RELOAD!

SEPTEMBER 2001
© Bruce Buck, editor

GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC

By Vinny La Scalza

It is no secret that as we look at the rich and famous around us, we are all
curious as to how they became that way. Sporting clays shooters are no
different. When they see someone like Geoff Gaebe, the owner of Addieville East
Farm and host of the very successful Great Eastern Lobster Classic held on
August 11th and 12th, they wonder how he got his start. After some very careful
research and some unsubstantiated rumors, I am now about to reveal this.

It was in the middle of the night, long ago, and had to do with an old brass
lamp and a genie and two wishes. How do I make shooters happy?" was Geoff’s
first question. The genie nodded his head and said, "The Great Eastern Lobster
Classic." Unfortunately, Jeff used his second wish inadvertently by immediately
saying, "I wish I knew what that was." The all-knowing Genie then began to
explain.

It is a shoot that is the fairest in the land. Twelve guns will be given away
plus countless door prizes. All the shooters who enter this shoot will have an
opportunity to "win" these, as they will be receiving various amounts of lottery
tickets depending on their final standings. In fact, they will receive lottery
tickets for just registering for the shoot. At the end of the shoot, tickets
will be drawn randomly and numerous expensive gifts will be distributed.

The genie continued, "It is also a shoot that has value." Since this shoot will
be the pre-eminent event in New England, it must be B-I-G and be inexpensive.
The Genie now started to get excited and said, "So, this shoot will be a 200
bird event and you’ll run the shoot over two separate courses and charge only
$150 dollars. The Silver Cup World Veteran’s Sporting Clays Championship will
also be part of this shoot. Veterans will not only be able to get prizes in the
main event, but also win by competing against just each other. It’s a win-win
situation. There will be a complete lobster dinner on the Saturday night of the
shoot for a measly $25 more." Tired now, the Genie turned to Jeff and asked, "Do
you understand??" The answer is obvious as 210 of the country’s finest shooters
made room in their lives to participate in this event.

Well, what about the courses? They were diabolically different. The Traveler
Course on the same side of the road and to the right of the clubhouse was
cluttered with close, slow targets that were always running out of gas as you
were pulling the trigger. Every thing had a twist and a turn in its flight
path. The one set of targets that did travel in a straight line was Station #1,
the simo rabbits. They crossed from left to right 25 yards away, gimmes, right?
Wrong! They were too s-l-o-w. The shooter had a beat too much time to think
about these bumbling bunnies. Too many shooters were mesmerized by the funny,
random nature of the rabbit’s path, and thereby late on the execution of the
first shot. Countless unbroken rabbits hit the hay bale at the end of the
shooting window with a sickening thud because the shooter ended up rushed on the
second rabbit of this slow presentation. Every shot on this course was about
the "when" of pulling the trigger.

The course directly across from the clubhouse, The Ruger, had a totally
different personality. Here, most targets were orange lasers with straight
trajectories. You knew exactly where they would be, you just had to catch up
with them. Also, since these targets were moving so much faster, they had to be
given much more room to move in. So, most of these presentations were farther
away from the shooter than usual. The important ingredient in this course was
lead. But how do you shoot with substantial leads? Let me talk about Station #
6. It featured a bird coming from a trap at the shooter’s right foot and
blazing away toward the heavens on the shooter’s left at a very steep angle.
This set the shooter up for the next presentation. With the gun now moving to
the left after the shot, a bird from off a mountain was launched across the
shooter’s horizon from left to right. It appeared small, but it was a standard.
It appeared slow, but it crossed a large part of the sky. Yes, Dorothy, you
need lead. But how do you do it? Fred A…cleaned this station with his pump.
(Don’t you just hate show-offs!) What stood out was his exaggerated follow
through on this shot. He continued to sweep the sky long after he pulled the
trigger. Nothing but pieces.

When you have this many target presentations over two days, it would seem
natural to have a few that could be called "unfair", and yet remarkably, I could
find no one who thought that was the case at this shoot. Master Class shooter
Gary Bloom said, " Of all the places that I travel to, this place has the best
targets consistently. I can’t say enough about this place and this shoot!"

