In 1949 Carl & Vincent Ast, Van Nuys CA. built the Ast Special / Mercury Air midget racer ‘Shoestring’, designed by Rodney Kreimendahl. A single-place mid-wing monoplane.
First flown by Bob Downey, it won the 1951 Continental Trophy piloted by John Paul Jones and registered N26C.
It was restored in 1965 by Ray Cote with wing replacement in 1973 as N16V.
Plans were marketed, and several copies are known to have been built.
Engine: 85hp Continental C-85
Wingspan: 19’0″
Length: 17’8″
Max speed: 210 mph
Cruise: 180 mph
Stall: 65 mph
All Aero 