In 1972 the original 13 pilots
flew a hare and hounds race to determine the champion. The following year
the World Championship required the pilots to demonstrate a much higher
flying skill level. Events such as the barograph trace were introduced.In 1972 the original 13 pilots
flew a hare and hounds race to determine the champion. The following year
the World Championship required the pilots to demonstrate a much higher
flying skill level. Events such as the barograph trace were introduced.
With the close of serious competition after the 1975 World Championship, the flying events took on a new look. Balloonmeister Bob Ruppenthal introduced the tumbleweed drop, an event that was purely Albuquerque. Although this popular event is no longer used, it was perhaps the most popular. Pilots were required to select their own tumbleweed. The event itself is a Fly In, substitute tumbleweed for baggie. Piñon pines to various unidentifiable shrubs were dropped at the target. While some pilots looked to find the most aerodynamic tumbleweed, others would soak them in water, or even freeze the wet tumbleweed. Tumbleweed competition was dropped when they started crashing through concession tent roofs.
Albuquerque did the hare and hound one better by calling it the Roadrunner-Coyote race. In the days before baggies, the pilots did competition landings. The balloon that "landed" closed to the Roadrunner won.
Over the years pilots have flown balloon/bicycle races requiring the pilot to both fly and ride. Blackjack was played by dropping markers on playing card targets. Hula Hoops were tossed around the neck of a 20-foot tall beer bottle. Pilots have tried to hit targets with everything from bird-seed baggies, film boxes, beach balls, ping pong balls, and inflatable blimps.
In 1984 each pilot was issued an "Official Balloon Popper". Sponsored by Hilton Hotel, the goal was to use the three-foot long skewer, with a sharpened point, to pop a tethered helium balloon during a Fly In event.
One year the FAA declared the main field a congested area. That meant balloons flying over the field had to be at 1,000 feet AGL. On Fly In tasks the pilot had to drop their marker from 1,000 feet or above. The markers were boxes and ping pong balls. Talk about having to apply Kentucky Windage. Amazingly, some markers actually hit the field.
