Hi Everyone,
What a great weekend to host such a great event like URRF 3 on.
Everyone had a fantastic time launching rockets at Potter, NY, and we had several BFR's launched through out the whole weekend as well.
I just wanted to impart to all of you something that was said to me by one of the BFR Flyers this weekend.
We had a 'Power Group' of BFR Flyers all camped out in a small compound together along the back tree line. They were Jerry O'Sullivan, Mitch Guess, John Ritz, and Randy Applebaum. A group of high power flyers that I'm sure everyone knows of. And as the BFR Manager for the event I visited their compound several times through out the weekend.
Well one of the times I had arranged for transportation for John and Randy to be taken out to the away pads to launch a rocket for each of them, I was able to be present with Randy and John as their rockets were launched. John launched first and as usual it was a perfect flight up and the recovery was easily seen to come down somewhat out beyond the 'mile bridge'. John decided to wait for Randy's rocket to launch instead of going to get his rocket right away, he told both Randy and I that he didn't care if his rocket sat out there for a while since the main thing that he loved about flying in Potter was that the Farmers and Mennonites that lived in the area will always return any rocket they find that may be lost, not pick it up and ransom it for $300 like some of the other launch sites that he has been to before.
So now let me tell you of another very happy reunion that is happening because of this weekend.
While we were setting up for the event on Wednesday we had one of the farm workers come out and tell us that someone brought back a 'big' rocket motor and given it to Rick, the farm manager. So as the liaison for the club and since it was too late that day to talk to Rick then, when I drove onto the farm on Friday morning I stopped to see Rick and ask about the motor. Rick handed it to me and I brought it to lost and found. The whole committee was trying to figure out who lost it and how long ago that even was since the eye bolt in the forward closure was rusted very badly and seized just like both the forward and rear closures were. Once we got the pitiful chunk of motor tube and related junk off of it we found Donald Ball's name etched onto it.
Well Don is one of my Facebook friends so Monday I sent him a P.M. about it and he responded fairly quickly. Oh, he remembered it very well, even when he lost it.
(And your all going to love this part)
Don had taken part in the L900 Dark Matter Drag race we had at LDRS 31 and it was in the booster section of his Thor rocket that came up missing. Yes, people for those of you trying to figure out the math, that was FOUR years ago! I have now made arrangements with Don to ship it back to him in Georgia.
So the reason I wanted to inform all of you of this happy Reunion, as well as John Ritz's Story, was to let all who may have lost a rocket in Potter, NY to know to keep having hope. Because if there is anything left of your rocket to find, no matter how long it may take, or how much of it still exists,
You Will Get What's Found Back!
Thank you for your time, and I'm sorry for being so long winded.
(Sorry folks, it seems that I was mixing up my LDRS's and Drag Races, it's all fixed now.)
She likes watching the rockets fly and was quite sad we haven't built her Mini Fat Boy yet. I'll definitely be out again next year, should have something flying again by then. 
