Attention chase crews, there’s a coyote in a hot air balloon flying above your tailgate and he’s about to drop an anvil on a road runner!

Not really, but it was the scene depicted on this year’s bright yellow chase flags sponsored by the Chuck Jones’ Showrooms in Santa Fe, NM and Corona del Mar, CA.

This marked the second year Chuck Jones was involved in sponsoring the chase flags at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It all started last year when Rod May, one of The Chuck Jones’ Showroom biggest client in Santa Fe, was the Balloonmeister at AIBF. Rod had been visiting the Santa Fe Showroom and became acquainted with Yolanda Muhammad the Showroom Director. During his visits Rod had also met Chuck Jones himself, and Craig Kausen, the President of Linda Jones Enterprises. On one particular visit, Rod mentioned to Mr. Jones and Craig that if they were ever in Albuquerque, he would love to give them a hot air balloon ride.

That August, Yolanda gave Rod a call and said the Craig Kausen and Ginny Blossom, the California Marketing Director, were coming to town and would love to take him up on his offer. After the balloon flight, Rod took Craig, Ginny, and their friends out to breakfast. During breakfast, Craig started talking about the Fiesta and expressed an interest in getting involved. Instantly the idea of using Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner on a poster buzzed around the table. The group talked about the subject over breakfast, but as it turned out, the Fiesta Board of Directors had already chosen a poster for that year. So it didn’t look like there was a way for Chuck Jones to be involved.

Soon after Craig’s visit, Texaco pulled out as the sponsor for the chase flags, leaving the Fiesta stuck for a sponsor. When Rod heard about it, he told Yolanda up at the Santa Fe Showroom and the excitement spread from there. “From our point of view, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner were naturals for the chase flags because of their tie in with the locale. Mr. Jones actually came up with the idea for these characters while traveling in New Mexico in the late 1940s. And for the Balloon Fiesta, how could he resist playing upon the eternal chase of Wile E. Coyote pulling out all the stops in pursuit of that pesky Road Runner!” explained Yolanda.

Last year’s involvement was so successful that Chuck Jones sponsored the chase flags again this year. The scene on this year’s flag is set in the desert of New Mexico with Wile E. Coyote piloting a hot air balloon, holding an anvil over the Road Runner, ready to drop it on him. Of course, the Road Runner is too fast for Wile, and he leaves him in a trail of dust as he says “Beep! Beep!” and speeds away.

The same image that is on the flag was also produced in full color on limited edition artwork that was sold at the Fiesta and given as prizes to the pilots during Fiesta. Added dimension was given to the artwork by including a tunnel on the side of a mountain on the path that the Road Runner is traveling. And, if you’ve seen enough cartoons, you know that the Road Runner will run safely through the tunnel, but Wile E. Coyote will crash into the side of the mountain!

The image is so strong and universal that many of Chuck Jones’ collectors, who do not follow hot air ballooning, are eagerly hoping to add this cel to their collection. In addition to the great image, the cel carries a further distinction of being a very small edition, only 250, which will add to its collectibility and rapid increase in value.

“Last year’s involvement was kind of a last minute thing, but this year it was well planned and we are very excited about being a part of the 25th Anniversary celebration. It’s also great to see the bright yellow banners on the back of the trucks as they drive through town during Fiesta. I consider Chuck’s sponsorship at Fiesta as one of the major sponsors because he add such life and fun to the event. He has such a love for the Southwest and his characters are so significant to this part of the country, that I think it is a perfect match,” states Rod.