Mighty Mississippi River

When our team decided on the name we would use in the Air Race Classic we had no idea this river would show us how mighty it can be!!!  With Julie in the Memphis, TN area(Hernando, MS) and Peggy having the levee in her front yard, Waterproof, LA, we're beginning to breathe a sigh of relief!  The gauge at Natchez, MS(south of Waterproof, LA) ended at 61.9 . . . flood stage is 48.  Water is still on the levee as I write but has lowered approximately 1 1/2 foot.  We're hoping it will be down below flood stage when I leave for this race in June.  Wish us luck, on Ole Man River and the RACE!

Below, is an aerial picture taken by a local photographer in my parish.  I live right below the grain elevator in the top portion of the picture, young cotton planted around my airstrip.  Our home, Myrtle Grove, is surrounded by the clump of trees close to the levee!   Y I K E S ! ! !

We're getting adopted!!!

New for 2011 is the Adopt-a-Racer Youth Program.  Air Race Classic has been working with the Boys and Girls Club of Mobile, AL to get under-privileged girls interested in aviation.  ARC, in conjunction with other community organizations, is hosting a six (6) month program including paper and model airplane construction, airport visitation, Young Eagles airplane rides, career day, hands on aviation activities and a UPS Airbus A300 tour where the youth learned about the opportunity of working for UPS and getting a FREE college education.  Part of the program involves in the interaction of the youth with the racers.  These youth will be emailing us to ask questions about racing and aviation and become part of our 'team'.  They will be 'following' us during the race just as you will.  These girls will be there to greet us when we cross the finish line in Mobile! We just know they will LOVE pirates!

A Word from our Sponsor

Good news!  We have our first sponsor and they are Take Shape for Life! 

The Trilogy of Optimal Health!  This company helps people lose weight and manage health through nutritional intervention.   Medifast portion-controlled meals are among the best in the industry and have been recommended by over 15,000 physicians since 1980.  With them and the support of a Health Coach, a person can optimize their physical health by losing weight quickly and safely and then adopting the BeSlim lifestyle of lasting weight control to help keep it off for life.

Take Shape for Life is so much more than simply losing weight and learning to keep it off.  What Take Shape for Life really offers someone is the opportunity to achieve uncommon success in three critical areas of life: a healthy body, a healthy mind,  and healthy finances!  All three of these are inextricably interconnected and each one affects the others. 

To find out more about this company and it's amazing 5 & 1 Plan, log onto http://www.gettinghealthy4life.tsfl.com/!

2011 Start and 2011 Terminus

We got our Start and Terminus accommodations reserved today!  Thank you Sheraton Iowa City Hotel, Iowa City, Iowa and Holiday Inn Downtown, Mobile, Alabama for those terrific ARC Room Block rates!  Looking forward to spending time in your lovely cities in June, 2011!

Mother Birds and Baby Birds Program

It's Official!  Our Mother Birds have been assigned.  They are Barbara Goodwin and Maureen Kenney, Air Race Classic Team #23.  We will make contact with them this week, although I've already 'friended' them on my Facebook page.  We are so excited to get acquainted with these ladies who are willing to show us 'First Timers' how it's done!
womenfly.net/cherokee_chicks

The Plane, Maule M-5 235, Lunar Rocket

The plane is a Maule M-5 235, Lunar Rocket.  It has 31" tires and tailwheel from Alaskan Bushwheel. http://www.akbushwheel.com/  Max Load :  4 seats + kitchen sink!  Cruise speed : 0.21 Mach

This flying machine belongs to Julie and Howard Thomas.

Peggy Tucker, Co Pilot

Peggy grew up in Natchez, MS.  Her flying interest began when she and her husband, Charles, purchased a Stearman Biplane in 2007.  She received her Private Pilots license in October of 2010.  She and Charles are involved in Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Antique Airplane Association, Experimental Airplane Association, Stearman Restorer's Association,  and National Biplane Association.  She is a member of the Mississippi Chapter of the International Organization of Women Pilots the Ninety-Nines, Inc. http://www.ninety-nines.org/ ,  National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, National Society Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, The Order of the First Families of Mississippi 1699-1817, National Garden Clubs, Inc., a Master Gardener, a licensed Florist and a Certified Health Coach for Take Shape for Life http://www.gettinghealthy4life.tsfl.com/.  Their plantation home, Myrtle Grove, is '15 yards' from the Mississippi River, just north of Natchez.  She is the grandmother of 6 amazing children!