Led by founder Bob Lewis, Section 3 is a raucous, fun-loving, and orange-clad group of fans dedicated to the National Championship Air Races at Reno, Nevada. Lewis started attending in 1979 with his friends from the Idaho National Guard. While aircraft were landing and taking off between the race heats, he and his friends entertained the crowd. At the 1982 races on Thursday, September 16, Lewis invited everyone to meet in section 3 in the spectator stands the following day (Friday, September 17), which marks the official beginning of the group and explains the meaning of their name. The makers of the IMAX film, Air Racers 3D (2012), recognized Section 3 as an essential part of the Reno experience.
In the 1983-1985 timeframe, Section 3 member “Scoop” brought numbered price cards from the grocery store where he worked so the members could hold them up like Olympic judges after each race. The original 13 members of Section 3 signed the "10" card.
Spectators and fans are an overlooked, but crucial, element in understanding the role of motorsports in American culture. Their enthusiasm has fueled professional motorsports and created related industries, such as fan-centric memorabilia.
This object is on display in Nation of Speed at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
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