At 3:00 p.m. on Sunday of the shoot, I found myself just outside the main tent.
As I stood there, I tried to take in everything I could by slowly turning in a
circle. There was the long bird side event surrounded by competitors. To the
right of that was a small cabin which is home to Robin Hollow Outfitters and
contains a selection of guns and accessories that could take the good part of a
day to go through. Al and Bob were on the porch debating their latest
purchases. The huge adjacent grass field was loaded with cars, golf carts,
mobile homes, and scurrying people. Kevin and Zaid were walking across it to
the 5 Stand for some extra shooting. Further on by the lake was a shooting game
called "Make a Break", and I am sure I could see Joe and Andy Duffy waiting
their turns. As I finally finished my circle, I could see the food stand next
to the big striped tent. Under the tent were many shooters joking over food and
drink between side games. Godfrey, Neil, and Susan were at one table and yes
that was Hal Dupont walking by... I just love the feel of a big time shoot! How
about you?

On behalf of all the Travelers, I would like to thank Geoff and Paula Gaebe, the
owners of Addieville, for making this experience possible for so many people.
Great targets and food offered in a park like setting with not a scrap of litter
anywhere could not have happened without Paula and Geoff.

Long after the awards were given out and the last people left, I made my way out
to my car. I was surprised to find one other person still there, and as he
turned I realized that he was the winner of the event, Mr. HOA. As we talked, I
asked him how he had found out about the Lobster Shoot. He looked hesitant and
then came clean. He said it was long ago and involved a genie, a brass lamp,
and two wishes. He knew immediately that one wish would involve being happy in
life. But first, since he was a sporting clays shooter, he would wish to know
where he could find the finest targets. The genie answered by saying, "The
Great Eastern Lobster Classic". Unwittingly, he used his second wish
immediately by saying, " I wish I knew where that was." The genie gave him a
map of Rhode Island. After the story, I watched as he whistled, sang, and
danced around his car cramming the last of his winnings into every available
space. As he drove away and the singing trailed off, I stood there for a moment
and started to laugh. It seemed to me that he had gotten all his wishes.

HOA VINNY LA SCALZA
I-1 Andy Duffy
I-2 Joe Maresca
II-1 Paul Fostini
II-2 Richard Cook
III-1 Tom Schmoeger
III-2 Michael Murphy
IV-1 Mike Russo
IV-2 Chuck Willey
V-1 Polidura
V-2 Barry Parker
VI-1 Eleanor Goss
VI-2 Michael Stanton


Addendum: It’s always nice when the guy writing the story is also the guy who
won the shoot. Way to go Vinny. He’s too modest to bring attention to it.
Beating 210 shooters, both Travelers and non-Travelers alike, is no small deal.
Congratulations to Andy Duffy also. Andy shot an astronomical 99 in the prelim.
­editor

THANK YOU…

David Baron, one of the organizers of the NWTF shoot at Tamarack, thanked the
Travelers for their sponsorship of the shoot. The shoot had record attendance of
173 and raised record sums for NWTF. Travelers sponsorship generated just about
a 100% increase in participation.

AND THANKS AGAIN…

Traveler Les Carter, chairman of the Special Campership Appeal, GCNY Boy Scouts
of America, thanks the Travelers for their generosity. Our donations helped a
record number of needy inner city kids enjoy some vacation time at a summer Boy
Scout Camp.

TRAVELERS NAME TAGS…

Remember when you bought your first Rolls Royce? You just couldn’t take your
eyes off that little statue of the Flying Lady on top of the grille. Well, it’s
just like that with your first genuine Official Connecticut Travelers nametag.
You should wear it with pride. It not only tells you your name in case you
forget, but it also permits others who have forgotten your name to pretend that
they remembered it.

The nametag also has a neat cloisonné Travelers emblem. Looking at it will give
you hours of pleasure when you are at a backed up station. If you are lost on
the course, you can use the shiny brass surface as a signaling mirror (if the
sun is shining). Miss Manners has found multiple alternative uses for the two
little stickpins that hold the badge to your vest. This is a veritable Swiss
Army Knife of nametags. YOU WANT ONE!

