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Conquering many miles in 30 years

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lieutenant Sara Harper
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  One of the nation's largest single day bike races, the Hotter'N Hell Hundred, travels through Sheppard Air Force Base each year with record-setting numbers of cyclists.

This year marks a milestone for both the world-renowned bike race and the world-class pilot training produced at Sheppard Air Force Base as they celebrate coinciding 30-year anniversaries for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program and the Hotter'N Hell Hundred.

To celebrate the coinciding anniversaries, the 80th Flying Training Wing has entered a team into the race, with 44 riders from the ENJJPT program.

Thirty years ago, the ENJJPT program put down roots at Sheppard AFB; that same year, the city of Wichita Falls celebrated its centennial anniversary and dedicated a bike race to honor the event-the Hotter'N Hell Hundred.

Thirty years later, the race has grown to more than 15,000 riders with record-breaking numbers of participants signing up each year, and Sheppard has gone from a temporary site for the ENJJPT program to the second busiest airfield in the Air Force.

Sheppard has supported the HHH since its inception in 1981, by allowing riders on the 100 km, 50 mile and 25 mile routes to ride through base every year. Sheppard sponsors an official rest stop that has been voted the best HHH rest stop for the past two years.

Riders have the unique experience of riding through "Air Power Alley" where various aircraft are displayed to showcase some of the Air Force's air power capabilities trained here at Sheppard. Cyclists have the opportunity to get off their bikes and interact with pilots from the 80th Flying Training Wing who can field questions and educate riders about the aircraft in Air Power Alley, as well as ENJJPT's mission of training combat pilots for the NATO Alliance.

Every year, a highlight for competitors is the hundreds of Airmen in Training who line the road, cheering on racers as they ride through base within a few short miles of the finish line.

The base will supply more than 1,550 volunteers throughout the day to help ensure the cyclists have a successful and positive experience during their time at Sheppard.

The race will begin in downtown Wichita Falls, after the Wing Commanders from both the 82nd Training Wing and 80th Flying Training Wing fire cannons to begin the race. A four ship formation of T-38 Talons from the 80th FTW will flyby immediately following the National Anthem to begin the day's events.

For more information, please stay plugged into Sheppard's Facebook for updates on the race this Saturday.