BLAST FROM THE PAST..1982 FORTVILLE, INDIANA.

[JACKIE40X40]

1982 International Championship.Fortville Indiana.This was my first International.It poured down rain almost every day,no covered firing line!
Sorry for quality of the pics

[260 Striker]

I never saw targets set so close together before then. I don't think I had one relay where I didn't need at least one alibi shot from all the cross firing that went on. That was my first Internationals too and I got there just after the big rain storms. It was great seeing all those people there. I had some guy shooting a full house 308 next to me and the vibration off the plywood dividers was horrible. All in all, I still thought it fun just to shoot at a big match like that.

[braud357]

This was my 1st Internationals as well, wow - what a mess ! I was spotting for my brother Charlie when the "black wall" came in on Friday - my first experience of a Midwest thunderstorm. To say that I got wet would be a gross understatement ! I remember when I shot Revolver, my targets were so far to my left that I had to lay almost sideways between the baffles ( I was much younger and sleeker then !) I did not shoot well, at all - but met a LOT of very nice people ! Jackie, I remember that the first couple of days were beautiful - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday not so beautiful ! I have some pictures somewhere from when I shot revolver, and it was sunny.

[JACKIE40X40]

Good deal Phil, The targets as 260 striker said were so close together, that Ann Clark from Oklahoma was on the Rams, hit a turkey`s head.The day i shot Revolver it came a monsoon.But it was awesome! I got to meet some of founding super stars,and met Bill Ruger, and Mr Gates,he was riding a 4 wheeler side saddle, smoking a cigar.

[JACKIE40X40]

Oh yea.The motel that we were staying in, they stole the wheel covers off my Tbird. But it was an awesome match.

[Alvin]

The day before the match started they had the entire BOD of IHMSA out there, with shovels trying to finish up getting the targets set up to be able to even have the match. What a MESS!! Was not a good, or safe match. Not much in way of a backstop behind the rams, if I remember correctly. I do remember shooters hitting turkeys while trying to hit rams. That was not a happy memory! There was a hot air balloon rally at the motel one night and they completely trashed the place. Come morning the place looked like a dump.

[Alvin]

But it was the largest handgun match ever held. 1725 entries, if memory serves me right.

[JACKIE40X40]

Yes sir. Mr Gates was furious with the range when he got there. He had been assured by the match director that everything was good.
There was suppose to be a covered firing line, it ended up being a plastic sheet that blew away, before the IHMSA crew got there.Mr Gates like you said had to bring people and equipment in to get the range finished on time .That when Mr Gates stated that we would have a permanent range so this would not happen again.

[JACKIE40X40]

Al. Do you remember when the truck with the target setters came out on the range?

[Alvin]

No, I don't recall the truck with the target setters....what happened there??