Balloon race has family

By JERMAINE JOHNSON
Staff Writer

The 12th annual Great American Balloon Race proved to be a family event Sunday.

Originally scheduled for Friday, the event had to be postponed to Sunday because of high winds and rain. For many familes, it was a Father's Day outing.

Usually, it's the Sunday worship service that winds up weekend events during the Great American Brass Band Festival. This year it was the balloon race. Unfortunately, because of the postponement of the event, the brass bands were not present.

The race drew about 4,500 people and 32 balloons. Many people came with up to three generations of family members, and some even brought the family pet.

Fathers tossed baseballs with daughters and sons, while others tossed Frisbees or footballs. Still others preferred to sit back in lawn chairs or on blankets or lounge outside motor homes while enjoying the weather.

There were activities to appease restless kids. Kids got to sit in the cockpit of a Cessna 172 aircraft provided by the Civil Air Patrol's Danville squadron. Commander Monte Owens helped kids climb into the cockpit.

"They love it; all of them want to be pilots, they say. Some are nervous to get in; others just hop right in," said Owens.

Walter Gilpin of Lancaster offered pony rides for $2. Gilpin has offered the pony rides for 10 years. He used to allow kids to sit on ponies at local events until a customer offered to pay to let his child ride. This spawned the live merry-go-round that Gilpin offers today.

There was food by Dunn's Barbecue, and WHIR/WRNZ broadcasted the race. Jim Parman has been calling the race for the radio station since 1996.

"It's great. It is complete silence when the fire isn't going," said Parman.

The race is a hare and hound event. The lead balloon is the hare balloon. It gets a 10-minute headstart and eventually lands and places a giant X on the ground. The hound balloons fly over the spot and drop a three ounce bag of grass seed as close to the X as possible. First place wins $1,000, second place $700, third place $400, fourth place $250, and fifth place $150.

Kids ran into the field to watch the balloons inflate for the race. Balloons of different colors and designs seemed to suddenly appear from the ground. Kids jerked at shirttails and pointed as each balloon rose and slowly disappeared into the sky.

James and Caroline Grey of Danville brought the family out for the seventh year. The family includes five sons and a grandson: twins Jamie and Jamal, 12; Jamel, 8; Juan, 5; Jerole, 23, and his son, Damani, 4.

"Its a good family activity for the kids," said James Grey.

The boys teased and played among themselves and ate funnel cakes, and all of them insisted they were not scared to ride in a balloon and would do so if they had a chance.

Nadine Johnson of Flagstaff, Ariz., brought her two daughters, Miranda, 7, and Sydney, 4, up for the week to visit their grandparents, Thomas and Dorothy Johnson of Danville. They had been to the festival, the parade and to Shaker Village. It was Johnson's first time at the festival.

Harvey and Brenda Southerland of Moreland enjoyed their first visit to the balloon race. They were accompanied by Brenda's sister, Mary Burton, and nieces who entertained themselves with a small puppy.

The Southerlands have always wanted to attend but had to work each year the event came around. However, this year, Harvey got a day off and Brenda is searching for a job. She lost her job when Denny's restaurant closed Thursday.

Rosemary Hughes, Elaine Sebastian and Elaine's daughter, Allie Sebastian, of Stanford enjoyed their second year at the race.

"It is wonderful what they do so people can experience hot air balloons in this part of the country," said Hughes. "It's a nice family day."

The balloons headed south and landed in Lincoln County. After the balloons were dismantled, the pilots, crews and sponsors were given dinner provided by Dunn's Barbecue.

Bob Corey of Louisville won the race for the third year in a row.