T-6 formation will fly over event during National Anthem

By Megg Mueller, reno.com , mmueller@TahoeRenoOnline.com
August 22, 2007

The Great Reno Balloon Race and the National Championship Air Races share a storied past, and now the future of these two events once again is entwined. For the first time, two of Northern Nevada's biggest and most popular events are joining forces as the Air Races becomes a sponsor of this year's Balloon Race.

Mike Houghton, president and CEO of the Air Races, said that when they learned that the Balloon Race was experiencing a reduction in the amount of financial support, they decided to step up and become a sponsor. Houghton said the Air Races are taking an active role in encouraging local sponsors to step forward.

Houghton explained: "It (The Great Reno Balloon Race) is a showpiece event; it's featured in everything the convention authority does, advertising wise. And it's such a beautiful sight...I don't think we can afford to lose it."

Steve Trounday is president of the Balloon Race Board of Directors. He acknowledged the Race has had a tough time getting funds lately.

"In the last 10 years we have lost many casino sponsors as they have gone out of business (Harold’s Club, Comstock, Virginian, Flamingo, Nevada Club, Riverboat, Reno Ramada and the Sundowner). Each of these casino sponsors were big supporters of the event. Our challenge has been to find new business to sign up as sponsors. We have worked hard this year and are making progress.

"Mike and the Air Race Association have helped us find new sponsors and helped us generate the publicity necessary to find new sponsors," Trounday said.

The Balloon Race and the Air Races have been linked since the very beginning. In 1964, the first Air Races included a transcontinental race. While folks were waiting for those planes to arrive and the Air Races to begin, a balloon race was held. This happened for a number of years, but as the Air Races grew, it was decided that the two events weren't a good onsite mix, so the balloon race was dropped.

After The Great Reno Balloon Race was reborn 26 years ago, the two events were still closely linked; the events are held one week apart each September. According to Houghton, it makes sense for the Air Races to promote itself during the Balloon Race because the local population is the Balloon Race's biggest supporter, and locals make up 30 percent of the Air Race audience. The Air Races will host some onsite promotions, enticing folks to come out the following weekend to catch another great air show.

One of those promotions will be a T-6 formation flying over each morning during the national anthem. The T-6 races, according to the Air Races Web site, are some of the most exciting, because all the T-6 aircraft are all the same type, so the emphasis is on strategy and pilot skill rather than raw horsepower.

The Air Races will also put on a "missing man" tribute at this year's Balloon Race. Amy Bennett was on the Board of Directors since the Race's inception, and was considered by many to be the glue that kept a lot of the event together. Bennett passed away right after last year's Race. Houghton not only worked with Bennett over the years, but was a personal friend.

"(Amy was) a good friend of mine ... very saddened by her death at the beginning of the Balloon Races. It's an emotional tribute. As a friend I miss her," Houghton said.

Keeping the Balloon Race around is crucial to the area and the Air Races, Houghton believes, and the partnership is a natural one.

"There's an affinity there, but the larger affinity is the fact we both like to get off the ground. We're the world's fastest motor sport, and I think they are the most beautiful.

"So we're putting forth the dollars to be a sponsor, but more importantly, we're emotionally tied in to help give them a boost and support them wherever we can, and appeal to the community conscience to step up to the plate and help save this event," Houghton said.

Trounday and the Race are working toward that goal as well.

"We have found that a lot of people take The Great Reno Balloon Race for granted. (About) 150,000 people come to the event each year but they don’t realize how difficult it is to put on this event and the costs that are associated," he said. We are a signature event for the City of Reno but, because we are free to the public, our only source of income is sponsorships. With the increases in fuel (propane for our balloons), insurance and other expenses it has become increasingly difficult for the Balloon Race to generate the $300,000 it takes to put on the Race."

One way this might be accomplished is with partnerships with other local special events. Trounday said this is already in the works.

"All of the legacy events in Reno (Air Races, Hot August Nights, Rodeo and Street Vibrations) are looking for ways we can help each other out. We are looking to see what expenses we may be able to save by buying together or sharing equipment. Street Vibrations assists us with our vendor lines and official souvenirs. We are looking to see how we may be able to share tent costs with the Air Races," he noted.

Partnerships can often come from strange places, but when the goal is keeping such great events in Northern Nevada, getting together couldn't be a better idea.