The Black Bullet: An Exposé (Part 2)
Editor's note: This is the second in a three part series on the rise, fall and resurrection of Mark Bowie's Black Bullet bus. Part 1 can be read here.
Sara Lee's SkyFrank in all her glory. When her eight-year contract ran out, The Dog Catcher slipped into obscurity for several years.
At the height of her career, Mark Bowie's bus was making trips all across the continent, running down balloons wherever they landed.
Then suddenly the beloved bus's chase career hit a speed bump. With the end of an eight-year contract with Sara Lee Corp. in 2001 came the end of an era for the Dog Catcher.
No longer was she traveling the various highways and byways that traverse this great nation. Never again would she transport the likes of "Cajun" Charlie, Jeannie, Dr. Bob, Jackson and Eugene to the various ballooning events she had grown accustomed to.
The Fall
For years, the Dog Catcher's life consisted primarily of traveling to half-rate ballooning events within the confines of the southeastern United States. Even those trips were few and far between.
But as time passed on, her mystical powers began to regain control. Nevertheless, it would take another half-decade of various dinner outings in the Delta for her to begin her recovery.
Local bus aficionado John Stewart recalls the first dinner trip the Dog Catcher made before her recovery: "There were smokes and beers flying in all directions before we got out of the city limits. We made several successful ventures to Crawdad's and the Bourbon Mall. And then we decided to take it to Doe's Eat Place one night."
At the Scott Station on the corner of Claiborne Avenue and Highway 82, Jennifer Brock decided to abandon her crew in favor of a ride in the Fast Cash limousine. This angered the bus driver, Mark Bowie, who barked, "I hope you have a flat-tire because we aren't stopping!"
The Curse
This statement would prove to be the most pertinent example of irony the group would experience all week. It also marked the beginning of the infamous "Flat Tire Curse" of Greenwood fame.
As the bus rolled down the road toward Doe's, the Dog Catcher suddenly blew-out two tires at the Delta Western. Yet another road trip brought the bus more bad luck and another flat tire.
"We were snake bitten," said Stewart. "We didn't think she would ever make another flat-less trip again."
But just before the dawn of the 2006 tennis season, the "Flat Tire Curse" was lifted, as she made a successful trip to the Bourbon Mall - flat tire free.
The successful trip to Bourbon, Mississippi would prove to be an awakening of sorts for the Dog Catcher. But her full resurrection wouldn't come until the Greenwood Country Club Men's 3.0 tennis team adopted her as their official traveling vehicle.
What would the season bring for the newly named vehicle? Part 3 of this series will conclude my investigation.
Mark Bowie and John Stewart, tennis team co-captains and resident party bus hosts with the most, contributed to this report.
Sara Lee's SkyFrank in all her glory. When her eight-year contract ran out, The Dog Catcher slipped into obscurity for several years.
At the height of her career, Mark Bowie's bus was making trips all across the continent, running down balloons wherever they landed.
Then suddenly the beloved bus's chase career hit a speed bump. With the end of an eight-year contract with Sara Lee Corp. in 2001 came the end of an era for the Dog Catcher.
No longer was she traveling the various highways and byways that traverse this great nation. Never again would she transport the likes of "Cajun" Charlie, Jeannie, Dr. Bob, Jackson and Eugene to the various ballooning events she had grown accustomed to.
The Fall
For years, the Dog Catcher's life consisted primarily of traveling to half-rate ballooning events within the confines of the southeastern United States. Even those trips were few and far between.
But as time passed on, her mystical powers began to regain control. Nevertheless, it would take another half-decade of various dinner outings in the Delta for her to begin her recovery.
Local bus aficionado John Stewart recalls the first dinner trip the Dog Catcher made before her recovery: "There were smokes and beers flying in all directions before we got out of the city limits. We made several successful ventures to Crawdad's and the Bourbon Mall. And then we decided to take it to Doe's Eat Place one night."
At the Scott Station on the corner of Claiborne Avenue and Highway 82, Jennifer Brock decided to abandon her crew in favor of a ride in the Fast Cash limousine. This angered the bus driver, Mark Bowie, who barked, "I hope you have a flat-tire because we aren't stopping!"
The Curse
This statement would prove to be the most pertinent example of irony the group would experience all week. It also marked the beginning of the infamous "Flat Tire Curse" of Greenwood fame.
As the bus rolled down the road toward Doe's, the Dog Catcher suddenly blew-out two tires at the Delta Western. Yet another road trip brought the bus more bad luck and another flat tire.
"We were snake bitten," said Stewart. "We didn't think she would ever make another flat-less trip again."
But just before the dawn of the 2006 tennis season, the "Flat Tire Curse" was lifted, as she made a successful trip to the Bourbon Mall - flat tire free.
The successful trip to Bourbon, Mississippi would prove to be an awakening of sorts for the Dog Catcher. But her full resurrection wouldn't come until the Greenwood Country Club Men's 3.0 tennis team adopted her as their official traveling vehicle.
What would the season bring for the newly named vehicle? Part 3 of this series will conclude my investigation.
Mark Bowie and John Stewart, tennis team co-captains and resident party bus hosts with the most, contributed to this report.
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