We got up early to get to the airport early and get the plane fueled up. We did meet the airport assistant at Hastings Jim Howsden he was super to us. Glen Bredthauer, a CFI, A & P and an Aircraft Inspector gave us a ride to and from the hotel. He even helped us with the crazy self-serve fueling station.We flew to Alliance, NE in strong headwinds and it took us a few hours to get there. After arriving we signed in, got fuel, then rethought our flight strategy. The folks there providedus with donuts, coffee, water, lunches and we even got the windshield cleaned by on of the line folks. What service!!!!! Winds were different at each level of flight and the best was higher so we planned on flying at 6500'. We did get a real good push we ended up in certain parts doing over 200 kts, but generally 190-198kts. We did the flyby at Great Bend, KS and continued to Borger, TX. That leg was a little slower as it was due west and headwinds again were at all levels between 6000-9000' the ground began to rise so we had to hold at least 4500' our best speed was 165 but when we arrived at the airport we were NO. 2 next to last year's winners.

The Borger TX terminal was torn down in December and a new building was errected, they managed to get the building up and running so we would have bathroom facilities and air conditioning, it was about 95 degrees when we landed. The folks that run the airport had a huge bowl of fruit, sandwiches, cookies, sodas and waters for our arrival.Beverly Benton was part of the welcoming committee for the Chamber of Commerce. We received little oi well pins and some literature. Tom Benton gave us all rides to the local hotel, restaurants and back to the airport runs in the morning. I did find a fellow who knew Ken Thompson and went to high school with him, and was surprised to hear he passed away in March.

Tomorrow we hope to get out about 8:30a.m. and fly to Norman OK and then on to Eldorado, AR. We plan on getting the next two legs done in the a.m. on Thursday. We may make a run for Mobile, AL in the early afternoon if the weather decides to clear.

Speeds tomorrow will hopefully be better than today since there are only 6 legs instead of 10 it will be a much closer race.

Sponsors today are: Judy Johnson & Marcel Gilbert, Chuck Peterson, Bob Kroll

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