Hovercraft and Monster Trucks!!

Forward by Louis Bondurant

Back in late November I received an e-mail request to provide a hovercraft demonstration during a monster truck event that would be coming to Atlanta in January. My first thoughts were of concern areas such as dust, safety, insurance requirements, etc. These issues were pointed out to the event’s promoter and following several discussions, we came to the mutual conclusion that this was practical. The plan was to stage a static display during the 4-hour pit party on the floor of the Georgia Dome, followed by a live demonstration as their 70,000 fans were being seated for the main event.

The promoters set a hard limit of 3 craft for the pit party display. Even though this event would spread over the entire floor of the dome, they were expecting 10,000 to attend and were very alert to floor space issues. To stay inside this limit, but provide an interesting variety for the crowd, I chose to display one integrated racing craft, one non-integrated racing craft and one school project. We set up a table with literature on the Hoverclub, information on Mill Creek High School’s project, photo albums from racing and cruising events and a continuous loop laptop playback of Charles Dixon’s video from the 2002 Terre Haute rally. A special thanks to Jim Kenney for using his equipment here, as the video did draw in quite a few bystanders.

The crowd was initially light, but during the last hour of so rose to its full projection. One moment that I personally considered memorable was the reaction by a boy who was likely some 5 years in age. He and his dad were milling about the floor seeing and touching $¼ million monster trucks, talking to drivers, getting autographs, etc. He caught sight of our display and I heard him exclaim “COOL HOVERCRAFT” and then he made a beeline to us with dad in tow.

After the pit party, the field was quickly cleared and various demonstrations were presented to entertain the crowd, as they were being seated for the main event. Finally the hovercraft were called onto the field and Will Gano, Kent Gano, Michael Murphy and Louis Bondurant spill out of the tunnel and onto the floor of the dome. Our demonstration was essentially limited to a series of parade laps, but the crowd seemed to love it. During the last lap I could not resist dusting a few fans in the lower rows with a 360 and then looked up to see a wall of camera flashes and my image on the video panel high in stands.

Yes; it was fun; but more than anything else, I am glad that it was completed without any significant challenges or any type of injury. The 1000 or so fliers that were picked up by fans should provide good exposure to the Hoverclub and perhaps we will get a short spot on the coverage that the Speed Channel plans to televise in the near future.

Atlanta Jam - Our pit party volunteers 1, Jeff Burleson, Michael Murphy, Will Gano, Kent Gano, Leslie Bondurant, Marlee Bondurant, Kirk Cadenhead, Adam Rackard, Glen Snow, Austin Burrows, Glenn Burrows.

Atlanta Jam - Our pit party volunteers 2, Jeff Burleson, Kent Gano, Louis Bondurant, Will Gano, Jim Kenney, Leslie Bondurant, Marlee Bondurant, Kirk Cadenhead, Glen Snow, Austin Burrows, Glenn Burrows.

Atlanta Jam - The craft arranged before the crowd came. From left to right - Michael Murphy’s Revtech Renegade, Louis Bondurant’s Air Commander, Mill Creek High School’s craft (Glenn Burrows’ group)

Atlanta Jam - Will Gano, Kent Gano, Louis Bondurant on the floor on the Georgia Dome in action!

Atlanta Jam - Kent Gano, Will Gano, Louis Bondurant, Michael Murphy on the floor in the Georgia Dome in action - again!

Atlanta Jam - Will Gano, Michael Murphy, Louis Bondurant on the first lap entering the Georgia Dome.

Atlanta Jam - Kent Gano looks up to see Louis on the Jumbotron!

Waiting in the staging area outside of the Georgia dome

Waiting in the staging area outside of the Georgia dome

Jammin' in Miami !

by Kent Gano

The dust had just settled from the Atlanta Monster Jam and then we were requested to do a show in Miami, FL at the Dolphins Stadium. At first we attempted to locate members in FL and the only response we received was from Kevin Bedsworth. So Will and I decided to make the trip.

This trip was more for Will than I. At the Atlanta event, Will stalled out on the floor of the Georgia Dome after his first lap and had to wait for the rest of us to finish our laps before we could stop and see what happened. I attempted to get his machine started but could not. I had him hop in my machine and got him off the floor. Later I realized it was the primer bulb that had one of the check valves stuck. This was replaced at Miami.

We took the long trip, leaving on a Friday afternoon from the North Atlanta area and stopped just outside of Miami for the night. The next morning we hid the road and met Kevin, Carol, and Allen Bedsworth along with George Carnero at the Dolphins Stadium. We set up our display area for the pit party. During that time Will had some minor repairs to do on his craft from the Atlanta event. For the rest of the day we had thousands stop by our area and were completely amazed with the hovercraft.

It was a nice break to go to Miami as it was in the beginning of February and it was sunny and 80 degrees there. It is amazing how the younger people connect with the younger participants. The kids there would ask more questions to Will, Allen and George than the adults. This time we were part of the main show! In Atlanta we were running before the main event, and here we ran during the main event. Allen, Will and I ran out on the main field and found that since the trucks were out first, made it challenging to run the craft over the soil which had ruts the size of monster truck tires, about 2 feet wide. We only ran for about 4 or 5 minutes, then were flagged off the field.

As soon as we were done we packed up the trailer and hit the road again Saturday night. It was a long weekend of driving for a short time on the field, but I will say it was well worth it. Here is a quote from the organizer:

"Thanks again for coming out for the pit party and being a part of the show. I think the crowd had a really good reaction when they saw the 3 hovercrafts drive out from the tunnel. I think with some more preparation on our parts, we can make this more of an organized element to the future shows!"

Matt Cowie, Live Nation Motor Sports

Miami Jam - Kent Gano, Will Gano, Allen Bedsworth in action on the field at the Miami, Dolphins Stadium - Again!

Inside the tunnel looking out onto the field.

Miami Jam – Allen Bedsworth, Kent Gano, Will Gano in action on the field at the Miami, Dolphins Stadium – one more time!

Miami Jam – Allen Bedsworth, Will Gano, Kent Gano in action on the field at the Miami, Dolphins Stadium – one last time!

Miami Jam pit party - Kevin Bedsworth, George Carnero, Carol Bedsworth, Allen Bedsworth. Allen’s craft - Spiney JR. Scat, Will’s craft - UH 10 F, Kent’s craft, Rocket.

Miami Jam pit party - Carol Bedsworth, George Carnero, Will Gano, Allen Bedsworth. Allen’s craft - Spiney JR. Scat, Will’s craft - UH 10 F, Kent’s craft, Rocket. And some Monster Trucks.

Miami Jam – Will Gano making repairs during the pit party.

Miami Jam photos courtesy of:

Kent Gano,

Kevin & Carol
Bedsworth,

and George Carnero.

Miami Jam pit party - Allen Bedsworth, George Carnero, Kevin Bedsworth, Will Gano, Kent Gano. Alan’s craft - Spiney JR. Scat, Will’s craft - UH 10 F, Kent’s craft, Rocket. And some Monster Trucks.