Wine Country Helicopters offers new flight services to SCCA!

Auto racing has reached epic proportions in popularity, as evidenced by the meteoric rise of NASCAR in the last 15 years. And not only is it gaining in popularity with fans, it is surging ahead with participants as well.

This is evident by the membership increase in the San Francisco Region of the Sports Car Club or America. More and more people, men and women alike, are getting into the sport of racing.

“Racing, like flying, really gets into your blood”, says Wayne Lackey, President of Wine Country Helicopters and a commercial pilot. “Racing and flying helicopters is an addiction, that’s for sure”.

“The spectacular topography of Northern California is truly beautiful, but if you have to drive to get somewhere, well, it can be a challenge. Anytime you have to cross a bridge, a pass, a mountain top, go through a tunnel, there is always the possibility of slow-going turning to no-going” continues Lackey.

Many of the members of the SCCA live and work on the Peninsula or East Bay or in the North Bay. Getting to the race track, like Mazda Leguna Sega, Infineon Raceway, and Thunderhill Raceway, can take some time. “And time is generally not a luxury these busy people have”, adds Lackey.

“Wine Country Helicopters is based at Napa Valley Airport, conveniently located in the middle of all 3 venues. The magic of the helicopter allows us to fly directly from point to point, avoiding traffic congestion. From San Francisco to Thunderhill, for example, is a 60 minute flight, not a 5 hour drive. And traffic is never a problem for us”.

“With the helicopter, a race car driver can fly to the track, compete, and after the race fly home. Not only does he or she save the time, but they arrive more refreshed and exhilarated, ready to go” Lackey says.

“With the schedules many of the SCCA members keep, they may miss races and events because their travel schedule is too tight or they simply don’t have enough time for the commute to the track. We can solve that little problem by flying to and from the event.

The Bell JetRanger is a 4 passenger plus pilot turbine helicopter. It was designed for the US Army in 1962, and is the undisputed king and workhorse of the worldwide helicopter industry. “The JetRanger”, says Lackey, “is, according to the NTSB, the safest single engine aircraft, fixed wing or rotary, ever built. And that’s why I fly them”.

WCH is the Official Helicopter Service of Infineon Raceway, as well as the AMGEN Tour of California. They provide transportation for NASCAR and the IRL races, as well as the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown and the FRAM NHRA Nationals.

As a new member of the SCCA, Lackey wants to give the members the option of using the helicopter. “It’s not for everyone”, Lackey recognizes, “but for some it is more than a luxury or a convenience- it is a necessity. And now that they know the service is available, it is an option to be considered. Plus, we are 24/7/365, and that can become a factor as well.”

Wine Country Helicopters is located at the Napa Valley Airport, and can be reached at 707-226-8470, or Lackey’s cell phone 707-312-0494. www.winecountryhelicopters.com.