It was wonderful seeing everyone again. Unfortunately I didn't have time to stop and chat with everyone. :(
Boy.....
...... I can't wait until RA.
Dawn ;D
I agree! Nice to see everyone again! Not enough time to chat it up though :( Can't wait til RA. I dropped a tear as we passed the exit on our way home today :'( :'(
Oh and Benji, The maid did say something about you peeing the bed last night!!!
StUmPy
I think Tiff did a good job getting the MW/GL banquet together this year. The only critique I would offer would be that 10 to a table was a bit cozy and that finding the room was somewhat of a hassle, sure wish there had been some signs near the entrance of the banquet/convention building pointing out where the CCS banquet was at. But these were minor inconveniences and are merely suggestions for the future, overall for the number of awards recipients it moved along fairly quickly (most people were brief in their speeches ;)).
Hey Stumpy, nice to meet you and Heather at the banquet. It's nice to put faces with names.
I plan on being somewhat of a nuisance on the track to you fast guys this year, so hopefully I will see ya up front this year! ;D Good luck in your up and coming season!
It was very good to see everyone...
And then there was how many people that I talked to briefly...as in moments.
Hard to fit into the minutes before and after all the awards the discussions of dreams, lies, and racing that a season, or even seasons, puts into one's memory.
I was lucky in that Doc Purk and I got to ride on the ice a few hours earlier...
QuoteAnd then there was how many people that I talked to briefly...as in moments.
Speaking of that Dave did you realize that was me that handed you your GP region plaque toward the back of the room after the awards presentation was over?
No...
You shaved from the last time I saw you...LOL!
Didn't I have that dazed look on my face...?
I though that I would see you, but... ::)
Just wanted to give Kudos to Tiffiney for planning the event. I thought it went smoothly and was very nice. We're quick to complain but not always as quick to give a compliment when it's due. So thanks.
Over all it was a great time. Like Mike said ... it would have been nice to have a sign pointing the way to the banquet room. (forgot my compus and got lost in the lodge a couple of times trying to find my way around! lol) But compaired to last year in Chicago.... 110% better! Beck and I had a great time and it was just nice to see alot of you again. The off season is way too long! We look foward to seeing all of you at the start of this comming season. Nice job Tiff! 2 thumbs up!
Tiff Rocks!!! :D
VERY nicely done. Can we go back there again next year?
For sure it was a good time, would also have liked a bit more time to socialize, an open bar would have been nice too ;D ;D ;D
Yes, Tiff, I know I still need to call you!!! ;)
QuoteTiff Rocks!!! :D
VERY nicely done. Can we go back there again next year?
Either that or the Clock Tower Inn! Not that I'm patrial because its 45 seconds from my front door or anything! lol But its rally easy to get to right off the interstate and pretty close to everyone in the MW. About 15-20 min. from BHF. But Lake Lawn Lodge was really nice! (Big... but nice) I would definatly go back there again.
I thought it went really well. Much better environment than last year. I heard that the doors actually opened at 6. Too bad we did not know about that before, it would have given plenty of time for socializing.
Ya it was great to see everyone again!!
Nuttin' like a little winter bench racing.
Nice job Tiff!
Stumpy...how was the party? Sorry I missed it we ended up closing the bar and I had to drive back to Crystal Lake... ;)
Tiff, take a bow!
That was a great banquet. I was the one who originally suggested the Clocktower Inn, and I really don't think it would have been one bit nicer if we'd held the banquet there instead. The thing about needing signs to find the banquet was a hotel problem, not a CCS problem.
My favorite part of the evening was Kim Olsen getting the "On the Gas" award from Learning Curves. What a well deserved honor. For those who don't know kim, she has every possible disadvantage. She's a woman in a man's sport, she's larger than your typical 150 lbs racebike jockey, she's dead broke at all times, she didn't know a dang thing about how to sport-ride a motorcycle before she began racing one, and she's on a TL1000, for cripes sake! Inspite of that, Kim never stops trying. For all the time, blood, bruises and money she's invested, Kim has one fifth place plaque to her credit. It's been an uphill struggle, but Kim never tires of trying. She's always (mostly) in a good mood, and never (mostly) fails to brighten the spirits of everyone around her. (Remember, Kim. There's no crying in baseball!!! ;))
I'm honored to be Kim's friend, and I totally salute Rick Breur for choosing her to recieve the award.
Ya!!!! What K3 said....Great Job Kim! Good to see you made it, And even got to give a speech. With no notes or anything ;)
StUmPy
I am thrilled that everyone had a great time. I booked the resort again for January 15, 2005, so mark your Slider Photo calendars! The only changes will be:
We are now in the Lake Lawn/Queen's Table room. It holds up to 350 guests and has higher ceilings.
