RenoJohn
2010 Utah 1088  Ride Report
 Thursday PM departure so I would not be able to make the BBQ  -the that allowed for a relaxed pace to Utard.

 Wanting to get any LEO encounters over with early -My good fuzz buddy Brad and I met in Elko and shared some good fun and good stories.  Brad and I have ridden much of the Battle Born state together.  Brad would not make this years Utah 1088 but made me promise the RallyBastard a "Hello" and Brad says he won't miss the 20th anniversary for nothing!!
 


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 A few years ago there was an earthquake in Wells Nevada -as if that town wasn't dicked-up enough already.
 


 At the time there was much talk of restoration ....but now years later not much has been done, ...me guesses it never will.
I still had my CA24 rally towel secured to the bike ....Gosh, is scoring still open??


No use getting to Utard in the middle of the night  -So I made Wendover my destination/stay-over.   This made good sense as it has Nevada-Style fun, cheap and decent rooms and is on the doorstep of Rally HQ's


 Yep, some good late night fun in Wendover USA


 Arriving at the rally ---riders and bikes ...and some good fun catching up with folks.


 Here Dale (Warchild) and Lisa (Wargirl)   ....they were civilians this weekend and not running the rally -but rather enjoying the sites and fun.
 


 Here they are off for the romance capital of North America:   Ely Nevada.

They'd be back a day later ....and would bring RenoJohn some good fun at a long and very silly  post rally lunch.

 The Utah 1088 draws great riding talent -Hence a wonderful opportunity to observe and learn from experienced riders:

Learning From Others 
---> Pre-Rally Preparation <--

Like many, I have a lot to learn when it comes to preparing for rallies, specifically the hours before a rally.

So, I decided to track the preparation of two proven and successful riders and here is what I found:
 
 

Ken Meese comes with his "gritty" ready-to-roll Game Face. 
Ken is always ready to roll and always has his game face ready.

Matt Watkins also comes to rallies with his game face:

(jeeze he looks like a politician)

Ken Meese is continually focused 
......and sun-up-to-sun-down is preparing like a crazed animal ready to pounce

Matt Watkins likes to take his pals out on shopping sprees in the hours before a rally.
Here with Ken Morton, Cletha W and LD_Mario ...at one of Utard's popular retailers.

Ken Meese is always as close as possible to the rallymaster --->kissing the rallymaster's ass at every opportunity.  Nodding his head in agreement at every word.
 You have never seen such ass-kissing as part of rally preparation:  :-)

 (BTW Ken: You'll never be honored with the rock being such a teacher's pet)

Matt Watkins likes to get a pedicure as part of his rally preparation. 
--->Is this the cutest biker ritual you've ever seen? 
Matt defends the practice -he says a way to meet chicks.

PS Matt:  When a chick says she wants her man trimmed, she ain't talking toe nails
 

.....and can you believe there was video captured of this?
Caution:  Heterosexuals might find this video offensive -view at your own risk.

 

So, there you have it ...successful rally preparation from a couple of proven riders.

 


 "Bye Matt .....thanks for coming in for trim.  Please tell RenoJohn hello for me..."
 


After some good socializing, which included time in the bar trading great stories with Cletha (btw Cletha: wonderful to see your spunk and passion for riding!, especially after that nasty deer strike)  It was time for the Riders' meeting:


Straight-forward and intersting   -best describe this rally.
 

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Yep, the RallyBastard had everyone's attention .....


 


The only person smiling was Melchild  ....probably 'cause he wasn't running the rally!!
I asked Tom to keep some tequila on hand for post rally shots .....and he did!!  Thanks Tom  ...Man, you drink the good stuff!!
 


Uhhh, perhaps the biggest surprise:
Rally Packets would be released immediately after the meeting -exchange your sealed license and registration and get your rally packet.   More than 12hours before the rally.  OUCH!!  I was not alone in surprise over this.
 


My buddy Ken Morton is fun ---even with his body art
Uhhh, but after an encounter with Ken at the Great Basin bonus  ...I tend to think this tattoo would have been a better choice:

----and YES, I've volunteered to sponsor it's permanent placement on the other calf.  :-)

Holding the rock at the Utah 1088 is not desirable and typically comes at the expense of ridicule from the RallyBastard and others.
Having had the mis-fortune to carry the rock last year, ---> I of course was eager to see who might have the pleasure on this rally!
 
 ~ The ROCK ~

I'm really not sure how it happened, but yours truly earned the rock for a second and consecutive year.   This rock is full of tradition and never before has it been awarded to the same rider two years in a row.

I don't know what I've done to get on the bad side of the RB --->or what has caused such angst toward RenoJohn from the MERA folks ...but whatever it is,  ---> the RallyBastard ain't afraid to let his feelings for RenoJohn be known via the rock.

How old is that cranky old RallyBastard anyway??  He has got to be the oldest rallymaster on the rally circuit.

(yes rock picture recycled from last year -figured no use wasting film)

Being surprised at the release of the packet, I was ill prepared.  Cletha had poured a couple of beers down me, I had not had dinner and still had not organized for the ride ....Uhh, and now time to start routing.

Had a nice dinner with Tom Melchild (thanks for picking up the tab Tom!) with LD_Mario and Maura G at the next table ...a tastey dinner and lots of water were my pre-routing preparation.   Eventually up to the room to attempt to figure out my route.

Contrary to popular rumors at the rally:  Tom M and I were not romanticly involved.  Mostly.


Rally Time!!!
Making Utah 1088 Rally History

Most riders were up late into the night studying their rally packet ....and those who had ESPN were kept abreast of the updates being sent around the world:

+ If RenoJohn held the rock until 07:00 he would be the first rider in Utah 1088 history to carry the rock for two consecutive years.

This was the catalyst of huge speculation across the globe:
~~Ken Meese, with a win, could follow RenoJohn into the history books and make Utah 1088 history of his own -as no Rider has won two consecutive years.
Secretly I was pulling for Meese to win ...I wanted to dispurse the attention -you know, the fame, the Oprah show, the White House invitation ....etc etc.
I'm not the type of person that wants attention to drawn to myself.

But, it was up to Meese:  I had already secured my place in Utah 1088 history, it was now up to Ken to follow.
 


.....The wheels go in motion -Continued

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