2017 RWTC

[400brian]

The banquet was a huge success! Extra tables and chairs were rented to seat everyone, around 300 people were fed. Even so, I thought things went very smoothly, and the staff there at the Whitetail did a great job. There were some improvements made to the sound system this year, and I thought they were largely successful. The program finished up fairly early. which allowed us to continue socializing in the bar for a while.

I got a chance to speak with some of the guys who had participated in some of the other rides and activities that day. One bunch drove up to Bent's Camp to check out the bikini radar runs. Another group rode south to Craig Marchbank's place for lunch and got a chance to view Craig's extensive SkiDoo collection. The event that seemed to exceed expectations was the group that trailered over to Eagle River to check out the sled museum there, and got a chance to ride around the ice oval. The access to the track had been several years in the making, and while I was under the impression that they were just going to do a parade lap, what actually happened was that they opened the track up for a couple of hours! What I was told was that the warm temps had softened up the ice, and that the trail sleds were hooking up pretty good in it, and that the guys were able to run some pretty fast laps. From the guys I spoke with, this event was a huge success, and was very much a great time.

The top photo shows that a few beverages were consumed during supper, the lower photo is Wade chatting with Glen, and RJ Rainville's bottle sitting in front of them cracked me up!

[400brian]

Once again, we had a great time at the Ride with the Champs. This was my 11th trip to the event. We started doing this because of the sleds, we have kept doing it because of the people! There is camaraderie, seeing old friends, meeting new ones, you can strike up a conversation with anyone and learn something or enjoy a laugh.

Craig Marchbank, the board, and Jamie, are all working hard to make this a great event. If you enjoy sleds, you can't help but have a good time here!

There was no first out trophy given out this year, but we did have a rider that rode with distinction! Jason Peterson brought out his very nice 800 after a couple of years of getting things just right, and rode the Bogie Bash without raising his hood! Perhaps as importantly, he brought along a few items in his backpack that proved very helpful in getting everyone back under their own power. If it hadn't been for the fuel line Jason had on hand, Rainville would have been on the rope! Thank you Jason!

A couple of funny things stick in my mind from the weekend. One was on Big St Germain Lake on our way to the SHOF Friday afternoon. About halfway across, we met a guy on a bicycle riding north! That was something I hadn't seem before. I just pointed at him and yelled to the wind; WHAT AN IDIOT!

The other thing happened at Stillwaters. We were sitting at the table waiting for lunch, when Andrew Clark asks out of the blue; who is Katy? ( of Katy's Bogie Bash ). The answer was swift in coming; you are sitting beside her!

Booked the room on our way out, so Lord willing we will be back in 2018.