We are sorry to announce that the Big Muddy will not be held anymore.

😪 For more sport air racing information, please visit the Sport Air Racing League.

Looking forward to assisting in 2019!

Good Press Leading Up to Our Air Race.

Take a look here:

Big Muddy Air Race Takes To The Skies.

The 6th Big Muddy Air Race is on the Calendar!

REGISTRATION FOR THE BIG MUDDY IS CLOSED!!!


As of May 26 we have 39 racers registered.!

This year's Big Muddy will be held on June 9th at the Southern Illinois, KMDH, airport.  This will be a great event featuring the beautiful scenery, rivers and lakes of southern Illinois.

Pilot's Briefing is at 9:30! Please be 100% ready, fuel GPS programmed, etc. coming into the briefing.

Back by popular demand, we will have a great arrival reception on Friday evening at the world famous Big Muddy Brewery along with some great barbecue from World Champion Pat's Barbecue.

Registration will be $30 for current SARL members, $40 for non-SARL members, and only $10 for PIC students.

We welcome newbie racers as well as our experienced buddies. Newbie racers should know that in cross country air racing, the fastest aircraft go first and the slowest depart last.  The intent is to minimize passing on the course, making for a much safer race than Reno style pylon racing.  There will be an extensive and mandatory pilot's briefing at 9:30, race day.  Make sure you are fueled up and 100% ready to go before the briefing!

Check the links on the right for registration.  Sign up today! The registration links may not show up on a tablet or smart phone, so just go here: Big Muddy Air Race registration.

Do you like the photos? Our official photographer Jeff Kurtz will be on hand to photograph you and your race plane.

This year's 151 mile course has 9 turns, so it should be a lot of fun.  For those of you who have raced with us before, it will be familiar, but not exactly the same. We will also have a short course for slower aircraft.

The short course, for FAC6 and E-LSA will run 117 sm. The short course will eliminate turns 7 & 8. Everything else will remain the same.


The race runs counter-clockwise, starting at KMDH.

Start: KMDH
Turn 1  Kinkaid Marina                N37° 47.937'    W89° 24.784'
Turn 2  KPJY                               N37° 58.617'     W89° 21.755'
Turn 3  KSAR                              N38° 8.696'       W89° 42.072'
Turn 4  Chester Visitor Cntr        N37° 54.298'     W89° 50.037'
Turn 5  Grand Tower Bridge       N37° 38.522'     W89° 30.811'
Turn 6  Big Muddy Bridge          N37° 33.653'     W89° 28.275'
Turn 7  Cape Bridge Levee         N37° 17.739'     W89° 30.371'
Turn 8  Jonesboro Water Tower  N37° 27.121'     W89° 15.463'
Turn 9  Makanda Water Tower   N37° 36.848'     W89° 13.972'
Finish:  Rwy 36L, KMDH           N37° 46.486'    W89° 15.509'

Click this link for a look at the course on Sky Vector.

The 2018 Big Muddy is set for June 9. More details after the first of the year.

2017 Big Muddy Air Race - June 10

The 2017 Race Results are now in!  See them here: http://sportairrace.org/sarl/node/3357

Registration Is Now Closed

This year's Big Muddy will be held on June 10th at the Southern Illinois, KMDH, airport.  This will be a great event featuring the beautiful scenery, rivers and lakes of southern Illinois.

Back by popular demand, we will have a great arrival reception on Friday evening at the world famous Big Muddy Brewery along with some great barbecue from World Champion Pat's Barbecue.

We try and keep the costs down, so this year registration will be only $20 for current SARL members, $30 for non-SARL members, and only $10 for PIC students.

We welcome newbie racers as well as our experienced buddies. Newbie racers should know that in cross country air racing, the fastest aircraft go first and the slowest depart last.  The intent is to minimize passing on the course, making for a much safer race than Reno style pylon racing.  There will be an extensive and mandatory pilot's briefing at 9:30, race day.  Make sure you are fueled up and 100% ready to go before the briefing!

This year's course will be the same as last year's. Here it is.

Here is the 137 sm course, with lots of turns! We will also have a short course for slower aircraft. Check the links on the right for registration.  Sign up today! The registration links may not show up on a tablet or smart phone, so just go here: Big Muddy Air Race registration.

Start at KMDH.

• Turn 1: Where the taxiway meets the ramp- KPJY  N37° 58.617'  W89° 21.755'
• Turn 2: NW corner of main hangar - KSAR  N38° 8.639'  W89° 42.076'
• Turn 3: East end of Chester Bridge,  Visitor's Center building, just east of the bridge. -  N37°54.259' W89°50.035'
• Turn 4: East end of Grand Tower Suspension Bridge - N37°38.522' W89°30.811'
• Turn 5: Hwy 3 crosses Big Muddy River  - N37°33.653' W89°28.275'
• Turn 6: Cape Bridge Levee,  N37°17.739' W89°30.371'
• Turn 7: Jonesboro Town Square N37°27.086' W89°16.095'
• Turn 8: Yellow Water Tower, Makanda, IL  - N37°36.848' W89°13.972'
• Finish Line:  Rwy 36L at KMDH 

Check the links on the right for registration.  Sign up today!

The registration links may not show up on a tablet or smart phone, so just go here: Big Muddy Air Race registration.

Past Race Results

Compare yourself to past Big Muddy racers!

2017

2016

2015

2012

2011

Congratulations to every one who competed!