SC Fun Shoot … another great event has ended

[CharlieDaTuna]

Thank you too all that attended the 2011 SC Fun Shoot.  

As you all know, Gene and I put these shootouts together, it's for you, the members of the GTA forum. It’s an opportunity for those members who can to get together to share an air gunning experience and camaraderie with your fellow members on the forum, to get to meet each other and have a good time. It’s not for Gene and I, but for you and at the same time, we get to meet you also.

As always, this shootout was a tremendous success. And yes, it was the biggest and best so far and it just gets bigger and better every time. With the exception of a very light rain for a very short time the weather was perfect.

We had an attendance of about 35 (members and wives) and also a few youngsters that were not counted. It looked like tent city and it seemed that everybody was able to make themselves comfortable. And they came from all over including from the Chicago area, New York, Louisiana, Kentucky, TN, GA, NC, SC, and I believe FL.

Gene and I want to thank everybody that participated and hope all had a good time. We would like to thank Dave (Rocker1) and Dave (Dez) for setting up and handling the raffles and prize drawings as well as the competitions.  

We would like to thank the lady folks for their helping Cathy put the food servicing and preparation together and their help with the raffle. It was a big help and took some of the work load off of Kathy. And a very special thanks to Kathy. She spent almost the whole week preparing the grub for the event and fine food it was. Gene has a great wife that dedicates herself to these events when we have them and I’m sure that she is looking forward to some rest.

Also, the Boston Butts that Dez and Teresa brought down with him were out of this world. We had plenty of food for everyone and that was a hit.

A special thanks to David (Rocker1) and his wife Diane who arrived early in the week and helped organize and get things prepped for the event.  And we must really give a special thanks to Ernie. He spent the last two weeks clearing and setting up the range area. A lot of hard work was invested there.

Also a thank you to Kim and Joel from Crosman for coming down and bringing some of the Crosman wares for all to shoot and play with.

There were all kinds of guns for everybody to shoot and get some exposure to and experience, a lot of information passed around. Something for everyone. The shoot-off pitted the PCP’s against the Springer’s and the Springer’s won the top prize and was won by our buddy TCups. That man is hard to outshoot and usually is the top shot at all of our events.

Perhaps some of the other attendees will make additional comment and that it will encourage others to come to the future events. Looking forward to the next one and hope more of you can make it and hope to see you there.

I could do on and on and I'm sure others will share their experience, but suffice to say, if you were there and you didn’t have fun it was your fault.


CDT

[Tpatner412]

Bob you couldn't have said it any better. It was a great time an I will definitely be coming back. For those of you that couldn't make it, it is a must attend event. It is awesome. Lots of great guns and even better people.

[JonnyReb]

 Truly was a good time had by everyone, Gene and his wife are to be commended for opening up their doors, grill and property to a horde of happy airgunners, the food was awesome and the guns were phenominal. I don't know if every airgunner is as fine an individual as everyone i met but i'm going to assume so, everyone was an absolute pleasure to meet and shoot with. Bob, Gene, David, Chad, Richard, Earnie, Dave, Martin, Joel, Kim, tyler, Tommy, Dave, Matt and so many more, it was fantastic to put the names with the faces and to shoot with you.

  Dean, Thank you so much for the Snap on tools you donated, i so with you could have been there to shake your hand. Not sure who all the other donators were but the guns and accessories raffled and given away were awesome. Thank all of you so much.

  To all the wives who kept the food coming and to Gene the grill master, Many thanks!

  Most shocking moment? When the duke power(local utility co) service truck chose to drive down the wooded right of way, popping out in the dead center of the 40 yard mark on the range with about 20 guns leveled at him!!!!      Woah!!  Luckily everyone saw the white truck a fraction of a second before he was on the range and was able pull all muzzles skyward, i'll bet the driver had to head for the nearest restroom to clean himself up...


  Was a great time and i'll sure be looking forward to the coming pics and additional comments.  Thanks again GTA!  Jeff

[ezman604]

MANY thanks Bob. I posted a little blurb in the SC Shoot photo thread but thought I'd do a cut & paste of a little of it here. I want to make sure everyone does see my comments too and my GREATEST thanks.