All tables will be the same size as this year, however they will seat 8 instead of 10 (more elbow room).
Cocktail "hour" starts at 6pm and goes until 7:30.
I think I have made changes to meet everyone's requests. Unfortunately, since there are so many banquets and events going on at the resort at the same time, we are unable to hang CCS banners or signs. However, on the invitations for next year the room will be listed along with a resort map (I had no idea it would be so BIG!).
Thank you all again, and I'll (hopefully) see you all again very soon!
P.S.--Doc, you and your lovely wife are awesome! Thank you so much for the baby bibs and safety gear! I can't wait to see Bean wear his first checkered flag!
I just want you all to know I'm still blushing.
And I'm still not convinced that John didn't know something was "up" by the way he kept insisting I come out Saturday night.
Now, that scruffy, scary-lookin' guy really deserves an award. If it wasn't for him sending me home on his Hayabusa one fine summer day NONE of this would have ever happened.
When I said I wanted to take a riding school, he cheerfully taped up and removed the bodywork from his immaculate, pristine TLR so I'd be able to make the April date with Learning Curves. He even found a second one, thinking I could ride the '98 full-time on the street, thereby getting more comfortable with it. When I trashed the first one the weekend before the second one was ready to make its' debut, he never got upset.
He never complained about the nights spent sleeping on the passenger seat in our van (he insisted that I sleep on the slightly longer and flatter bench in the back, next to the bike). Nor did he ever say a word about giving up all his vacation days so we could spend our weekends at the track.
When things were going really bad, he never tried to influence my decision to tough it out. It was always "Whatever you want to do"... and I believe he meant it.
The ultimate happened at the June Blackhawk this year, when my motor munched itself during Friday practice. When the bike came off the crash truck and he turned the key, hit the button and nothing happened, saying "It's done", I figured that meant exactly that. Motors are expensive and by all indications we would need at the very least a new head, cylinder, piston, etc. I figured we'd go home, and I'd just come back out Saturday to watch my friends compete. I never expected for him to take the bike home, park it next to the other one and then move ALL the components from one to the other (he'd never swapped motors on a Japanese bike and not wanting to take any chances, figured it would be easier to move everything ELSE around). We left the track at around 4 p.m. and by midnight we loaded an identically-prepped bike into the van and were back at the track by 2 a.m.
As for quitting... how the heck could ANYONE quit coming out to a place with so many generous, friendly and otherwise wonderful people? Even in the beginning when things were REALLY scary (those who shared the grid with me those first few outings know what I mean) I was amazed by the number of folks who were genuinely interested in trying to help... CCS staff, cornerworkers, hell, everyone!
Racers are truly a class by themselves. I'm just proud as hell to know you all.
I was very pleased when Rick told me who the recipient would be. I wish I could be as cheerful as Kim when things go wrong. I am glad that we changed the award from a go fast amateur award to a sportsmanship award. There is far more to racing than going fast. The main reason I still race after 21 seasons (motocross, karts, and roadracing) is the people at the track. People like Kim make teaching riders school worth all the work. Congratulations Kim.
QuoteI am thrilled that everyone had a great time. I booked the resort again for January 15, 2005, so mark your Slider Photo calendars! The only changes will be:
We are now in the Lake Lawn/Queen's Table room. It holds up to 350 guests and has higher ceilings.
All tables will be the same size as this year, however they will seat 8 instead of 10 (more elbow room).
Cocktail "hour" starts at 6pm and goes until 7:30.
I think I have made changes to meet everyone's requests. Unfortunately, since there are so many banquets and events going on at the resort at the same time, we are unable to hang CCS banners or signs. However, on the invitations for next year the room will be listed along with a resort map (I had no idea it would be so BIG!).
Thank you all again, and I'll (hopefully) see you all again very soon!
Tiff, I'm glad to see that you took our critique as suggestions for the future as we intended them to be, and not complaints. (After all women in your condition have been known to be..umm...well...overly sensitive shall we say? ;) ;D LOL )
It sounds like you have things set pretty well for next year, good job! :) A map of the resort will help alot since we now know we can't have signs at the resort. Just out of curiosity, what was our grand total on attendance numbers? When you mentioned the capacity of our next room that made me wonder.
Also a big Thanks to Kevin for hosting the awards ceremony and doing a good job at it too! :)
QuoteNo...
You shaved from the last time I saw you...LOL!
Didn't I have that dazed look on my face...?
