More than 100,000 people are expected to go to the STIHL National Championship Air Races this year, a part of that population is made up of a unique group of people you might have seen or even heard.
They're called Section 3; for 35 years the club has been attending the Reno Air Races every September, and they have quite the reputation there.
If you look up at the stands, it would be hard to miss them. Just look for people who are wearing orange t-shirts, whistling, cheering, waving flags, and overall having a good time.
The president and founder of the club, Robert Lewis said, "It's always a good time, have a few drinks, enjoy the scenery, enjoy the air races that they put on, it's something everybody should be a part of."
The Section 3 founder is from Boise, Idaho. Lewis created the group around 1982. He said the idea of the group started when he would "holler at girls that were walking by."
"And there was a guy ahead of me that was poking the girl ahead of me, and I stood up and said if there's anyone that wants to have a good time, sit here in section 3 and that's basically how it started." said Lewis. Lewis said the next day there was a section saved for he and his wife. The idea of entertaining the crowd and bringing people together who just wanted to have fun was the reason why this on-going tradition stayed alive.
A new member named Rusty Gaynor said, "It's always a good time, have a few drinks, enjoy the scenery, enjoy the Air Races that they put on. It's something everybody should be a part of."
Lewis said the club started with 13 people. Originally he brought 13 shirts for them, but as the years went by Lewis said the amount of people that showed up started to grow. Now he brings about 700 shirts because he says if he doesn't it will run out. He gives the shirts to pilots, and pilots also sign the groups shirts. Even though the group is made up of people from all around the world, Lewis says they're always looking for more people to join in on all the comradery.
