THE RUN UP TO DONNER






What a fantastic place for a Trial! Lake Donner below


 Only a week away but time to start thinking Vintage trials again and one of my favourite venues,
Donner Ski Ranch. Matt Hillgenberg of Speed & Sport fame lays on a fantastic 2 day and with
temperatures now at 112 in Arizona the thought of a few days at 70 is very appealing!



2006 with some great sections. I loved this "Cobblestone" Climb

 Looking at the record of my 2 previous visits I have had some pretty good rides at Donner and
often either the sections look more difficult than they actually are or maybe I ride well  up there.
Of the 4 rides I've had I have lost a total of 5 marks  with 2 wins and 2 seconds. This year I hope
for better and maybe I'll ride three events, 2 on the Cub and one the Oilfield. We will see if the
loops are short enough to get 6 loops in to everyone elses 3.



By the Lodge Day 1 2006



Where it was Won & Lost Day1 2006

 It's been a while since the last event at Milliken back in May having missed the Rocky Mountain
2 Day at Bull Hollow and nothing in AZ either. So, keeness is up, the weight is down to 195, no
 practice, no excuses, I'm ready! 

 Currently the bus is away having final wood panels fitted, the last of the "blow out" damage
repaired and the AC checked over. Those that read the AHRMA sagas will remember that last year
with the NEW coach the fan belt in the generator snapped about 50 miles away from home on our
trek across the desert and the even hotter run across Nevada to our nightstop in Mina. Brenda
ended up spraying driver and panting dogs with a plant mister until we eventually plugged into
50 Amp and had full AC! I'm told another sweatfest will be the END so everything must be checked
or there will be trouble. 




Even Mud & Water 2007

 This year the game plan is to go up on Wednesday to Mina, cover the last 300 on Thursday
morning and be there around lunchtime for some light training drinking and a ride round the
mountains to check the sections. Ed and Evelyn will be there as well and Matt should have
everything in hand with his helper Don Kelly.



The other side of the Lodge 2007

 I love the atmosphere of this event, the ski lodge, mountains, crisp air and you can even smoke on
the patio. The whole area is roped off for the trials fraternity only, and everybody is very pro
motorcycles. Of course the Trophies are also excellent with fine contents and you get to keep the
bottle afterwards. This year we don't have the "helpful Rv'ers" with us so Brenda won't get wound
up although NINE dogs could try her patience.  (now 8)



Not a bad wine either!...... or so I'm told

 Not sure if we will leave there on the Sunday or we might just leave on Monday and travel across
to Colorado and set up there for another week while this trying period of our lives moves on.
Having just checked Mapquest it's quite a run from Donner to Dolores so the plan may get changed
again.

 With all the e-bay stuff I will be like a travelling salesman hawking all my wares in the trailer which
is going to be rather full with the Hardley now joining us as the Dolores transport, and that may be
up for it's last ride as it joins the long list of saleable items.



No shortage of natural sections

 Back to the Donner review, I wonder what the turn out will be this year with the ever increasing
cost of fuel. Long distance One Day Trials seem to be falling by the wayside and the 2 day has to
be the way to go. Donner has had some good entries with numbers up close to the 50 mark in
previous years but the extra 2 bucks a gallon since last year may take it's toll. There is another
Vintage trial planned for the same day which really doesn't strike me as being too bright and will
obvoiusly affect turn out at both events. Dumb!!

 Well WE will be there! 


Tony Down     -1 puppy!