To get your CTSCA nametag, send $10 (check to "Barto Engraving") to:

Barto Engraving
Six Meadow Drive
Brookfield, CT 06804
Attn: Robb

Tell them: 1) that you want a Connecticut Traveler name tag, 2) include your
first and last name, and 3) include the address you would like the tag to be
mailed to. The $10 fee includes postage to your home. Suchadeal!

All Travelers are entitled to their FIRST nametag free. If you never received a
nametag, order one yourself and pay for it. Then deduct the $10 from your next
shoot entry fee. Enclose an explanatory note for our eagle-eyed accountants. If
you have at any time previously received a Travelers nametag, you have to pay
for your next one.

There are a number of uncollected nametags on display at our monthly shoots. If
you think that you may be due a nametag from some time ago, check at a shoot
before you order a new one. The club no longer will order nametags. It’s now up
to you. This is good solid 18th century Liberal self-reliance.


WANT TO HELP?

Al is asking for volunteers to help redo the course at East Mountain for our
November Travelers Club Championship. We have a little extra money to spend and
would like to invest in some course work and awards to bring the shoot up a
notch.

Contact Al Anglace at <CTSCA@email.com> or telephone 860-354-9351. Those of you
who have ever volunteered to help at a shoot know that you always get repaid
many times for your efforts.

CLAMBAKE…

You may have noticed that our usual August "Dick Losee Memorial Clambake" has
been indefinitely postponed for this year. There were just so many major
conflicting shoots this August and September that we couldn’t get it in.

What would you think if we made the Dick Losee Lobster shoot the highlight of
our Christmas Party shoot? The club is right, the activity is what he liked to
do- give things away, and I think we can still have the Lobster Dinner.

If you have an opinion, let us know at <CTSCA@email.com>.

CAN’T GET ENOUGH?…

Useless Technoidal drivel, that is. Visit www.ShotgunReport.com for an
adult-sized portion of utterly useless, occasionally misleading, often blatantly
incorrect yet always toadally awesome shotgun misconceptions. You deserve the
best of the wurst from this hot dog.

WRITERS…

We would very much like to publish stories or shoot reports from others in our
membership. It’s not too hard. It’s entertaining and you could become famous. In
addition to sending Reload! to 450 brilliantly literate Travelers each month,
the monthly newsletter is also posted on the <www.ShotgunReport.com> website.
This site gets over 5,000 hits per day from 50 countries around the world. One
Reload! article and your name could become a household word from the Bronx to
Botswana to Bangladesh.

So come on Travelers! Contact Bruce Buck by email <bcb23@columbia.edu> or
telephone (203-454-1080). Volunteer to brighten the civilized world with your
luminescent writing skills. There’s no commitment to do more and it’s sort of
fun.


CHECK THIS!…

Hello Bruce.

I received a check for the Orvis/Sandanona shoot that did not have a name on it
and it was not signed. It is drawn on a Bank of New York account, the Apple
Valley Shopping Center Branch, Poughkeepsie, NY. Would you please enlist the
help of Miss Manners or the Judge to help us find this Phantom check writer and
ask that the writer send us another check? Our accounting procedure separates
the check and the entry form, so we don’t have the name of the member who sent
in the check. -El Jefe Supremo

Dear Jefe S,

I really don’t think that you want to get stir up Miss M or the Judge for this
one. We only unleash them on the real culprits of sporting clays. This check is
obviously just an oversight from a member who was so eager to get his entry in
that he forgot to fill in a few of the boxes. We are sure that he will resend
the proper check in to CTSCA, 91 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776. -Bruce

Dear Al,

I could find him! Lemme try. If he licked the envelope, then there’s DNA on it.
The Judge is in tight with the Feds and they could analyze it and track him down
like they do with the Most Wanteds. It might even make TV! We could charge him
interest on the check’s float. That would help pay for the new electronic
computerized patterning plate I need in the shop.- The Technoid

