The McDonald Racer #37 pilot and crew are safe, although some dear friends were wounded by shrapnel from the crash.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by this devastating accident.

To read our official statement, please refer to our press release here.

For further details, please visit the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) website here.

The McDonald Racer #37 team was unable to give away the Name Tag, Inc. lanyards given the event cancellation.  For the time being we wait to hear the fate of National Championship Air Racing (February 2012) and hope to give our fun lanyards away at the 2012 races.  We will keep you apprised if we hear more.

The most recent update from the Reno Air Racing Association was posted September 28, 2011 and can be read here.

Thank you for your support Name Tag, Inc.!

The 2011 National Championship Air Races are finally here and the team is ready!  The McDonald Racer #37 has been continually worked on in the last few months and we have high hopes for a race year taking home first place in the T-6 Gold Class.

To keep updated on the team’s progress throughout the race week, be sure to follow our Twitter Page and our Facebook Page.

McDonald Racer #37 Race Schedule

Thursday, September 15th, 2011 @14:00-14:25
Saturday, September 17th, 2011 @11:05-11:30
Sunday, September 18th, 2011 @13:20-13:45

These race schedules may change due to weather and other factors, for any schedule updates through out the weekend, refer to the Reno Air Racing Association’s schedule posting here.

We’re proud to announce our 2011 Sponsor for this year’s National Championship Air Races:

Gold Level Sponsors

Tulsa Aircraft Engines, Inc.

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Straight Flight, Inc.

Silver Level Sponsors

Ameritech Industries, Inc.

Heads by Drew: Port Development

Utah Valley University

Bronze Level Sponsors

ACES Systems
Cannon Aviation Insurance
Hi-Performance Wash Systems, Inc.

Hooker Harness
IBG Business Services, Inc.
Name Tag, Inc.

Pat Wilson Graphics
Rubino Surveying
Tac Air
Wings West: Governor Exchange & Overhaul, Inc.

Non-Profit Sponsors

EAA Young Eagles

Kids In Flight

T-6 Racing Association

National Air-Race Group

Additionally, we were fortunate to have a very talented videographer, Angel Andres, join the crew and donate his services.  Please take a moment to watch Angel’s brief sponsorship video here:

McDonald Racer #37 Sponsorship Video

(Learn more about Angel’s work here: http://angelandres.com/)

The film is a documentary featuring the annual National Championship Air Races and is currently scheduled for release at IMAX theatres in both 3D and 2D in February of 2012.  For more information click here.

1. Actively Encouraging Children Interested in Aviation
2. Win First Place in the T-6 Gold Class
3. Break and Maintain the Air Racing Speed Record of 244.523 mph.
 
In the past, the race team has actively encourage children interested in aviation, by donating rides to the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum and supporting the EAA Young Eagles Program and Kids in Flight through promotional efforts annually out at the races.  In fact, Name Tag, Inc. gave us the specific opportunity to promote Kids In Flight at last year’s races by donating promotional pins (pictured below).

Name Tag, Inc. 2010 Promotional Pin

Crew in “Kids in Flight” T-Shirts

As for winning first place in the gold, as well as breaking and maintaining a new air racing speed record, our crew works consistently to increase the McDonald Racer’s speeds.  Our sponsor Tulsa Aircraft Engines, Inc. has let us know recently that we should be getting our race engine back and better than ever within the next few weeks.

To learn more about the current speed record, visit our Breaking Records page here.

2011 Promotional Goals:
This year, again with the sponsorship of Name Tag, Inc., we will continue to encourage children interested in aviation by promoting two exceptional non-profit groups: Kids in Flight and the EAA Young Eagles.  Both of which will be promoted due to Name Tag’s generous donation of lanyards.  The lanyards themselves will have both the McDonald Racer #37 and Name Tag, Inc.’s website on the actual lanyard to promote our efforts, but we additionally plan to put together laminated cards (similar to our pins from last year) with these non-profits logos and websites.  Once everything is finalized, we’ll be sure to post photos of these as well!

KDVR-FOX News Segment: Colorado Reno Air Racer

Hello Name Tag, Inc. blogosphere!  The McDonald Racer #37 team is extremely excited and honored to be working with Name Tag, Inc. for our second year out at the National Championship Air Races.  Not only are we grateful for the sponsorship support, but we greatly enjoy participating in your online community through out the air racing experience.

For those of you who may not remember us from last year, I’ve included a brief summary and recap regarding our team as well as new details specifically regarding the upcoming races this year.

McDonald Racer #37 Team Recap:
The McDonald Racer crew is a unique team compiled of expert mechanics, skilled pilots, race strategy engineers, photographers, business professionals and more.  Although the crew members are as diverse as they come, they all share one definitive passion…T-6 Warbird Air Racing at the annual National Championship Air Races. 

Without the crew…there would be no McDonald Racer.  The crew is the heart of the team, and volunteers all of their time and services.  They’re consistently working to keep the aircraft competitive at increasing in speeds, while at the same time keeping the pilot safe.  To read the McDonald Racer Crew Bios, please visit: www.t6raceteam.com

McDonald Racer #37 Pilot Recap:
John Zayac, a licensed pilot for over 20 years, has flown in the annual Reno Air Races for 10 years.  He most recently took 2nd place in the 2010 T-6 Gold Class.  He was the president of the T-6 Racing Association for 5 years, and remains an active member on the board of directors to this day.  Zayac married his high school sweetheart Martha Zayac, and has three daughters in Denver, Colorado.  He is also the business owner of IBG Business Services, a middle market mergers and acquisitions firm, also local to Colorado. (www.ibgbusiness.com)   

2011 National Championship Air Races:

September 14th 2011 – September 18th, 2011

The 2011 National Championship Air Races are right around the corner and the crew is working harder than ever to achieve their 3 main goals:

1. Actively Encouraging Children Interested in Aviation
2. Win First Place in the T-6 Gold Class
3. Break and Maintain the Air Racing Speed Record of 244.523 mph.

