July 2007 MATT Newsline

ATTENTION non MATT MEMBERS: This Sunday, July 15^th is the last MATT event that your entry fee will be waived. Repeat, no entry fee will be charged for this Sunday’s event!

MATT MEMBER LIST: If you are a member of MATT, or a Friend of MATT (you decide), please take a moment and send me your contact information to put together an up to date member list. Please include: Name, Spouse, (kids), full mailing address, email address, phone number, bike and class. THANKS!

GIRLS ONLY GATHERING: Chris Hopkins hosted Susan Bridges and her Mother, Cheryl Carpenter, Kari Dennis and Chris Longname (Bill Sanderson’s girlfriend) for a girl’s only get together (get stinking drunk?) wine, cheese and beer party. The event took place at the Hopkins’ campsite and all had a very good time. Chris is trying to put this activity together on Saturday before event days, excludes QC. Contact Chris Hopkins for details or just show up! The more the merrier!

MATT’S ODDESSY: While Matt Hopkins is a bit odd, I am referring to the Honda Odyssey that his lovely wife’s uncle gave him recently. Matt brought it to the quarry on Saturday before the June event. He got it started and got strapped in for a short ride. Man is that thing noisy! And smokes a lot too! When he got back, he said it runs pretty good wide open but horribly down low. I decided that maybe the needle could be dropped to see if it helps. I got the slide out and noticed that the needle clip was way down the shaft of the needle. Easy fix! Now Carl had always worked on Matt’s trails bike so he was getting an education. We got the carb put back together and got ready for a test ride, but now it wouldn’t start! Before long there were about eight guys all putting in their two cents worth on what could be wrong. Turns out our fearless leader Pres Randy used to race these beasts. I’m not surprised. So he knew a thing or two about tuning them. After removing the carb again and cleaning out all the jets and passages, the old Odyssey ran great! It was even quieter that before, but you will still hear it coming if Matt brings it to the Quarry again!

THE SUN, THE EARTH AND THE MOON (no stars): Well boy howdy I feel special. I am sure that Jim Bridges feels the same. Saturday night at the Bridges’ campsite while enjoying a terrific steak (I used Jim’s Weber: incidentally, the Bridges do camping right; grilled salmon, asparagus, a nice wine…) we were treated to a wonderful and educational show. At first I was not interested as I heard them discussing waxing. Then I realized that Chris Longname, with her LED lamp clipped to the visor of her ball cap, was the Sun. Chris Hopkins debuted as Mother Earth and Susan Bridges shined (actually reflected) as the Moon. Chris L coordinated the ecstasy as she directed Mother Earth and the Moon on their orbit around the Sun, through a full 28 day cycle. I was captivated. We learned about orbits, the moon cycles from no moon, waxing to full moon and waning back to no moon, plus the Dark Side of The Moon! Maybe they can replay this fabulous recreation of our wondrous universe as part of the entertainment at the Quarry Cup. All in favor say eye!

IMPORTANT CLUB MEETING NEWS: At the riders’ meeting on Sunday morning a number of noteworthy topics were discussed. First and foremost, July 7^th was set as the date of our QC 2007 planning meeting. This event took place at Chris and Carl Hopkins beautiful new home on Weatherby Lake. More to come later on this meeting.

Secondly, members voted to contribute $1000.00 to Marc Carpenter and his fellow Traction Masters to buy materials to build a new trials demo trailer. The team does a number of demos around the area and does a great job performing them! Marc has some great ideas and designs for the structure. A MATT banner or sign will be incorporated into the stunt trailer to promote trials and our club.

Third, a discussion was presented by Kari Dennis to promote attendance at the riders meeting and the awards ceremony. Kari suggested taking a roll call at both the riders meeting and awards ceremony. Any MATT club member who is present for both will get their name in a drawing. At the end of the year, one rider from each of our traditional club classes will win six months free membership if their name is drawn. This proposal is still under consideration. In the mean time, please attend the riders meeting and stay for awards ceremonies!

Fourth, a proposal was made to set an end time for our monthly events, and then save one Master section to be run after everyone else is finished as an exhibition section, still counting in their point totals. This motion passed and to the delight of the attendees, was incorporated immediately!

Last but not least, a new member was voted into the club: Josh Alvis. Josh is Eva and Bill Carver’s grandson and therefore Bruce’s nephew. Welcome aboard Josh! Just wish you had bought a bike from me!

