JULY 29-31, 2022
Solberg Airport - Readington, NJ 800-HOT-AIR-9
Countdown to Festival Fun
|
Until the 2020
|
|
Quick Chek New Jersey
|
|
Festival of Ballooning!
|
DAVID "THE BULLET" SMITH AIMS FOR WORLD CANNONBALL RECORD AT QUICKCHEK NEW JERSEY FESTIVAL OF BALLOONING
By all accounts, David Smith Jr. is a big shot.
Known as “The Bullet,” David is heir to the throne of being the world’s most accomplished human cannonball, carrying on a great family tradition of being the highest and farthest flying cannonball of all time. From breaking the world distance record to blasting over incredible obstacles such as Ferris wheels, concert stages, even part of the Grand Canyon.
Next up: a world-record attempt by soaring over a hot air balloon when he performs at the 36th annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank. The three-day Festival, July 27-28-29, 2018, is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America.
“Before he even climbs down the barrel of his 34-foot-long cannon, David has a big net to fill,” said Festival Executive Producer Howard Freeman. “His sister, Jennifer “The Cannon Lady” Smith, has been the most popular attraction we’ve ever had. He has his sights set high as he’ll try to launch himself over a balloon.”
David just broke his own Guinness World Record by traveling 195 feet at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on March 14, breaking his previous record of 193 feet 8 inches and that of his father (184’10). He goes from 0 to 60 mph in less than a second.
Yes, this family business is a blast. David Smith Sr. is a renowned human cannonball. He and his wife raised seven children and each one has been fired from a cannon. For David Jr., his career began out of necessity.
“One day my dad called and said he hurt his back and needed some recovery time,” said the younger Smith. “He needed me to take his place and perform in Madison, Wisconsin, in two days. They gave me a practice shot in the morning then I performed a live show at night. It was not really an option for me to say no to his request. I was 19 years old, terrified, nervous, and very excited.”
Over the next six months Junior continued shooting under the guidance of his father, a lifelong human cannonball whose worldwide performances included spending an entire summer being shot down Main Street USA at Disneyland.
The two Smiths traveled the country, performing in a different city most every day. Each day and performance, father passed something on to son. The cannon shots started to be a little farther than the day before.
The following year David Jr. took the cannon on tour. He perfected the set up of the landing net and learning exactly how to aim the cannon for different size shots and conditions. As David’s confidence and abilities grew, so did the size of the cannonball shots.
On May 29, 1998 in Kennywood Amusement Park in West Mifflin, PA, the two flying Smiths blasted their way into the Guinness Book of World Records on prime time television. David Jr. fired 181 feet 4 inches, breaking the old record of 180 feet. Then dad soared 184 feet 10 inches.
In 2011 David Jr. set two Guinness World Records: soaring 193 feet 8 inches in Italy to establish a then new distance record followed by soaring 77 feet 6 inches high at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The stages for these performances have been equally large: performing on the Vans Warped Tour, appearing with his father and sisters on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Today Show” before 15 million viewers. Discovery Channel specials and the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards soon followed. As did NASCAR; The Bullet fired before 144,000 people at the Coca-Cola 500 race.
For those attending this year’s balloon festival, the sky will be full of all sorts of colorful objects.
|
Browse by Year »
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
Browse by Month »
July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 January 2021 December 2020 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 February 2020 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 July 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 July 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 March 2012 February 2012 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 December 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 March 2005 February 2005 December 2004 |
