Runde Auto Chat

**Update: Check out our footage of the Air Show planes HERE.

Many families in the Tri-State area have made a tradition of gathering together to watch the 3rd of July air show and fireworks display. There is a lot of time, effort and hard work put into the event.

Perry Mason, the General Sales Manager at Radio Dubuque, is one of the important people behind the scenes who helps organize the July 3rd event every year and is here to explain the show and what it takes to make the spectacular performance happen. Perry knows a thing or two about throwing a good show and has been involved with the air show through its entirety of 25 years. Perry explains, "This is the 25th anniversary of the air Show. We have one of the biggest shows in the nation. Going to the show not only provides a great bonding and get-together time with family and friends, but it is also an awesome show that simply can't be missed."

How did this whole show get started?

We started off with a $5,000 fireworks display with the Jaycee's back in 1985 up by Wahlert High School. We then moved it down to the river and had it synced with our radio station to accommodate the rising number of spectators. Since then it has gotten bigger and bigger… we added the air show and added more fireworks and now it is one of the biggest shows in the nation. Our budget used to be $5,000 now it's close to $100,000. This show is ranked as one of the top 15 shows in the country. It has been in air show magazines and travel magazines as well as other media. We have four national press groups coming to the show so far this year.

How do you get all the different air show acts together?

There is a conference that is held every year where air show enthusiasts can get together. I've been a part of it for the last 15 years or so. This is where I meet and ask the the people in charge of these planes to participate in the show. We get together and have a great time, it's all relationship building. If you have satisfied customers and a good show, you can offer them what they want and they will come to you!

How many people attend the Tri-State Show?

The Air Force estimates that there's well over a 150,000 people who attend the show. The neat thing about this show is that you can watch it from all three states and listen to our radio stations to listen to the play-by-play of what's happening so you can "be there" without actually being there.

Do you know if any people outside the Tri-State area come to the show?

Yes, people come from all over. People are coming all the way from Turkey to see the show this year. The furthest anyone has ever come to see the show was from Madras, India – and they came specifically to see this show!

How many fireworks are we looking at for this year’s show?

I don't have the exact numbers but it's in the thousands. The biggest shell we have is a 7" shell. We limit it to a 7" shell for safety reasons.

Exactly how much work is involved in putting together the show? ***Half a chuckle and a big "you-have-NO-idea" expression crosses Perry's face...***

I start preparing for next year’s show directly after this show is over. The very next business day I start making contacts. There's a lot of paperwork that goes into closing the river. I work with three different states, the Coastguard out of St. Louis, the Pentagon, Fire and Police protection... I actually hurt a muscle in my arm from holding the phone too much, that's why they gave me the headset.

Is it difficult to work with the Pentagon and/or Air Force?

No... the hardest part is the regulations that we have to follow, but it's all fun. It's all worth it and it's an honor to support the men and women of the armed forces that give us the freedom that we enjoy today.

Any big surprises this year?

Let’s just say it will be a show you don't want to miss. We have the Golden Knights Parachute team dropping in, the A-10 East Demonstration Team that has been here for 14 of the last 15 years, the F-18 Superhornet which is a first for the show, and the B1 Bomber. We will also have a special dogfight tribute to World War II vets with a P-51 Mustang and the actual Japanese Zero that was in the movies "Tora Tora Tora" and "Pearl Harbor" as well as other various shows.

I'm assuming you're a big fan of these aircrafts?

It is living history and pretty awesome. My dad was a P-38 pilot in World War II and I like the fact that they are on our side.

Everything pretty much ready to go for the show?

Yes, everything is going as scheduled. Runde’s, and I mean this very sincerely, has been a great aid. Part of my work with the military is to make sure everything works like clockwork. For me, working with Runde’s for the last couple of years has been fabulous, absolutely fabulous. Runde’s always makes sure that I have the best of the best vehicles and that they are all ready to go. I can't even tell ya... it's just super. It's nice to be able to go and pick up the people coming in for the show all at once. These people are traveling all the time. They bring their service team and everything with them. It's important that everything goes smoothly for them. Runde’s sure makes my life a whole lot easier. It’s one less thing in our minds that we don't have to worry about. Everyone enjoys the vehicles Runde's provides and thinks they are great.

Update: Perry and crew picked up the vehicles from Runde's! Check out what the process is like to get the vehicles here!

What is your favorite part of the show?

Looking at all of the people with their facial expressions saying, "WOW, this is cool".

How do you determine what songs to use during the show?

We generate the music at the radio station and have a committee that selects which songs to play. From there we tweak them and send them to the fireworks company where they computerize everything to be synced with the fireworks as they are timed with the show.

How long is the air show?

