home - contact - credits - new - links - history - maps - art - story
comic strips - editorial - souvenirs - Yahoo forum
First posted 24 August 2008
* Speed Week begins - Links added - 24 August 2012 *
** Art by Warren Hutch added - 31 August 2012 **
[Information for contributors, with reference Links]
Air racing and a week of other organized races -
Set in the 1930s, on some unique Pacific Islands
in the Spontoon Island Archipelago.
Speed Week!
** "Sorensteen sisters clean up the 'Chili Pepper'...' " by Warren Hutch **
"...Ready for another race. Of course they don't want to get their clothes wet, and it's hot in the tropics, so...."
(Larger file here - 1.3 MBytes)
Slightly more risque (mature) version - (Larger file here - 1.3 MBytes)
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/warren/ - warrenhutch@yahoo.com
"Speedweek with the Sorensteen Sisters" - by Warren Hutch
(Larger file here - 1.7 MBytes)
("Please allow me to introduce the
Sorensteen Sisters, Milena(Millie), Matilda(Tillie),
and Willemina (Billie). These vixen triplets are trying to break into the world of high speed seaplane racing.
They're generally good at what they do (Millie's an aeronautical engineer, Tillie's a mechanic, and Billie's a pilot)
but mishaps can and do occur. (Usually resulting in a knock down, drag out catfight between Millie and Billie,
until Tillie can settle 'em down. She's the sweet one and the peacemaker of the trio,
even if that peace means she has to wrestle her sisters down and sit on 'em.")
"If you're flying with a tail-wind, don't take all the credit for your ground-speed."
(Air-racing Pilot 'Rongway' Roo - 1934)
Quotes Basket
and Willemina (Billie). These vixen triplets are trying to break into the world of high speed seaplane racing.
They're generally good at what they do (Millie's an aeronautical engineer, Tillie's a mechanic, and Billie's a pilot)
but mishaps can and do occur. (Usually resulting in a knock down, drag out catfight between Millie and Billie,
until Tillie can settle 'em down. She's the sweet one and the peacemaker of the trio,
even if that peace means she has to wrestle her sisters down and sit on 'em.")
"If you're flying with a tail-wind, don't take all the credit for your ground-speed."
(Air-racing Pilot 'Rongway' Roo - 1934)
Quotes Basket
Bugman und Dross "Blitzen II" as it appeared at its 1938 Speed Week debut.
(Flown by Ilsa Klensch) (larger image - 1.3 MBytes)
Art by R.J.Bartrop - http://rjbartrop.artspots.com
"Ilsa puts the Blitzen II through its paces during the 1938 Speed Week."
(larger image - 1.3 MBytes) - Art by R.J.Bartrop - http://rjbartrop.artspots.com
"German flier Ilsa Klensch overtakes the American entry during the 1938
Schneider Trophy race." (Pacific Press RadioPhoto) - (larger image - 1.3 MBytes)
Art by R.J.Bartrop - http://rjbartrop.artspots.com
Conway R-3 Racing seaplane - by R.J. Bartrop
http://rjbartrop.artspots.com - very large image here (1.3 MBytes)
Plan views of the Conway
R-3 floatplane - R.J. Bartrop
http://rjbartrop.artspots.com
- very large image here (1.3 MBytes)
Conway R-3 at speed during 1938 Schneider Trophy Race.
(larger image - 1.3 MBytes) - by R.J. Bartrop
http://rjbartrop.artspots.com
Speed Week 1935 (French Poster) by
Stuart McCarthy
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/
Speed Week Art
Aircraft Race Art - Page 1
Aircraft Race Art - Page 2
(Links to separate pages with open images - large in size)
(including the Spontoon Island Racing Association (SIRA)
and the move of the Schneider Cup Races to Spontoon)
Racing 1945 & 1946
as reported by Simon Barber
Speed Week snail by JWKennedy
http://docphlogiston.tripod.com/
Speed Week 1931 Poster (Romania) by Stuart McCarthy
(Larger file here - (565 KBytes)
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/duraluminwolf/
http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Duraluminwolf/
Speed Week Stories
"The Lady of Nîmes"
by John Urie
Keith Lawton, organizer of the Schneider Cup at Spontoon Speed Week,
tells a reporter the story of an unusual entry for the 1935 race.
Part Thirteen: Update 28 July 2010
Part Fourteen: Update 7 August 2010
Part Fifteen: Update 26 August 2010
Part Sixteen: Update 29 August 2010
Part Seventeen: Update 9 September 2010
(to be continued)
Keith Lawton & reporter Drake Hackett
(as seen in "The Lady of Nîmes")
are shown talking shop at the Speed Week office in this
excerpt from John Urie's serial: Pursuit! Chapter 27.
"A Flying Saucer"
by Mr. David R. Dorrycott
An unusual aircraft arrives for Speed Week
"Reggie-o Aeronautica"
by Simon Leo Barber
Reggie Buckhorn aids an Italian racing team (& two very charming
& resourceful young adventuresses) - Speed Week, 1936.
The Misadventure of the Miss Adventure
by Walter D. Reimer
The troubles of a seaplane race pilot
(Mature readers - for language and situations)
The Lead-Pipe Cinch
by E. O. Costello
Who would show you how a gentleman visitor of sporting inclinations
(and resourceful resources) comes to
speculate on that racing aircraft, the Miss Adventure
Token Anarchist: A Charlie Bellman story
(featuring the pilot, the Lady Helen Todd & friends)
by Antonia T. Tiger
Part One
A Speed Week dance begins at the British Embassy
Part Two: Wednesday morning
Captain the Lady Helen Todd & crew begin the Cloverleaf Derby race
Part Three
Daring & skilled maneuvers in the air; Daring & skilled manuevers on Casino Island
Part Four
A finish; a racing finish; landings.
ending this story sequence
(Previous Charlie Bellman stories are linked here.)
