(WORDS AND PHOTOS BY BRAD KLAASSEN) – Most folks make their annual trip to Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth, Texas, to take in their  favorite oval track races of the year, but for this straight line racer that form of Motorsports is a
little too mundane for me. However, I was more that stoked to hit this awesome circle track  venue for something completely different. It’s Texas, so yeah they’ll set up an air race course inside the confines of a NASCAR track no problem, and they did. Plus, I was lucky enough to be  there to take in all of the action over two days of unparalleled excitement and fun!

So, for you non aircraft addicted Bangshifter’s, here’s how the Red Bull Air Race goes down. The series competes throughout the world on an obstacle course flying through pylons at 200+ mph
with the pilots experiencing 9 Gs at the max racing against the clock for top honors. Much like drag racing, day one is for qualifying with day two for eliminations until a winner is determined.
The Red Bull Air Race Series only contests two races each year in the good ole USA and this year  the first race just happened to go down in Ft. Worth, TX. So, there was now way this Okie
wasn’t going to jump onto I-35 for the short trip south to take in my very first Red Bull Air Race ever! And it didn’t disappoint for one second. Talk about a complete show. When the race
aircraft weren’t in the sky there was still constant entertainment abounding at every moment. From the sky divers to the aerobatic helicopter show and P-51 aerial exhibit to the trails and
street bike performers in the Midway you couldn’t get away from the excitement, no matter how hard you tried!

My only regret about the entire Red Bull Air Race experience is I can’t attend the final race in the USA this year at Las Vegas. But, I can always hope the series will come back to Texas again
next year. I know this is a bold statement coming from a diehard bathed in nitro and alcohol drag racer, but outside the straight line form of Motorsports that I hold dearest to my heart,
the Red Bull Air Race is the most fun I’ve had in a long time at a track and I was just a spectator with a camera. No, Red Bull isn’t paying me to say this, but I wish they were since now I’m
hooked on their beverage too. Another first time experience for me at the race was actually trying their product. So, all in all I guess their marketing plan is working perfectly.  Okay, enough of my BS. Go check out a Red Bull Air Race if you get a chance, but more importantly keep checking out Bangshift.com each day for way cool stuff and also my shots from events too. Until then, See you at the drags. –Bad Brad