NASCAR flying

[sargeanb]

Hello all,

In DAB right now there is a fine assortment of aircraft across the airport from us, associated with the Pepsi 400 this weekend. I'm always tempted to go over and chat with some of the pilots. I was wondering if you all knew if these are mostly private, chartered, etc. I'm assuming one would have to have contacts with these guys to get an "in" on any job openings there, but I think that would be pretty interesting flying, and QoL in general.

-Brock Sargeant
MEII

 

[ROSWELL41]

From speaking to pilots who do this flying, I've heard the NASCAR flying is not as pleasurable as one might think. They fly a ton of hours per year and are on the road constantly (assuming part 91). Also heard they carry a stigma amongst other corporate operators.

 

[AerroMatt]

Hello all,

In DAB right now there is a fine assortment of aircraft across the airport from us, associated with the Pepsi 400 this weekend. I'm always tempted to go over and chat with some of the pilots. I was wondering if you all knew if these are mostly private, chartered, etc. I'm assuming one would have to have contacts with these guys to get an "in" on any job openings there, but I think that would be pretty interesting flying, and QoL in general.

-Brock Sargeant
MEII

I was at the race at Sonoma (APC) last Sunday and was chatting with the PIC for one of the top NASCAR teams. He confirmed what I have read in alot of posts here. Long hours and never home. His maintenance is good, but he told me he's been home less than 21 days in the past year and he is leaving when his one year contract expires. As much as he enjoys it, he'd like to see home more often.

 

[Snakum]

they carry a stigma

Stigmata. imp:

 

[kf4amu]

Brock:

I grew up in Charlotte, was a member of a volunteer fire department on which we had a tire changer, and the chief electrictian for a couple Nascar teams. One of the fire instructors is married to Robert Yates' daughter. My friends Dad does PR for various people in the business including Darrell Waltrip, Ryan Newman and most recently the Jack Daniels account with Keystone Marketing. Now I have no direct knowledge, aside from my friend who flies a Beech 1900 for Chip Ganassi about the business, but my informal friendly, and firehouse conversation (historically embellished, but based in truth) and just like trying to get on the pit crew or be a driver, its a huge leg up to know people. Not saying you won't get in, but 90 percent of the pilots were hired before they were hired if you know what I mean.

If you live in Charlotte, you'll be home alot. Especially the 2 weeks during the Cocacola 600 and the All Star race, plus the Fall race.

But the atmosphere is my cup of tea. Good people, real people. Nobody out to screw you over. Lots of nice people that would give you the shirt off their back or invite you out on Lake Norman on their boat, 10 minutes after meeting you.

Case in point.
I had just gotten my private license and went to a Wendy's commercial shoot at Concord Motorsports Park...the last commercial Dave Thomas was in before he died. I was never introduced to Darrel Waltrip who was in it, and had no reason to suspect he even knew I existed. When I was leaving he overheard me say goodbye to someone and said

"You boys goin flying?"

I mumbled something about how the weather was nice, but having to cut grass (my summer job) and quickly walked away, in shock. My friends dad said my pilot status came up "in the course of conversation". He's nothing special, not rich, not a politician...just been in the business for 30 years and is well known. But for someome like Darrel Waltrip to speak up to an 18 year old kid like me who he didnt even know anything about, aside from what my friends dad told him about me wanting to fly, I dont think you'll find that attitude in any other sport.

I've got more stories like that where I've been welcomed with open arms into an environment I didnt expect to be, but I'll save them.

To me thats what makes Nascar a special environment to be in. Plenty of people in and around the business have stories like that. I'd be proud to be in that kind of business, even if it meant being away from home.

 

[starcheck208]

we flew one of the busch teams, great group of guys but long days and with a night race we didnt' get back to the hotel 4am

 

[AerroMatt]

Spellcheck pls?

we flew one of the busch teams, great group of guys but long days and with a night race we didnt' get back to the hotel 4am

Was that "hotel 4am", or " 'Ho til 4AM"???

Just curious.

 

[psysicx]

Robby Gordon has a hot pilot. Man was she smoking.

 

[BenderGonzales]

I like those Saab 2000s that Hendricks has.

 

[Orville Wrong]

The NASCAR gig ain't all it's cracked up to be unless you're with one of the top teams (DEI, Roush, Hendrick...) Those guys get hotel rooms for the day. Most of the other guys (Part 91 flights anyway) are left at the airport to wait it out from arrival until departure. If your doing a 135 charter you can usually get a hotel room for crew rest 'cause it's gonna be a lonnnggggg day. As for the team-owned guys who don't get hotels for the day, you can expect to fight over which of the 50 or so of you is going to get one of the 6 chairs in the pilot lounge. You can usually get a little per diem to grab some lunch, and maybe a car to get ther, but don't count on it. We used to get told we'd have a vehicle, but when we arrived there wasn't one about half the time. We'd end up getting one, but had to jump thru numerous hoops. Ask about it later and we'd get "oh, I guess I forgot you gys, sorry." Some places are better than others which you can expect from any FBOs. Here's the best part if you're carrying driver and crew down on the usual Thursday rush and bringing the race-day crew down on Sunday a.m.: be ready for dep at 6am on Sunday and be prepared to get home anywhere from 9pm-midnight. Be prepard to wait in line with 50 other planes all wanting to leave at the same time. Be prepared to wait for your crew who blew an engine with 40 laps to go to be the last guys to the airport because they wanted to stop to get something to eat. But did they ask if you wanted anything? No. Do they care if you've been up since 430 am and stuck at the airport for the last 8 1/2 hrs? No. You're an overworked and underpaid taxi driver. You don't go hang out in the pits during the race and seldom do you get any perks other than some good experience so you can move on to something else. Been there. Done that. Got a t-shirt.

 

[Count Dracula]

I fly for one of the well known teams/individuals. Private mail me if you have any questions.

 

[AerroMatt]

Robby Gordon has a hot pilot. Man was she smoking.

Yeah, she's fine if ya like Jersey chicks. Too skinny for my taste though.

 

[Groundpounder]

Robby Gordon has a hot pilot. Man was she smoking.

When did he get an airplane, and what does he have?

 

[Snakum]

The NASCAR gig ain't all it's cracked up to be unless you're with one of the top teams

Based on what I've heard from folks I've met at Childress, Davis, and a few Busch teams, including one Captain I fly with now ... I'd agree. With the smaller/less financed teams you'll have long hours, mediocre pay and advancement, often asked to do questionable things like RDU to STL in an MTOW C90 and "We don't need no fuel stop! The other pilot did it without stopping.", and not a very good QOL.

The better teams seems to be pretty decent to work for, though. Hell ... Rousch has 727s.

 

[psysicx]

He has a L/R 35.

 

[JP4user]

Most of the guys I have run into don't have a lot of positive things to say and always seem to be looking beyond the horizon for other offers.