smirnoff bearcat

There were two F8F's that carried Smirnoff markings.  The first Miss Smirnoff racer was white.  Miro Slovak flew it in 1964 at the first Reno Air Race, and in 1965 again.  It was owned by Bill Stead, the race organizer.  Externally it was stock.  It crashed in 1980.  It was N9885C.

The Conquest 1 also raced in Reno in 1964, flown as always by Daryl Greenamyer.  It was Race #1, but was known as the Greenamyer Bearcat then.  It was in unpainted natural aluminum.  I was lucky enough to be at the 1965 race, when it raced, still in bare metal but with the tail stinger and shortened wings.  It was a scruffy looking thing.  It eventually wore a Smirnoff Paint scheme but I do not think it was ever called the Smirnoff though it is called Smirnoff in the race records.  It has always been N1111L.  High Planes did an accurate but very difficult kit in 1/48 of N1111L.  It had a spinner from a P-51H and a Skyraider propeller.

The marking diagram from the Highplanes kit:

Here's pdf with some nice photos of N1111L:

http://www.enginehistory.org/Convention/2006/Presentations/LawPete/UCAR(2)%20-%20Bearcats.pdf

Some pictures of Miss Smirnoff:

The 'cat in the Smith would probably be in it's last incarnation.   Saw Daryl race at Reno around 1970.  Gear raised by nitrogen and lowered by gravity.  That thing was stripped to the bare bones then some.

Air Classics used to cover the races quite extensively and I think you will find a lot of information in them.  I saw it race.  Miro Slovak was a character.

You might check the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum web site. I saw the original there years ago. It did have a bigger prop from a Skyraider if that helps. There are some pictures on the site I believe. It also was not sporting the Smirnoff logo in the museum mode. Hope this helps! Keep us posted.

Max

Take a look here for models of racer aircraft:

http://www.hpmhobbies.com/brands/High-Planes-Racers-(Limited-Run).html

Ken