Canada’s Pete McLeod and American Kirby Chambliss spent part of Friday afternoon criss-crossing the U.S.-Canada border that straddles the Detroit River on a high-G flight ahead of the weekend’s Red Bull Air Race.
The two rivals repeatedly crossed the international border separating Detroit and Windsor with an eye-catching display of their flying prowess, offering spectators on both sides of the river a taste of more to come with Qualifying on Saturday and the fourth race of the 2010 season on Sunday. Chambliss was the world champion in 2006 and won the race on the track in 2008. McLeod had the best result of his rookie year here in Windsor last year and aims to have the best result of his career on Sunday.
The highlight of the flight was when the two pilots flew over and alongside the majestic Ambassador bridge that connects the two countries, a bridge built in 1929 when prohibition in the United States made Canada a popular destination for Americans.
“We’re looking forward to a really good race,” said Chambliss after the flight with McLeod. The Canadian said: “It was cool just to check out the city and the weather is beautiful.”
