Submitted by Bill Sandke
Coronado is full of individuals with varied and interesting vocations. The beauty of our community coupled with the magnetic hold Coronado can exert on people is undeniable. Retired Navy CAPT Jim DiMatteo is just one of those people, and his integral role in the staging of the internationally famous Red Bull Air Races, not just over San Diego Bay but around the world, deserves attention.
As a Naval Aviator, call sign “Guido” made a mark for himself in the annals of Naval Aviation as a F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet driver and later as a TOPGUN aggressor pilot and its Commanding Officer. Outside his government service, DiMatteo’s business acumen made itself clear thorough his successful ownership and operation of many restaurants and bars including Jimmy Love’s, a Gaslamp party staple for over 20 years. Combining his passion for aviation with his sense of business and marketing has been a hallmark of his post Naval Aviation activities.
In addition to Red Bull, DiMatteo is the Director of Aviation for the world-renowned Swiss watch brand Breitling, and for the past two years was the Director of the Breitling Jet Team, flying over 100 demonstrations in the US and Canada, including our local Miramar Airshow. In addition, aviation buffs will be familiar with the annual Oshkosh gathering known as “Mecca” to general aviation pilots. When DiMatteo took the Breitling position, he stepped down from heading up EAA Oshkosh AirVenture after years in the position and building it into a world-class aviation iconic event.
As Race Director for the Red Bull Air Races, DiMatteo is responsible for every facet of the event from selection of pilots, course design, and safety, to race day “Air Traffic Controller” coordinating the aircraft as well as integrating the flying with the international television coverage. Red Bull is an international brand known for extensive marketing around dare-devil like extreme sports – remember the parachute jump from space – that was Felix Baumgartner from Red Bull too! Baumgartner was also here for the San Diego Air Race as he flew the helicopter overhead the racetrack for DiMatteo.
Another responsibility DiMatteo has is site selection and negotiating the agreements with local authorities, both civic and aviation, that allow the races to proceed. 2009 was the last time the Red Bull was race here and we have Guido to thank for bringing it back to our city.
A typical race day starts with a pilot briefing. For San Diego, these took place at Brown Field under the watchful eye of the ever present FAA officials. DiMatteo takes great pride in the efforts to ensure a competitive, exciting event, but one that stays within clear guidelines ensuring safety. Yet no event of its kind is able to mitigate all dangers. In fact, an alternator failure during Friday’s practice flying proved a non-event as all procedures were followed and the safety of both the public and the pilot were not compromised.
Racing takes place around pylons, and the time trial format produces some aggressive moves; but strict limits on g-forces pulled keeps these limited to short duration 10 g-maneuvers and any g-meter reading over 12 is a race disqualification. Violations, including time penalties given for improper altitudes while passing the pylons or the dreaded pylon strike, play a huge factor in the race, and avoiding them is critical to victory. Additionally, some of the most important folks on the course are not in cockpits at all, but are in boats to provide in-water cockpit rescues for which all pilots train for. In fact, DiMatteo conducted the pilots’ annual training this year at the San Diego Scuba Center in Bonita. Boats also ferry the “airgaters” out onto the course to replace downed pylons. These intrepid folks can repair a pylon in under 60 seconds and had 26 air gates to fix on practice day alone!
During racing, DiMatteo, like any pilot, does his job from the front left seat of Race Control; along with about 12 staff and two FAA officials, they monitor data and video feeds from the aircraft and coordinate the television coverage as well as timing the races and judging for course violations. It is quite an operation, securely insulated, except for DiMatteo’s “Smoke On” radio calls, from the spectators craning their necks as the pilots do their best to navigate the pylons. NASA should be mildly jealous.
The Red Bull Air Races fits perfectly in Red Bull’s marketing scheme with its youth oriented global branding. San Diego again proved a fantastic venue and Coronado local Jim DiMatteo has again shown he is the perfect Race Director as an expert pilot with proven promotion prowess.
All photographs courtesy of Bill Sandke.