Thank you again to Name Tag, Inc. for their continued sponsorship to aid our promotional efforts.  We’ll be sure to keep everyone posted on the coming race year!

RACE WEEK SUMMARY:

Tuesday: September 14^th, 2010

Gold Qualifying: McDonald Racer #37 qualifies to race at starting point 3^rd place at 233.54 mph

The McDonald Racer #37’s qualifying speed, a vital determinant to a racers overall placement, was compromised this year as race pilot John Zayac was forced behind a slower T-6 not flying in accordance to RARA regulation race rules.

Thursday: September, 17^th, 2010

Gold Heat Race #1: McDonald Racer #37 places 3^rd at 231.128 mph

The McDonald Racer #37 placed 3^rd behind Nick Macey of the “Six-Cat” at 244.539 mph and Dennis Buehn of the “Midnight Miss III” at 236.114 mph. Promptly after landing, the crew changed the propeller to accommodate changing weather conditions. 

Saturday: September 18^th, 2010

Gold Heat Race #2: McDonald Racer #37 places 2^nd at 234.927 mph

The McDonald Racer #37 moved up to 2^nd place following Dennis Buehn of the “Midnight Miss III” at 241.247.

Sunday, September 19^th, 2010

Gold Medal Race: Cancelled due to dangerously high winds (30+ knots)

The McDonald Racer #37 took 2^nd place in the T-6 Gold Class 2010 National Championship Air Races.  Due to gusty winds at over 30 knots, the Reno Air Racing Association was forced to cancel the final T-6 Gold Class Race.  As a result, all racers maintained their positions from the previous heat race.  “There was just one more aircraft we had to get around”, pilot John Zayac stated.  Having gradually increased speeds through out the week the McDonald Racer #37 team was disappointed not to have a chance to claim first place, but has hopes for a full race season next year. 

NAME TAG PINS AT THE RACES:

 The Name Tag Pins were a great success! Not only were we able to promote the race team, but Name Tag, Inc. and Kids In Flight on the pins as well!

(The crew’s favorite pin model…)

ENDING NOTE:

In summary, this was a great race year for the team.  Thank you again Name Tag for your generous support of the McDonald Racer #37. 

To view all of our race photos, please visit our homepage HERE or our Facebook page HERE.

THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR AMAZING SPONSORS:

Gold Level Sponsors
Tulsa Aircraft Engines, Inc.
Sierra Nevada Corporation

Grand Sierra Resort

Silver Level Sponsors

Ameritech Industries, Inc. 

Denver Avionics International, Inc.

Heads by Drew: Port Development

Bronze Level Sponsors:
ACES Systems
Camping World RV Rental
Cannon Aviation Insurance
Finishmaster
High Performance Parachute Rigging

Hooker Harness
IBG Business Services, Inc.
Name Tag, Inc.
PPG Industries

Rubino Surveying
Straight Flight, Inc.
Tac Air
Utah Valley University

Webb Mason
Wings West: Governor Exchange & Overhaul, Inc.

NON-PROFIT SPONSORS:

EAA Young Eagles 

Kids In Flight

T-6 Racing Association

National Air-Race Group

John Zayac, pilot of the McDonald Racer #37, took off in the T-6 race aircraft early this morning fighting some strong winds and less than favorable weather.  On his way out to the races, he stopped at the Provo Municipal Airport to visit Utah Valley University, a bronze level sponsor of the race team this year.  After meeting with students, staff and local media Zayac will continue his trip out to the Reno Stead Airport.

Within the next 8 days, the crew will review every inch of the McDonald Racer #37 in hopes of reducing as much drag as possible.  They will do this by covering the rivets and metal seams of the aircraft with a special tape to create a smooth surface.  Additionally the crew will change the aircrafts travel propeller out for their Ameritech Industries race propeller…special thanks to Ameritech Industries for their product sponsorship and continued support! (Propeller Featured in Photo Below)   The crew will make numerous changes on the air field between races, tweaking and modifying the engine and aircraft overall. 

Wish Us Good Luck!  We’ll be sure to let you know where we place in the T-6 Gold Class National Championship Air Races this September 15th through September 19th!

• 5 days of REAL AIR RACING by six classes of aircraft
• Close-up access to racing aircraft, pilots, and crews in the pits
• A world-class air show
• An extensive static aircraft display, including the Heritage Trophy competition, and great concessions and amenities. (Provided by www.AirRace.org)

Attention ALL potential air race attendees, if you will be attending the 2010 National Champion Reno Air Races and would like to receive a 40% discount on your hotel stay at the Grand Sierra Resort Hotel & Casino, the hotel sponsor of the National Championship Air Races.  Space is limited and the discount will be provided on a first come first serve basis.  If you are interested in securing a discounted room, please contact the McDonald Racer Team HERE.

Special thank you to both the Grand Sierra Resort and the T-6 Racing Association for working together to secure such an amazing deal for family and friends of the T-6 race teams!