Rider
R-6 8 Ball
Keith Rider had at least one more racer up his sleeve as in
1938 the R-6 appeared. This was all plywood covered and
perhaps departed in portions from the Rider design but the
heritage could not be mistaken. It was powered by a six
cylinder Menasco Buccaneer engine and, as the rest of the
Rider racers, had a retractable landing gear. It was a gear
similar to the R-4 and R-5. It had a wing span of 18 ft. 5
in. and was 19 ft. long.
Dubbed the "8 Ball" it was painted a pale blue and had a
large "8 Ball" insignia on either side of the fuselage. The
8 appeared to be a race number but at the Nationals the
racer drew number 18, so the "8 Ball" and number 18 appeared
on each flank. It was licensed NX-96Y and Joe Jacobson was
pilot for the 1938 Nationals. He placed the racer third in
the Greve Race at 218.28 mph and sixth in the Thompson at
214.57 mph. Rider racers had placed first, third, fourth,
and sixth in the Greve.
The R-6 "8 Ball" was back in 1939, the "8 Ball" insignia was
now removed and only race number 18 appeared on the
fuselage. A new dusty blue paint replaced the pale blue of
1938. A new Hamilton constant speed propeller replaced the
old prop and a spinner would not fit over the
counterweights, so the racer
appeared without a prop spinner at the 1939 races.
George Byars was the pilot but the racer was dogged by
engine trouble and failed to start
any race.
These are two views of the Rider Eight Ball on exhibit at
the Planes of Fame Museum, Chino, Ca |