PLT FLIES HOMEBUILT ACFT INTO WX BELOW MINIMUMS IN CTLED AIRSPACE.

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RETIRED MIL OFFICER; 23 YRS AND 6000 PLUS HRS; COMMAND PLT; PRIOR C-5 FLT EXAMINER. RECENTLY COMPLETED HOMEBUILT EXPERIMENTAL KITFOX ACFT WHICH I JUST BEGAN COMMUTING TO/FROM WORK (25 NM). I FLY FROM A PVT; UNCTLED GRASS AIRSTRIP (ARROWHEAD) TO THE UNCTLED (NO TWR) CITY OF ALICE ARPT CLASS E AIRSPACE. I FLEW INTO ALICE ARPT AIRSPACE AND LANDED AT ALICE ANNOUNCING MY POS AND INTENTIONS ON 123.0 CTAF FREQ. I DID NOT VERIFY ALICE WX AS VFR CONDITIONS AND DID NOT REQUEST A SPECIAL VFR CLRNC FOR ENTERING ALICE CLASS E AIRSPACE (VISIBILITY WAS BETTER THAN 7 MI AND CEILING WAS RAGGED). MY FLT TIME WAS 20 MINS AND 5 MINS FOR VFR APCH AND LNDG. I FLEW THE VFR PATTERN AT 200 FT BELOW NORMAL (800 FT AGL VICE 1000 FT) TO MAINTAIN CLRNC BELOW CLOUDS. AFTER UNEVENTFUL LNDG; I REVIEWED FAR 91.157 SPECIAL VFR WX MINIMUMS. I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR ATC CLRNC PRIOR TO ENTERING ALICE CLASS E AIRSPACE TO PRECLUDE OPERATING IN CTLED AIRSPACE WITH WX (CEILING) BELOW REQUIRED MINIMUMS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY FLYING EXPERIENCE IS IN IFR CERTIFIED ACFT AS AN INST CERTIFIED PLT. I MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THAT THESE WERE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL VFR OPS. REREADING POORLY WRITTEN FAR 91.157 PARAGRAPH 64; I DISCOVERED IFR CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED ONLY FOR NIGHT SPECIAL VFR OPS.