The Air Race Classic rules state that all on board the race aircraft must be pilots. There could be no "embedded filmmakers" along for the ride. Therefore, director Kara Martinelli filmed all material during the body of the race, after beginning pilot training lessons.
The granddaughter of 1929 derby winner Louise Thaden, Terry Von Thaden flew her grandmother's winning aircraft in 1995, 66 years later. Terry Von Thaden helped fly the 1929 Travel Air across the country to the EAA AirVenture air-show in Oshkosh, WI that year.
