Speeds were very hot and fast this year, but that is mostly describing the wind conditions. Saturday temps were in the mid-80's, and on Sunday we were well into the 90's. Wind throughout the weekend was a steady 15 to 20 mph, with gusts over 25. The larger speed birds cut through the air OK, but the wind made it much less fun. Note the absence of smaller planes in the results, they mostly stayed in the car!
Another observation of the weather was that everything seemed to run lean. No one got their needle open enough in .21, and the jets went to larger than normal metering jet sizes.
Northwest Standings Points in parentheses
D SPEED (1 entry)
1. Ted Gritzmacher, Battle Ground, Wash., 170.22 mph (1)
FAI SPEED (1 entry)
1. Bill Allen, Lake Stevens, Wash., attempt (1)
.21 SPORT SPEED (3 entries)
1. Mike Hazel, Salem, Ore., 139.04 mph (3)
2. Dick Salter, Tenino, Wash., 136.51 (2)
3. Ted Gritzmacher, 134.57 (1)
FORMULA 40 SPEED (2 entries)
1. Ted Gritzmacher, 149.19 mph (2)
2. Bill Allen, 148.21 (1)
AMA JET SPEED (1 entry)
1. Guy Laine, Central Point, Ore., attempt (1)
NORTHWEST SPORT JET SPEED (4 entries)
1. Loren Howard, Ariel, Wash., 144.52 mph (4)
2. Dick Salter, 144.27, (3)
3. Ted Gritzmacher, 128.52 (2)
4. Ron Bennett, Monmouth, Ore., attempt (1)
This page was upated Sept. 9, 2008