December 1999
(ISSN 0887-6061) is
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MAGAZINE
December 1999
Editor-In-Chief
Publisher
Tom Hamilton
Contributing Editors
Ron Behrmann, George Denniston,
Greg Livadas, Mike Rose, Peter Stekel
Columnists
Don Piccard
Staff Photographer
Ron Behrmann
Contributors
Robert Dorian, Dean Ekdahl
Michael Gianetti, Glen Moyer
Hank Norris, LesleyPritchard
Jim Trusty, Stan Wereschuk
2336 47th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 9811 6
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In early SeptemberI received a press packet forthe RE/MAX Cup Gas Balloon Race
tobe held inearlyNovember. Thelistof entrants was awho’swhoof Americangas
ballooning. Only a few names of the current gas pilots were missing. The contest would
be alongdistanceracetoselectthe 2000USGordonBennettteamfor theBalloon
Federation of America. RE/MAX Corporation had signed on as the named sponsor. RE/
MAX had hosteda major hotair eventinDenver in 1988, a first class affair. This just
looked like a good eventtogo and cover.
November5I flewintoDenver InternationalAirportandmademywaytothe
headquarters hotel. Throughout the day participants checkedin, crews filled sand bags
at the Front Range Airport, and old friends talked about the coming race. That evening
the officialbriefingwas followedbya reception.
The event was extraordinary. For starters it was the largest gatheringof American
balloon teams ever—19. In total 20 teams competed matching the largest number of gas
balloon entrants in a gas race inthe U.S.
At theofficial briefingonFridaynight meteorologistLouBillones thoughthigh
pressureovertheareamightkeeptheballoonsnearby.Manyofthecontestants
concurred, thinking that this might be more of an endurance race, rather than distance.
All dayFriday, and again onSunday, the surface windswere deadcalm. However, on
Saturday the winds started blowing early in the morning and never let up. After sunset,
whenwinds were expected tosubside,the windspeedincreased.
Many gas pilots and crewcommented that the launch was the most difficult that they
hadever witnessed. Part of launching a gas balloonisthe determination of buoyancy.
The launch master directs ballast to be removed, has the crew weigh-off and weigh back
on. When satisfied that balloon is ready the crewis directed to weigh-offforthe last time.
With the stiff winds onSaturdaynight all the balloonsdida real running launch. Each
time the crew weighed-off the balloon wouldbeginmovingdownwind. Handsoff for
more then a second or two and the crew would be sprinting to try and weigh-on and stop
the balloon. Launchedfroman asphalt surface a number of metal gondolas had sparks
shooting out from underneath. This was not the typical majestic gas balloon launch that
usuallytakes place.
The most amazingpart of this event wasthe level of competition. For category of
balloon size the world record is 2110 miles, held by Joe Kittinger. Prior to this race the
secondlongest distance flownwas1448 miles byLesleyPritchardandCarol Davis in
1995. By the time everyone was onthe groundeightteamsflew 1471milesor more.
Kittinger’srecordwaslikely sparedonly because of the approachingAtlantic Ocean,
which twoballoons landed just short of.
RichardAbruzzoand Carol Davis landed in Maine 1781miles from Front Range
Airportnear Denver. Numerousteams landed onlybecause tocontinue their recovery
mighthave been impossible astheydriftedintonorthern Canada withnoroads.
Thiswillbeaneventlongrememberedinballooning.MikeReaganandthe
REMAXstaffaretobecomplimentedforhostingthissuccessfulevent.REMAX
Chairman Dave Liniger was schedule to fly with Joe Kittinger until an unfortunate tear
in their balloon grounded the team.Balloon Life’s Special Report this month focuses on
three on the balloonteamsand their exciting stories.
