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AirVenture Cup RaceRichard Keyt’s “Polen Special.”Geoff SoberingAero was an enthusiastic supporter of the event, and the 500-mile Dayton-Oshkosh leg was much more manageable. From2004 through 2007, the race used the shorter course.For 2008, everybody felt like a change. One disadvantageto starting at Dayton was flying into the generally prevailingwesterly winds, so a search was on for a starting point westof Oshkosh. The organizing committee started by drawingan 500-mile radius arc centered on Oshkosh and lookingfor airports near the line. They were looking for someplacewith low traffic, a good fixed base operation, at least twohard-surface runways, and enough ramp space to park50-100 aircraft. A number of airports were not interestedin hosting the event. In the end there were about threecandidates. Mitchell was selected for the following reasons: 1)a supportive FBO, 2) an enthusiastic airport manager, 3) noMOAs on the direct route to Oshkosh, and 4) a huge ramparea. It turned out to be the perfect choice. The facilities areideal, and Mitchell embraced the race wholeheartedly.2012 brought another change to the race. For the firsttime the race was run under the auspices of the Sport AirRacing League (SARL) instead of EAA. The biggest differencewas the addition of new classes for production aircraft. Thisbrought five new planes to the AirVenture Cup, includingLinda Streetely of SARL and Yasmina Platt from AOPA flyingLinda’s Grumman Cheetah.The future of the AirVenture Cup is uncertain. Thechange from EAA to SARL sponsorship has brought the40 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINEpotential for many changes, not the least is the race’s nameitself. The possible loss of EAA volunteer credit for AirVentureCup support staff is another practical issue. However, thereare 15 years of great fun and shared experiences, along withan enthusiastic group of organizers that will hopefully providethe impetus for many more years of races. At the awardsbanquet there was already discussion about alternate east-towestcourses for next year.For complete air race results, go to:www.airventurecuprace.com.AirVenture Cup cochair, Erik Anderson, flying his RV6 shortly aftercompleting the project with fellow pilot, Bob Lang. Anderson passedaway from a massive heart attack less than a month following thisyear’s race.EDITOR’S NOTE: AirVenture Cup Race cochair, Kjell Erik “DaSwede” Anderson, 51, died unexpectedly September 10,2012, from a massive heart attack while at work. Andersonwas a music and aviation teacher at East High School andSherman Middle School in Madison, Wisconsin.Two days before his death, Anderson made an emergencylanding in his RV-6. He was flying with fellow pilot, Eric Whyte,headed north from Madison when an oil line failed. Smokestarted to fill the inside of the aircraft. The two pilots declaredan emergency and landed near Necedah, Wisconsin, andmade the needed repairs to the plane.Regardless of his focus, friends said that Anderson alwayswas trying to help young people excel, achieve, succeed, orjust survive.qEric Whyte