The Thompson race was a closed circuit, pylon-marked contest, comparable to a horse race in the air. Pilots all began together at the start line and jockeyed for position. The race was high speed at a low-altitude, and pilots had to make tight turns around the pylons which added extreme excitement to the event. Civilian pilots and homebuilt planes had a tendency to surpass the military in the Thompson contest. The Thompson race proved to be one of the most popular contests of its time.
This object is on display in Nation of Speed at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.