The State - News from May 1, 1988

The start of the annual Gordon Bennett helium balloon race was postponed for 24 hours because winds up to 50 m.p.h. were forecast for the Palm Springs area, organizers said. The seven balloons competing in the distance race will lift off from Ruth Hardy Park tonight, weather conditions permitting. “We had a weather forecast that predicted very severe winds out here,” said competition director Tom Heinsheimer. “So we decided it would be prudent to postpone the launch.”