National Championship Air Races Pylon Judges

Welcome to the National Championship Air Races Pylon Judges website.

This website is primarily for informational purposes and you will not find any correspondence to the pylon judge population. There are four sections: The Welcome Page, the Prospective Judges Information page, the Who do I Contact page and Carlin's Gallery.

This organization has been involved with pylon judging for the Reno National Championship Air Races since the reintroduction of air racing in 1964 in Reno, Nevada. We currently have some folks who have been judges at each year's event from 1964 to the present. This organization is the world's preeminent group of pylon judges since we judge all six classes of air races at Reno. Nowhere else in the world will you find unlimited racing and now jet racing as well. There are other venues that hold other air races, but Reno covers it all:

Formula One Class
Bi-Plane Class
T-6 Class
Sport Class
Jet Class
Unlimited Class

This group gets up close and personal with each race since we have the best seat in the house. The exhilarating effect of airplanes passing over you at extreme speed and low altitude is something few will ever observe; especially for the unlimited and jet classes. It's always nice to observe the air show out in the field, but the main rush is in the air racing itself. To watch a Mustang, Sea Fury, Bearcat, Yak or any other unlimited class aircraft or jet pass 60 feet above you at speeds approaching 500 miles per hour is absolutely breathtaking. That's not to take anything away from any of the other classes; they're just as thrilling.

The picture of Randy Bailey's Sea Fury 'September Pops' (Race #911) was not taken with a telephoto lens, but with a standard 50 mm lens. Up close and personal? You can't call 911 when she's on final approach because she's already there!

If you're interested in becoming a judge, check out the Prospective Judge's Information page and the Who do I Contact page. If selected to become a part of our organization, you won't be disappointed; however, one of two things will happen; 1) it will scare the hell out of you and you won't want to return or, 2) the bug will bite so bad that once it's in your blood stream, you'll never let it go. Believe me, if the bug bites, you'll do everything in your power to return as a judge year after year to be involved with THE WORLD'S FASTEST MOTOR SPORT!

The website for the Reno Air Racing Association is: www.airrace.org and I encourage you to visit their site for more detailed information regarding upcoming events. Be prepared to meet new friends, renew old acquaintances and generally enjoy a superb event.