GARY SCHMIDT started racing Pylon in the Phoenix area in April 1988 at the age of 16. At the time, he and his Dad Jerry were active members of the Ariozna Model Aviators in Mesa , Arizona . They were regulars at the field on weekends, always flying VERY well built sport planes, YES, from KITS. They were usually fairly quiet, but always wanted to be involved in what was going on.

In '87 there was a group of club members who were flying in the local Phoenix area Quickie races that hung out on weekends at the club field racing around the pattern. He had grown up in the Bakersfield area experiencing the big Formula 1 races there. By the next April, Gary had built his first Quickie and entered the '88 race at the club field. He was hooked. He also was very unusual for a first time racer. He flew very smooth and consistent laps and handled the whole thing remarkably well. Several of us commented that he'll be easy to get dialed in. He was.

He started in the 428 class and within a year was battling for the local championship in that class. Shortly thereafter he got his first piped K&B for the Calzona Quickee class. In 1989 he moved up and teamed up with a full time caller, Jim Allen, who he still races with today. Gary started going to some of the very competitive Southern California Quickie races and earned respect quickly. A well known fast SoCal racer at the time, Bernie Workman, once was heard at a Mile Square Park race yelling to his wife/caller, “WHO IS THAT GUY!!!”, while watching Gary steadily pull away. His wife yelled back, “IT'S THAT KID!!!” They all soon learned the hard way, who he was.

In 1990, Gary attended his first NATS, in Lawrenceville , IL . He continued to develop his flying skills as he and Jim developed their Quik V Quickie attending as many races as possible including more NATS in 91, 93, 94, and in '95 became the NATS Q500 Champion. In '96 he and Jim tied for 1 st place at the first Muncie NATS. He has become a VERY competitive racer in any venue he attacks ever since.

Gary has become well known as one of the best there is at trimming a race plane. You can see it in the way he flies and you can feel it if you ever get the chance to fly a plane he's set-up. He tends to think practice is largely over rated and never really concentrates once the plane is trimmed. Gary can go long stretches without flying, let alone racing and never seems to get rusty. He's always ready and on his game when the flag drops.

In 1996, Gary called for Jim in the US Team Trial and together, they earned a spot on the 1997 US F3D Pylon Team. Since then Gary has become a fierce competitor in Q500, Quarter Midget and FAI classes. In addition to becoming a great pilot, he's one of the best callers there is, anywhere. Anyone who he has called for, will attest to that. In 1999 Gary called for Dave Shadel when Team USA swept the top 3 places at the Sweden Worlds.

Gary 's dad passed away after a long battle with cancer in the mid 90's and was very proud of what Gary had achieved and the person he had grown into, despite the crazy racers he was hanging around with. His mom, two sisters, a brother in law and niece all live in Southern California , now, having lived in several places around the Southwest over the years. Other interests include auto racing and he is a true Penske fan and has always been a huge fan of Rick Mears, another class act.

Gary 's recently made a career change that has his life somewhat mobile again. He's now a pilot, both internal and external for Northrup Grumman Corporation flying the Hunter UAV. Soon he'll be shipping off for a year to support this countries war effort. After that year, he'll return to be an instructor on the Hunter.

You won't find anyone who will say anything bad about Gary . He's just what people describe as a class act. He's always willing to help other racers and wants to help the sport as much as he can. Most importantly he's a great friend.

Submitted by: Jim Allen
1-28-2010