Fud's Crud - May 2000
Tazmanik Fun
A few years ago Bob Bell approached me about having a Hare
and Hound event. It sounded like a great idea as long as I had
help, lots of help. Boy does it require lots of help. 70 miles
is a long way to mark. We figured this year we had at least 2,000
wooden stakes pounded into the ground with arrows or other such
course markings stapled to them (No ribbon used, none allowed!)
The first few years we got in each other's way as we tried to
hard. Then Bob and his rock loving accomplices decided that I
was a hindrance to where they wanted to go and banned me from
the Painted Gorge loop. Go mark the East route and shut up!
This year I set out marking behind Plaster City when I came upon
a small square fenced area that I had never seen before. One side
of the fence was down and it looked rather interesting so in I
went only to discover there was only one way in and the same way
out. While this would not work in the race it was a perfect trap
for pre-running. Using the tall bushes to hide the exit arrows
I guided everyone in and out. When the persons that pre-ran the
course got done talking about the rocks on the West all laughed
about going into the merry-go-round. Except "Wild" Bill
McNeer, he is the only one to claim he saw thru the hoax and went
around. Yeah right!
Arriving early Friday afternoon before the Sunday race my intentions
were to mark Pit Row and then go disassemble the Merry-Go-Round.
However, I had a visitor from Plaster City who asked about it.
After I finished explaining it was all a joke he informed me that
they had already closed the ride. It turns out it is an active
sewer leach (dry) pond and if someone fell in they would bring
a new meaning to "My ride stunk!"
As I said, I was not allowed on the West loop, however, it must
have been real technical as it was taking over an hour to ride
only 27 miles during practice. It was a love/hate relationship,
nothing in between. The wimps set it out and a record number of
entrants raced, which said it all. Several persons mentioned that
they would like to have two or three of these a year. I asked
who would mark them. Once a year is enough. I marked 37 miles
and it took 19 hours. The 27 mile loop with tons of workers required
the same or more effort. Once a year is all you get!
Aaron Tuck won the 2000 Tazmanik with American Honda rider Jonah
Street second. When Aaron came in first from the West loop I predicted
that he would be the winner. The second half was what Aaron cut
his teeth on and there was no way anyone would reel him in unless
he had a mechanical failure. I was surprised by one thing though.
When Jonah Street signed up I asked if he had any numbers on his
bike and he replied that he did. Being a factory Honda racer I
assumed that his bike would be all decked out in one of a kind
cool looking numbers, so I tried to go easy and only have him
change the letter. Error! Error! Error! He had no numbers on the
side panels and a real ratty set on the front that the checkers
could barely read. Morale of the story, stick to your guns and
make everyone run the numbers FRT provides for free.
Something to Dream About
The other day Boss Sherri asked about having SDOR sponsor a District
38 Reunion race next year. While this has been discussed before,
it has never been given any serious thought. I would like to know
what the former racers think about the idea. Please E mail me
your comments, [email protected]
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This page last updated on 6 September 2000