Shag Jenkins' farm in Orange County turned into a launching pad for The Crackerjacks Inc. fireworks club this weekend. msn View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

America's biggest pyrotechnics club lights up the night sky over Orange with one of its private competitions

Serious fans of fireworks light up the night sky over Orange with their homemade pyrotechnic show

By ROBIN KNEPPER

Date published: 5/17/2004

THESE ARE NOT easy days for people who love explosives. But the Crackerjacks know and obey the countless laws and regulations that control their hobby, and they are sticklers for safety.

And, boy oh boy, do they know have to have a club meeting!

The Crackerjacks Inc.--the oldest and largest fireworks club in the nation, established in 1976--has 251 members, most of them from the East Coast. They are lovers of fireworks. Mostly men. Amateurs and professionals. Self-described pyro-geeks.

This weekend, they assembled in rural Orange County for one of their regular club "shoots"--as they have been doing for nearly 30 years now.

According to Orange County resident Shag Jenkins, who said he's probably the oldest club member, the Crackerjacks first met locally on property he leased decades ago off State Route 20.

But when the sheriff complained that his deputies couldn't handle the crowds any longer, the shoots were moved to his farm, at another site the club has now been using for about 20 years.

The enthusiasts come to the farm to set off fireworks in a safe location removed from the congestion and objections to be found closer to towns and cities.

Here, they can purchase and shoot off Class C fireworks, aka consumer fireworks, the kind you can purchase along the side of the road--if you live in a state that allows their sale.

The professional members set off bigger stuff. And some members make their own.

The club holds the necessary permits to manufacture, buy, store, transport and set off these excruciatingly noisy and incredibly beautiful pyrotechnics.

And its members have the training necessary to put on safe and spectacular productions.

On Saturday and Friday, they had open shooting of their pyrotechnics in roped-off areas of the farm, always supervised by volunteer safety officers.

On Saturday night, teams of club members engaged in magnificent competitions accompanied by computer-generated music. At the 11 p.m. curfew, which they call "Afterglow," there was a delicious buffet supper for all.

According to club president Ben Sego, one of the Crackerjacks' main goals is to disseminate information about fireworks to both serious amateurs and professional display operators.

The organization teaches safety courses and has strict rules and regulations about participation in club shoots.

More information about the club is available at its Web site, crackerjacks.org.

To reach ROBIN KNEPPER: rknepper@earthlink.net

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Date published: 5/17/2004