Syracuse’s Newest Sports Team Takes Off Syracuse's Newest Sports Team Takes Off

The Grabowsky house in East Syracuse might seem like any other suburban Central New York home.
{*** SOT FULL ***}
[TAKE SOT
NAME:Jonny Exner
DURATION:0’02”]
(“Flying just makes me happy.”)
(Track 2 :03)
But hidden in the basement…
{***SOT FULL***}
(CG: xxx)
[TAKE SOT
NAME:Jonny Exner
DURATION:0’04”]
(“Turn the transmitter on.”)
Track 3 (:02)
…is the Salty Dungeon.
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[TAKE SOT
DURATION:0’04”]
(“Get my goggles on…then I’m ready to race.”)
(Track 3 :06)
It’s a home course for Syracuse’s first drone racing team: Salt City Racing First Person View.
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(CG: xxx )
[TAKE SOT
NAME:Johnny Exner
DURATION:0’11”]
(“So basically I just see whatever the drone’s seeing. I basically just fly like that. And try to find the tightest line to go around the gates when you’re flying to get the fastest time.”) (Track 4 :06)
Fourteen-year-old Jonny Exner, who goes by Neon F-P-V in competition, is the team’s youngest pilot.
{***SOT FULL***}
(CG: xxx)
[TAKE SOT
NAME:Jonny Exner
DURATION:0’05”]
(“It feels good. I really like, just racing and winning and stuff.”)
(Track 5 :09)
Jonny was the top racer in New York state in 2019. He and other Salt City Racing pilots flew in more than 20 races last year.
{***STANDUP***}
(CG: xxx )
[TAKE SOT
DURATION:0’09”]
(“Next month, Salt City Racing FPV will cross state lines and participate in its first out of state meet in group history.”) (Track 6 :05)
For team founder Jeff Grabowsky, there’s more to drone racing than the thrill of competition.
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[TAKE SOT
NAME:Jeff Grabowsky
DURATION:0’15”]
(“Once I experienced the FPV drone racing for the first time, I really just…it brought back amazing memories of me growing up in New York City in the Bronx…and uh…having a moment with my dad.”
(Track 7 :02)
The same goes for Jonny Exner’s father.
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[TAKE SOT
NAME:Jeff Exner
DURATION:0’10”]
(“I just get to spend so much 1-on-1 time with him…A lot of things that we probably wouldn’t have done if it wasn’t for drone racing. So it’s definitely been a good bonding experience.) (Track 7 :06)
An experience that might not have happened if Jeff hadn’t let Jonny enter the first race they attended!
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[TAKE SOT
NAME:Jeff Exner
DURATION:0’11”]
(“I hesitated letting Jonny fly, but decided at the last minute to let him fly also…And he of course beat me at that race and has beat me at every race since then.”) (Track 8 )
For Jonny…
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[TAKE SOT
NAME:Jonny Exner
DURATION:0’02”]
(“Maybe if I’m good enough.”)
(Track 9)
…the sky’s the limit.
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[TAKE SOT
NAME:Jonny Exner
DURATION:0’04”]
(“I’m maybe thinking of someday being in Drone Racing League.”)
“In East Syracuse, Ian Toner. N-C-C News.”