Here is a picture of Tracy Saylors RV6 all taped up
getting ready to win his class in the Copper State Dash.

If you are ten feet ahead at the end of 310 naut
miles you win the race. What percentage is that?

Notice the metal inserts in the air intakes. These
are worth 20 degrees F on engine cooling improvement
over hand made fiberglass intakes of the same diameter. 
They are machined out of aluminum billet on an NC lathe 
with a very precise leading edge airfoil shape turned 
inside out.  tracysa3.jpg

They were also used on the second place Dave Anders 
Questair Venture Reno racer, Dan Wright's sixth place
SX 300 and Dave Anders RV4 CAFE record holder.

Obviously this detail is extremely important.
Air is apparently rather picky about the hole it is asked to
enter.

BTW Tracy Saylor went high against the head winds and that
is why he only averaged 189 Kts for the 310 Naut miles.
Norman Howell went at 300 feet AGL in the LongEZ and
averaged 195 Kts to win overall and in the next engine
class down from Tracy. Good illustration of the luck 
and planing factor in cross country air racing.  

Paul Lamar
 
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