Dear Al,

I am not "in tight with the Feds". They drink beer. It is probably some kind of
repulsive watery "lite" beer. I drink Port. Port drinkers don’t get in tight
with beer drinkers. Beer drinkers don’t know what tight is.-The Judge

Dear Al,

The port(ly) Judge would be better off if he occasionally drank something light.
It would be the only light thing about him. With him, too often it’s "Any port
in a storm". And what’s this about getting some useless gizmo for that driveling
Technoidal menace? We should be investing in a new commercial steam iron to make
sure that the Travelers shooting vests are properly creased. Now that would be
money well spent. Look sharp, shoot sharp. Or else! -Miss Manners

Dear Anonymous Check Writer,

See what you started!


MISS M LOVES THE PILGRIM.....

Miss Manners, although she is certainly as Mayflower as any madam, is not
referring to loving the Pilgrims who rocked Plymouth. She is using pilgrim the
way that John Wayne did to mean newcomer. One of the great things about
sporting clays is that it has attracted so many newcomers. The initial treatment
that these new shooters receive from us, the more experienced shooters, will
often determine whether or not they enjoy the sport and stay with us to help
sporting clays continue to grow.

As a group, the Travelers make every possible effort to encourage new shooters.
We make sure that plenty of prizes and awards are distributed in the classes
where we would find the newer shooters. We have shoot offs just for those who
have not won before. We sponsor coaching clinics, college matches and Boy Scout
merit badge days. Generalissimo Al is the best of salesman- whether it is
sporting clays or sporting cars.

Obviously, a monthly Travelers' match is not an appropriate place to teach
someone who has never touched a shotgun. However, our monthly shoots are great
places to bring interested new shooters as spectators. They can walk along with
the squad and see what it is all about. If they like what they see, a little
individual instruction from you at the local club, with particular attention to
gun safety, will bring them up to speed and they would be most welcome to
compete in our shoot the next month.

Miss Manners asks that you remember: If the original Pilgrims had gotten fed up
instead of fed, there would be no Thanksgiving and thus a whole lot of lonely
turkeys. If we fail to make our shooting pilgrims feel welcome, our sport will
not be giving thanks and we will be the turkeys left alone on those rocks. Be
kind to that pilgrim.


*** 2001 CONNECTICUT TRAVELERS SHOOT SCHEDULE ***


SEP 16 FAIRFIELD COUNTY- CLUB SUBGAUGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
OCT 5-7 FALL TRIP TO PENNSYLVANIA
OCT 21* MILLBROOK ROD & GUN-OKTOBERSCHUTZENFEST
NOV 18 EAST MOUNTAIN-CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
NOV 25 EAST MOUNTAIN-KOEHLER SOCIETY FUNDRAISER
DEC 16 MID-COUNTY-CHRISTMAS PARTY SHOOT
* date pending

*** OTHER SHOOTS OF INTEREST ***
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM

SEP 7 PECONIC, LI, NY (631-727-5248) SHOOT-FOR-A-CURE PRO AM
SEP 8 PECONIC, LI, NY (631-727-5248) SHOOT-FOR-A-CURE PRELIM
SEP 8 NEWGATE COON CLUB (860-738-3619) SPORTING CLASSIC
SEP 9 PECONIC, LI, NY (631-727-5248) SHOOT-FOR-A-CURE MAIN
SEP 9 ADDIEVILLE, RI (401-568-3185) RUFFED GROUSE SOC. CH
SEP 13~16 NSCA, TX (210-688-3371) NSCA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
SEP 27~30 ROSE HILL, NC (252-356-2662) UK/US MASTERS FITASC
NOV 9~11 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) FALL FITASC CH
DEC 2 NEWGATE COON CLUB (860-738-3619) CHRISTMAS SHOOT

CONTACTING THE TRAVELERS...

CTSCA Home Office: Email <CTSCA@email.com> (by far the best way) or telephone
860-354-9351 if you absolutely must.

