East Texas

By STEWART SMITH
Entertainment Writer

Head out to Longview this weekend and you're likely to see the sky filled with hot air balloons or, as Dr. Bill Bussey describes them, colorful, docile giants.

Bussey is one of the founders of the Great Texas Balloon Race, now in its 31st year. The event begins today and continues through Sunday with races, food and crafts booths, live music and a ceremony honoring veterans of the Korean War.

The idea for the event first came to Bussey in 1978 when he attempted to get the Longview Mall to sponsor his balloon for local flights. Things didn't exactly work out, he said, but it did eventually lead to the creation of the annual event.

Bussey's fascination with hot air balloons began in 1977 during a trip to Aspen, Colo.

"I had learned to fly airplanes in the military, and I had even owned a couple planes. Then I saw some balloons in Aspen, and I just sat down in the snow and was fascinated," Bussey said. "I began trying to determine how I could build one or how I could get a seamstress to sew something that large, or how I would design it and cut the gores. Then I figured I figured I could get a fish cooker with a whole lot of burners and use a large laundry basket or a commercial-sized basket. That was my thought process."

He never made one himself, but Bussey did finally discover manufacturers that would make one for him. Still, his desire to share his enthusiasm and astonishment with others never faded.

"I was in awe of the colors. They're huge, docile giants," he said. "It's the beautiful fabrics, the wicker of the baskets, the flamboyance of the pilots entertaining spectators. When they flew, I called them sky chariots of fire. I just was fascinated that you could take such a primitive aircraft, this machine that was (invented) 120 years prior to the Wright Bros. (taking flight) and go from point A to point B and be totally quiet. When you're in one, you are literally one with the air."

Despite being one of the founders of the event, Bussey said he doesn't consider it "his."

"I want to share that awe," he said. "This race is not my race or The Longview Mall's race. This is a race for East Texas area. Everyone takes ownership of the race. 'We have a great balloon race,' that's what people say. This is one of the better races in the whole world."

The first race takes place at 6:30 a.m. this morning with two more beginning at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Pilots will compete for a $10,000 cash prize. Participation is through invitation only.

Gates open at 4 p.m. today at the East Texas Regional Airport in Longview for food and crafts vendors and Kids Land. And balloons won't be the only aircraft taking to the sky as an A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" jet will fly demonstrations on Friday and Saturday evenings. Two additional Warthogs will be on static display throughout the weekend.

One of the biggest attractions for the weekend, though, is the nightly Balloon Glow at around 8:15 p.m. Gai Bennett, publicity chairperson for the Great Texas Balloon Race described it as a "stationary fireworks show."

"All 72 (sport and special shape) balloons will take the infield," she said. "And once they get the envelopes inflated and off the ground, you can actually walk among them, and then the balloonists will light the burners and synchronize with the music."

The headlining musicians this year are Kevin Sharp on Friday and Charlie Robinson on Saturday. Both performances are set to take place after the Balloon Glow.

Other entertainers include Dagnabbit, Kristen Mari, Mark Cooke and the County Line and The Nick Thompson Band.

Admission to the event is $10 per person. Children ages 12 and under are free as are active military personnel with valid identification. Korean War veterans are also eligible for free admission. Admission to Sunday's events are free as well.

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