I though that I would see you, but... ::)
Don't you have that look all the time? LOL, just kidding Dave ;D I kind of thought you wouldn't recognize me, after all we have never really talked face to face yet, other than a passing hello. That will change this year when I attend your VRS University class, and I will TRY and not babble on and on like I do here ;D (I realize your time is very valuable). I am planning on running up in the front group this year, like I did in the past, so hopefully I will be seeing alot more of you on the track too!
Quote Don't you have that look all the time?
I am planning on running up in the front group this year, like I did in the past, so hopefully I will be seeing alot more of you on the track too!
LOL! I do.
And the more the up front, the better.
;D
I had 185 reservations for Saturday evening, and I believe next year we'll top that. I'm setting up the room a little differently so there's more room to meet and greet, so that's why I wanted the biggest and best room they've got.
;D
And I don't see any of the critiques as complaints--I figure that's the only way I can get the banquets the way y'all want them, and I think I've gotten pretty dern close this time. Keep in mind, though, you guys make the banquet fun, I just make sure tummies get filled.
P.S.--Open bar? Never going to happen again. Been there, done that, and I think we can all agree it wasn't a great idea.
Ok, next year we want the Rosemont Horizon. We'll have the banquet in the sky boxes, and hold a pit bike race down on the main floor, right next to the open bar... ;D
Best banquet ever, Tiff! You da man, woman!
Kim, no one is more deserving of that award than you. You had me all teared up.
K3, Congrats to you and your "neighbor". You're right, every racer has one. Our guy is John. Great speech!
Even if Stump didn't get to give a speech (don't they have prizes for best looking or something?), it was a wonderful way to break up the winter. Also, we finally put some faces with names (GSXR Racer Mike!).
I've never been to a CCS banquet, but I think it was great. The larger room next year makes sense. Good job!
We're really looking forward to next season, the sophomore year, and what the white plates have in store for us.
Or should I put it this way, what Stumpy has in store for the white plates. Yup, that sounds better ;).
Heather
Tiff, Kevin, all I can say is great banquet!
I complained heavily after last years ordeal and I was very happy to see this years festivities were so much better. Any problems I saw were the facilities not CCS.
I must aplogize for my little talk at the banquet. It was rather flat and not very enthusiastic. Kevin surprised me by asking if I wanted a moment to talk about the Wegman Fund so I was totally unprepared.
Once again, great job, thanks for a nice evening among good friends. ;D ;D ;D
QuoteKevin surprised me by asking if I wanted a moment to talk about the Wegman Fund so I was totally unprepared.
Once again, great job, thanks for a nice evening among good friends. ;D ;D ;D
I do understand, Gordy. I kind of turned my head quickly...but I was happy that Kevin gave you the opportunity. Good things happen to good people we hope....
;D
Hey,
Where was Oldguy and son? We were looking forward to seeing them!
I guess if he missed the banquet, he'll have to make it up by coming to 2 Blackhawk races this year.
Heather
His airplane broke. :(
Hopefully not while he was flying it.
Quote Also, we finally put some faces with names (GSXR Racer Mike!).
Heather, it was nice to meet you and Stumpy too! Hopefully I will be seeing you guys alot during the season. :)
Hey Congradulations!!! Kimmie, and Tiff!!!!
sorry Ike missed it, still going thru withdrawals... ::)
BENJI!!!!!! >:(,
and anyone else who might be able to answer this...
??? Benj... I've got word that YOU had an occasion to mention MY name as you recieved some sorta
"he tried real hard, but didnt quit make it" award...
something about you calling me outa my name..
some sorta "nice guy" comment you made about me >:(
I'm not jumping to any conclusion, I'm thinking we can settle this just between the two of us....
so I'm asking... did you or did you not say something about Ike in the same sentence as you used the reference "nice guy" ???
and if so, uhm,...thanks buddy...!!!
I was quickly reminded of some very unforgetable laps that we've shared!!!
Congradulations!!!
and to all the CHAMPS!!!
Ike
I was wondering where you were at Ike? It somehow wasn't the same without you around! :-/
Are you going to be racing this season Ike?
WUSSUUUUUUUUP Mike!!! :)
Thanks, its a nice thought, to have been missed a tad... ;)
Honestly, I''m a bit down trodden about not finishing in a top 3 or even a top five...
but I also had another issue that sorta kept me from attending..
kudos to Tiffiney, again, as it sounds to have been a blast!!1
and all you guys for being there for and with each other... thumbs up!!!
and i will race... as much as I can... gonna try for three classes... prob mwgp, sb and gtu... looking for a bike now... cross your fingers for me... unless...
maybe you got a bike and a team that I can take full advantage of...j/k ... unless you say yeah... ;D
cant stay away yet, I'm not even in denial... I'm stuck..