First off, thank you to every member that showed up. I think it makes our GTA family even closer. I hope all of you had as good of a time as Teresa and I did. And I hope you all made it home safe and sound!!!! Thank you to everyone that sent or brought things to raffle or give away. We had several items that almost raised enough money to cover the entire event. And every penny was appreciated. I hope everyone that won prizes enjoys them. I just wish we had more to give away and who knows, maybe next event??? You'll have to come out and see. LOL
MANY thanks to Gene and Bob for hosting the meet. Especially Gene, for sharing his home and property. A VERY special thanks to Cathy, Gene's fantastic wife, for all the hard work and with a constant warm smile. You made us ALL feel very welcome and at home. You went out of your way to fix vittles and help us have a good time. We love ya gal.
Many thanks to David (Rocker1) and his lovely wife Diane. You helped set this thing up and get us organized. It wouldn't have been as enjoyable or be the same without you two. I'm looking forward to having Gene, Cathy, David & Diane at our home any time they want a trip to West TN. A big thanks to Ernie for clearing the shooting range and keeping the targets set up and ready!!!! Good job brother. A very special thanks to Kim & Joel for making the long haul from NY and bringing door prizes and a few guns for us to play with. You're the best!!!!
The weekend for Teresa and I was just TOO short. We really felt like we were just getting to know everyone when it was sadly time to leave. I can tell you it was a totally different kind of vacation than we have ever had and one of the most memorable and enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the next one already. We are tossing the idea around to have another event in the fall. The truck flashing through the range was VERY exciting. I thought for a second that Gene had arranged a special moving target for us. And yep, I bet a new set of drawers was in order for that technician. 
And we were also entertained by Sarah and Ralphie. I think they had fun too and handled the crowd QUITE well. 
I could ramble on for a while longer but I'll spare everyone. As stated, it was fantastic to shake the hands and be face to face with our GTA guys and gals. It was a priceless event in my book.
I just wanted to thank each and EVERYONE for coming and the special thanks for the host and hostess. If you were in doubt about attending, DO NOT miss the next one!!!!
Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

[TCups]

Yes, a very special thanks to everyone involved for another successful SC Fun Shoot, especially Gene and Cathy for their endless hospitality!  Always a great time and good company.  It just keeps getting better, Gene.  Thank you!!

[Progun]

It was fer sure a Great time. Many, many thanks to Bob, Gene and Cathy and all who worked so hard to make this such a wonderful gathering. I'll look forward to our next get together and so will Laurie. She had a blast and now she knows why I love the GTA. May God bless you all. Dave.

[gene_sc]

The GTA's 2011 South Carolina Fun Shoot Event could not of been successfull without the help of Mrs. Kim Yaddow representing Crosman Corp and for Crosman for sending us toys to play with and donating raffle prizes., David Furr and Wife Diane, Dave Easly and wife Teresa, Cathy my wonderful wife who prepared most all the food.

A special thanks to Dave Easly and Teresa for bringing two big smoked Boston Butts. Helping with the door prizes, and raffles. Also to Richard for his touch of Lousiana viddles he brought and shared with all of us.

Also a Special Thanks to those who made donations of raffle prizes. Won't mention names but they know who he/them are...

A Special Thanks to David Furr and Dian who came a week early to help with final touches to the event, including tuning, repairing, and fixing members air guns.

My good friend Ernie for clearing at least 20 yards of heavy brush and trees to give us a larger target shooting area. We were able to shoot out to 70 yards this year.

This surely was a team effort and all deserve a Big Thank You for their role in making the 2011 GTA Fun Shooting Events a great success.

And last but not least, for the GTA members who helped support our event with their donations, and participation. As well as those who could not attend but gave us all their support.

This was truly one of our best Fun Shooting Events and they just keep getting bigger and better.

Bob and I thank everyone for your support.

