RACE WINNERS
MEET OUR 2024 PILOTS ... COMING SOON!
HOW IS THE WINNER OF THE RACE DETERMINED?
Click here to meet this year’s GFPBR hot air balloon pilots and preview photos of some of the bright and beautiful balloons joining us this year! We are so thankful to all of our pilots and their chase crews for helping make the Great Forest Park Balloon Race so GREAT!
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race presented by PNC is a Hare and Hound-style race. The beautiful new PNC Bank hot air balloon named “Bank on It” is the “Hare” and leads the pack, getting a head start at launch time and landing first. The other balloons, called “Hounds” launch in waves shortly after in pursuit of the “Hare” balloon. Once the Hare balloon lands, the pilot and crew lay an “X” out on the ground as a target. The pilot who drops their birdseed/bean bag nearest the center of the target is the winner!
Sept. 16, 2023 | CONGRATS to winners of
the 51st Annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race
HISTORY OF GFPBR WINNERS
2022 – DANIEL SCHETTLER, St. Louis, MO — 108 feet
2021 – KURT VITENSE, St. Louis, MO — 43 ft. 11 inches
2020 – “Lift Up St. Louis” All flights in 2020 were flown in tribute to essential workers, educators, healthcare heroes and those standing up for change.
2019 – No winner due to wind conditions
2018 – MIKE BIEN, Chesterfield, MO — 860 feet
2017 – TOM CATON, Byrnes Mill, MO
2016 – Fun flights held due to muddy conditions at the event
2015 – JIM WOLTERS, Jefferson City, MO
2014 – MIKE BOYLAN, Washington, IL
2013 – JOE NUSRALA, St. Louis, MO
2012 – SCOTT WOOGE, St. Louis, MO
2011 – LARRY OWEN, Danville, IL
2010 – DICK GOSS, Leander, TX
2009 – DICK GOSS, Leander, TX
2008 – JAN SINES, Jefferson City, MO
2007 – KEVIN KNAPP, Walstonburg, NC
2006 – STEVE MROZ, St. Louis, MO
2005 – JOHN TRIONE, Burlington, WI
2004 – SHANE ROBINSON, Springfield, MO
2003 – PAT NEWELL, Nobelsville, IN
2002 – MIKE WADE, Lexington, KY
2001 – No Winner | Race Dedicated to Sept. 11
2000 – RANDY WAGNON, Maryville, IL
1999 – FLOYD THORNTON, St. Louis, MO
1998 – JON THOMPSON, Brighton, MI
1997 – TED STALEY, St. Louis, MO
1996 – RANDY WAGNON, Collinsville, IL
1995 – RON MARTIN, Winfield, BC
1994 – PAT NEWELL, Nobleville, IN
1993 – CHRIS CUQUET, St. Charles, MO
1992 – NORMAN COHEN, Louisville, KY
1991 – MIKE QUARTUCCIO, St. Louis, MO
1990 – JOHN MARLOW, St. Louis, MO
1989 – GENE GRACE, St. Louis, MO
1988 – HERB SCHMIDT, Batavia, IL
1987 – STEVE LOHR, St. Louis, MO
1986 – STEVE LOHR, St. Louis, MO
1985 – DAN SCHETTLER, St. Louis, MO
1984 – TED STALEY, St. Louis, MO
1983 – No winner due to high winds
1982 – DON SARNO, St. Louis, MO
1981 – PAUL WOESSNER, Nashville, TN
1980 – GENE GRACE/ GERRY THERO, St. Louis, MO
1979 – DAVID EASTLAND, Franklin, TN
1978 – DAVID EASTLAND, Franklin, TN
1977 – MATT WIEDERKEHR, St. Paul, MN
1976 – DAN DAVIS/ MIKE LEDBETTER, Bowling Green, KY/ STL, MO
1975 – DON SARNO, St. Louis, MO
1974 – ARCH HAWKINS, Sebring, OH
1973 – JERRY KINKADE/ WAYNE SHAW, Chicago, IL
