KNOBBY NOTES

By Bill Rogers

May 2000

Well, it looks like we did it again. Of course I'm talking about the just completed Ocoee Fat Tire Festival. With a host of new features this year, it seemed as if there were quite a few last-minute details to take care of, but as always everyone came through and got the job done. For those of you who don't know, we added several new wrinkles this year (including a terrific pancake breakfast, a "Poker Run", and a trials type competition called the "Boulder Hop"). Personally, I thought the Boulder Hop was the highlight of the weekend. I'd like to mention that these new features were the result of a "brainstorming" meeting of some of our club's officers. I'm not sure who should get credit for which idea so I'll just say "great job, everyone."

I'm sure you all know by now that we didn't have a primary money sponsor this year. Still, thanks to all our sponsors, we had a very successful festival and we will be able to make a nice donation to the trail fund, just as we have in the past.

I mentioned some new wrinkles. For the first time we were able to offer several meals instead of just one. Thanks to our friends at Buck's Pit Bar-b-q our evening meal was catered. Our own Matt Phillips (Schlotzsky's) provided a terrific taco salad lunch. And several of our club members teamed up to cook a delicious and well-attended pancake breakfast.

Another first this year was the "Poker Run." The object of this event is to have the best poker hand using cards, which are obtained at a series of checkpoints. I rode in this event and we had 27 participants. Finally, the Boulder Hop. This had to be one of the most exciting 60 seconds anywhere. A short but very challenging trials course was set-up at the end of the big field. The idea is to negotiate the course without falling or putting your foot down. The riders were timed and a 5-second penalty added for each "dab." Believe it or not, two riders actually rode the entire course without dabbing.

We had a great weekend, even the weather cooperated - for the most part that is. Saturday afternoon a few brief showers passed through and temperatures fell.

All in all I'd say this was our most successful festival yet!

Bill

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