August 24, 2001 -
Air Racer Readies For International Competition

Chaffee County Times - Final touches are being put on Jay Jones' International Formula One racing plane, Quadnickel, in preparation for the Reno Air Races in September. Jay and Larry Lechner, alternate pilot and crew chief, helped by Tom Wallis, former Engineering Test Pilot for Cessna Aircraft Company, have been tuning the airplane to get the maximum performance from the engine and airframe before leaving for Reno. Quadnickel's bright yellow silhouette has become familiar over Buena Vista in the early mornings and the engine has a special staccato bark as it moves through the air at over two hundred miles per hour.

Quadnickel is based on the Cassutt sport airplane design and although capable of cross-country flight, will be partially disassembled and trailered from Buena Vista to Reno. Local sponsors of Quadnickel are Loyd Hendrix, Steve Hall and Colorado Real Estate and Vacation Homes, Bob (Captain Crosswind) Schork, John and Jane Sears of CopyCat Sunglasses, Mike and Pat Duiven, and Cal Anderson of the Buena Vista Weather Station. Ferdi deSouza of Alamosa will also be a member of Quadnickel's support crew, and several locals including Charlene Gilbert, Lynda and Wylie Ewing and John Dilatush of Salida will travel to Reno to cheer for Buena Vista's entry. Web site support is provided by Chris Jones of tex-online.com. For more information visit www.quadnickel.com.