spacetoday.net: RRL announces first team, plans for races

Posted: Wed, Feb 1, 2006, 7:56 AM ET (1256 GMT)
Rocket racers illustration (RRL)

The Rocket Racing League (RRL), a new venture that plans to put on competitions among rocket-powered aircraft, announced this week that it has signed up its first team. Retired Air Force pilots Robert "Bobaloo" Rickard and Don A. "Dagger" Grantham, Jr., owners of Leading Edge Rocket Racing, LLC, have purchased the first "Mark 1" vehicle, making them the first independent team to join the league. The team will take delivery of their rocket-powered aircraft later this year, but the RRL did not indicate when the team would begin participation. The RRL, announced last fall, plans a series of air races analogous to auto racing to generate interest in rocketry and spaceflight. The first exhibition race is scheduled for the X Prize Cup in New Mexico in October. The RRL issued a request for proposals on Monday for sites for additional races for the 2007-2008 season.