by Debbie Spaeth
The Monroe Balloon Rally was held
for the 13th year during the weekend of July 24-26. However, this year,
the event was extended and included the 1998 Hot Air Balloon World HONDA
Grand Prix which began on Thursday, 23 July and finished on Sunday, along
with the usual Monroe event.
The World HONDA Grand Prix was the idea of Mr. Masashi Kakuda of Japan. Masashi has conducted the Japan Grand Prix for 5 years and pursued the idea on a world scale. Sites were chosen on three continents, Monroe, Wisconsin for Round 1, Borscheid, Luxembourg for Round 2 and Sendai, Japan for the final round. Pilots were encouraged to form teams with pilots on other continents which meant pilots did not have to travel great distances to compete. They had a team mate on the next continent. And Honda teams are competing for five million Yen (1st place-approx. U$38,000) which will be awarded after the final round of competition in Sendai, Japan in October.
Twenty-Two Honda Teams were formed. Grand Prix Pilots in Monroe included former World and National Champions, David Levin, Joe Heartsill, Alan Blount, Steve Jones and Phil Glebe.
Event Director, Tom Sheppard, called 13 tasks during the 7 flights. Weather Officer, Lou Billones and Safety Officer, Allen Yost were able to supply picture perfect weather for four days. This was appreciated by everyone including spectators who got some great photo opportunities!
Friday evening when the Monroe Rally Pilots arrived, they had perfect weather for the Nite Lite. The twenty-eight Monroe pilots joined the Grand Prix pilots and competed concurrently on Saturday's flights and Sunday morning.
When the weekend concluded, David Levin won the Honda Grand Prix - Round 1 competition with Joe Heartsill (2nd) and Phil Glebe (3rd). When Honda Grand Prix points were tallied (12 points = first place in task, 9 points = 2nd place in task, etc.) Team ATLANTIC (Round 1 pilot-Steve Jones) was in the lead with 77 Grand Prix points. Team RED DOG (David Levin) and Team MAGIC RACER (Joe Heartsill) were close behind with 75 and 74 points respectively.
The Monroe Balloon Rally Champion was John Johnson (Iowa). In 2nd Place was Dick Drake (Iowa) followed by Wisconsin Pilots Keith Wohlfert (3rd) and David Koenig (4th)
If you are interested in seeing photos and results of the 1998 Monroe Balloon Rally and Round 1 of the 1998 Hot Air Balloon World HONDA Grand Prix, check out the World Grand Prix web site which has links to all Grand Prix sites
http://www.sphere.ad.jp/sagincom/balloon/worldhonda/index.htm
