SSA Director; World/National Competition; Smirnoff Derby Once
Hatcher Trophy 1997; du Pont Trophy 1972; Standard Class Trophy 1976; Schreder 15-Meter Trophy 1981; Lattimore Trophy 1999; Stroukoff Trophy (4 years);Silver #1232 1967; Gold #417 1968; Diamond #142 (Int #859) 1970
A quote from his nomination: "Ray is the consummate 'contest pilot par excellence'." In other words, he loves competition soaring!
He qualified for the World Team eleven times from 1981 to 2001 but chose not to take part in 1997. He was National Champion in four classes of competition - Open (1972, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1995, 1997), 15-M (1981, 1994, 2006, 2014), Standard (1976, 1988) and Sports (1989, 2010); in summary, he has been the National Champion at least 14 times (recent information not available). He placed second or third in at least eleven Nationals.
In addition to all the Nationals he has flown, he also flew by invitation in the 1973 Smirnoff Derby and the three Masters of Soaring (1986 at Minden, NV, 1987 at Estrella, AZ, 1988 at Winterhaven, FL)
Ray took his first glider ride at Calistoga in April, 1964 in a Schweizer 2-22. Within 18 months he had earned a Private Pilot's license (glider) and a Commercial license. Three years after this first flight he founded the Chico Soaring Association and became its President. He began giving flying lessons to members (Commercial allowed instruction at that time) and continued teaching through 1969. He also served as a tow pilot.
He flew his first competition, Region 11, in 1967. In 1968 he flew the 1-26 Nationals at Pearblossom, CA. In 1970 he flew the first FAI Open Class Nationals, placing 15 with an SHK1. As of the year 2000 when he was elected to the Soaring Hall of Fame, he had logged 5,000 hours in gliders (with many more not logged). He also served as President of PASCO, the regional soaring group. While holding this office, he was especially able to encourage the growth of soaring.
It is said that as pilots get older, they want to fly more and more. That is certainly true with the many contests that Ray has been flying in recent years.
Gimmey has concern for others. In competition, when everyone was using convoluted location codes, he would openly report positions to his ground crew. He was very free with his information and is well thought of by younger people entering competition.
As is so typical for this gentleman of the sport, upon accepting induction into the Hall of Fame, Ray Gimmey thanked many of the people who organized and ran the competitions he enjoyed so much.
Ray Gimmey earned the du Pont Trophy in 1972, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1995, 1997; Standard Class Trophy in 1976, 1988; Schreder 15-Meter Trophy in 1981, 1994, 2006, 2014; Lattimore Trophy in 2010; Stroukoff Trophy in 1984, 1986, 1991, 2012; Giltner in 1990, 1997; Hatcher Trophy in 1997; and Sports 1998.
He holds Silver #1232 earned in 1967, Gold #417 in 1968, Diamond #142 (Intl # 859) in 1970.