"Arrangements"
by Walter D. Reimer
August of 1937, during Speed Week -
a story featuring members of the Ni family -
Other stories of the Ni family: "Luck of the Dragon"
by Stuart McCarthy
Italian Poster for Speed Week 1938 - by Stuart McCarthy
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/
[Larger version Here]
The Slow Race by JWKennedy (larger version here)
http://docphlogiston.tripod.com/
Other Air-Racing Celebrities:
Q: "How do you find out when there is a pilot in the room?"
A: "She will make sure to let you know."
(Old airport joke, via Mauricio Tavares, 2008 - with a modification)
* Katie MacArran in a flight suit (Larger file here - 1.9 MBytes) *
art by KatieKat (Katie Lezotte) - http://www.furaffinity.net/user/katiekat
Character by John Urie - Commissioned by Walt Reimer
Lady Katie MacArran
as reported by John Urie
Anglo-American Pilot, Aircraft Designer, & Industrialist.
John Urie's serial novel, "Pursuit!", covers major events in her life,
including her entry in the Speed Week seaplane races.
The inter-woven chapters from the novel offer views of
how lively Speed Week racing can be. Some selected chapters:
(Parts may be Mature for language & situations.)
Chapter 7: Someone has hi-jacked Katie's hangar space!
Chapter 25: How hard could it be to get a water-taxi ride?
Chapter 45: A visit to the French racing hangar, and later,
Katie introduces her racing seaplane to a guest pilot.
Chapter 47: The guest takes Katie's racer up for a go-round.
Lady Pamela Fenwick
as reported by R. J. Bartrop
English industrialist and supporter of British air-racing.
Portraits and biographical sketch.
In John Urie's "Pursuit!" Chapter 29, Katie MacArran
meets the formidable Lady Fenwick in the crowded lobby of
a Spontoon Island hotel during Speed Week....
In E. O. Costello's collection of stories of Reggie Buckhorn,
pokes by Lady Fenwick (for a contribution to British air-racing)
result in a personal boat-racing wager between the two: "Around the Bend"
(Further stories of Reggie & friends may be found: here)
Sophia (Casadonte) Bianco
as reported by Stuart McCarthy
Italian pilot, aircraft designer, and actress.
Sophia Bianco air racing - art & Sophia via Stuart McCarthy
(Larger file here - (1.8 MBytes)
"...inspired by the work of Tullio Crali (1910-2000)"
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/duraluminwolf/
http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Duraluminwolf/
A Bianco biography with portraits
(Sophia also visits in some chapters of Pursuit!
and in recent chapters of The Lady of Nimes)
Sophia Bianco sunbathing - by Stuart McCarthy
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/duraluminwolf/
Sophia Bianco race photo 1932 (adjusting chinstrap) - by Stuart McCarthy
Ilsa Klensch
as reported by R. J. Bartrop
German test pilot & racing pilot
known as the "She-Wolf of the Luftwaffe"
R.J. Bartrop's webcomic "The Air Pirates" has
portraits of Ilsa and her racing aircraft, on the opening page.
Ilsa is a major character in the webcomic.
German poster for Speed Week 1937 - by Stuart McCarthy
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/
The McCradden family
(Superior Engineering)
as reported by Steve Gallacci
Owners, managers and head mechanics of this famous
design, maintenance, & repair firm in the Spontoon Lagoon.
"The roar that poured from the clipped exhaust stacks
mixed with the blat of the props as they bit into the spray
and created a din that could be heard for miles, a long, high pitched howl
that sent shivers of delight through the crowds lining the shore."
(from 'The Story of the Schneider Trophy Race' in This Was Air Travel
by Henry R.Palmer, Jr. - 1962)
Auto & Motorcycle Racing
"Scene from the 1936 Pacific Basin TT Races" by William Earl Haskell
(larger file here - 884 Kb) http://www.furaffinity.net/user/trivialink/
(posted 10 March 2010)
Badgmina Hinderfloss - Art by JWKennedy
http://docphlogiston.tripod.com/
Lesle Vulpani: noted motorcycle racer (montage by Jerry Collins)
"Lift" by Taral Wayne [Larger image here - 719 Kbytes]
At a wharf after the arrival of the S.S. Sirius -- Location map for view
Taral Wayne art at: http://taralwayne.deviantart.com/ & http://www.furaffinity.net/user/saara/
Cardstock Racecars! Cutout game pieces by Steve Lortz
AutoUnion racecar variant (design & rendering by R.J. Bartrop)
"Widgets for Victory!" (Speed Week program book ad,
modeled by singer 'Big Red') - (larger art here)
by Richard Bartrop - http://rjbartrop.artspots.com
Superior Engineering
excellence in aircraft maintenance
Aircraft of the Spontoon Islands
"Bloop!": Racing floatplane tune-up (Roy D Pounds II)
"...Jacques Schneider's original wish to promote interest
in seaplaning had degenerated into a madcap struggle for
speed supremacy using planes built only for racing
and good for nothing else."
(from 'The Story of the Schneider Trophy Race' in This Was Air Travel
by Henry R.Palmer, Jr. - 1962)
"Rocket-88" by Stuart McCarthy [Larger image here - 1.1 MByte]
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/