Finally Visiting 'The Temple of Speed'

A pilot who calls himself altitude-oriented checks out the Reno Air Races, has a ball, and starts to question things.

Sam Weigel

Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 11:39 AM ET

Verified

The Reno Air Races just might have turned the author into more of a "speed guy." [Credit: Mark Loper]

Key Takeaways:

The author introduces a theory categorizing people as either "speed people" (action-oriented) or "altitude people" (peace-seeking), aligning themselves with the latter.
Despite their "altitude" identity, the author's first visit to the Reno Air Races unexpectedly transforms their perspective, leading to a profound, visceral thrill and admiration for the high-speed competition.
They are particularly captivated by the accessible and innovative Sport Class, which features garage-built experimental aircraft achieving shocking speeds, making the racing dream feel attainable.
The experience challenges the author's self-perception, hinting at a conversion to the "Temple of Speed" and a sacrifice of their previous "altitude" identity.

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One of my grand theories of life, aviation and everything, of which I have quite a few—most in some stage of refinement or rejection, few of which I believe enough to commit to paper—is that there are speed people and there are altitude people. Aviation is the rare fellowship that features both, but for different reasons. Speed people enjoy action, competition, noise, crowds, and the pulse-pounding adrenaline rush of takeoff. Altitude people prefer peaceful quietude, thinking and reading, small gatherings of close friends, and the magical change of perspective that takeoff brings.

In childhood, speed people were inching off first base, looking for the first twitch of the pitcher’s windup so they could take off and steal second. Altitude people were in right field wondering what kind of airplane just flew over and completely missing the lazy fly ball headed their way.