We start the air show at 6:00pm and it lasts 'til 8:30pm, then we have a special tribute at 9:00pm 'til around 9:20pm. This is where we dedicate the fireworks and air show to the veterans for all they have done for us. We will be reading the names of those killed in recent conflicts to our listening area. The Golden Knights will be performing a pyro jump at night. They actually used a photo out of Dubuque in their 2009-2011 Calendar when they did their pyro jump at last years event.

How many planes are going to be in the show this year?

Probably about 10.

Does anything ever not go according to plan when organizing all of these different things?

One year, two kids had climbed some trees on an island within the radius that is supposed to be clear of people on the day of the show. We had to delay the show and make sure the kids were out of there. If that would have been the moment when the B1 bomber were to fly in, he would have had to leave without a showing because he has to be at Mt. Rushmore roughly 15 minutes after he flies here.

I noticed two patches on your wall, they have the names; Borman, Lovell and Anders on them. What do they represent?

Well, Frank Borman is from Apollo VIII, which was the first flight to go around the moon. Frank Borman was here at our air show a number of years ago and had a drink with all of us. It is interesting to have had a piece of history sit down with us. I don't know if you've ever seen the movie "Apollo Thirteen" but Jim Lovell is one of the astronauts portrayed in that movie and Bill Anders, of Apollo VIII took the famous “Earth Rise” photo showing the earth rising on the moon.

Very cool! Anything else you'd like to add?

All of these people are heroes. Each one of them deserves a grand entrance and I just wanted to show my thanks to all of them. This is just a small thing I can do to say "thank you" to all of our troops and vets.

Thank you Perry! It's been very interesting to hear things explained from one of the people behind the show. We look forward to being there and we are glad that you’ve chosen Runde's to supply all the cars, vans, SUV’s and our Community Support truck year after year to help with this great show.

Here's a little follow-up on how the "Extended Range" mode works in the Volt. Also enjoy the video of a fire team testing out how the Volt will bend, break, and tear apart if it happens to get into an accident.

Who knew how big Google would become. Who knows how big they will be. All I know is that Google does, almost everything, right. Expanding the already enormous range of features Google and OnStar already offers, now comes Google Maps. Later this month all GM vehicles (from 2006, up) that are equipped with Turn-by-Turn Navigation will be able to use the Google Map feature. This feature will be available through OnStar eNav Technology and will offer users to effortlessly receive directions and turn by turn visual signals to get to their destinations without any hassle.

 The best part of all of this besides the point that you don't have to go to Google, print out the directions to where you want to go, then hassle with the papers while driving and swerving in and out of traffic? It's FREE. Google will be adding this feature at no additional cost to your OnStar subscription. Pretty sweet! Here's a video about OnStar's similar feature integration with MapQuest.

The Volt is just about here and Earth is anxiously waiting for its eco-friendly arrival. Why not help out the environment while experiencing one of the most high-tech rides of all-time. And at the same time, you can save some green in gas $$$ for driving green? It all seems like a win-win to me. You know what else, though? The fact that if you buy the Volt you could be going home to a professionally installed 240-volt charge station.

The Volt runs in one of three ways. 1. All electric - up to 40 miles on a single charge. 2. Extended range capability (gas/electric mixed) - designed to drive up to 350 miles without stopping to recharge or refuel. 3. Gasoline - will last another 300 miles. Needless to say, the Volt won't be seen filling up too frequently thanks to the power of the electricity. But the Volt must be filled with that electricity stuff to obtain optimal results. You can charge it with your standard 120-volt outlet which will take roughly 8 hours to charge. OR you could go the more express way about things and go with the 240 volt charge station and save yourself, at least, 5 hours (3 hour charge).

With the Volt coming out soon the DOE (Department of Energy) is helping to install roughly 15,000 plug-in vehicle chargers across America to test and get data on this new, industry-changing technology.

From the press release: "At the time of purchase, Volt buyers will receive a portable 120-volt charge cord, and will have the option of installing a 240-volt charge station available from Chevrolet. Volt buyers that live within the program cities may apply for a free 240-volt home charging station through the Coulomb or ECOtality programs if they are willing to share their charging information. Additional consumer information on eligibility requirements and the application process will be available when the Volt goes on sale later this year."

Guess we'll just have to wait and see if any of us in the Tri-State area are within the "program cities" they plan on giving these stations away to. In either case, look forward to the Volt coming our way VERY soon!

Old Regal                                         New Regal

We just got in the 2011 Buick Regal at our Buick store in Cuba City! To those who may not be familiar with this new release then you are probably surprised to know that it is a Regal. It looks nothing like the Regal's that you probably remember. You know, those things your grandparents drove you around in everywhere as a kid? Yeah, well they just became a HOT commodity. Check out the video below for a walk around and more information on the Regal.