Back in the early 90's I went to the Reno Air Races, there was a revolutionary new design of an Unlimited Class racer thar was similar to the old twin boom P-38, it was called the Pond Racer, I had a Pit Pass so I was able to get up close pics of it and the pilot. This plane was really fast, it was supposed to be able to beat anything else currently flyinf with a propeller.
Sadly I also heard him declare an emergency on my scanner and he did not bail out but augered into the ground away from the grandstand, it deeply affected me for awhile.
Ditto here, but a year before you. Yes the Pond Racer was quite a Machine Ditto "Tsunami" which was my favorite. The Pond Racer had teething problems. Things like intake duct collapsing and not getting the HP out, and some say it's fuel choice of Methanol (If the memory still holds) was a bit out on the edge as well.
The boot strap award and machine I would have love to have flown (and no I am not up to it!) was "Perestroika" Bob Yancy's bird. It is back under a different name.