I'm Louis Gabriel, owner of Blind Luck and the founder of Blind Luck Racing.
My family first visited the Reno Air Races in 2006 as spectators--since then, our involvement has grown every year. By 2007, we had decided what hotels we liked most, but were still learning how to best view the races. In 2008, we had figured out camping chairs and umbrellas. In 2009, we found a house on the race course, and after seeing the Unlimited Class roar through pretty much the back yard, we all became Nevadans.
I have always had a passion for aviation. As soon as I could talk, I was talking about airplanes...and in 2007, I started my lifelong dream job as a pilot in the United States Air Force.
A few years down the line, I woke up partially blind in one eye--the result of a very rare medical condition most likely triggered by a common flu vaccine. While fighting for my vision, it became clear my career as a military pilot was over. Unwilling to give up aviation, I purchased a Lancair 360 with the goal of one day racing it at Reno.
Although I'm still recovering on a somewhat unknown road, it was impossible to stay away from the races while owning a race airplane hangared at Reno/Stead. As a result, I've contracted my pilot training buddy, formation partner, and close friend Mike Carrera to race in my place. You can read more about Mike further down on this page, but suffice it to say he is a phenomenal pilot!
We hope to be a continuous fixture in the races--but regardless of our participation, you can always find a large contingent of loud Air Force members (and possibly some representatives of the Navy) hanging around the Gabriel house in the Valley of Speed every September.
