Runway Racers

Lt. Col. Jeff Ragusa, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, and his wife Susan, are members of the British Car Club of New Orleans. They own a 1974 MGB Roadster that Ragusa bought and drove as a college student years ago. The car club commemorated the Post World War II use of U.S. Air Force runways for auto racing by driving down the Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, runway May 21, 2016. In the Post-WWII era of early U.S. auto racing, there were several tragedies due to people racing on roadways. This mandated the move from road racing to tracks. However, before the tracks were ready, Gen. Curtis LeMay, a sports car enthusiast, allowed the use of U.S. Air Force runways at Strategic Air Command bases to the Sports Car Club of America for racing. The first two SCCA champions in 1951 and 1952 drove British sports cars. (U.S. Air Force/Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)