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San Diego Red Bull Air Race (Don't Miss It - May 9-10)

San Diego California (USA) - second round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2009.

UPDATE: Get immediate updates here via Twitter.

Depending on where you go, some areas are free to watch from, while others require paid admission.

Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, with the main event race taking place on Sunday.

SAN DIEGO RACE SCHEDULE 2/1/2009
Qualifying (Saturday, May 9th)
• 11:00 Doors Open, Ticketing Areas
• 11:30 Doors Open, Hospitality Areas
• 13:00 Pre-show, Side Acts
• 14:00 RACE STARTS!
• 14:00 1st Qualifying session
• 15:00 2nd Qualifying session
• 16:00 Results, Summary, Interviews, Highlights of the Day
• 16:45 Hospitality Pit Lane Walk (High Flyer's Lounge and Business Class Race Club guests only)
• 17:00 Doors Close

Race Day (Sunday, May 10th)
• 10:00 Doors Open, Ticketing Areas
• 11:00 Doors Open, Hospitality Areas
• 12:00 Pre-show, Side Acts
• 13:00 RACE STARTS!
• 13:00 Wild Card session
• 14:00 Top 12
• 14:30 Super 8
• 15:15 Final 4
• 16:00 Award Ceremony
• 16:15 Results, Summary, Interviews, Highlights of the Day
• 18:00 Doors Close

The Red Bull Air Race will take place over the bay between the Embarcadero Marina parks and Coronado on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10. There will be two main ticketed viewing areas - one each in Embarcadero Marina Park North and Embarcadero Marina Park South - with all necessary amenities and services. Head down to Coronado Ferry Landing for a great view.

After a disappointing start of the season for the American pilots in Abu Dhabi, they will try everything to beat the Brits Paul Bonhomme and Nigel Lamb as well as Austrian Hannes Arch in San Diego, California.

Watch the videos below and get all the event info here.

Tags: activities

0 members like this

Comment by Tom R on May 1, 2009 at 9:01pm: Any idea on how to keep up with scores during the race?

Comment by Jamie Edmonds on May 3, 2009 at 8:07pm: "Any idea on how to keep up with scores during the race?"

Last year they had a VIP area cordoned off just south/east of Il Fornaio with a jumbotron set up where you could watch the pilot's faces, the amazing shots from the helicopter on the TV while the planes flew practically over your head. You could see the unofficial times on the large timers as each pilot finished and hear the play-by-play over the sound system. Others further away could see the planes just as well and maybe hear the air-horns signifying time penalties for various infractions, but the play-by-play from the announcers on the screen was really helpful to get into the "race" itself. Otherwise, it was just a very interesting display of acrobatics, with some pilots doing an obviously faster/tighter/cleaner pass, but the "competition" part was kind of hard to follow. You'll have to buy tickets to the areas with a view of the jumbotrons over in San Diego now since I heard they're not doing the VIP lounge in Coronado by Il Fornaio this year. They will simulcast the play-by-play on espnradio800, so you should be able to follow along that way and stay up with the scores. If the course is set up as it was last year, the "killer" spots to view it will be anywhere along First Street from SDG+E park all the way to the Bay Club.

It'll be a great day to take all the Moms in our lives out for a beautiful day at the races (with a portable radio and a picnic lunch!) and then take her out to a nice Dinner at one of Coronado's many fine restaurants. You'll avoid the crowds across the bridge and our local businesses will appreciate the patronage. I'm working a partial call-back half-shift on Mothers' Day staffing the reserve ambulance until after the races . . . and that's exactly we're going to do! :-)

More info can be found here http://www.redbullairrace.com/races.php?id=2&subpage=2

And if you still own an AM radio (!) you can listen along on ESPN radio on 800 (AM) or listen along on your smartphone from here: http://www.espnradio800.com/

"Live Radio Broadcast
The Red Bull Air Race San Diego will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN Radio 800 for Coronado residents and boaters citywide. Tune in on Saturday from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm and Sunday from 12:30 pm- 4 pm. Visit www.espnradio800.com for more details."

Happy to be of service. ;-)

Comment by lisa on May 3, 2009 at 10:09pm: Jamie, great detailed response. We are going to be out of town...bummer. It's going to be an amazing event this weekend!

Photo Star Comment by SBGrad on May 7, 2009 at 11:21am: You can also follow on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/Redbullairrace --> that might be easier than finding a portable AM radio.