September 2008 NEWSLINE
September 2008 marked the 35th consecutive running of MATT’s Quarry Cup. And possible the first QC without rain! Seriously, the weather was excellent as were the sections and the Saturday evening food plus entertainment. If you missed it, you missed a very well run event and I wager it was the most affordable event in the country. Just $35 to ride a 2 day event AND MATT gave a $25 discount for each vehicle! Is that crazy or what? AND MATT fed everyone, riders, family and friends that showed up for the Saturday evening feast of fried chicken with all, and I do mean all, the fixin’s plus brats and hot dogs! Is that a deal or what? Yes indeed men and women, boys and girls, trials enthusiasts and newbies, we at MATT are serious about getting people out to compete or observe Observed Trials and have a great time in the process. Heck, this summer we even offered free entry for any non member competitors in May, June and July! You can’t beat that with a stick! A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HELPED IN ANY WAY TO MAKE THIS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL QC. Especially the hard working score shed folks and non member checkers!
Speaking of sections, they were awesome. Not only were they fun and challenging, they looked great! The club adopted a new marking scheme for the 2 day event this year that looked fabulous and made it easy to follow your line. White tape marked both the left and right boundaries of the sections, line markers inside the sections consisted of white cards with large red, black or blue arrows, red for Master, black for Expert and Blue for Intermediate in the afternoon, morning classes were similarly marked with color coded arrows.
And now a short story: A couple of years ago I was down at the Octobertest at Grand Lake watching the Pro’s attack some huge rocks in an area called the Rock Garden during the “exhibition sections that count for the Pro riders’ scores” on Saturday of the 2 day event. A young girl, about 7 or 8 was watching the riders and entertaining Dale Malasek, Larry Findley and me. As she watched the Pro’s in the very difficult section, she turned to us and said “You know, if these rocks were soft as pillows, I’d try that!” I told you that story to tell you about two QC competitors that wish our quarry rocks were “soft as pillows!” Our very own long time MATT member and exquisite craftsman of our QC trophies, Russ Amos, found a hard rock the hard way. On Saturday while riding a section, Russ parted ways with his GasGas and landed on his back, on a hard unpillow-like rock. Russ then sought medical treatment where they found he had a broken scapula or “that big, flat shoulder blade bone”. Russ said the X-ray looked like a map of the Louisiana Purchase drainage! Russ will be out for a while but seemed to be in good spirits later that day when he returned with no shirt (ick) and his arm in a sling. Second place for “let’s test how hard these rocks really are” goes to Steve Nutsch of AVTA. Steve fell backwards in a section near the pavilion and smacked his right elbow on an unyielding rock. His elbow was split wide open but Steve elected to finish the event (must have been the second loop on Sunday, check his scores) and seek medical treatment later. So on the FIRST trip to the doctor, they cleaned the wound and stitched it up. On the SECOND trip to the doctor, it was infected, so they opened it up, cleaned out some more rocks that were left behind and stitched him up. The THIRD trip to the doctor was a repeat of visit number two. Steve finally healed up and I saw him in Oklahoma last weekend competing. Steve was wearing a guard on his right elbow to avoid another trip to the doctor.
Ain’t it amazing how kids grow up so fast? Keri Dennis was worried that she may hurt Dawson’s feelings if she was to beat him in the Novice class but she competed anyway. Momma doesn’t need to worry about Dawson’s feelings anymore as he; well you can see the scores yourself!
And so over 70 riders competed in the 35th running of MATT’s Quarry Cup. There was good participation in each class; Master was a little light with an all MATT contingency (AVTA, NEOTT and NTTA better get some young guns in the top class!) AVTA takes the prize for the best represented out of town club. Thanks guys and gals. We at MATT hope everyone had a memorable time and y’all come back now, ya hear!
Bruce Carver and Carl Hopkins will be hosting the Hot Dog Trials at MATT’s quarry at Trenton this Sunday, October 26th. These guys always do a great job so it promises to be a fun event, decent weather and FOOD! That’s right, hot dogs, brats, chili and appropriate fixin’s. Also note for MATT members that elections for 2009 MATT officers will be held at the Carver’s ranch after or while everyone gets fed. I will not be able to attend as I will be out of town. I have already spoken to our next president and he assures me that he will find a replacement for me. Yes friends it is true. I have been Newsline editor for two years now and it is time for a break. So this is my last Newsline until they can talk me into another term some where way way waaaaaay down the road!
Editor note: Many thanks to all you kind folks you have expressed your positive comments about this Newsline and thanks to all those who have withheld your negative comments about this Newsline also.
REMEMBER: MATT HOT DOG TRIALS THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008 AT MATT’S QUARRY AT TRENTON, MO.