That's right, race fans, it's almost time for the running of the hottest aviation race in North America—The Powder Puff Derby! If there was ever a good time for a fellow to be in Hollywood, the Derby is the event to pick. Open exclusively to women, the Powder Puff (so-named by a well-known humorist) has flourished since its founding in 1929 to become one of the premiere racing events of the Americas, and it attracts, not surprisingly, the fastest women around.

Last year's winner, Joy "Jake" Bradley of the Hollywood Knights' Sorcerer Squadron will be defending her title against all comers, and this year the list is impressive. Rumors are flying about who will participate, with the usual Black Swan stories making the rounds again, in spite of the fact that the dark pirate has never yet showed up. Charlotte "Charlie" Steele (winner of the event in 1935) has confirmed that she will indeed be a contender again this year, and pledged to donate the prize money to charity if she wins the race. Other interesting entries include Meg "Powder Keg" Norris of the Ragtime Raiders, and our very own AWN reporter Megan "Irish Rose" Whitney (1934 champion).

Also this year we have two firsts for the Powder Puff: Brenda Windcatcher, the first ever entry from the Navajo nation, and Captain Angela Dane of the People's Collective air militia. Windcatcher professes to be "proud to bring the Navajo spirit to compete here. I'm going to do my best to wollop the lot of them." Dane, interestingly enough, claims to be entering as an independent racer—"I'm not representing the Collective. This sort of wastefulness for entertainment is wrong. My reasons for being here are...complicated."

On the top of the "watch this space" list is the challenge issued by Charlie Steele last month, calling out the female members of the Broadway Bombers. In spite of the rivalry often attributed to the two groups, the Bombers and the Knights have rarely met face to face, but this may be the year it happens. Sources inside the Empire State say that Bombers Heather "Ivy" Iverian, Grace "Angel" Rockefeller, and Ellie "Mad Girl" Madison have all gone missing from the duty roster. Though no official entry has yet turned up bearing their names, racers have until the very last second before qualifying runs begin to toss their wings into the ring.

The race route will be the same as previous years, running from Los Angeles, Hollywood to South Vancouver, Pacifica—a distance of almost 900 miles. Racers will be required to overfly a checkpoint in San Francisco, but may otherwise select any route they wish to reach the finish line. Unlike previous years, there is no solid favorite in the current crop of entrants, with even money going to Charlie Steele, Megan Whitney, and the untested but reputedly amazing underdog Brenda Windcatcher.

This year's race will be dedicated to Amelia Earhart, a regular competitor in the Derby and personal friend to many of the entrants, whose plane was lost over the Pacific Ocean during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe earlier this year.

—Vickie Blair, AAW Hollywood correspondent