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The Wichita ComTech, Inc. AirCap 200 LIFT Award
About the Sponsor:
Arthur Alvis is an eight time participant in the Great American Race which is a 4,000
plus mile endurance car rally raced in antique cars. His team consistently finished in the top quarter of the Great Race and
to this day still holds the best single day score ever achieved in Great Race history. Arthur, his daughter Alexandra, and
Alison participated in the 2007 Wichita 300 air race and won the Turbo Division in his Cessna Turbo 182. He is the founder
and president of Commtech, Inc. located in Wichita and he presented the 2008 AirCap 200 LIFT award.
About the award:
The nature of the LIFT Award is similar to the Great Race "Spirit
of the Event" award: This award can given to an individual or team honoring their determination,
enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and whose participation in the race is an inspiration to the entire company of racers. The LIFT award is not necessarily given to the race winners (but it can be), but to those who were exceptional
in their race effort. The award can go to a Pilot, Crew Member, Mechanic, Administrator, Line Person – anyone deemed
to meet the criteria of this important award. These people contribute to the success of the race --- but don’t necessarily
seek or receive recognition. The roots
of this award can be traced to the 1983 Great Race: Doc Fuson was driving the second oldest car in the race ---a 1912 American-LaFrance
fire truck and Tom Lester a drove a 1909 Mercedes. A significant cash award (not to mention honor) awaited the driver of the
oldest car to finish the 4,000 mile Great Race. On the last overnight of the race, Tom’s 1909 car arrived at
the pit stop with severe engine damage. Rather than coasting to a sure win of the oldest car award, Doc Fuson stayed up through
the night to rebuild the engine in Tom’s car. The next morning, Tom Lester in the 1909 Mercedes went on to win the oldest
car award. When someone asked Doc, "Why?", he answered "Taking
home the trophy would have been a victory for me, but helping him finish was a victory for all of us.."
About the 2008 recipient:
That would be... well... me.
I'd like to use
this opportunity to publically thank Pat Purcell and Arthur Alvis for bestowing on me this
award. It was a surprise at the time and remains an honor even now. Thank you.
My long standing reply
to accolades remains the same: No matter what I do or what by my encouragement is done, the real credit for our success
as an organization and for the growth of our sport goes to you who read these words; you who fill up your tanks and fly halfway
across the country in order to pit your skills and your machine against like-minded folks who, inevitably, think they can
beat you in an even match.
After the dust settles, the speeds posted and awards presented, you enjoy the company of
those who enjoy the same things. I am content to be one of you.
- Mike
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1 March, 2008 Welcome Back, Race Nuts! After a short Winter hiatus, it's time to air
up the tires and rewax your ships for a new race season. 2008 promises to be a great follow-up to 2007, with more races
across more parts of the country. I know some of you have made good use of the Winter down-time to add speed mods to
your birds... well it will soon be time to see if they work! Watch for a Taylor 125 race page and sign up soon. I flew
the course last weekend and it looks good. I hope the weather will cooperate. So far this year we have the following
races definite: Taylor 125, 29 March April ** Dyess/Abilene Air Fest, 3 May Rocky Mountain Fly In
and Air Race, 28 June AVC, 27 July August ** West Texas Air Race, 27 September Memphis Air Race, 18
October Rocket Fly In and Air Race, November ?? ** Please consider leaving the following dates open for races
which are still in negotiation: 19 April and 23 August Hope to see you at a race, somewhere, sometime! -
Mike
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