8) Ike
You were definitely missed, Ike! We were looking forward to seeing you!
Guess we'll just have to make up for it this summer!!! Oldguy, too!
I just love a party. :D
Heather
(just realized I'm signed in under Bigboy Stumpy. Oops.)
Quoteand i will race... as much as I can... gonna try for three classes... prob mwgp, sb and gtu... looking for a bike now... cross your fingers for me... unless...
maybe you got a bike and a team that I can take full advantage of...j/k ... unless you say yeah... ;D
Glad to hear you are going to be out there again! :)
I personally will be concentrating on riding my '02 GSXR 750 this season. I need to get a house this year before interest rates go up too much, so I may not race more than 2 or 3 classes this year (mabey more if I find the right house for the right price! :-/ ) I'm probably going to sell my '96 GSXR 750, since I don't race it anymore and I could use that money for house stuff, but I'm not sure about the 600 yet. I would like to mabey race a 600 class this season, but I mainly would have the 600 as a back-up bike, if I do keep it. Since I have never dropped this bike I could sell it as a street bike fairly easily, so that somewhat deters me from racing it anymore (since I'm not competative on it anyways).
If your going it alone this year you could always ride with me to help keep costs down (even if only when going to the further events). Mike Jordan is probably going to be riding with me to a number of the events too, so the more the merrier! Hope you find a bike soon.
YAAAY!!!! Ike's comin' back!!! 8) 8)
You were most definitely missed at the party, my friend.
Quote Glad to hear you are going to be out there again! :)
I personally will be concentrating on riding my '02 GSXR 750 this season. I need to get a house this year before interest rates go up too much, so I may not race more than 2 or 3 classes this year (mabey more if I find the right house for the right price! :-/ ) I'm probably going to sell my '96 GSXR 750, since I don't race it anymore and I could use that money for house stuff, but I'm not sure about the 600 yet. I would like to mabey race a 600 class this season, but I mainly would have the 600 as a back-up bike, if I do keep it. Since I have never dropped this bike I could sell it as a street bike fairly easily, so that somewhat deters me from racing it anymore (since I'm not competative on it anyways).
If your going it alone this year you could always ride with me to help keep costs down (even if only when going to the further events). Mike Jordan is probably going to be riding with me to a number of the events too, so the more the merrier! Hope you find a bike soon.
THANKS! Mike!!!...
Mental note made. plus, I'm glad to know someone doesnt mind me being around....
(I'm talking about Craig and Mike Schock)
Kim B. O.,
MISS YA!!!!
such a sweetie... (tell jon, hello) ;D
QuoteYou were definitely missed, Ike! We were looking forward to seeing you!
Guess we'll just have to make up for it this summer!!! Oldguy, too!
I just love a party. :D
Heather
(just realized I'm signed in under Bigboy Stumpy. Oops.)
Hey Maam!!! (StumpysWife)
Hope you guys are keepin warm up dere, ya hey dere...
;D
(hey, talk to Stumpie for me, I may need a team, and a bike, and a back up bike this season...
and a bunch of cute, smiling girls runnin around the pit area...
(thanks in advance) ::)
Ikey
Hey Ike maybe we can do a trade...I need a Dodge ram dually, Diesel, preferably red, And a Big ole' trailer bout' like yours ;D Don't worry the honey's loved the crash pics! "Oh is he O.K. poor guy" ;) Come walkin' up to the pit with a limp and it's a guarantee you'll get a kiss on the cheek :-*
StUmPy
;D
I think I've limped enuff to pull that one off....
;)
oh,
the Dually part....
he got "return to sender"...
we can work somethin else out, maybe???
Hey Ike
Was at the banquet with my friend Craig and it sounded to me like a lot of people really like him and i was wondering why the knock against him, don't know Mike that well so that doesn't matter. Heck I heard he even got you started out on the right foot last year, is it true?
Well ....
the guy was VERY nice to start!!!
even his wife, Karen was a sweetheart to me...
but CRAIG even turned her against me...
and I didnt even do nothin to her???
I dont know, we were working together with each other, then all of a sudden...
flatline... he never told me nothin, just gave me that look, and the feeling that was in the air....
it was just cold.....
and i was thinking.....
If the money he lent me was gonna cause that much of a problem, ...... you know, maybe he shoulda just kept it...
heck, I'm gonna pay hm back....
you..uh.. you got any money I can borrow...
I'll pay you back...
ok ok.. just joking...
thats my best bud... I've just gotta talk bad about him!!!!
And Karen, his wife is the main reason he's so cool, she rubbs off on him...
tho he's a sucka!!!