Reflections of the past

The beginning of the new year gave me time to reflect a little.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have been blessed with meeting some mighty nice people in this sport along the way. Although I don't compete any more (If that is what you would have called it), I certainly loved the guys and gals I shot with.

All the many friends from the Central NY area as far back as I can remember, and those Canadians, ah yes, my friends from above the Northern border, who I consider some of the nicest people on the planet. When I first shot with them, I knew it would be a life long friendship to come.

And I will mention my mentor in the wonderful world of researching Trap Shooting History "History Buff". I looked at his picture this morning and thought, God, these have been great times.

If it were not for History Buff, I would never have known a smidgen of what I do know about the old days of the sport, and I would probably have a lot more money for my wife to spend, rather than having all the "Stuff" in my den...LOL

And then there are the folks on this site, Thank you !

Thanks for the delightful conversations you all provide, and the many times laughter I get from reading some of your posts...you folks can turn a boring day into a real fun time. I learn a lot from the older set of fellows, and also get some fresh ideas that the newer shooters put forth. All of these posts are enjoyable to read.

I have lost a few of my wonderful friends along the way who have passed on way too early, but the memories of those precious moments will live with me forever.

So, thanks to one and all for the wonderful memories you have given me over the years, and here is hoping we have many more together when I can get to visit you at shoots and on the net.

My best to all of you !

Brad's Friend (I certainly do hope anyway)

Dave in Florida

 

Thanks Dave I enjoyed your comments and I always enjoy seeing the picture of you Lynn and Kenny. Sitting here thinking about who was shooting around the time I started I can only think of 4 others who are still around. My brother Ned, Ken Berger, Willie Anderson, And George Snellenberger. There are probably a few others that I don't remember including some that I don't know. My first organized trapshooting experience was in the fall of 1956 with my first ATA targets shot in 1957. I have met so many great people and made so many good friends and have been able to have been squadded with so many of the greats from the past it has been quite a ride and I hope it continues.

Dave Berlet

 

I remember those very same shooters Dave, Ned, Ken Berger,Willie Anderson, George Snellenberger, Steve Carmichael, Britt Robinson, Ray Stafford, Dan Orhlic, Kaye Ohye, Jerry & Richie Phillips, Louie Morgan and Larry Gravestock, shot with over the years, I shot with them at Las Vegas, Grand American & Ohio State Shoot over the years., George Snellenberger was a hoot at Middletown to shoot with. These people don't know how to set traps.

Ken Berger sold me a Franchi 530 Auto w/release trigger, one of the first ones sold.

I shot w/the ATA President Neal Causaby, at the Missouri Fall Hdcp and broke a 98 from the 27, he said to me I thought you were going to Run em.

I ran the Middle 50 shooting with Britt Robinson, Ray Stafford, Larry Gravestock, Dan Orhlic & Myself, this was when they squadded you and 27 yard shooters were not that many, you had to look at squadding sheets to find where you shot.

Gary Bryant..................................Dr.longshot

 

Neal Causaby was a very, very, good ATA President, and NW Back Stabbed him W/LIES and publications/letters, at ATA Meeting., and that was well publicized, and discussed in ATA Minutes.

GB....................................DLS

 

I got introduced to trap shooting back in 1974, Maywood Sportsmans Club can honestly say for me it was the people involved with trapshooting more than the game itself that was the attraction ...I met and made many friends and always looked forward to the Grand in Vandalia, the crowds, vendors row, beer tent, and the list goes on and on and made more friends from all over the country ... I was attracted enough that I bought an ATA Life Membership on the second day of a two day shoot at Maywood Sportsmans Club back in 1975 with my lunch money for the next two weeks ... ( $50 bucks seemed like a lot of many back then) with a family to feed, house payments etc ...Back then shooting trap was the best thing and most fun you could have with your clothes on ... Things have changed, the people have changed and the values have been changed, altered, or modified some where along the way, not to sure the changes have been a good thing but time goes on ... That was then, this is now ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Speaking of Maywood..I also shot there..Had to keep the Airplanes from distracting me..Got there early so I could shoot out of my trunk and put a chair under some shade tree..Great lights..Shot a lot of games there also.. Maywood..I shot there also..Nice place if you didn't let the Airplanes distract you..

 

I probably know you and you me, the games were the best and I hear they still are ... Used to line 40 across about 3 yards behind the 27 yard line ... I was told they still do it on Weds night and Sunday as well ... It was my home club never let the planes bother me ... Often wonder if Roland and that Old 870 still go out there, he was a tough shooter ... Many great people out there ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

I like to remember the old days and all the friends I made trap shooting. The unfortunate fact tho is that many of them are no longer with us. That list is too long to mention, I miss them much more than I do the actual trap shooting. I really don't miss shooting at all just the people from the old days and the clubs and cities I got to visit when I was young. If not for trap shooting I'd never gotten to see Reno, Vegas, the Grand Canyon and all the 38 states I shot in, not to mention Canada. I'm so glad I got to do what I did.

I was reading about the Silver Dollar's issue with zoning. I shot the first Silver Dollar shoot in I think 1978 or 1979. Bill and Barb owned it then and I parked my 5th wheel right by the horse barn. I was so close that one of the horses could stick his .
head out the barn window and touch my rig.

We only shot on the west side of the road then, before the golf club, the lake, the trailers, back then just a trap club. Soon after Bill added the doublewides' and everything else. I haven't shot there since 1995 or so but back in the day Ann and I would park our trailer there and spend a month or so every shooting season. I hope it doesn't join the growing list of clubs I've shot that are no more.

Two memories I have of the Silver Dollar involve the wind. One year the wind blew so hard one day that it knocked over some trees at the entrance, blew over a porta pottie with a Trap setter inside it. I remember in the singles that day the squad I was shooting with had NO ONE break a score in the 90's and then the next day we broke a 500 X 500. Brad


i

 

Great reading your memories -- Makes a person realize after 50+year of shooting its the greatest part of this sport! All I can hope and pray my grandkids can have the same good times -friends - and memories - we have had with this sport!

 

My first singles Championship at the Dollar were 150 Targets, Could not handle a 200 target Event, and entries closed, I also broke all 150, and lost to a Lady, Nora Martin in the night shootoff, she won the Singles Championship.

I remember the Car Collection Bill Had in a building or 2.

GB..............................DLS

 

Great Eastern Gun Club was a classic Place to shoot, I had my first Beretta Single flown in by Helicopter from Pa by Joel Etchen. I always shot well there
It was well managed, and food was Great. Managed by Aden & Sue Kaufman. In the Great Amish Country, You could see Great Eastern from the Der Dutchman.

GB..........................DLS.

 

At their 3 big weekend shoots each summer one in June one in July and one right after the Grand in August they had some great calcutta's. Many times as many as 40 squads would shoot both of the 100 target handicaps over 8 program traps on Sunday.On Saturday they would shoot the 50 pair doubles championship and the 200 singles championship.Some great memories from that club and some great food from the area Amish restaurants and the ladies loved checking out the Amish stores and craft shops. Loved to shoot at that place.

Dave Berlet

 

$17,000 in one pot of Hold-Em at one of the pigeon shoots.