Outfoxed by Dave Prater.

[gyromike]

Ron mentioned in another thread how Dave Prater outfoxed us on Saturday morning. Since I was the instigator in all of this, I suppose I'll tell it.

As most of you already know, Dave is the first one in the air at the fly-ins with his Super Mac powered Bensen. You can't mistake the sound for anything else, and it's the signal for the official start of the day.

Well, this year I managed to beat Dave into the air on Thursday morning. I woke up around 0540 to use the restroom (too many Bud Lights the night before), and had every intention of crawling back into my sleeping bag. But as I stared at my toes to get back to sleep, I realized that it was a waste of time, so I got up and started the coffee maker.

Sipping my coffee, I saw it beginning to brighten up a little, and thought to myself that it was just too quiet, and something needed to be done about that! While waiting for enough light, Greg Spicola came over and had coffee with me, and was going to help me light off my gyro. But then we heard Chris Spadafora moving around in his van and went over to chat with him.

While we were standing there talking, Greg spotted Dave walking around outside, and said, "Man, you better hurry if you're going to beat him!". So we took off running to my gyro, sliding in the wet grass and coffee flying everywhere. Greg was pulling the blade strap off while I was trying to get the engine started with my helmet half on. I managed to get it to fire, hopped in the seat, and headed for the taxiway, getting airborne just as Dave walked out to the ramp.

Later, feeling a bit cocky about this, I mentioned to Chris Wilson that my plan had been to walk my gyro down the taxiway to the north end of the field where no one would hear me starting it, come blasting down the taxiway right off the deck at about 90 mph, and pull up even with the campers. Chris thought that would have been cool, and I mentioned that we should get a bunch of us together Saturday morning, and do it at first light. Chris was all for it and talked a bunch of other guys into joining in. So Friday night I set my alarm for 0630 and went to sleep after staying up til 0230 shootin' the breeze and drinking too many Bud Lights (again) around the campfire.

So much for our grand plan to surprise everyone.

Dave found out about our plan, and at 0600 rolled his gyro right out in front of Tent City and fired off his SuperMac, aiming the exhaust straight at the tents!

Ka pop-pop-pop-pop! Wa-WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH-pop-pop-pop-pop!

I think I passed a kidney stone right about that time.

It was far too early in the AM for that mess...unless it was me doin' the messin'!

Anyhow, realizing that we had just been skunked, we all got up and accepted defeat as good-naturedly as our hangovers would allow. When it got light enough, Dave led the pack and we launched about 10 gyros in the air and went round and round the pattern.

So Saturday moring saw probably the largest concentration of gyros in the air, led by Mr. Wake-Up himself, Dave Prater.

But I got a plan for next year...
Heehee haha hoho.

[greg spicola]

And thats true.
Greg

[animal]

Originally Posted by gyromike

Ron mentioned in another thread how Dave Prater outfoxed us on Saturday morning. Since I was the instigator in all of this, I suppose I'll tell it.

As most of you already know, Dave is the first one in the air at the fly-ins with his Super Mac powered Bensen. You can't mistake the sound for anything else, and it's the signal for the official start of the day.

Well, this year I managed to beat Dave into the air on Thursday morning. I woke up around 0540 to use the restroom (too many Bud Lights the night before), and had every intention of crawling back into my sleeping bag. But as I stared at my toes to get back to sleep, I realized that it was a waste of time, so I got up and started the coffee maker.

Sipping my coffee, I saw it beginning to brighten up a little, and thought to myself that it was just too quiet, and something needed to be done about that! While waiting for enough light, Greg Spicola came over and had coffee with me, and was going to help me light off my gyro. But then we heard Chris Spadafora moving around in his van and went over to chat with him.

While we were standing there talking, Greg spotted Dave walking around outside, and said, "Man, you better hurry if you're going to beat him!". So we took off running to my gyro, sliding in the wet grass and coffee flying everywhere. Greg was pulling the blade strap off while I was trying to get the engine started with my helmet half on. I managed to get it to fire, hopped in the seat, and headed for the taxiway, getting airborne just as Dave walked out to the ramp.

Later, feeling a bit cocky about this, I mentioned to Chris Wilson that my plan had been to walk my gyro down the taxiway to the north end of the field where no one would hear me starting it, come blasting down the taxiway right off the deck at about 90 mph, and pull up even with the campers. Chris thought that would have been cool, and I mentioned that we should get a bunch of us together Saturday morning, and do it at first light. Chris was all for it and talked a bunch of other guys into joining in. So Friday night I set my alarm for 0630 and went to sleep after staying up til 0230 shootin' the breeze and drinking too many Bud Lights (again) around the campfire.

So much for our grand plan to surprise everyone.

Dave found out about our plan, and at 0600 rolled his gyro right out in front of Tent City and fired off his SuperMac, aiming the exhaust straight at the tents!

Ka pop-pop-pop-pop! Wa-WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH-pop-pop-pop-pop!

I think I passed a kidney stone right about that time.

It was far too early in the AM for that mess...unless it was me doin' the messin'!

Anyhow, realizing that we had just been skunked, we all got up and accepted defeat as good-naturedly as our hangovers would allow. When it got light enough, Dave led the pack and we launched about 10 gyros in the air and went round and round the pattern.

So Saturday moring saw probably the largest concentration of gyros in the air, led by Mr. Wake-Up himself, Dave Prater.

But I got a plan for next year...
Heehee haha hoho.

man I miss all the fun,I am going to try and start makeing more events in the future. so far I have only made mtn city tenn. when they had it,ROC at barnwell and ROC at aiken, always a great time.
Praterhas been the alarm clock as long as I can remember.

[barnstorm2]

Well done, all!

[ben]

mike it sure was early

[GyroRon]

what a hoot!

Dave knocked my chairs down and nearly blew my tent away Saturday morning!!! He certainly got us alright

[jdalexa]

Boggers... it sucks being 3000 miles away from the fun.

[rgraffeo]

Mike,
Dave may be reading your posts & plotting for next year himself.

[Doug Riley]

Dave Prater is one wily ol' gyronaut. I think I soiled my sleeping bag when he fired up that @&%$ Mac at 5 o'dark a.m. (well, it felt like 5... it was shortly after everyone went to bed, at any rate).

The payoff was a huge dawn patrol involving a good dozen gyros. Truly an awe-inspiring sight.

[Jazzenjohn]

Mike, I still don't understand why you want me to bring a Stinky Old Sweat Sock soaked in Chloroform to next years Bensen Days... but If you want it, I'll bring it....

[gyromike]

Originally Posted by Jazzenjohn

Mike, I still don't understand why you want me to bring a Stinky Old Sweat Sock soaked in Chloroform to next years Bensen Days... but If you want it, I'll bring it....

shhhhhhhh!
that was supposed to be a secret...

[greg spicola]

I forgot to post this picture of Mike the mourning he beat Dave
Greg

[WindRyder06]

Greg,
That is beautiful..... yeah the sunrise.... get that crap out of ....I mean that Bensen looks so good on top of it all

Fly Safe,
Chris

[gyromike]

Originally Posted by WindRyder06

Greg,
That is beautiful..... yeah the sunrise.... get that crap out of ....I mean that Bensen looks so good on top of it all

Fly Safe,
Chris

I heard that!

[rgraffeo]

I think next year I may camp away from you guys.
My conscious will not let me take part of such deceitful acts.