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Air Racing, Come try it, you’ll like it.


This year is the 20th anniversary AirVenture Cup (AVC) cross country air race. This event was started as a grass roots effort by a group of very active EAAers, and has become a traditional kick off event for AirVenture. This year we are returning to Mt. Vernon, IL for our starting line, and the finish will be at Wausau, WI. After lunch in Wausau, hosted by the local EAA chapter, racers reposition to Oshkosh for the convention.


I am a volunteer for the event, and am admiralty biased, but the AVC is the thing I most look forward to every year. Not because of the awesome variety of airplanes, or the excuse to fly, or the fun that can be had going balls to the walls, but because of the people.


Our mission, as race organizers, is to foster an atmosphere of camaraderie amongst fellow pilots, while giving a venue to showcase our airplanes, in a structured competitive flying event with safety as our number one priority. As such, you will find that everyone from the person racing the J-3 Cub, to the newly minted private pilot, to the ex military guy going 400 MPH in a Turbine Legend become fast friends.


Sitting down to dinner at the pre-race banquet, or having a beverage at the traditional post race party, conversations flow amongst pilots of varying aircraft and experience levels as if they were life long friends. Discussion of strategies, aircraft modifications, flight planning, and good old hangar flying stories are abundant and engaging.


Think you’re not a race pilot? Think your airplane isn’t a race airplane? Think again! This event is really just a cross country flight you are trying to fly as smartly and accurately as possible. Of course, your chances of placing improve going, “balls to the walls,” but not everyone pushes their airplane that hard. We have had folks race in the past just to be a part of it. We have had others that come to race against themselves, trying to be faster than they were last year.


In addition to the race, we have an entire weekend of fun with like-enthused people. In addition to the two parties already mentioned, we have an airport open house at the starting line on Saturday where formation flights, and low passes are abundant. We have an informal meet and greet for all the participants, and we have an awards ceremony. We also have a hospitality area on the grounds at Oshkosh for racers to grab a cold refreshment and meet up with their friends, both from the race and otherwise.


We are accepting applications to race now. They can be found on our website, http://www.airventurecuprace.com. We are expecting record numbers of racers this year (last year we had 78 racers), and may have to limit participants. So get your application in soon. There is a 100% refund policy if you can’t make it, but we can’t add racers after the deadline. Apply today.

Joe Coraggio

Vice-Chairman, EAA AirVenture Cup