`B' is for plan B

Balloon race schedules a second takeoff date

By DANIELLE FOWLER
Staff Writer

JUNCTION CITY - Bad weather has canceled the festival's hot air balloon race for the past couple of years but this year there is a plan B.

For the first time, an alternate date has been scheduled. If bad weather forces the 10th Annual Peoples Bank/Hometown Radio Network Hot Air Balloon Race to be called off Friday, balloonists will try again at 6 p.m. Sunday.

To get there: To reach the event site, take U.S. 127 (Hustonville road) south past the Wal-Mart SuperCenter. Turn left at the second road past the Wal-Mart stoplight. The route will be marked.
Airport Road turns left off this road just past Pack's Nursery. The entrance to the balloon race is just to the right of a gray metal building. Do not use the main airport entrance. It is reserved for the balloonists. Organizers suggest bringing lawn chairs.

The balloonists' first plan is to take off soon after 6 p.m. Friday at the Danville-Boyle County Airport's Stuart Powell Field.

Fans of the race have disappointed for the past couple of years.

``We got winded out last year and then rained out the year before,'' said coordinator Rick Schoebel of WRNZ radio.

The event is free and open to the public. Gates will open at 5 p.m.

Schoebel said 30 or 35 balloonists are expected to participate, similar to past races.

``We would welcome more but we'll take what we can get,'' he said.

He said different perspectives will be covered: Robert Wagner, the station's general manager, will broadcast live as he rides in a balloon and the event also will be covered from the ground.

Race organizer Brian Beazly with Louisville's Balloon Odyssey will launch the first balloon, which he anticipates will occur around 7 p.m. His balloon will sport a Hometown Radio banner.

The race will be ``hare and hound'' style. Beazly's hare balloon will have a 10-minute head start and will serve as the target.

The hounds will fly as close as they can to Beazly and will toss 3-ounce sacks of grass seed at the target that he will drop. The sacks will each have 6 feet of colored ribbon tail for visibility.

``It has nothing to do with speed,'' Beazly said. ``The closest wins.''

As for the winnings, he said prizes for five winners total $2,500. First place will earn the maximum, $1,000.

Balloonist Jim Pontrich of Louisville has been a pilot for 21 years and has only missed one Great American Brass Band Festival race.

``We always have a good time there,'' he said. ``It's a nice countryside to fly over, and nice people.''

Four bands and ragtime pianist Scott Kirby are scheduled to play during the race. The bands are Olde Towne Brass, the Eighth Regiment Band, Main Street Brass and the Band of the Air Force Reserve, Bagpipe Corps and Dixie Land Band will serenade balloonists and those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground.

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase.

An exit-only lane will open on Lausman Avenue to help reduce traffic congestion after the balloons are airborne.