North of Chicago, west of Lake Michigan, nestled comfortably among the corn fields you come to the Northbrook Sports Club. At this location for the past 20 years they brought an established tradition of good sportsmanship and challenging 
targets to Grayslake Illinois. With a Board of Directors gifted with great insight into the future of shooting sports the US Veteran's Open was conceived. They recognized the largest group of shooting sportsman is over 50. In an interview with Dr. Lorin Mitchell Spak, board member and todays parking lot director...we discussed how the idea took legs and grew. But wait I am ahead of myself!
I had contacted the General Manager, Mike Bundra a week earlier and requested an interview for the radio program. When I arrived the parking lot was empty except for two men struggling with equipment around a tractor.
Attracted by the only sign of life in the area I parked near the action and removed my camera. After taking several pictures the tall young man approached me, "Good morning Mr. Towle I did not expect you until later.." Surprised I asked how he knew me. " Who else but someone from California would take pictures of two guys on a tractor." I laughed as we shook hands and headed for the club house.
Once inside the large but still quiet meeting/dinning room that will soon become crowded with shooters queuing up to register for both major events plus several side events we approached a big man hunched over a banquet table starring intently at a computer screen. Brett Seibert looked up and smiled politely but his eyes reveled he was still concentrating on the computer screen. Mike introduced me and quickly Brett switched to the matter at hand. We concluded our radio interview with deciding on my squad members and daily flight. I had asked to shoot with the best shooters on each day.
Friday began with the squadding of for the Prelim. After obtaining a golf cart...oops excuse me, after obtain a SHOOTING CART! I headed out to the staging area to find several people waiting. As soon as I approached Wild Bill Nest approached quickly, " your on this squad...lets get started."
He jumped in the cart and we were on our way to the first station.When I asked how he knew I was on this squad, Bill smiled and replied.."easy you had a cart!" We laughed.
The first of 15 stations were well spaced along a berm and down along a wooded area. At station 2 I noticed two men watching quietly from their own cart. After shooting at the fast moving rabbit running uphill and a "over the berm" rising crosser I realized who they were--->trappers! They smiled beaming with satisfaction as each shooter banged away. Both targets were do-able but neither were easy. I walked over and introduced myself to Gary & Gary Fitzjarrell. The father and son team hired to create a challenge to the Vets and the sideXside course. Both men were farmers at heart but long time competitors. 
The younger Fitzjarrell had competed professionally and understood the difference between a fun shoot and a registered shoot. They had created a very challenging array of targets over an area of rising and falling berms and wooded stands. By the end of the day I was stunned by the difficulty of such easy looking shots. But my squad saw great success and mind boggling failure as men such as Jim Mueller stepped up and smoked targets early in the morning but lost his concentration as the sun rose.
His buddy Mark Guanci, a new competitor started slowly but shocked us on stations later in the day as he increased his success. Big Steve Janik was a studied shooter, he calculated each shot carefully and by the end of the day scored well. Later he admitted he has always shot lower scores at Northbrook and elected to go to another shoot for the remainder of the weekend where he might win. It was a pleasure shooting with you Steve..good luck. But you should have stayed.
But the best story of the Prelim was the husband and wife team of Skip & Beverly Zapffe who drove in from Portland Oregon. Skip showed us all how to outwit the Fitzjarrell targets ending the day with a giant score of 82. His wife Beverly was shooting a new auto that worked as a disadvantage in the morning but by afternoon amazed us all as she gained control of her shooting and began smoking targets that the men stumbled on time after time. Good shooting Bev!
But Saturday will be the test of tests. After returning to the club house I was told Jon Kruger had made the trip. A giant among shooters I was not sure what to expect. My instructor, Dan Reeves had spoken of him often praising his ability. The stories had me a bit concerned if he may not want to be bothered.
Much to my surprise Jon Kruger is a real nice guy! Here is a guy who stands among the very best shooters in history, a man known and recognized at any shooting event anywhere. 
In one word I would describe him as humble. If I had two words I would say confident and humble. When I first saw him I was standing at station 1 waiting for my squad to arrive so we could begin the Main Event. He stopped to say hello to a student friend Christobal Leal and his father Miguel Leal. He agreed to an interview but did not jump at the opportunity as some famous shooters have done...he seemed to pause as if not sure what he would say....
