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Balloon Life,November2000

LOGBOOK

The 5th annual Arkansas Hot Air Balloon
State Championship Race was held on
September 15-17 in Harrison, Arkansas.
Once again;this year’s weather was near
perfectfor ballooning. The morningtem-
perature of below 50 degrees was wel-
comed by all of the local pilotswho have
been surviving 100degree daysfor over a
month. Accommodations were very nice
and several meals were provided for pi-
lotsand crew by area sponsors.
Thefestivities werekickedoffon
Friday evening with a tether atthe town’s
Jr. HighSchool. The crowd donated over
$1,000.00 to benefit theBoone County
Adult Day Care Center .
Saturday morningdawned clear with
a mild wind from the southeast. A three
task flight was called by Balloonmeister
Mike Mills; the targets were a bean bag
throw, a near by key grab pole for a 2000
Chevrolet Tahoe and then another bean
bag toss. Most of the pilots scored on at
least one target; but the keys remained
unclaimed. After themorningpointswere
talliedLouisMosher of Tulsa, Oklahoma
led the pack.
Saturday evening was a mass ascen-
sionHare andHoundrace. JohnnyPetrehn
flying theTouchstone Energyballoon was
theHareballoon.Eachhoundballoon
carriedsponsorscompetingforprizes.
Thefirstplaceprizeofaweekendat
WolfeCreekHideawayBedandBreak-
fast was won by Jeff Jech of Cox Commu-
nications riding with Bill Chritton ofWest
Plains, Missouri flyingRainbow.
Sundaymorningwasanotherclear
daybreakwitha threetask race, consist-
ing of two baggy tosses and the key grab.
Several of the balloonscame within sev-

eral feet of the pole; but none were able to
capture the prize. Once againmost pilots
scoredonthebaggytoss targetsandthe
leadchanged hands.
The awards banquettookplaceata
localrestaurantwithanallyoucaneat
breakfastbuffet.The points weretallied
andthewinnersannounced.Firstplace
wasJoelSturdevantofVail,Colorado
flyingRE/MAX,seco ndplaceLo uis
MosherfromTulsa,thirdplaceBuel
WorthamofMaumelle,Arkansas,forth
placeJohnToombs,NorthLittleRock,
Arkan sas,fifthpl aceDonRu mmel
Batesville,Arkansas,sixthplaceMike
MillsHarrison,Arkansas,andseventh
placeEdZionceofNorthLittleRock,
Arkansas.
The Arkansas Hot Air BalloonState
ChampionshipRace isthe idealfriendly

By Mike Vanness

Arkansas Hot Air Balloon
State Championship Race

small town balloon rally. I am looking
forward to attending the 6th annual event
during the second weekend in September
2001.

Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Champi-
onship Race is held in Harrison, Arkan-
sas located in the northcentral part of the
state.