Bring 'Big Red' home! Warrior Band truck needs repairs, stuck in Oakland

The Fallbrook High School Marching Warriors left Fallbrook on Friday, November 21, bound for the Western Band Association State Championship at Hayward State University. The group traveled on two chartered buses with the equipment being transported on the band’s truck, affectionately called “Big Red.”

Band director Amy Thomas said that the truck hauled the group’s instruments to the Hayward campus and then broke down. It was estimated that it would cost $10,000 to get it towed back to Fallbrook. She has been told that the bus “blew a head gasket” and it will take disassembling and reassembling of the engine to repair it. This repair will cost about $7,500.

After the truck broke down, the band members had to unpack it, then repack the buses, in an attempt to fit in all the insturments and gear. “They were real troopers,” said Thomas. “They got right to work.”

However, they were not able to pack everything aboard the buses, and items still remain in the truck, including uniform pieces.

The truck is sorely missed. Aside from the obvious as a carrier for musical instruments and uniforms, it is a symbol of pride for the school. “The kids missed having the truck in the Christmas Parade,” Thomas noted.

The band members worked hard this year to raise funds and were able to collect $20,000, which covered two competitions, but they don’t have the extra $7,500 needed for truck repairs.

Unfortunately, due to California school budget constraints the band receives limited funding from the school district. In addition to the funds raised by the band members, the band’s funding for competitions, uniforms, truck fuel, truck maintenance and busses are paid by the Fallbrook Band Boosters, a group that raises funds through community donations, parent contributions and fundraisers.

The Fallbrook Band Boosters are asking for financial assistance to bring “Big Red” home. All sponsorships are welcome and names of sponsors will be placed on the truck. Donations are accepted at the Booster Web site, http://www.fallbrookhighschoolband.com, or can be mailed to Fallbrook High School Band Boosters, PO Box 1604, Fallbrook, CA 92088.

The Fallbrook High School Band Boosters are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by IRS and Franchise Tax Board. Photos of “Big Red” can be found at http://www.fallbrookhighschoolband.com/gallery.html.

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