Air Racing is currently dominated by the National Air Races at Reno.  Attempts have been made to create a series of races across the country – Phoenix in 1994 and 1995, Tunica in 2005 – without success. 

 

With the increasing proliferation of high performance experimental aircraft, there existed a need for a racing league for pilot/owners who do not have the deep pockets necessary to race at Reno, even in the Sport Class. 

 

A safe racing environment is made accessible to people without specific racing experience or training by starting the racers at timed intervals, in a fastest-first starting order. This starting method alleviates passing and prevents head-to-head racing as seen at Reno. 

These type of races are not intended for viewing by spectators thus the short, multi-lap, closed course display is avoided, which makes insurance companies happy. 

 

Races in this league are primarily a proving ground for aircraft performance enhancements be they in the power plant or aerodynamic/configuration and are 100 to 400 miles in length.  Safety is stressed and participation by anyone with a valid pilot’s license and an airworthy aircraft is encouraged.  

 

The following points describe the League:

 

• The Sport Air Racing League is a series of races hosted by various entities whether EAA-affiliated or not.  The intent of the League is to offer a friendly, fun, non-professional racing environment for builders and owners to test and improve aircraft modifications.  The watch-words of the League are Fun and Safety.

 

• Each participating race will be promoted, organized and hosted as an independent air race with all responsibility for execution of the race falling onto the host.

 

• There are no paid organizational positions.  The League consists of a volunteer Chairman and Co-Chairman.  All races are supported by volunteers.  Local EAA chapters are encouraged to provide race support.  The only race entry fees mandated are the minimum to be determined by the League at the beginning of each racing season (depending on the number of races to be held in that season), sufficient to cover costs of end of season awards and the award banquet .  No purse is required to be paid.   

    

• Each participating race host will decide whether to charge an entry fee above the minimum, its amount, and to award purses and their amounts

 

• Each participating race host agrees to use race classes conforming with the EAA AirVenture Cup

 

• In addition to the Experimental classes, participating races are encouraged to include various Factory classes for competition among production aircraft within whatever limitations the race host determines.  These limitations might include requiring the race course be completed in some set time limit (effectivly limiting the minimum speed allowable).

 

• Each participating race host agrees to use race rules conforming with the EAA AirVenture Cup.  Each race host, however, has discretion to amend the basic AirVenture Cup rules to fit their own course and racing environment.

 

• Each participating race will award first, second and third place in each class.  Additionally, each place from first to last will accrue League points to the racer in the following form:

         

          First Place -         100 points

          Second Place -     80 points

          Third Place -        60 points

 

          Each place from Forth to last decrements points 

          awarded by 5 points each place: 55, 50, 45, 40,35,

          30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 0.

 

• Following the last race of the each season there will be an awards ceremony held where the First, Second and Third points placeholders in each class are presented with a plaque for their achievement in that racing season.

 

• An Overall Points award will be made each year to the First, Second and Third points placeholders in the League, denoting National Champions.

 

• Racers, once registered in the League, retain their number until voluntarily surrendered.  Race numbers are allocated and will be used for all participating races taking precedence over non-League members at participating race registration time.