TWMC's Newsletter Articles

Great event Dick and Phil! Way to go out with a bang! All the rumors going around Saturday night about it being a hard course and all were all wrong. There were some spots that normally wouldn’t be put in a TWMC club event, but I thought they made it really fun, and each technical section was followed by a nice valley run afterward. I loved the course and speeds were right on, maybe a little faster for the Master / Expert finish, I think that’s the first time I ever had to sit before I could roll into the finish. Great event, I know I'm gonna miss it not being on the schedule next year.

Hats off for Dick and Phil and thanks for the hat Dick, your event will be remembered for a long time. Enjoyed every bit of it and could have done a few more miles. Good mix of course and you never were out of reach for staying on time. Didn't need to stop at the resets as I needed the time plus some short cuts and still managed to drop a few minutes. I noticed a few extra rocks at Don Knight’s check. He must be taking some directions from Jay B. to make it interesting at the check. Being on minute one made the first loop a bit dicey but the trail was well cleaned up on the second loop with all the rock kicked out of the trail a breeze. Great job.

What a great event! Dick and Phil, you guys went out with a BANG! What a great course and the separation of difficult terrain really worked well. I must say, I will miss the Wicked Bird as this has been one of my favorite events every year! You guys ROCK!

I didn't look at the results yet, but did it work for Rod Lowell to get everyone enjoying the Saturday night partying so he could beat them on Sunday? Thanks to Nile and Leigh for the GREAT dance floor. And the Disco ball was way out there. Alan Baldus, you are way too much of a Dancer, but I think we should have had the wigs from Ghost Rider.

He tried... Unfortunately, the one Pacifico he gave me tasted like it had spent the last 3 months in the cooler of his boat (nasty factor=high). After that, I switched back to Ultra's. I figure the difference between 6_Ultras versus 6_Pacifico's is probably good for at least 3 seconds...

And, for the first time this year, I have to say that it feels pretty good to be on the RIGHT side of that "3 $#%$%!^* second" difference!

I was having a great time until I zigged when I should have zagged _ I went straight when I needed to turn left, in the rock crawler area, only to lose my balance (I needed a 6 foot long leg not to fall off my bike) and fell over into a crevice (in slow motion needless to say). My broken clutch lever was my signal that I would be delayed. Now that I think of it I broke my clutch lever at the WIcked Bird in 2004. I'm bummed that I can't prove that I can remain attatched to my bike in future Wicked Bird Enduros. Thank's to Dick and Phil for years of fun.

Steve you need a set of ASV no breakable levers.

Great course guys. I flatted at mile 10 on the first loop, limped back in and was still able to make the last check on loop one on time (at least in my minute). I raced back to my truck, changed the rear tire, left about 11 minutes late at the start of loop 2, made up about 6 by the first check on loop 2, and then flatted again at about mile 7!! ARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH ! (:

I guess Tim Moore was right _ I should have been superstitious about drawing row 13 _ either that or I should have known better than to leave in the stock tube on a new bike when you're racing it at Cougar Buttes! As luck would have it _ it looks like I drew row 13 again at the 4 Aces race this coming weekend. See ya then ! I'll miss the 'Bird.

After last weekend Eric, you might want to ask for a change!

Great ride, fun course and cool new hat! Thank you Dick and Phil for your hard work. A big thank you to everyone that helped with the Beginner race. Dave Barrar, Tim Stoner, Ryan Baldus, Richard Clark, Ursla (my lovely and always beautiful wife), and everyone there cheering on their riders. It's fun to watch the kids pick up the pace and gas when they know someone is watching. My apologies to anyone I missed, your help is always appreciated.

Maybe I'm a little sick but I liked that rock crawler stuff on Sunday's race. I like it better than sand. It would have been more fun on a 200 EXC vs my beast of a 450, but it was fun. That 5+ ft. drop off was an eye opener on the first loop. No stopping. Just gas it and launch. The down hill @ mile 10.3 was a bit scary on the first loop. After that most of the rocks were pushed out of the way. There were a few other spots near previous checks where it seems more rocks were added to the trail. Go figure. Must have been the wind.

I was only down 7 seconds at the end of loop 2. On loop three I spent too much time picking the bike up the in sand. Then I did not have the energy to pound the woops across the valley and get back on time. Next mistake was to parrale the ribbon in search of a smoother line. I could see Brent's dust. There were were more whoops over there too. Then the dust kind of disappeared. Then I lost the ribbon. Then I missed a turn. Then I was late. .... could of, would of, should of.... Only consulation is the that D.J Schul, Timothy Clark and Andrew Browne are all 20+ years younger. Hey... First Old Guy sounds like victory.

I learn something from every Master and Expert I follow. Thanks Brent for teaching me a few new tricks. Congrats to D.J. on a great ride. You were on gas. See at the X_mas outing.... I wonder what Shanta has in store for us?

It was great fun at Check D. Not that it was a huge secret. With all the ladies up on the rock, everyone pretty much figured something was up. But I messed with some heads on Loop 3 while taking photos, though! "WHAT, NO CHECK?"

Sorry I missed this one. I just didn't feel up to breathing in a shovel full of dust at the end of a nasty little cold/flu/whatever it was. Poker Run was an experience. Dave, I think you should look over your GPS or change batteries. Maybe it was me, but it was giving me some really odd conflicting navigation info. We did it in the Rhinos, and we were all over the place. Over rocks, through sandwashes, cross country, whatever. Ned, Royce, and even Gracie are all convinced I'm nuts. But....fringe benefit......Ned now really knows how to drive a Rhino.

Dick and Phil, you guys put together a great weekend. Thanks for all your efforts. Sad to see it all come to an end. Pocher's dream is now retired....

Had a good time for a Wicked Bird till I took Mr. Cressy's advice for Novices and found a way around a tough spot and the gentleman at check E would not mark my card. Still had a great time till then. Think maybe Mr. Cressy took it easy on us for the finale. See you at the 4 Aces.

Hey David: You're only spotting the young guys 20 years??? Gee, I'm spotting them 40 years and 40 too many pounds. Can't do anything about the years but I'm working on the pounds (downward). Always fun trying to beat the kids. We'll get em next time. I shoulda, woulda, coulda had a zero but I guess that event isn't til next year. I think everyone over 50 should be get a Mulligan (like in golf). You get to throw away one check. Ha. Great course Dick and Phil. Happy B_Day Niles, Kristi, Quinn, me, and all the rest of the Scorpios.

Had fun working the Beginner course with Dave George and company. Also on Saturday Niles was working all morning putting up the dance floor, canopy, disco lights, sound system and Tiki bar, and it was his own birthday bash. Happy birthday Niles, Quinn, Christie, Tim and anyone else with a November birthday. Sunday was a gtreat course, thanks Dick and Phil. Started loop 1 and got past the first check with a 0 then my sons bike had a problem so I towed him back to camp. Missed loop 2 but jumped in at loop 3, wish I could have done the whole thing