[Rocker1]

I can truthfully tell you i had one of the best times ever  especially when the boss let me out of the shop lol!!! I think I adjusted more triggers than I have ever  in that amount of time, it sure was good to put faces with the people I talk with on here and all I met were good people, many thanks for Gene and his wife Cathy and even to  DR MEATHOOKS  (ernie) who put many hours and a lot of work in setting up our shooting range, this man really did a lot of work. i injoyed myself  greatley even though it will take me a week to get over it as did my wife, I have a great wife who slept in a tent with me for about 6 days ,  and watched me play with bb guns all that time. I am sure I gained a few pounds there Genes wife  really fed me well. For anyone that missed this shoot it was one for the books. THANKS BOSS   David

[amb5500c]

Wow!! What a pile of fun I had. Even the yankee folks I met turned out to be great people. LOL. This was an absolutely great event. I want to give a very heartfealt thank you to Gene and his wonderful wife Cathy for opening their home and welcoming me and all the others. Thank you David and Diane and Dave and Theresa for all of the efforts put forth by you. Thanks Kim and Joel for your input. Thanks Ernie/"Meathooks" for the work and being at the service of everyone for anything. And thank you Mr. Bob for all you do. Theres no way I can name all who deserve credit for helping make this event so great so if I left anyone out, thank you too. We throw the term "GTA family" around on these forums a lot, but I can honestly say that I felt like this could have just as easily been a family reunion. I really enjoyed meeting everyone and putting a face to the name and getting to see and shoot any kind of gun imaginable. It was an experience that I will hold dear and hope to have many more times. May God bless and keep each and everyone of you.
Richard

[aack73]

I had a great time. thanks to gene, his wife, charlie, dave, dez, ernie, and any of the others who helped put it on.(if i forgot to mention anyone please forgive me as i haven't learned everyones names) I would also like to thank all of the really nice members and moderators that brought out some of their prized air rifles for us to see, hold, shoot, and slobber on.  Everyone was just as friendly and helpful in person as they are on this site. you could just stop to look at some very nice rifles and they were handing them too ya. "here shoot this" they would say. i'm thinking they don't even know me but yet they would hand/lend me their rifle to shoot. Thanks again to all and i'm looking forward to attending the next one if invited.

[Mr_Sis]

When they say "southern hospitality" they really mean it. That was the most fun we had in a long time. Thank you Gene and Cathy for the food and living space. Bob for running the errends and getting supplies.David and Diane for being great neighbors and the work on my Ag. Richard for the "Goody Bags" and Dez and Theresa for his cooking and other goodies. The great people of the GTA made it fun and wonderful for all. the laughing and fun we all had was worth the 15 hour drive and would love to do it again. There are way to many people to thank in this little paragraph and don't want to take all the space up like dez. Again Ty for everyone for making this possable and hope everyone made it home safe.                                                                       Kim and Joel

[Shooter_AC]

A note of thanks for all of the organizers (Gene, Bob and David) making me feel welcome and explaining to a rookie shooter all of the intricacies of air gun shooting. I had a real good time and hope to be back there in the future.

Drive from Illinois to South Carolina $450, staying in a hotel in Anderson $165, spending the weekend with my son....priceless

[rofocale2011]

Congratulations from mexico, it would be really nice to one day meet you guys.

[JonnyReb]

Congratulations from mexico, it would be really nice to one day meet you guys.

  Thanks Leviathan, wish you could make it out this way one day too,, maybe ya'll on the west coast could charter a bus?

[rofocale2011]

That´s a good idea, i´ll pass it along, but i will also start saving and while I´m there buy me a PCP.

[JonnyReb]

 We'll have one waiting for you

[rofocale2011]

Thanks

Best regards.

[Dave1899]

Well Charlie and Gene it looks like I missed another great event.  That will teach me to check out the forum more often!

[uncle paulie]

Boy, it would seem that I not only missed the opportunity to rub elbows with you guys and gals but I also missed out on a chance to meet and thank personally some of the folks from Crosman who have been so helpful and patient with so many of us AGnuts! Sure work is a necessary evil, but it's really the pits when it interferes with something like this! Next time....

pv

[ezman604]

Even though our event was in May, I wanted to bump this back one more time. This week I received the latest edition of Airgun Hobbyist. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank publisher Ron Sauls and editor Tim Smith for the nice write-up on the event. It was a pleasure meeting you guys there and just having you in our GTA family. It was an added bonus and honor to have you include us in your publication. And thank you again for donating the door prizes and raffle items. Kudos guys!!!!
Airgun related publications are few and far between. All of us here need to support the resources we HAVE to make sure they are here tomorrow. I personally ask (not as GTA staff but as an airgun hobbyist) that all GTA members check out http://www.airgunhobby.com and pick up a subscription.
Thanks again folks and....
Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave