The piston-engined world speed record holder, Grumman Bearcat Rare Bear, has suffered from a mysterious drop in horsepower over recent years, and during an engine inspection it was discovered that a gap in the supercharger housing was sucking away the power. The fault was rectified during the winter, and Matt Jackson, flying it at Reno for the first time, qualified the 4,000 h.p. monster at 468-78 m.p.h.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Grumman F8F Bearcat - СШАUSA - 1944

Evidence of the engine problems encountered by the Rare Bear team this year. They battled exhaust leaks, melted cylinders, torched pistons and swallowed valves all week, and this is the result. The aircraft failed to make the Gold final.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Grumman F8F Bearcat - СШАUSA - 1944

The smoking Strega deadsticks on to runway 14 in the final moments of the Gold Race. Coming through at 100ft, Bill Destefani still has to get the stricken racer aligned with the runway to his left. The emergency crews in the foreground are already speeding away to attend to Tom Dwelle’s Sea Fury, Critical Mass, which has just made an emergency landing out of shot to the right.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

The evening sun catches Dago Red on take-off for a test flight. The Mustang first flew at Reno in 1982, and won that year’s Gold Race at 440 m.p.h. It is now capable of laps in the 490 m.p.h. range, and, following victories in 1998 and in this year’s races, it is a three-times national champion.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

The ill-fated Levitz-Rogers racer combined a modified North American P-51 fuselage with the wings and tail from a Learjet 23 business jet. Propeller-seal problems early in qualifying covered the cowling and windscreen in oil, making visibility difficult for Levitz.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

After its engine change, the Bob Button-owned P-51 Voodoo was flown into eighth place in the Unlimited Gold final by Bob Hannah, at a speed of 350-82 m.p.h.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

Following engine failure in the qualifying heats, the pilot of Voodoo, “Hurricane” Bob Hannah, had his racer skimming the desert in ground-effect as he coaxed the modified Mustang to a deadstick landing at the very threshold of the runway.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

Gary Levitz, a 26-year veteran of Reno racing, in the cockpit of his Levitz-Rogers racer, Miss Ashley II, just before the start of the Gold Race Heat on the Saturday, in which he was killed when the racer suffered inflight structural failure.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

Team Voodoo was under pressure to get a replacement Merlin installed in their aircraft after their 3,800 h.p. Dwight Thorne Merlin (left) failed on the Monday. A deal was struck with Dago Red owner Terry Bland, and his team’s spare Thorne-tuned engine (right) was sold to Team Voodoo, pilot Bob Hannah then qualifying with a mere 40sec of the session remaining.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

The modified Mustang Strega, which has been rebuilt following a landing incident during the 1997 races, qualified at 479 m.p.h. and was in the top two places during the heat races all week, despite cooling problems. “Win or break” is owner/pilot Bill Destefani’s motto, and while challenging leader Dago Red halfway through the Gold final race, Strega's highly modified Merlin engine spectacularly expired.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

The P-51 Mustang Risky Business has had five engine changes in the past year, including three at Reno ’99, but Bill “Rhino” Rheinschild flew it to fourth place In the eight-lap Gold Championship race at a speed of 407-799 m.p.h.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51D Mustang - СШАUSA - 1944

Brian Sanders finished second in the Gold final flying the R-4360-powered Sea Fury Dreadnought, which has spray bars for engine cooling, anti-detonant injection and an extended fin and rudder. Here he is accompanied by his brother Dennis in another Sea Fury, Argonaut.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944

Hawker Sea Fury Bad Attitude, also flown by Bill Rheinschild, taxies in after the Silver Race.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Fury / Sea Fury - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1944