I secured the office of Mike Bundra quickly and arranged the room to be more comfortable for each of us. Mike this place is a mess! We began recording for the radio show. Jon seemed not given to smiling a lot but spoke causally and we conducted a good interview. I thanked him but he seemed almost uncomfortable with the attention. I would see him several more times before I left. How many shooters knew Jon was a carpenter? He showed me some of his work. Beautiful! Be sure an catch the broadcast in your area, it was a very interesting interview. He ended by advising me to shoot one once loads....the same advice I had received from Dan Reeves. Guess maybe these two highly successful shooters agree that big loads are not going to improve my shooting but in fact may end up hurting my performance if I stay in the sport long enough. He showed me a half empty box of Remington light loads and suggested I try them.
The squad today was made up of men I had not shot with in the Prelim.
Christobal Leal and father Miguel were the father an son team to beat. Miguel was an outstanding shot. I learned he also shot for the Mexican team in the World shoot. He ended the day with an 86 while the rest of us fell far behind. 
It was a pleasure shooting with Miguel and I am sure I will see him along the road at another shoot. Hey Miguel did you say you made cheese in Wisconsin? How do I get a sample? Bob Busscher a club member, claiming the oldest living member, came in with a close score behind Miguel. Bob is not old as in age but old as in membership by the way and a heck of a good shot. Lastly Dr. Lorin Spak who had been very hospitable the day before was now a squad member and showed us how to enjoy shooting and hit difficult targets.
By days end we were all tired and ready for the steak dinner. It was worth the wait!
I had the opportunity to meet and chat with the next champion Super Vet Floyd Hartlage. A big guy with a keen eye for targets and a great sense of humor. I also spoke with Paula Benbow, Team USA sporting and FITAS shooter. I bought a raffle ticket in support of the Team and spent time at her table discussing clay sports and hunting with her and her husband. Paula did I see a "Dr." next to your name?
But there were so many men and women that I met and had the pleasure of shooting with or spending time discussing our sport..... There were guys like Hal Hare...the best dressed guy all weekend. He represented the Classic end of the shoot, he dressed it, spoke it and showed the manners of a true gentleman. I will be doing a special edition on him in the future. 
Then there is the world traveling Bob James, Montana Custom Gun Stocks. Man if you have not spoken to Bob about stocks you have not heard the final word in stocks! I caught him with Cynthis Wiggens in his trailer discussing her gun. Hey Phil Murphy say goodbye to Parker for
me I didn't get to see him before I left. But lets switch quickly to the "Most Fun" I had....as I was on my way down range to interview another shooter I happen to pass three men walking toward me. Each man had a side X side. It seemed like a natural movement of the eye to drop to the gun...but wait there was something different. Bill Harrod saw my interest and asked if I would like to see a demonstration of Loaders in action. I jumped at the opportunity. Bill introduced me to his two companions Larry Akers and Harold Olson. I watch as they laid out their equipment and began to load their guns as they described the sequence of moves. I was fascinated and at the same time realized the
difficulties our forefathers had gone to while hunting...when hunting really meant eating tonight or not eating at all. It was more a ritual than just dropping factory ammo in a barrel and squeezing a trigger. When Harold turned to me
and asked if I wanted to shoot I fumbled trying to find a place to leave my cup of coffee and camera--->"you bet I would like to shoot it!"
All those Davy Crockett movies had me believing ol'Fess was taking quit a wack on the shoulder when he fired Betsy. As I stood on the skeet rang holding the gun I wondered if this was the right decision. I was about to go into the Main Event and I was holding a gun that may well bruise my shoulder resulting in a flinch during the remainder of the shoot. But there I was.."oh well". Harrold gave me final instructions, " two hammers...two triggers, start with the right hammer and forward trigger first!" came the commands from my rear....
I hate that its like someone walking up to you and saying raise your other right hand quickly!....Ahhh what did he say?
Next thing I knew a target machine sounded off behind me, over my head I saw a clay screaming away from me.....BOOM! Without thinking I just pointed the gun and pulled the trigger. It disappeared to dust and I disappeared in a smoke cloud!......but NO recoil?? I was shocked.Harrold must have read it because he smiled and said "You ready for the next one son?" BOOM! I hit it as it zoomed by my left shoulder. "Did I hit it?" I asked, could not tell with all the smoke. " You blew it to smeriens, nice shooting. Now give me that gun before you ask me if I want to sell it." lol..lol..lol...great fun.
In closing I want to say I had a great trip to Illinois and I met some great folks. Mike....charge up the shooting carts at night...remember click on photos in article to enlarge or copy....see you next year! 
Ok one last thing...I have traveled from West to East...to Europe and down to South American. But know where...NO WHERE have I seen a truck dash board that looks like this one...if you can guess the owner of this truck drinks are on me next time!
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