Thanks BackPacker. That makes a lot of sense to me. I wrote the post while trying to figure out how separation of that tab, if it turns out to be related to the cause, would cause a sudden pitch up. If anything, it seems it might cause a pitch down.
I've never actually been to the RAR, so don't know what % of the time you are in level flight as opposed to some degree of left turn. If it's mostly left turn, I'd think you would trim it for the turn and muscle it toward the ground for any short period of straight and level flight.
http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/images...urse_photo.gif
Looks to me like they are in some degree of left turn almost all the way around.
P51D "Voodoo" - Qualifying monday noon, Reno Airraces 2011 - YouTube