Pond Racer: The first, and last Reno thoroughbred racer

Behold the Pond Racer! The only purpose-built Unlimited class racer that would compete in the Reno Races against the traditional P51s and Bearcats that had been dominating the circuit since WWII. Wax-industry magnate Bob Pond partnered with Burt Rutan to conceive the Pond Racer, with the charitable goal of saving P-51s and Bearcats from losses in air races (and driving up the prices of parts and airframes, as these aircraft became increasingly rare). ⁣ ⁣ Outrageous in design, and equally outrageous in engineering and execution, this was out-of-the-box thinking beyond what anyone had ever witnessed. Rather than rely on time-tested aircraft powerplants (that were deemed too heavy and un-aerodynamic), the the Racer was powered by small 2 Nissan GTR V6 race car engines. During car races, these could generate 1,000hp - but for only small bursts at a time. The Pond Racer in contrast had to maintain 1,000hp during a 15 minute race!⁣ Development and testing was troublesome. The