CELEBRATING 50 YEARS PHO T O: BENNIE B O S S Ballooning: A Spectator Sport Reprinted from the 1973 Balloon Fiesta program lying in a balloon may be easier than watching a strong pair of shoes (and an extra pair of dry ones), one. binoculars, a co-driver in the car to keep an eye on the At Indianapolis you can sit still and the cars target, and a picnic lunch. come round every couple of minutes or so. Veteran balloon race watchers also file away many Even an Olympic marathon runner knows mental tips. They know, for instance, that when the where the finish line is going to be, 26 miles balloons take off after an hour or so’s preparation from F 385 yards later. the field or a shopping center parking lot, they are But balloons? Where they will wind up is anyone’s followed by a massive traffic jam as spectators rush to guess. And for once a handicapper knows as much as follow. the rider, because the guy flying the balloon has no idea Another thing about balloon races is that many are either. scheduled for the early morning for favorable wind Balloons will only go one way and that is the way the conditions. Starts at 7 a.m. are not unusual. wind is blowing. Trouble is, the wind at ground level may One of the good things about balloon races, however, is be blowing exactly the opposite direction from the wind that everybody gets a great view without having to jostle at 2,000 feet. for position. This is the one sport where the contestant sits still and In fact, ballooning as a spectator sport is definitely the spectators do all the running. “looking up.” Accessories for watching a balloon race should include OFFICIAL PROGRAM 133