Air Race Classic,

Air Race Classic Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to: encouraging and educating current and future women pilots; increasing public awareness of general aviation; demonstrating women's roles in aviation; preserving and promoting the tradition of pioneering women in aviation. The ARC fulfills its mission in many ways, with the culmination being our annual cross-country air race. Women of all ages, backgrounds and professions, flying a wide variety of airplanes, continue the tradition of women's air racing that began in 1929. Originally the Women's Air Derby, twenty pilots raced from Santa Monica, CA to Cleveland, OH. Racing continued through the '30s and was renewed again after WWII when the All Women's Transcontinental Air Race (AWTAR) came into being in 1947. The AWTAR held its 30th, final and commemorative flight in 1977. When the AWTAR was discontinued, the Air Race Classic, Ltd stepped in to continue the tradition of transcontinental speed competition for women pilots. The Air Race Classic was reincorporated in 2002 into the Air Race Classic, Inc. The current race routes, which change every year, are approximately 2,400 statute miles in length, and the contestants are given four days, flying VFR in daylight hours, to reach the terminus. Each airplane is assigned a handicap speed, with the goal to have the actual ground speed be as far over the handicap speed as possible. The objective is to fly the "perfect" cross-country. In this type of race, the official standings cannot be released until the final entrant has cross the finish line. At a time when some people are inclined to down-play and have only negative views of general aviation, it is encouraging each summer when over 100 women pilots, forming 50 or more race teams, get into their airplanes and safely race each other over trans-continental routings. There is a spirit of camaraderie in spite of the keen competition. Blanche Noyes once said, "Flying is ageless."