Membership, Address Changes and Shooting Class status: Contact Cyndi Dalena at
860-584-1083 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Leave message. Or Email
shotguncyndi@prodigy.net

Reload! To place an ad or post a shoot date, contact Bruce Buck at tel:
203-454-1080 (worst way), fax to 707-215-0668 (second worst way) or
<bcb23@columbia.edu> (marvelous way!). The current and previous issues of
Reload! are posted on the internet at <www.ShotgunReport.com>. You will also
find megs and megs of other useless Technoidal stuff there. Great literature
never dies. It just sort of lurks around.


**** THE UPCOMING TRAVELERS MONTHLY SHOOT ****

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2001
THE TRAVELERS SMALL GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIP
FAIRFIELD FISH & GAME CLUB, MONROE, CONNECTICUT

Yes, the Connecticut Travelers actually do shoot in Connecticut. Not often, but
when we do, it is really worth it. We started our very successful sub-gauge
championship at Fairfield three years ago and found their course ideal for the
little guns.

This shoot is for sub-gauge guns ONLY. You can shoot your 12, but it will only
be for practice, not for prizes. Your choice. The prizes will go to the
sub-gauge guns. The course will be built for sub-gauge. If you use a 12, even if
it is a 12 gauge SxS or a pump, it’s for practice only. Of course, you’ll still
have just as much fun and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Don’t have a 20, 28 or 410? Not to worry. We will make an effort to put you in a
squad with a loaner gun or with someone who is willing to share. One way or the
other, we will get it done. Remember, this is for fun. You will be amazed at
what you can hit with a sub-gauge gun. When you send your reservation, if you
don’t have a little gun check the box that mentions that you will need to share
a gun and what gauge you prefer. Bring ammo for that gauge. No ammo is
available at the club.

In addition to separate prizes in each gauge, we will also award prizes based on
our normal handicap system. We simply add the particular sub-gauge gun handicap
to the actual score. The handicaps are: 20 ga=5, 28 ga=10, 410 bore=20, pump and
SxS get an additional 5. Example: if you shoot a SxS 28 gauge you get 5 birds
for the SxS and 10 for the 28 gauge for a total of 15. Pick whatever you feel
will give you the best chance or the biggest fudge factor. Shells are limited to
standard target weights for the gauge: 16- one oz, 20- 7/8 oz, 28- _ oz and 410-
_ oz.

It’s all the usual drill. Arrive by 9:00 AM and sign in on the Big Board.
Everyone will be presquadded because you will have preregistered and prepaid by
Thursday, September 13. If you haven’t, we look forward to seeing you at the
October shoot, but not at this one. Suck down some high test coffee and
doughnuts as the Amazing Travelers Shoot Machine ramps up for the squadded
start. Lunch and lavish prizes are included. Guests are welcome at this shoot.
All of this for only $55. Oh, yes, Juniors (under 18) and junior guests shoot
FREE! How small gauge can you get?

By the way, in addition to the usual prizes of baubles from Tiffany’s and
Cartier’s, we will have a little extra door prize. Right now it looks as
though it will be a 20 gauge Beretta 391! How’s about them apples! You’d better
stick around for the drawing because your fellow Travelers will be quick to
holler out "Reload!" if you aren’t there when your name is called. You must be
present to win.

Directions to Fairfield County Fish & Game, Monroe, CT: Merritt Parkway (route
15) to Exit 49 North "Rte 25 North, Danbury". Take Rte 25 North for 5.3 miles
to Route 111 North "Monroe". Turn Right onto Route 111 North and go another 5.3
miles to Hammertown Road on Left (white house with white picket fence on left).
Turn Left on Hammertown Road and follow Hammertown Road 1.3 miles to club
entrance on Right. Clubhouse is .3 miles up the driveway. If lost, strayed or
stolen, call Fairfield County Fish & Game, Monroe, CT at 203-426-9400.

REMEMBER, EYE PROTECTION IS MANDATORY AT ALL TRAVELERS SHOOTS.

INTERNET READERS:

The Conncticut Travelers are a private organization and their shoots, with
certain exceptions, are not open to the public. Guests of members are permitted
at this shoot so if you have a Connecticut Traveler friend, you might ask them.