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August 3, 1938

Contest Committee
National Air Races
519 Union Commerce Building
Cleveland, Ohio

Gentlemen:

My entry for this year's Bendix was made some months back so as to ensure first choice in time of take off. The formal blank cannot be send in until the details have been obtained from the plane manufacturer with respect to one of the ships, which will take some days. The check for $100.00 covering entry of two planes, i.e., Seversky and Beechcraft, is inclosed [[enclosed]].

In reading over your rules concerning the Bendix, I have the following comments to offer and should like your views in reply. These comments are based on past experience in the race, plus the fact that I have made plans for a ship and engine which if all goes well, might enable me to better Mr. Fuller's time to Bendix Field in New Jersey, and with a good tail wing might enable me to break the present transcontinental record. These, of course, are just hopes, but I hate to see them dashed by rules I didn't know about when plans were made:

1. Why should a plane have to stop at Cleveland after it has crossed the finish line if it is going on non-stop to Bendix and Floyd Bennett? The landing and take-off are but additional hazards and more wearing on the pilot than going on if things are going well. Furthermore, while 15 minutes on the ground is not counted, it takes time to come in for a landing and for the take-off... several [[left margin]]m n [[left margin]] minutes which are not allowed for in the transcontinental try against previous records.

2. Why make the pilot arrive after 12:00 noon. One should select his starting time according to weather conditions in Los Angeles. Often times a fog rolls in there in the early morning which can be anticipated and beaten by an early night take-off, but if the estimated time to Cleveland is say - 7 hours and there are 3 hours difference in time, one could not leave before two o'clock and arrive after 12:00 without slowing back, which is the last thing desired.