Dave Berlet @ Beer Tent making trapshooting great again.....

All pictures taken at the Cardinal Classic Beer and Feast tent.

 

FG what great memories those pictures brought back. In our trapshooting world the afternoon and evenings at the Vandalia beer stand will never be duplicated. As the shooting started to wind down in the afternoons folks started to flock to the beer stand kinda like people flock to Trump's rallies. If you weren't early most times you couldn't find a seat.The crowds that the free food bring to the big tent at Sparta nowhere compare to the crowds in and around the dear old Vandalia beer stand. Sometimes there would be a band playing out on the blacktop. If you weren't involved in a shootoff it seemed like most everyone came to the beerstand whether you were a beer drinker or not everyone was welcome and everyone seemed to have a great time. Even some of the local folks who were not shooters would be there to here some of the stories and enjoy the great atmosphere. Of all the time that I spent there and that was considerable I don't believe that I ever witnessed a fight. It seemed that everyone came to the beerstand to hangout, drink a few adult beverages, and tell and listen to the stories of how they almost won it all.

To the people reading this post that were never able to attend the Vandalia beer stand during the Grand you most probably don't believe what I have written, but all you have to do is check with anyone who was fortunate enough to have been there or witnessed what a great daily party it was. The beerstand was just one more thing that was lost when the Grand left Vandalia.

Dave Berlet

 

Dave I did threaten to kill Pete's monkey if he didn't make it shut up. But I only remember arguments over who's turn it was to buy.

 

God those were the fun days and we will never see them again. Just memories. Brad, remember some of the stories Bernie and Ben used to tell? Berlet and George could tell some pretty big ones also.

 

If anyone has any pictures from in and around the Vandalia beer stand I wish they would post some of them on here so the folks who were never able to actually be a part the mass of humanity that gathered there can see what some of us were able to enjoy. From the beer stand to the shootoff bleachers people were packed in tighter than sardines in a can and it seemed like everyone was having a good time. The folks who were never able to enjoy this missed out on what was just a part of the Vandalia experience. The Vandalia shoot was kind of like a family reunion,a county fair, a neighbor hood block party, and the biggest, bestest, baddest trapshoot that anyone had ever dreamed of. I'm not putting this on here in any way to diminish the Sparta Grand which is in it's own way is something that all current shooters should be able to enjoy and participate in. Vandalia is just a part of trapshooting history that I am so thankful that I was able to be a part of during the best years of my shooting career, and for several years before I had the opportunity to start to participate. Oh what great memories. The moskeet range, the Vandalia cafeteria, the arcade games, across the street to Christy's and Friendlies, the Buckhorn, the Shucking Shack, Little York Pizza, and of course the Camp Troy money shoots both day and night. I could go on for ever ,but I believe I've said enough for now.

Dave Berlet

 

1. Forgot the free orange juice at the Florida booth. The great lady that ran the locker room. Remember Mary maze. She would sew your name on your jacket. How about big John Cantrell selling hats. Way back when you went to the entry building they gave you a name tag, ribbon and a small medal and even typed your name on the badge.

 

Does anyone have a picture of the stacks of beer cups that were on the tables? Roger C.