My memory is fuzzy but ... there was a story in a John Joss(?) book
Some pilot in a comp near Chicago (?) got caught up in...

Jack Lambie (RIP). SGU 1-19. "My storm flight over Chicago". During an
Intercollegiate contest with Purdue.

John Joss had that excellent wild west soaring adventure book, _Sierra
Sierra_ ... The moment I read it I thought it'd be a good movie.

Ditto. The fantasy record flight has been beaten in reality by Ohlman.