BEATIN' THE WINTER BLUES INDOOR BIKE RODEO IN WYOMING

By Sammi

Yup, Sunday, March 14, 2010 was a typical pre-spring day in Northern Wyoming—cold, windy, and generally on the unpleasant side. If you listened very closely though, you could hear the wind carrying the low rumble of a few Harley Davidson motorcycles making their way to the Camplex Event Center in Gilette, Wyoming, for the third annual Beat the Winter Blues Indoor Bike Rodeo. A few bikers on a few bikes because they just couldn't wait any longer for the spring riding weather that is sure to come...eventually…sometime soon…we hope.

If you were lucky enough to be at the Camplex for the event, and heard the awesome roar inside the arena then you know that a few more bikes came in on trailers, including those of rodeo regular, Brooks MacRae, and his buddy, Adam Schimmel, who made the trip from Sheridan to participate.

The rodeo kicked off with a cool flag ceremony followed by the first event, the Slow Race. Slow races are all about balance. The idea is to ride your bike as slow as possible, making sure not to put your feet on the ground, and be the last one to cross the finish line.

You will often see the average biker practicing for this event without even knowing it. Come on, you know you've all done it-idled slowly up to a red light hoping it'll change before you have to put your feet down. If you’re an expert at this, then come on out to a rodeo and try your skills in a Slow Race.

Due to popular demand, several events, including the slow race, were broken into two classes. One class is reserved for bigger bikes and baggers, the other for the smaller more sporty bikes. The rodeo is not limited to Harley Davidson Motorcycles though Harley’s were the only model represented this year. Also new to the rodeo this year were two powder puff events for the ladies: the slow race and an obstacle course.

Next, if you weren't off getting some great grub at the concession stand run by the CMA then you were watching the Barrel Push. Sometimes called the Keg Roll, the Barrel Push takes a different kind of aptitude. Contestants line up with an empty 55-gallon drum (or keg) against the front tire of the bike. The plan is to roll the barrel toward the finish line quickly while keeping the barrel inside of your lane. This is easier said than done. While you may "walk" the bike, it is easy for the barrel to get away from you. If this happens, which is more often than not, you must jump off your motorcycle, chase down the barrel, put it back in front of the tire and finish the race. It can make for some good comedy.

The preliminary heats in this race were amusing. Don Watt of Moorcroft, Wyoming, jumped off his bike twice to chase down his run-away barrel just to get 2nd place and a place in the final. He then pulled off a win in the final with a perfect "push" straight down the lane to grab the title.

Between races there were some great door prizes being given away. "I'd like to thank the local businesses that donated door prizes," said the man who brings us this rodeo, Dave Marshal, "the gift bags we're giving away are worth $50 to $100 each."

Area businesses and clubs also sponsor the rodeo enabling the free admission, low entry fees and a great venue. They also help with pretty good payouts for the winners.

For the more daring of the competitors there is barrel racing. Much like barrel racing in an actual rodeo, riders must maneuver around three 55-gallon drums, in the correct pattern, as quickly as possible. This event has been known to ruin more than a few custom paint jobs.

Even though this rodeo is a family event, we are still bikers and we gotta keep our reputations intact. The "naughty" events of the day and definitely crowd favorites are the Weenie Bite and Honey, I'm Home.

The Weenie Bite also takes awesome balance and coordination on the part of the rider as they must ride beneath a hot dog covered in mustard and ketchup that is hanging on a string and slow down enough for their passenger to take a large chunk of that "weenie". According to sources that shall remain anonymous, "this is the only time a biker chick should bite and spit when in the presence of her man and his Weenie!”

Honey, I'm Home is a take on marital infidelity. When the rodeo announcer, who in this case was auctioneer Chuck Woods, shouts, “Honey, I’m Home,” contestants must leap off the mattress they are laying on with their “Honey”, pull on some clothes, jump through a window, and roar away on their bike. The event is timed, with the fastest one winning. We’re not sure, but it seems like some of these guys may have some real life experience makinmg the getaway, and others—well--not so much. Rex Jackson, who got a friendly boost through the window, was in good spirits when he said, “I haven’t had to do this in a while, besides I’m old.”

Prior to the final event, the obstacle course, everyone got a chance to see future bikers in action with a new kid’s event. Rodeo volunteer Donnella Woodward was overwhelmed by the response, “We brought in some bikes and I was asked to limit contestants to 20, I have 25 already!” she exclaimed.

Kids from about 3 to 12 years old, road their bicycles, tricycles, and even big wheels in an obstacle course of their own. They all seemed to enjoy being a part of the big show, and were awarded prizes for their efforts.

The adult obstacle course is a timed event that begins with the passenger tossing a ball over a bar and catching it on the other side, the rider than carefully weaves around a succession of cones while the passenger removes eggs from the peaks. They then travel over a large teeter-totter, turn around, ride back over the teeter-totter. The rider weaves in and out of the cones once again as the passenger replaces the eggs. They travel under the bar where the rider must kick an empty bucket. Penalties are given for each obstacle not completed and putting your feet down is grounds for immediate disqualification.

The day ended with cash awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, place finishers. A geezer award went to Gillette’s own Dusty McClintok, for being the oldest participant to place in an event. Lastly, they announced the winners of the “Half a Hog Giveaway”. No, not a steel, pavement-eating hog, but the kind that make for good eatin’. Two pigs were raffled off, with four winners each receiving a half. Money from that raffle not only benefited the rodeo but also ABATE of Wyoming’s downed biker fund.

Yup, it was a typical pre-spring day in Northern Wyoming…with a bunch of bikers getting together for a good time with friends, strangers and motorcycles. What a great day!

EVENT WINNERS:
· Slow Race, small bike – Brooks MacRae
· Slow Race, Big Bike – Mike Stall
· Powder puff event – Tawnya McCaskill
· Barrel Push, small bike – “Special” Ed Wales
· Barrel Push, big bike – Don Watt
· Barrel Race, small & big bike – Brooks MacRae
· Weenie Bite – Bill Stormes & Donna
· Honey I’m Home – Brooks MacRae
· Obstacle Course – Brooks MacRae & Vicki Baloe
· Powder puff obstacle course – Nicki Huddleston