July 18, 2002 -
Quadnickel heads to air race

Jay Jones - Pilot

By Wylie Ewing - Jay Jones' hopes for his Buena Vista based International Formula One racing plane, Quadnickel, were dashed last year when the Reno Air Races were cancelled due to the September 11 terrorist attack. Quadnickel was on the runway ready for its qualifying runs with Larry Lechner as pilot when word came that all air traffic was grounded, and eventually the race program was cancelled. The Reno Air Race Association absorbed millions of dollars in losses, but vowed to give the racers a chance again this September despite the problems of last year. Buena Vista's Quadnickel will again be flying, and will be joined by Jay's new Formula One racer, named Excalibur for King Arthur's famous sword. "Excalibur will be a new plane using all the design improvements we've learned from Quadnickel," Jay said. "We hope to see 240 miles per hour, 40 miles per hour faster than Quadnickel." Qualifying for the Reno Air Races at Stead, Nevada, begins September 8, with racing September 12 through 15. Groups or individuals interested in sponsoring Buena Vista's air racing entry can contact Jay Jones at the Buena Vista airport. The featured event from last year's cancelled Races, the first ever Astronaut reunion, will take place in 2002 with twelve astronauts part of the celebration including Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon. Adding to the excitement in 2002 will be an invitational class of Albatros jets, capable of 447 mph and pulling 5.5 G's as they scream around the pylons of the closed 8.27 mile long Unlimited Course.