“Pipsqueak,” race number 2, is an L-39C built in 1974, serial number 005, that served in the Czechoslovak Air Force and then the Czech Republic Air Force as a trainer before being transferred to private ownership in the United States in 2004. Over the years, Pipsqueak has undergone a number of improvements and modifications to squeeze out every bit of speed possible. Race Number 2 first competed at Reno in 2005, in the early days of the Jet Class. In 2005, Pipsqueak, which is painted a bright, visually-arresting red, finished in 1st place in all heats and then finished 1st place in the Gold Race, with an average speed of 454.194 miles per hour. Pipsqueak would dominate the Jet Class in 2006, and continue to be a powerful force in subsequent years at Reno. In 2008, Pipsqueak was upgraded with a Lotarev DV2 engine, which is much more powerful than the original powerplant.