Reno Air Races

They took place at Sky Ranch airfield, a dirt strip barely 2,000 feet (610 m) long, which was located in present-day Spanish Springs.

Aircraft in the Unlimited class, which consists almost entirely of modified and stock World War II fighters, routinely reach speeds in excess of 400 miles per hour.

In 2003, Skip Holm piloted Terry Bland's modified P-51D Mustang, Dago Red, and reached an all-time Unlimited class speed record of 507.105 mph in a six-lap race around the 8+1⁄2-mile course.

The recently added Sport Class racers, mostly homebuilt aircraft, are reaching speeds in excess of 400 mph.

[10] In 2007, three pilots died over the course of four days in separate incidents: Gary Hubler, Steve Dari, and Brad Morehouse.

[19][20] In the third lap of the Jet Gold final race on September 18, 2022 an L-29 Super Delfin went down on the back section of the course after presumed G-LOC, killing the pilot Aaron Hogue.