by John Fanning
Ballooning at Edwin Warner Park
in Nashville, Tennessee is always an adventure. Like ballooning anywhere
weather is always a key factor. Despite heavy rain for most of Saturday,
which cancelled one flight, all other scheduled balloon events were
held without even one weather hold, The Sunday morning spectators were treated
to an additional highlight as Brian Trapp, of Oregonia, Ohio, placed his
ring over the pole to win $2,500. He made it look so easy.
The gates opened at 5 p.m. on Friday with concessions and souvenir tents lining the launch field, not unlike a small version of Albuquerque. There were games and activities for the children as well as food and drinks for everyone. The crowd was treated to special appearances by Mickey Mouse (Earforce One), the TBS Superstation Biggest Birthday Cake, Sea World/Busch Gardens Shamu Whale balloon, the Ball Park Hot Dog and the Early Times Whiskey Bottle. The United Van Lines Truck was especially popular with its driver waving to the crowd.
Long lines were the norm at every balloon. For some reason the lines seemed longer to tether with Bill Bussey and Joe Bruner, I don't know why. The Balloon Glow kicked off right on time at 8 p.m. Sixty three balloons glowing all at once like a bunch of Christmas tree ornaments, what a sight. The crowd, estimated at 20,000 or more enjoyed the glow and then settled onto the ground or into their lawn chairs to enjoy a starlight presentation by B.J. Thomas and the Nashville Symphony. What a show.
Oh the joy of a 5 a.m. pilot briefing. For most this is "part of ballooning." For some it is pure torture. For everyone it is interesting. The Saturday morning briefing called for clear skies and light winds. It turned out to be very clear and very light winds. The morning's task was to be a fly in from at least two miles out. There was an X on the field as the target with a 30 foot pole in the center. Each pilot had two baggies, an A baggie and a B baggie (both marked). They had a flight window of from 6:30 to 9:30 to make three passes at the target. They also had a plastic ring to place over the pole. A ring over the pole on the first pass was good for $10,000, on the second pass it was good for $2,500. Points were scored with the baggies. This all seemed fairly clear the first time around but each time the rules were explained the more muddy they became. Balloonmeister David Eastland took all the quips from the pilots well. After all it was only 5 a.m. After all the questions were answered it seemed like everyone was in no hurry to leave, then all of a sudden they were gone.
J. T. Long, Chief Scoring Officer, and his crew did not have to work very hard as the winds changed before the first balloons could reach the target. The sky was full of balloons heading for the target but they all turned right before they were anywhere close. A few pilots realized the changing winds , compensated and had good passes over the target. After one pass Mike Chase and Bert Carollo were first and second. That is the way it would end on the first scheduled task. Shortly after the balloons started making their second pass the task was cancelled due to weather. A rain storm had sneaked in from the West and was bearing down on the field. Within minutes of taking up the target rain began to fall. And it rained and it rained and it rained all day. Of course the Saturday evening mass ascension was cancelled as was the rest of the activities at the park.
The atmosphere in the pilot's briefing on Sunday morning was about the same. People are about the same at 5 a.m. The morning task was another fly in at the pole with A and B baggies. This time there were small six foot circles at various places around the edge of the 200 foot circle around the X. One baggie in a small circle and the ring over the pole was good for $2,000 this morning. Sounds easy. Later in the morning Brian Trapp made it look easy.
The winds didn't change from the weather briefing and the Sunday morning crowd saw most pilots make good passes at the target. Some ran out of breeze right over the target field and just seemed to hang around for quite a long time. That is what happened to Brian Trapp. He came in from the West, got a breeze that took him North around the target, then he just sort of hung out around the Eastern edge of the field and slowly, ever so slowly made his way back toward the pole. He made a good drop into a small circle and continued slowly right toward the pole, He placed his ring over the pole and seconds later his basket brushed the pole. I'll call that close. One other interesting note, he made this flight with a borrowed burner. He was in the market for another burner and tried this one out. He decided that it was a good one and bought it.
At times there were quite a few balloons over and around the target. Sometimes it was difficult to get a chance to throw your baggie, Julian Tune found this out when his baggie landed on top of Chuck Norton's balloon. It did fall off later, near the outer edge of the circle. It did count for score so it was not a total loss.
The final scores found Mike Chase, of Jackson, Tennessee, in first place winning $3,000; Robert Shallow, of Gulf Shores, Alabama, in second with $1,500; Tom Forenz third with $1,000; David Eastland fourth with $750 and Henry Bedford fifth with $700. Although Brian Trapp came in sixth with $650 his pole winnings made him the big money winner. They paid all the way to 25th place.
Balloons, symphony, food, balloons, entertainment, games and balloons what a weekend, It will take a while for Nashville to calm down and by then they will be thinking about 1998. Y'all Come!
