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Sophia Payton, wife of Neal Payton, USAIR retired pilot, wins Air Race |
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Bruce Bennett - Jul 03,2005
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Sophia Payton is 70 years old!!! AOPA Online 2005 Air Race Classic, for full story.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />2005 Air Race Classic<br />BY JULIE K. BOATMAN<br /><br /> <br />The 2005 Air Race Classic commenced in West Lafayette, Indiana; the race itself was flown from June 21-24 following a round-robin course from Purdue University Airport, to Winona, Minnesota; Beatrice, Nebraska; Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Shreveport, Louisiana; Walnut Ridge, Arkansas; Tullahoma, Tennessee; Athens, Ohio; and returning to Purdue. This year, 42 teams competed in the all-women's race, which has its origins in the Powder Puff Derby of 1929. This was the 29th Air Race Classic.<br /><br />Air Race Classic 2005 announces winners<br />The 29th Air Race Classic concluded this weekend with 40 teams completing the more than 2,100-nm journey. After the last racer made it back to Lafayette, Indiana, safely by the cutoff time on Friday afternoon, it was time to tally the scores and enjoy one last blast of camaraderie before announcing the winners. The top 12 airplanes underwent a final inspection on Saturday to ensure that no modifications had been made during the race. A luncheon on Sunday at the Purdue University football stadium's skybox brought racers together to discuss improvements for the race in coming years and to debrief what went well — and so much did.<br /><br />For the first time in ARC history, the results weren't announced until the closing banquet, and the suspense was high. But veteran racer Sophia Payton, with copilot Marilyn Paterno and passenger Erica Cochoff, took first place, and the $5,000 prize, in Payton's Cessna 172. ARC President Judy Bolkema Tokar, copilot Sarah Bean, and passenger Ann Williams came in second, and Bonnie Johnson and Carol Foy came in third.<br /><br />The collegiate team of Sarah Tower and Erica Ebenhoeh from Western Michigan University won the top college team award and came in eighth place overall.<br /><br />Classic 10 completed the race in 10th place, a position to be extremely proud of, given the close nature of the race — scores were determined to a one-thousandth of a knot to create the standings.<br /><br />The folks at Purdue left a tough act to follow, but those behind the Air Race Classic are more than up to the challenge. The 2006 Air Race Classic begins in Mesa, Arizona, and terminates in Menominee, Michigan. The race runs from June 21-24. For more information, see the Web site.<br /><br /><br />Classic 10 joins other teams at the airport<br />on Saturday for a post-race inspection. <br />ARC winner Sophia Payton (left) looks on as<br />volunteers inspect her 172 following the race. <br /><br />Lining the stage, 85 racers celebrate the<br />conclusion of the 2005 Air Race Classic. <br />Racers from Classic 32 and Classic 28 'debrief'<br />in the skybox at Purdue's football stadium. <br /><br />Ruby Sheldon thanks her new friends (John Schumaker,<br />Mike Kenney, Dustin Wilcox, and Josh) just a few of the<br />many volunteers from Purdue who made the race happen. <br /> <br />
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