North American P-51D - Race #5 / "Roto-Finish Special" - N7715C
Chuck Hall built this racer starting with a "stocker" in 1967 and ended up with a very attractive and sleek P-51 when he sold her to Gunther Balz in 1971. Gunther had raced his stock F8F but wanted to win Reno once, then quit racing. He tried in 1971 but finished fourth, less than 2 mph behind first. In 1972 he got his wish finishing in first place, nearly 12 mph in the lead. He kept to his promise selling the racer soon after the races, but this aircraft would go on under new ownership to again be a National Champion.
Photo by Johan Snauwaert