U.S. BANK GREAT BALLOON RACE TO SOAR THIS WEEKEND (hopefully!)
Pilots begin arriving tomorrow for the U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Race. The race is one of the Derby Festival’s marquee events and one of Louisville’s most beloved family traditions. To help the Festival celebrate its 50th, race sponsor U.S. Bank has more than doubled the fun by offering FIVE balloon events over race weekend, instead of two. There will be two races, two glows and a “mini” glow, all sponsored by U.S. Bank starting Thursday, April 28 through Saturday, April 30, friendly skies permitting.
All events will be a Pegasus Pin admission and take place at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, except Thursday’s U.S. Bank Balloon Glimmer. This “mini” glow will take place on the Great Lawn, next to the Chow Wagon at Waterfront Park on Louisville’s riverfront. Seventeen balloons will tether and “light up” to the music of The New Eagle 103.9 FM beginning at 8:30 PM.
Fans will have five opportunities to see the balloons. One other significant change is the format. The Saturday morning race has traditionally launched from KFEC. In 2005, the Friday morning race will follow that format, with balloons inflating and launching from KFEC and “chasing” the hare balloon wherever the winds fly in a “Hare and Hound” race. However, on Saturday morning, the hound balloons will NOT inflate at KFEC. If weather permits, a “multi-task” race will have the U.S. Bank Hare balloon tethering at KFEC and the Hound balloons inflating and launching from an undetermined location. The location will be chosen by the Balloonmeister that morning to help get the Hound balloons on a path to be able to do a “fly-over” of the KFEC launch field and carryout a surprise task. Activity will begin on the launch field both days at 7 am. The public is invited to watch the spectacle both days if wearing a Pegasus Pin.
U.S. BANK GREAT BALLOON RACE®. Schedule:
April 28: 8:30 PM. NEW! U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Glimmer. Waterfront Park, Great Lawn. Contributing sponsor: New Country 103.9
April 29: 7:00 AM. NEW! U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Rush-Hour Race. Traditional Hare and Hound Format. Contributing sponsor: 102.3 The Max.
9:00 PM. U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Glow. Contributing Sponsor: 103.1 WRKA. Broadcast live on WHAS 11.
April 30: 7:00 AM. U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Race. NEW FORMAT! Multi-task race. Contributing sponsor 102.3 The Max.
9:00 PM. NEW! U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Rock ‘n’ Glow. Live performance by New Breed. Contributing Sponsor: 103.1 WRKA
For the glow events, the balloons inflate in their launch position on the field, but do not ascend. As the pilots fire their burners, the balloons appear to glow against the night sky, synchronized to a musical score. Spectators can walk around the field and talk to the pilots. This year’s Friday night glow will be choreographed to a recorded Elvis soundtrack. Saturday’s U.S. Bank Rock-n-Glow will luminate to the LIVE music of local band New Breed. (Note: Should Friday’s glow be cancelled, the Saturday glow will include the Elvis soundtrack and New Breed will still play from 8:30 – 9 and 10 – 10:30 pm). The public is invited to att/files/storyimages/the interactive activities in the Southwing on both evenings starting at 6:30 pm, glows from 9 – 10 pm. (Pegasus Pin admission and KFEC parking).
Due to continued construction at KFEC, attendees will be entering the launch field by coming inside THROUGH the South Wing A, if they have parked off the main KFEC gate off Phillips Lane. There will be pin sellers, pin trading and interactive kids games as patrons enter the South Wing. The only other entrance to the launch field will be from the side that backs up to the horse barns and Cardinal Stadium.
The U.S. Bank “Hare” balloon will be piloted by Sean Askren. George Lindsey of 102.3 The Max will ride along and also host the awards luncheon following the race at the Brown & Williamson Club at Papa Johns’ Cardinal Stadium. Note: the brunch will be held at 10 AM on Saturday even if the balloons do not launch.
Just 11 balloons flew in the inaugural race from Iroquois Park in 1973. This will mark the 33rd year for the Saturday race and the 13th year for the Friday night glow. In 2004, the Caritas Health Services Balloon, piloted by Dan Hoehler, came within 11 ? inches of the target laid out by sponsor and hare balloon U.S. Bank. He won $3000 and an entry for the Caritas balloon in this year’s race.
Weather contingency plans:
Wind faster than 14 mph, less than 3 miles visibility, clouds below 1,500 feet and rain will postpone launch. (There are four flight windows for this event – Friday morning, Saturday morning, and Sunday morning and afternoon.)
If races are delayed, the following would be the contingency windows:
• 7:00 a.m. – Race Window ONLY if 1 or less races have taken place. If we get at least 1 race off by this window, we will NOT go to Sunday afternoon.
• 3:00 p.m. – Pilot Briefing for an afternoon flight window ONLY if NO races have taken place.
• If the event is not held by Sunday evening, it is considered cancelled. In the event’s 30-year history, this has occurred four times.
Listen to 102.3 The Max for traffic updates and launch information on the races. Listen to 103.1 WRKA for information on the Friday and Saturday glows.
