The Need for Speed - The Ride of a Lifetime

surprise, the line to get checked in was wrapped around the entire airport. American Airlines was very busy, but also to my surprise, there was no line for the First Class passengers. I love my mother a lot, even to the point when she purchases a First Class round trip ticket for her son. Next thing I know is that I'm checked in and drinking some wine. Thank God for First Class! Anyway, the flight was uneventful (except for the United 757 that passed within less than a half mile of us) and before you knew it, we were landing at Dallas-Fort Worth Texas. From there I was off to Oklahoma City, not really knowing what to expect.

Soon I was on the ground at OKC waiting to get off the plane, which was delayed because of a United Shuttle blocking ramp access to the gate. I finally got into the terminal and whom do I find waiting for me? The Man, the myth, the legend - Mr. Brent Hisey himself. That was a little bit of a shock to me, as I had expected a crew member to pick me up. When he introduced himself as Brent Hisey I just about fainted! I couldn't believe that he was there in person to pick me up.. but I was lovin' it - a Reno Unlimited Class pilot in my presence - picking ME up!. We then left the Oklahoma City airport and headed towards Wiley Post airport, where Miss America is hangared. We had a really great conversation about the status of Miss America and the new brakes they had been waiting on. We also talked about each other and got to know one another a little better. When we arrived at our destination we found the crew just about to close the doors and lock up for the evening, just finishing-up putting the new brakes on her. Man, I'm standing in the presence of Brent Hisey and Miss America, something I could never even possibly imagine. I have pictures of me when I was knee high to a grasshopper (well I guess I was never really "knee high", I was 6'-1" in the first grade), throwing a plastic model of Miss America into the air. I've known her quite a while you see. After I got to "fondle" Miss America after seeing her in the new paint scheme for the first time, we left to take me to my hotel.

Brent did an outstanding job in setting me up, and taking care of me as a guest - a real "Class A" job!! I stayed at the Quinta Inn just down the road from Miss A. After we got to my room, I changed rather quickly and we were off to his house. When we arrived I got the privilege of meeting his lovely wife Mary Lynn, a very nice person to sit down with and have a nice conversation. I also saw their beautiful house, his three Iguanas, and his fifteen scorpions. I also learned how Brent acquired Miss America and more about his life. Man, what a life - this man is good!!

After a short while, Bent invited me to accompany him and his wife Mary to attend a surprise party for one of his partners at work. The party was a lot of fun, but since none of us had eaten yet, we decided to leave the party and headed out for dinner. Brent, Mary, and I went to a Mexican restaurant, and the food was outstanding! We all had a great talk and a great time. After dinner they took me back to my hotel for the night. The next morning it was to be breakfast at 7:00AM and then, the ride of my life!!

Saturday

The alarm goes off, and I am up faster than a person with the runs <grin>. In a very short time I'm going to fly in Miss America and I can't believe it! Brent met me at 7:00AM, just as planned, and we drove to the airport. We arrived a short time later at the Miss America hangar, met the crew, and then pulled out the plane. I met Larry and his son Jerry, the photographer, Dave and his wife, and many other people who make this racer a truly awesome machine. These guys were cool! They helped me a lot and made everything go smooth and perfect for the ride. Thanks guys!

After a bit of talking, we went to the airport restaurant and had breakfast. Mmmmm Good! We sat around for a while and talked a little more about what is was like to fly the Pylons at Reno, and what the feeling was like when she took first in the silver. I reflect back and tell everyone that I was enjoying myself immensely. Now it was getting time to go up for a ride, and I was STOKED!!! We got back to the hanger and started to get ready for my first flight in a P-51 Mustang. I was very unsure at this point what to expect from this awesome machine, but I didn't care, I was about to ride in Miss America! The crew started to move things around and get me situated into the airplane. As I started to get into the rear seat, I realized

that there was a lot of room in the back of this beast. I was ready AND comfortable. I was next given the safety brief, and told to let Brent know if I got sick and to not try to ride it out. I never got sick in a boat, nor was I going to in this P-51. I was loving every minute of it! Next was the starting of that big Merlin, and let me tell you - the sound was pure music. The smell of Merlin exhaust in the cockpit smelled of victory!

Shortly thereafter, we began our taxi out to runway 17L. We sat in the warm-up area as Brent warmed-up the engine. This is where I started to feel just how powerful this machine really was. We received clearance to taxi to the runway and proceed to take off. Brent gets Miss America into position, brings the manifold pressure up to about 40Hg, and then let's the brakes go. Man, the acceleration I felt was awesome! That Merlin sceamin' down the

runway was pure energy eager to lift off the ground after a couple of long months in the paint shop. As I watched Brent work the rudder peddles, the Mustang tracked straight as an arrow, and then I felt the wheels leave the ground and I knew we were airborne. I see Brent reach down and pull the lever for the gear and with heightened senses - I feel the gear hit the up stops, and then the gear doors close. Brent then rolls Miss A to the left and we start out towards the West.