As usual, on the third Sunday of the month, December 15, 2002, the Silver Queen Mine Regulators held their regular monthly match. But, this day was special. The first decade of the club's existence was commemorated with a special match and celebration luncheon. Shooting was limited to 4 Stages (1/2 the usual), so that the participants and attendees could chow down on burgers, beans, and all the fixin's.
To immortalize this episode in the history of Cowboy Action ShootingTM, I would like to pass on a brief history of the organization.
On in October 1992 the Hole in the Wall Gang, represented by the late Fargo Ed participated in a shooting festival at the Long Beach Pistol Range. The range officials organized this event to promote the facility to the local community, and allow spectators to observe various shooting disciplines.
Soon after the event Chuck Sees, Manager of the Pistol Range (future Drugstore Cowboy, SASS #2583), asked Fargo Ed to give him some tips on forming a new Cowboy Action ShootingTM club. Ed gave Chuck his much needed support, and help. Fargo Ed is also credited with conceiving the club name. Ed noticed Chuck mining lead from the ground around the targets with a form of sluice box. When Ed asked how much lead they had mined he was surprised when Chuck told him over 55 tons, and the job was not finished! The range officials used picks and shovels to mine the coarse pieces, and sluice boxes for the fine particles. Ed then suggested the name Silver Queen Mine Regulators, and it stuck! All of us who know this story refer to Drugstore Cowboy as Silver Queen Mine Regulator #1.
The first cub meeting was held in December 1992 and the first Monthly Match was held in January 1993. The Club used the Long Beach Pistol Range for the monthly matches until disaster struck in April 1993. A local resident accused the Range of being unsafe, and to help her agenda, she enlisted the aid of the news media. As a result, the Long Beach City Council refused to renew the lease, and the range closed in July 1993.
The Silver Queen Mine Regulators, being the club that refused to die, selected the Huntington Beach Police Range as a replacement for Long Beach. An inaugural exhibition shoot was staged in September 1993. But, various constraints made this new location unsatisfactory. Fortunately, about this time, Rick Philips, manager of the San Gabriel Valley Gun Club, informed the group that they were expanding their range. Rick agreed that just as soon as the property was graded, the Silver Queen Mine Regulators could use the new area. The second Sunday of each month was proposed and accepted for the club's monthly matches.
The Army Corps of Engineers had to approve the new site, and the process took a few months. Interim club meetings and shoots were held at the Insight Range in Artesia.
The construction at the San Gabriel Valley Gun Club Range was finally finished, and the first Monthly Match was held in February 1994. A couple of years later Kidd, SASS #3840 thought up the idea of having a second monthly club match. This additional match consists of typical Side Match events, such as Long Range Rifle, Derringer, Pocket Pistol, etc. Side Match Sunday, as it is now called, gives participants an opportunity to practice with shootin irons not used in regular matches. The first of the month was chosen for this event and the match has been very popular with Club Members and other area shooters for the past 5 years.
In 1997 and 1998, due to the persistence of Highway Man, the Club hosted the annual match Glory Hole. All the attendees acclaimed these events to be enjoyable and well done. But, due to the ever-growing popularity of Cowboy Action ShootingTM in Southern California, and the associated number of monthly and annual matches in the area, suitable dates for subsequent Glory Holes were not found. In the late twentieth century, the Club also produced several Pardner Shoots where all the stages were designed for 2 Shooters (another Highway Man original).
In 2000, after over a years diligent work by Colorado Belle, SASS #2941, the Club was incorporated in the state of California as a non-profit, mutual benefit corporation.
The Club's regular monthly match was changed to the third Sunday in 2001 to avoid conflict with other area club's monthly matches. But, we're still goin strong, and I for one expect be at the range in 2012 to celebrate the completion of the 2nd decade.
Some preliminary members of the club said, "you aren't going to make it", and left for greener pastures. But guess what? WE DID MAKE IT! Now, the Silver Queen Mine Regulators would like to thank all of the current and past Club Members, Officers, and supporters for our successful first decade. In particular, we're thankful for the opportunity to have known and worked with Bob Ford, SASS #2641, Highway Man, SASS 2684, and Crankshaft, SASS #148, who all now shoot on God's Posse.