contents; different versions of the Boeing Model 100. Roy was a little apprehensive at first. Like all our other interviews, he loosened up when we asked him about his aircraft. When we had him do an on-camera tour of his engine room, he even had the swagger of an on-air host. It gave us a smile.

He gave us the obligatory warning about black widow spiders under the equipment, which was nice. I only had the camera jam up once, which was fixed quickly. Three hours later, we were back on the road to Reno and some more eating and gambling. Oh, we had to stop at Paul Bunyan, though. You see, he was standing next to a great fudge shop.