The world competitors were back in Albuquerque 1975in 1975 for the second World Hot Air Balloon Championships. As in 1973, 38 of the world’s fi nest balloonists competed over several days and through a series of grueling tasks. American competitor David Schaff er emerged victorious. fi rst time, spectators were allowed to walk among the Of more long-term importance, the Balloon Fiesta balloons on the launch site, a rarity for air shows, where as we now know it began to emerge in 1975. After the spectators are usually strictly separated from aircraft 1974 event, organizers had reached the conclusion that operations. This change was revolutionary and added both the time frame and the launch location needed to a rare and perhaps unprecedented level of involvement change. A weather study determined that early fall and and excitement for air show spectators. specifi cally early October would be the best time for the But even as these plans were coming to fruition, the event. A new site uptown – Simms Field, near I-25 and very future of the Balloon Fiesta was in jeopardy, as Jeff erson – provided easy access and plenty of space Sid Cutter withdrew from the day-to-day management for growth. With the move to the new fi eld, for the to focus on his business. Fortunately, Mayor Harry Kinney realized the Balloon Fiesta created an incredible opportunity for Albuquerque to have a signature event that could bring revenue into the community. He recruited business leaders to form a Citizens Committee to run the event. This committee, over the next couple of years, evolved into the current non-profi t Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc. One more lasting development came out of all the 1975 changes. Local balloonists were worried, with the move to October, that people would miss seeing balloons in February. So they held a separate February balloon rally, called the Cloudbouncer Rally, at the state fairgrounds. This 40-balloon event is now considered to be the fi rst Friends and Lovers Rally, still held today. And 1975 is sometimes referred to as the “year with two Fiestas.” PHOTO: BILL WALTON FLYNT After all the 1975 changes, the Balloon Fiesta began to settle into 1976a nice routine in 1976. With no world championships on the menu, balloonmeister Bob Ruppenthal set a diff erent tone for the event, “He (and she) who has the most fun wins.” Fun competitions such as the Tumbleweed Drop were on the menu for the 150 participating balloonists. Meanwhile, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta completed its incorporation and offi cially took over management of the annual event. During the 1976 Fiesta, a number of the participating balloons were involved in the fi lming of “Day of the Balloons,” a multi-media fi lm produced for exhibition at Busch Gardens. The fi nal scene was shot in Albuquerque and at the Balloon Fiesta. OFFICIAL PROGRAM 67