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Day 10 - "Team Bessie" Shall Be Back!!!

6/26/2011

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     We just returned from the 2011 Air Race Classic awards banquet that was an absolute lovely affair!!! Female air racing pilots sure know how to 'get dolled up' when awards and money are being handed out :-).
     It was an exciting evening that commenced with recognition and appreciation to all of our ARC sponsors who make an event of this magnitude possible by their support and generosity.  An introduction of all the air racing teams was made where we all received our certificates and plaques of participation which essentially is our "induction" into the exclusive sorority of 'female air racers;'  I feel HONORED!!! :-)   A scrumptuous dinner was served followed by a slide presentation of this year's adventure, remembering our female Hall of Heroes: those ladies who have flown in 25 or more air races.  Then came the part of the program that all the racers were eagerly anticipating. 
      
   
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"Joyce and Athina with our certificates and plaques for successful participation!"
 The categories included: Mother-Daughter team  winners; Collegiate Team winners; Last-Place winner; numerous leg prizes; and  finally the Top-Ten Racing Team winners.  Drum roll, please!!!!  UNFORTUNATELY,  Team Bessie fans and bloggers,  Athina and I did not take home any awards --  bummer!!! 
      
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"Athina and I are not in this picture; bummer!!!" :-( There's next year, though! :-)
     But, no worries, sports fans!  You'd still be  as proud of us as we are of ourselves for competing in and completing this  race!!!  It was a  great race and especially since this was my first time along  with "The Joybird."   I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT FLYING, AIR RACING, AND WHAT "The  Joybird" CAN DO; SHE'S  AN AWESOME AIRPLANE!!!  Thank you, Lord, so much!!!!  We finished well, with NO  penalties and flying 3.4 kts above  our handicap speed.  In my estimation, that was great for a "first-time" racer!!!:-)  
      But,  just as significant was the fact that , we represented well  as the 1st ever  
all-African-American team to compete, and many, many of our fellow racers were
happy and thrilled to see that part of history being made.
     So, we'll come back strong next year with better strategy in aircraft loading  and center of gravity considerations, "flying the winds" more precisely, and  doing all that's necessary to eliminate as much drag on the aircraft.  Next year, we WILL fly a better air race!!!  
     The best part, though, was reaching out to so many African-American girls and
women who never met a black female pilot and who knew nothing  about our  team namesake, the historic Bessie Coleman.  We raced to keep her legacy alive!!!

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"Next year's Air Race Classic route!"
      BTW:  We came in 32nd out of 43 racing teams, so WE'RE MAD NOW!!! :-).  Watch out Classic Racers; no messin' around next year!!! :-).
     Good nite, Bessie Bloggers!!! Early morning wheels up to Topeka.  Thank you all for your love and support!  Many Blessings!!!...Joyce and Athina


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Day 9 - Great Tours and Girls Club Cheers!

6/25/2011

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     Day Nine. Saturday: Yippee!  I'm so happy for a day to finally do what I enjoy most....sleep in!  Joyce on the other hand, had to be up early for the first-timers de-brief and the signing of the timing sheets. That's a great part of being plot-in- command (PIC), the lead responsibility.  So you see, being co-pilot has its perks!
     Another great part of the ARC, is the knowledge you gain from other aspects of the race.   The organizers of the air race work diligently to incorporate special events and tours at the start and terminus cities.  The tours are generally aviation-related some of which include: aviation museums, aircraft systems companies, avionics corporations etc...  The terminus tour today was of  the Continental Motors Plant.  They build, remanufacture,  and supply aircraft engines, fuels systems, and parts and  supplies to several aircraft companies like Cessna and Cirrus as well as after-market vendors.  
  
The highlight of the tours was of the USS Alabama  Battleship & Air Museum.  The museum sponsored The Racers & Youth Event  for the girls of the local Boys & Girls Club.  Each race team sponsored one or two girls.  Joyce and I were so excited to meet our girls and we were  quite impressed with  their shirt designs that featured our race #37 and tail  number N9246S.  
    
The girls received awards for their  participation in  a six-month aerospace/aviation academy. Some of the awards included:  communications radios,  aviation books and educational materials, tote  bags,  and more.  The girls especially enjoyed the flight simulator rides.   Look-out  girls!!!!--you're flying a fighter jet!!!  Overall, today is exactly  what "Team Bessie's"  participation in the Air Race Classic 2011 was all  about....sharing the Legacy of Queen Bess, while inspiring young girls to  FLY!!!!...Athina
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We Did It!!!! "Team Bessie" Completes the 2011 Women's Air Race Classic!!!

6/24/2011

4 Comments

 
     "Team Bessie" has arrived!!!! Joyce Parker and Athina Holmes executed a flawless fly-by and landing at 1:01 pm at Mobile Downtown Airport, Mobile, AL to secure their place in history as the 1st all African-American team to compete in and complete the long-standing Women's Air Race Classic!!!
   
  It has been a FANTASTIC!!!  experience in so many ways and on so many levels, so I'm not finished telling the story...please stay tuned!!!
    Sunday evening is the ARC awards banquet and there, we will be informed as to how well we flew the race.  We're nervous and excited!!! to find out where we placed and how well we did, so as soon as we find out, you'll be the first to know :-)...Joyce  
 
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"We made it!!! :-)
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Day 8 - The Final Leg!...El Dorado, AR (KELD) to Mobile, AL (KBFM)

6/24/2011

2 Comments

 
     It's early, the adrenaline is pumping, and I'm nervous as all get out!!!:-)  This is the last leg!  Many of the racers made it on into Mobile yesterday, but the bulk of us are here at KELD, so getting out this morning is going to be 'dicey'!  It's 06:22 and our driver will be here in 50 minutes, so I'll get off the computer for now, and catch back up with you when we arrive in Mobile and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief: the racing part of Air Race Classic is almost over.  See you in Mobile!...Joyce
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Day 7 - Borger, TX (KBGD) to El Dorado, AR (KELD)

6/24/2011

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     Oh, this was going to be a long but good day; I didn't get much sleep, but we were going to be meeting Bessie Coleman's great niece, Dr. Jilda Motley from Tulsa, OK, so we had to make it work!  I'll tell you the rest of the story later...Joyce

(P.S.  As you can see, I've gotten behind in my blogging (thank goodness for Athina) but I will catch you up, so stay tuned :-)).

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