Steven Hinton wins Reno 2009
Steven Hinton lapping at Reno on his way to victory
Steve Hinton Jr., 22, became the youngest pilot to win the top prize at the National Championship Air Races in Reno Sunday, Sept. 19th. Hinton flew the highly-modified P-51 Strega to victory in the Breitling Gold Unlimited Race at an average speed of 491.822 mph in a time of 8:10.357, almost 13 seconds ahead of John Penney in Rare Bear, an F8F Bearcat. Third place went to Sherman Smoot in the Yak 11 Czech Mate. It was only Hinton’s second appearance in the Unlimited class but he’s been around the sport since he attended his first Reno races when he was two weeks old. His father Steve Sr. is a two-time Unlimited champion and Strega is no stranger to the winner’s circle, having won the event seven times.
