Swede Posted July 5, 2009 Posted July 5, 2009 I am still shaking my head from last nights celebration in a field in Justin, TX. The owners of the land had distributed flyers at all the local fireworks stands, advertising the use of their field for consumer fireworks at $10 per carload. We decided to check it out. With the car loaded, 4 adults plus beaucoup fireworks, we headed up to Justin, about 15 miles away. The map was not needed. You could see the field from miles away, and the line for admission was 1/4 mile long. When we finally got in, the visibility was about 1/4 mile with the thickest smoke I have ever encountered at a shoot. Hundreds of cars were parked in a circle, with the middle left open, maybe 4 acres. It was supposed to be small stuff, but for three continuous hours, it was an epic barrage of everything from roman candles to what had to be 6" to 8" shells. It was both glorious, AND frightening. I watched guys set up 4 flimsy cardboard tubes, load them, light the fuses, and when the first went off, the blast knocked the other three over, which then fired in random directions. I saw 2" shells impact pickup trucks, flowerpots by the dozen, repeater cakes fall over and barrage the crowd, just some insane behavior. Several grass fires. But with hundred of people launching simultaneously, the sky was painted non-stop. I was worried that my 3" cannisters would be a tell-tale - too big, but as I mentioned, there were some talented amateurs there, at least a dozen, putting up some really excellent shells. When it was time to leave, our car had a 1/8" thick coating of ash. The soil in that field is probably now salted and toxic. It was an incredible melee, but safety was a real issue. I'm tempted to write a letter, but I doubt it would help, it would probably just annoy a lot of people. Was anyone else at Justin, TX last night?
TheSidewinder Posted July 5, 2009 Posted July 5, 2009 Wow. Just.......... wow! Sounds like you had an incredible time. And I'm green with envy right now. Have you been to a PGI convention yet, Swede? Except for the outsized (and disallowed) sizes, and the mishaps with poorly-anchored tubes, the smoke thickness you mentioned sounds exactly like the Class C area at the last PGI I attended. Only it wasn't three hours long, it was all day long, starting at 10(?)am and right up until closing time at... umm... 1am(?). Something like you experienced last night would never happen here in Minnesota, sad to say. We've had 40 years of Liberal politicians and their Nanny-State attitudes to blame for that. When Mom and Dad are gone, I'm leaving MN. And Texas is sounding better all the time...... Thanks for the uplifting post!
Pretty green flame Posted July 5, 2009 Posted July 5, 2009 Swede, that sounds freaking awesome. We have something similar for NYE, mass shoots are probably the most fun you can have with fireworks. Simply amazing.
TYRONEEZEKIEL Posted July 5, 2009 Posted July 5, 2009 I experienced the exact same thing yesterday in Forney Texas! Ive never seen so many flowerpots at once. I attempted my first shell, and it flopped. i didnt spike, and used a mortar that was too big, so it barely plopped out of the mortar, and only the top end burst. At least it functioned, but I did learn that there is a reason for the procedures.
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