I carry one of 50 target frames for the Benchrest match down to the 100-yard berm.
This report covers:
- Sons
- The Pyramyd Air Cup
- Rebranding event
- Great turnout
- Shooters
- Fiddler on the Roof?
- Several surprises to come
Today I begin my report on the 2023 Pyramyd Air Cup.
The Cup started last Thursday and Ian McKee and I were there for the opening. But what YOU guys want to know is what happened on the way up from Texas. You know that I’m often called the Great Enabler. Well, Ian got me back with several wonder-tools he introduced me to. One is a power tower that I’ll take on all my trips.
Las Vegas hotel rooms typically use most of their outlets for their own stuff like hair dryers, TVs and makeup mirrors. The larger one of these that I bought turns one outlet into 12 110 plugs and 6 USBs. It’s not for running a welder, but it’s great for the low draw little stuff. It also contains a surge protector for sketchy power.
Sons
The day before we got to the Cup I took my two sons to dinner in Louisville. I had not seen either of them in 30 years! It was a good reunion and I have plans to return and take them and their families to the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. That attraction is a full-sized replica of Noah’s Ark that takes at least a day to see.
My sons — Steven, to the left left and Thomas to the right.
The Pyramyd Air Cup
This year the Cup was held at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. That’s just north of Columbus, so pretty much in the center of the state.
The Cardinal Center is huge! I asked Pyramyd Air for a golf cart to get around because the field target event is about a mile away from the Benchrest and Gunslynger events.
The turnout was so large that the reception hall hall at the Cardinal Center couldn’t hold everyone. Pyramyd Air had to rent a huge tent to use for their awards banquet dinner.
Rebranding event
This event coincided with the rollout of the new name and focus for Pyramyd AIR. Pyramyd staff were everywhere, ready and able to do whatever needed doing. Marketing director, Emily Phillippi, and product manager, Tyler Patner, had a well-choreographed event — even though the numbers of competitors was somewhat overwhelming. I could see both of them working overtime behind the scenes to make things smooth for everyone.
Great turnout
Registration was first and shooters lined up for Benchrest, Gunslynger and Field Target events.
Hundreds of shooters lined up to register for the matches.
The turnout was so overwhelming that the matches had to be held in relays. There were 48 target stands (I believe) for Benchrest and they had to run three relays to allow everyone to shoot.
Shooters
I have to observe that, of the 300+ people at the Cup, many were “experienced” at life (read that as over 70) yet I think I only saw one cane and one walking stick in all the days I was there. It was a generally mobile crowd.
That being said, I asked for a golf cart to use while I was there because I walked my legs to a nub in 2019. Things were closer together this year but it was still about a mile between Vendor Row and the cabin where Ian McKee and I stayed. If you click on that link to the Cardinal Shooting Center there is a video showing many of the amenities that are available.
The target stands were carried out to the 100-yard berm. The numbers are along the 50-yard line.
Looking at less than half the firing line. Obviously this is practice, as people are not permitted to stand near or talk around the shooters during a match. Photo courtesy of Bryan Lever.
Fiddler on the Roof?
After two days at the cup I woke up singing “Sunrise, Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof — specifically the line, “I don’t remember getting older. When did they?” It seems that all of the people I’ve known in this industry over the past 30 years have aged. I wonder when I will.
Several surprises to come
RidgeRunner — what have you been asking for on this blog? You have asked for it many times over the years. And it’s now in my hands! Can you guess what it is? Everyone can play this game. I’ll tell you what it is tomorrow.
B.B.
If you don’t look in the mirror, you are whatever age that you wanna be….
-Y
Very well said Yogi.
Is it ok if I identify as a 30 year old and no 60?
Ian.
Ian,
I identify as twelve and will grow no older. Ask Mrs. RR, she will tell you such.
Yogi
Or, walking down a city street and happen to look at a storefront window as you pass,, and then look around to see the old guy you noticed in the reflection. He must have been right next to you, but he was gone.
Ed
BB,
Well, you know the old saying, “a picture is worth 1000 words.”
I think the first pic says quite a lot about the level of fun at this event. 😉
Blessings to you,
dave
Dave,
He does seem to be enjoying himself, eh?
For sure, and more power to him! 🙂
BB,
Our “age” is only state of the mind 🙂
tomek,
I will one day die very young then.
BB,
I cannot for the life of me guess. I will have to wait until tomorrow like everyone else.
I do miss the road trips with Lloyd to the Fun Shoots when they were in Kentucky. I met some pretty nice people out there.
Tom,
“We are always the same age inside.”
— Gertrude Stein
Michael
Michael,
I remember when I was in my 20s, a guy with whom I worked was 65; he told me that, inside, he still felt like a twenty-year-old…while still realizing that when he went skiing with his daughter, he needed to go slower down the expert slopes as he knew he didn’t have the same reaction time he used to…yet he still felt young. 🙂
Blessings to you,
dave
The Cardinal Center is very impressive. Wabbits don’t stand a chance hanging out at that place…
I admit to not having recognised Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier) in the first picture, probably due to his beard, which I think, actually really suits him. 🙂
How nice to see the three boys side by side! 🙂
What a huge place. Imagine being told, ‘here’s the key to the mower shed and petrol can store – remember, the show is tomorrow, ok’, phew!
“How nice to see the three boys side by side!”
Yes, that is an awesome picture! 🙂
As a kid I was into fishing, pelletguns and homemade bows and slingshots. Now retired, I’m back to fishing, pelletguns and homemade bows and slingshots. Full circle. My wife says that I’m in my second childhood. I disagree – I’m still in my first and clinging to it desperately 🙂
Fortunately, while growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional. In spite of the punishment of the next day’s discomfort, I doubt that I’ll learn to stop acting like I’m still a teenager. LOL!
Cheers!
Hank
“Now retired, I’m back to fishing, pelletguns and homemade bows and slingshots.”
Hank, sounds like a good retirement to me…hang onto that first childhood! 😉
I’m guessing BB may be about to send Ridgerunner his no longer needed straight razor. The beard fits the godfather image well.
But another guess is about etched glass and BugBusters.
Deck
All good guesses! My vote would be for the scope. The beard may come off again at some point in the future, and the straight razor will be pressed into service again.
Some Fawlty observations right out of the Manuel…
1) The beard does look good on you.
2) Getting together with your “boys” – priceless; FM was blessed to have spent some time recently with far away daughter; can’t beat that. Never pass up an opportunity to connect with your loved ones, be they family or friends. There may not be another.
3) As my late father-in-law wisely said, “age is just mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it don’t matter.”
4) FM is 73, desperately clinging to 13.
5) Keep walking; having said that, too bad you couldn’t borrow FM’s friends’ Kettenkrad to get around, in style…LOL.
6) Finally – have fun! Seems you did. May there be lots of fun left in your life-bucket.
I keep telling my wife that I’m a 25 year old trapped in a 74 year old body!
Good to see you reuniting with your boys!
Motorman
Eastern MO