JUNE EVENT:

Trials masters Randy and Kari Dennis and Jim Bridges laid out some very well designed sections for the thirty riders. Great job! The Novice class had some new faces; a father/son duo rode their first event together. Brian and Mason Moore looked like they had a great time and showed a lot of potential. The entire class was made up of non MATT members (taking advantage of the free entry?) with Matt Loganbill taking first.

Amateur class was won handily by Nasty Nate Dennis. Look out for this youngster; he is on track to take over king of the hill from the Carpenter brothers not too far down the road.

Harley Griffeon put together 3 consistent loops to edge out visitor M. Dujmovic in the Sr. Amateur class.

A good group of Intermediate riders was bested by Carl “The Turn” Hopkins followed by Mike “Great Trials Genes” Carpenter and newbie Josh Alvin bringing in third place.

In the Expert class, Kelly Echterling was on fire (good thing no one had a match close by!) and with consistent scores, squelched Matt Hopkins bid for a hat trick. Maybe Matt was still thinking about the Odyssey his first loop. Jim Westcott took home third and is always welcome to ride Expert with us. Jim is a good competitor and fun to ride with.

Master class saw the return of the exhibition section. This is a great opportunity for the other classes to see what these “Motorcycle Magicians” can do. In the end, the leader board was unchanged between the Masters finishing the regular loop sections and the exhibition section. The Exhibition section was actually #1 and was probably the #1 hardest of the day. It was very long, had a mix of rocks, logs, hill climbs and even a big launch. This section was in the hillside just to the left of the Pavilion. Scott Carpenter extended a one point lead over Marc to 3 at this section. Bill Sanderson held on to third and had some great rides in #1, but seemed to get tired as he stopped 3/4ths of the way through the section on his last attempt for a little break in the log pile. Bruce did a fine job in #1, with a big nose wheelie turn coming down the bank off a large log. Bruce also found a line around the big launch that the other Masters took. I am glad to see us revive the Master Class Exhibition section and I believe the rest of the spectators felt the same way.

Next event is July 15^th at Trenton. Last month for non members to enjoy free entry fees.

NOTE: Please review the first section of this newsline and send your info to me, Kelly Echterling by email or standard Postal method. Thanks in advance for your prompt return of this information.

RESULTS OF THE QUARRY CUP MEETING: Bill Sanderson and Ken Brown are the Trials Masters for the 2007 Quarry Cup. They will be forming teams to set up eight sections per day for each class.

Susan Bridges heads the food committee again. The menu was basically set and we will use HyVee again.

Russ Amos has agreed to do the trophies again and is looking for ideas for unique awards. Russ is also in charge of checkers. Remember, it is your duty as a club member to act as or provide a checker in order for you to compete in the Quarry Cup if you do not already have a special assignment. So be prepared to score a section for the session you do not contest. Also, Russ will be pairing up experienced riders/checkers with less experienced people with perhaps a short school on checking (Dale?).

Entertainment will be provided by Dale Malasek, setting up the big screen again I hope. Plus the “Ecstasy of our Earth, Moon and Sun” performed by Chris, Chris and Susan (pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!).

Fire committee is Larry Worthmueller, Russ Amos and Jim Thornton.

Loop will be headed by Steve Morgan, assisted by Carl Hopkins, Tony Sargent and Jim Crabtree.

T-shirts and finishers coolies will be handled by Matt Hopkins, Scott Carpenter and Krista.

SCORE SHED: Cheryl Carpenter will head the Saturday team of Chris Hopkins and Kari Engle. Chris Underkoff will head the Sunday team of Jane Drury, Cathie Echterling and Jan Malasek. Competent volunteers are always welcome in the score shed! Please volunteer if you can help no previous experience necessary, just be good at listening and learning.

Porta Pots will be ordered by Deward Critten and Randy Dennis.

Clean up will be headed by Ken Brown. Assistance will be needed. Any volunteers?

Setup on Friday night will be headed by Jim Bridges, assisted by Scott Carpenter, Larry Worthmueller and Ken Brown.

Protest committee will be Dale Malasek, Steve Morgan and Greig Engel.

IF YOU ARE A CLUB MEMBER AND DO NOT YET HAVE A JOB IN SUPPORT OF THE QUARRY CUP, PLEASE CONTACT ANYONE ON ANY OF THESE COMMITTEES AND VOLUNTEER. HELP MAKE QC 2007 A SUCCESS.