Farewell, Springfield Air Rendezvous, but Not Goodbye

There’s a terrific music group called Asleep at the Wheel; saw them on Austin City Limits a few years back. During Soar Into Summer, the Springfield Air Rendezvous fundraiser downtown last night, I thought I found them playing incognito as City Limits Band. They were terrific. I am not an outdoor band kind of bloke, but I absolutely grooved on their sound.. In an earlier blog posting here, I anticipated dropping by, the event, paying my $6 and the “door,” having two beers and skeedaddling home. Turns out I had more fun than I antikipated, that I realised as far as bands go, I had been “alseep at the wheel” and missed a heck of a lot of good sounds in the dusty streets of Blingfield.

I had come to say sayonnara to SAR director Kim Curry and anyone else connected to the best show off earth for the last 24 years. I took my camera because I wanted to record images for posterity. Images For Posterity seems to be my middle name, though my birt’ certificate says Clifton. And in the course of the night I remembered how much fun it is to photograph music in action. My last time in this mode was the downtown jazz festival in 2001. Had a great time, took some fab pictures, and then decided not to bother a second time when Downtown Springfield, Inc. declined my offer of my pictures for modest recompense, the kind one can EAT with. The joy came back to me at the Soaring’, and I imagine that I will attend another street concert or two this simmer, just to take some pictures. Recompense be danged.

Unheralded “Belle” of this ball was Kim Curry, pictured above. She has served as coordinator extraordinaire for most of the air show’s 24 years. Here she is talking with a camera man from the Champaign TV station whose management will not broadcast their CBS affiliate Channel 3 to Springfield audiences. (I digress because I still think it’s a pain because Springfield viewers should be able to watch David Letterman. After Letterman retires, I’ll stop whining. But I digress.) Kim extended a courtesy to me which allowed me to stay until the fireworks display at about 9:15. concluded. That courtesy allowed me not to die of thirst.

Pictured above, left to right, are Mrs. and Mr. Harry Holesinger. He is former commander of Springfield’s 183rd Tactical Fighter Group, the Air National Guard outfit at AL Capital Airport. Both are parents of Kim, and both are tireless volunteers in sustaining the airshow. When some retired military “weight” could be placed behind SAR needs, Harry — and management at the 183rd — lent their considerable inflence to the cause. I seldom visited the SAR offices without finding Harry and/or Mrs. there, stuffing envelopes, answering correspondence, answering the phones . . . you name it.

Another picture of the fashion plate of City Limits. I don’t know his name, but he’s a superb guitarist and (I’m guessing) lead vocal. More pictures of this band and the rest of the June 1 event will be posted at an AeroKnow page in the next week. I will let you know when the page is uploaded.

A glimpse of the fireworks display. produced by Carl Steinmacher (apologies for likely ms-spelling here) between bands. City Limits Band was followed by F5, which is probably the hottest band in central Illinoise. A few drops of light rain had begun to fall, and the F5 people were covering their gear. Worst of all, I was out of beer and beer tickets and dough re mi. So I beat a fast trail home, totally (well, alMOST totallly) content with the event. You go home early when you don[t have an employer.

I understand the SAR organization is NOT quitting. They are reducing the size of their office at the airport, but they have not given up the idea of producing another air show. I hope it happens. I hope YOU will hope it happens too. If you have any connection with significant corporate funding for a major central Illinois event. Drop me a note so I can connect you to SAR.

KUDOS to all for a terrific street party. June 1. I look forward to seeing everyone at their next one about this time (God and supporters willing) next year.

Live long . . . . and proper.