This past weekend, the Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce held its annual “Business Expo” for local vendors and merchants in Franklin County, PA. A few years ago, I joined the ‘Chamber’ with my primary contribution to the community involving my hobby of creating a portable bowling lane for small ball bowling. The Chamber of Commerce has been very supportive toward my interest over the years, even going so far as arranging an interview on a radio news talk program out of Chambersburg, PA, soon after I joined.
On Saturday, I took my portable lane to the Business Expo, without the intent of selling a service, but more so to entertain the kids who were in attendance (I was supposed to attend last year, but couldn’t make it to that one).
The event started at 8:30 am and lasted about 3 hours. There were a lot of vendors in attendance, with tables set up for the different businesses, such as insurance agents, investment brokers, local engravers, and even a spot for high-profile personalities, like Pennsylvania Senator Doug Mastriano. I didn’t have a lot of time, nor opportunity to mingle, but did speak with a representative of the Waynesboro Community Concert Association, which is scheduled to host the Kenny Rogers band with Don Gatlin, and also Jackie Wilson impersonator, Chester Gregory. as well as a number of ladies’ musical groups, ranging from country to the classic era of 1950s and 1960s.
In the neighboring areas to where my bowling lane was set up, were wonderful attractions for the kids, including a balloon artist, and a photo area in which children could have their pictures taken with characters adorned in princess outfits.
The bowling lane was very enjoyable to host. Mine wasn’t a situation in which there was a constant line of kids wanting to try out the bowling lane. However, neither was there an extended lax time between visits from youngsters, some of whom were accompanied by parents, while others ventured out on their own to play the game of bowling.
Duckpins were featured on the 24-foot lane, and three duckpin balls were provided, and also three English skittle balls, which are a little smaller, more of a grip-able rubber, and weigh about 2-1/2 pounds.
I set up the lane initially, a day before the event. Once the lane was assembled during this “preview”, one of the kids who was there with her mother was interested in the idea of bowling, and came over to watch. I then set up the pins, and upon looking up, there was a 2nd youngster, and soon after a third one had arrived, which was gratifying for me to see interest in the game. All three were sisters and brothers, and ended up being steady players on Saturday.
I had to construct a makeshift backstop for the balls and pins when I left on Friday evening, but was able to have it ready for Saturday, and it worked surprisingly well, with foam rubber as an effective cushion for balls that occasionally charged beyond the pin deck.
In prior versions of this portable bowling lane, each sectional piece was on the heavy side. The latest rendition of the “Rent a Lane” is much lighter, and has been designed to assemble much quicker than prior attempts – this version takes about 12 to 15 minutes to set up.
The portable lane is of regulation width of 42″ between the gutters, and the pins are spaced the same as you would see in a legitimate bowling establishment. However, the Rent-a-Lane is normally only 24 feet in length. Because it is in 4-foot long sectional pieces, it can be expanded to the length of a regulation size of 60 feet from foul line to headpin, simply by adding 9 more of the ‘segments’. However, in order to completely replicate it to being comparable to that of a normal bowling alley, it would need the help of a professional builder, and the use of pinboys would be required, as opposed to automatic pinsetters. But, to end on a positive note, the good news is that if our glorious sport does fade, the portable lane concept offers an opportunity for keeping duckpins in the public eye.