Section three at the National Championship Air Races filled with spirited fans

Amelia Calvert, reno.com
September 13, 2007

“Hey, you in the red… You in the red: Are these yours?” A roar of laughter erupts from the crowd gathered around as an orange-clad Robert Lewis stands in the bleachers and waves a giant pair of women’s panties above his head in the general direction of a pretty lady passing by. She blushes and giggles with her friend.

“Maybe they don’t understand,” says Lewis and more laughs follow.

What the lady in red may not get, especially if she is a rookie at The National Championship Air Races is this annual occurrence: A race fan will unknowingly drift into the crosshairs of the jokers in Section 3 and then anything can happen.

Lewd, loud and lovers of the Air Races, these Section 3 folks are the die-hard, true-blue fans of airplane racing in Reno. The Raiders have their Nation, and The National Championsip Air Races has its Section 3. You will know them by the bright orange shirts they sport.

The orange-shirt phenomenon began years ago, about ’84 or ’85 when a group of Air Race fans met up in the bleachers in Section 3. A couple of characters decided to keep the crowd entertained with some sassy words, laugh-along jokes, gags and good-hearted humor. Lewis says all it took to assemble this motley crew was to stand up and say, “If anyone wants to have a good time, sit here tomorrow.” A tradition was born, and within a few years, the group donned their signature orange jerseys thanks to Lewis and began to add members annually. Lewis started out with less than 20 shirts per year and now prints about 500, along with pins, panties and earrings.

Each year, Lewis and his wife, Barbara from Boise, Idaho, join Bay-area friends Norma and John “Scoop” Valkenaar, who got his nickname for reading the paper. The group awards points to passing racers with big “10” signs, a la the Olympics, blow off an air horn and just generally enjoy the event.

Scoop started coming to the National Championship Air Races in Reno in 1984 after he saw the event on Wild World of Sports. His wife Norma joined him in 1997 and has been attending every year.

Lewis supplies the T-shirts and does so at cost. He isn’t looking for any profit and membership is open to those who buy T-shirts. Some lucky ladies can get one for a smooch.

When asked, “How does one become a member of the Section 3 club?” Lewis replied, “Buy a $10 shirt and act like you’re 15 years old.”

The Section 3 folks keep in touch minimally throughout the year, but are constantly planning for the Reno National Championship Air Races. For many, this is the annual vacation and the annual “Section 3” meeting.

“This is what we look forward to all year because we know we are going to see the same people and have the same kind of fun,” says one cheery Section 3 fan.

Members collect pilot signatures on their bright orange gear and pilots come by the section after the maneuvers to recognize the group and thank them for their support. Announcers will ask the section stand to be recognized.

Lewis, who has been attending the Races for about 30 years, served in the National Guard and flew as a crew chief in helicopters for the aviation department.

The original 13 members have orange embroidered shirts bearing their names and the area from which they hail.

Favorite racers include the Bear Cat, Skip Holmes, Bob Hoover when he used to buzz the C-130.

Why would anyone want to join the Section 3 posse? “Because they’re fun; this is what makes the Air Races the Air Races, not just the pilots. And they have the pilot’s attention, too. That takes a lot,” says the smiling fan holding his brand new shirt. Another member of the clan is born.