The 12th running of the AirVenture Cup Race is planned for Sunday, July 26, as nine classes of amateur-built category take off from Wright Brothers Airport (MGY) in Dayton, Ohio, in a beat-the-clock dash to AirVenture Oshkosh.

Race Chairman Eric Whyte, EAA 357260, explained that the race began alternating between Mitchell, South Dakota and Dayton last year. "That mixes things up from year to year for the pilots," he said. "We were very well received in Mitchell, and plan to start from there in even years, and from Dayton during the odd years."

Founded in 1998, the race is open to all private pilots of aircraft certificated in the amateur-built category. A current medical certificate is required. The race begins at MGY, and then heads to two pylon turns in Illinois; the first at Kankakee Airport (IKK), and the second at Freeport (FEP). For there it's on to the finish line at the Quad Graphics Airport in Lomira, Wisconsin, before re-assembling at Fond du Lac for a group flight to OSH.

Whyte expects decent participation at this year's event. "We have a dedicated core group that will participate - people plan for this, plan to attend and participate in this event," he said. "The economy and fuel prices of course will play roles, but AirVenture and the AirVenture Cup seem to always be the last thing to get scratched off the 'can't-do' list."

Whyte has been told that people in the City of Sterling Heights, Illinois (near Freeport) are attempting to organize spectators to visit the airport for aircraft fly-bys at the second pylon turn.

The Sportsman/Sprint category this year will feature aircraft with VW and Corvair conversions and will be allowed a no-penalty pit stop There are currently no plans for new classes. (See all the categories on the AirVenture Cup Race website.)

The registration forms for the 2009 AirVenture Cup Race will be hosted online at www.airventurecup.com. They are expected to be posted soon, so those planning to partake are asked to visit the website frequently in the coming weeks.