Surprising absolutely no one, Andrew Buehler started first, immediately began lapping nearly everyone and finished first in today’s Biplane Gold race. Flying Phantom, the modified beyond recognition Mong Sport he’s co-owned with Tom Aberle since the beginning, Buehler capped a trouble-free Reno year in all-conquering fashion. Certainly Phantom is one of the winningist race planes of all time, and has taken Tom Aberle into the ranks of the most successful pilots in Reno history.
Behind Phantom the new combination of Scott Thomson in Second Hand–a newly built Pitts Special–managed third at 192 mph. He was lead by John D’Alessandris in the RB Special at 200 mph for second place.
The close racing was at the back of the pack; biplane regulars Tony Hilga, Alan Hoover and Eric Zine finishing on top of each other, all at 177 mph.
