2007 Rampart Poker Run-pictures and thoughts

[MeterPig]

Well, alas, the final poker run is in the bag until 2008. If you were there, you know it was a hoot. It was my first time riding with other folks and being passed by very fast people. It was also interesting to note, again, that some ATV riders have no respect for anyone. For example, there are a total of two poker runs per year. To miss this fact that today there was a poker run with a well marked route would take a complete act of retardation-as exemplified.

Story goes like this. I am rolling some hill on the west side of Rampart when I come up on two huge ATV's. You know the kind that are designed to pull cows out of ravines. Of course they are doing about 5mph. Of course the dude on top is wearing spectacular protective gear-sunglasses. And of course he is on a well marked course for the poker run. Either he was being a total ass or just an idiot. I vote idiot with the display of genius.

Ok, off of soapbox.

The run was a success with only one medivac. (really people, ride your own ride...) Anyhow, I am sure the Rampart folks raked it in as designed-and I am very happy for them. The RRMC does a great job creating a riding area everyone can enjoy-even rednecks. The trails are, for the most part, pretty good. I would love to see more single-track, but again, I doubt much would survive unless many barricades were placed.

At the end there was a "raffle". I put this in quotations as much was given out without a ticket. Different, but kept things lively. There were a number of kids there-yay! COHVCC was there and some free sound testing (mine passed with 85DB's). On a side note, the sound guy himself said 4t's were lounder given they produce more pressure waves. . I will take my old 2T. On another side note, there were ton of loud bikes there-and I mean loud. Yet, I saw no MX stars or people that were so fast, it just blew you away. Nor did I see a bike speed away so fast as to give the impression that loud pipes do great things. But hey, close trails, piss people off, annoy me. I don't care. I passed at 85DB :)

Well if you have read this far, you are looking for pictures.

Here is the Link

As for my personal experience, I truly enjoyed one way trails! No worries about some rider bombing down towards you as you are traversing a hill. I wouldn't mind seeing some trails designated one-way on the weekends or something. I know that opens a hole hive of issues...but....

The KDX only had one breakdown-a lost kick-stand. No matter as I was given one at the "raffle". My thanks to Tony, Trevor and the gang for shouting out my story.

The KDX no doubt is a pig on tight trails. Yet, it makes you pick an accurate line. It will not power, brake or steer you out of a bad decision. Should I get on a newer dirt bike, no doubt would it blow my mind. Still, I will take my piggy bike with everready enging rarely needing a rebuild.

Today was another change-I ran my pre-mix at about 20:1. For the record my plug did not foul, birds did not fall out of the sky and the bike had more power. Just my opinion. With that ratio, I am done with expensive two-stroke oil. I am heading straight to Wal-mart. :)

As for the two-stroke experience, sure there is little engine breaking. But then again, there is little engine breaking. Less need to choose a gear on the downhill, no surprise slow downs. One can just focus on speed up or no speed up. Plus there is nothing like being on the pipe!

Ok, I am done bloviating. Enjoy the pics.
Tony

Me at a sweet overlook

Stay the trail dammit! ;)

Hey greenies, where would these kids be without dirtbikes? Hmm? Gangs? Drugs? Nintendo? Getting chubby watching TV? Hmmm??????


Over and out!

[elimin8or23]

Great report of the fun! I ahd a blast myself. It was my first time getting a group together for this. WAY more fun than the 1 other, or by myself!

I have two things to add to the report for ya....

The first picture there is both Tonys!

and the other thing missing from this report is that Tony brought two friends up from the Springs that rode the entire course on pit bikes! Those two should sleep well tonight!

Thanks for the great time, and Welcome to Thumpertalk!


Anyone ready to plan out the 08 Spring poker run?

:ride: :ride: :ride:

~Tony

[MeterPig]

I would like to add that....high altitude and unreal activity levels produce a wierd sensation when arriving home. All I will say is...I am no spring chicken!

[Rodzilla]

Good write up Tony and thanks for Supporting the sport.

I am the current Vice President of the RRMMC (the guys that put on this event) and the guy in the "yellow" vest at the front gate, greeting.

Glad you had fun.

If it's cool with you, I'd love to get copies of your pics, we are putting together a "video" of the Rampart and our events that we can show at our booth for things like the RV show etc...


Just take a second and comment on some of your observations:

Quote:

It was also interesting to note, again, that some ATV riders have no respect for anyone.

True Dat. I try my best to talk to everyone at the gate, but there are a lot of folks that get there early, camp or enter from another road. I tell each one "Follow the arrows, or you've got 300 bikes coming your way."

Quote:

I am sure the Rampart folks raked it in as designed-and I am very happy for them... The trails are, for the most part, pretty good.

Thanks,The fall run usually has smaller turn out overall, between the Jack Rabbit race out at Bennett and something happening at Thunder Valley, we only had 200 pre register. The good news is although we "rake it in" it all goes back into the trails.

Quote:

Iwould love to see more single-track, but again, I doubt much would survive unless many barricades were placed.

Yep. Good news is there IS new singletrack coming. We have approval for a loop behind the Sprucewood, should be around 15 miles +/- of pretty technical riding. South end we have a loop that should get us anywhere from 20-40 miles of singletrack. As noted the hard part will be keeping it singletrack. The RRMMC has been working w/the Forest Service to come up with some "discouragement" for the wide riders. Gates etc...

At this point we have most of the "Expert" loop centerline flagged, not the actual course. Next the "ologists" have to go in and OK the routing. Bad news is it's a long process, all this has to be done on foot.

Quote:

At the end there was a "raffle". I put this in quotations as much was given out without a ticket. Different, but kept things lively. There were a number of kids there-yay!

I did not get to the camp site afterwards, the issue I know tends to be many guys don't wait until the end, they pack up and go. So a lot of the prizes tend to require 4-5-6 tickets to pull the winner that is there.

Quote:

COHVCC was there and some free sound testing (mine passed with 85DB's). On a side note, the sound guy himself said 4t's were lounder given they produce more pressure waves. . I will take my old 2T. On another side note, there were ton of loud bikes there-and I mean loud. Yet, I saw no MX stars or people that were so fast, it just blew you away. Nor did I see a bike speed away so fast as to give the impression that loud pipes do great things. But hey, close trails, piss people off, annoy me.

Amen, well he was kinda right. the soundwaves are longer and travel farther.
Currently CO does not have a sound restriction. But word to the wise...it is coming to all National Forests.

Quote:

I truly enjoyed one way trails! No worries about some rider bombing down towards you as you are traversing a hill. I wouldn't mind seeing some trails designated one-way on the weekends or something. I know that opens a hole hive of issues...but....

OK this one I have to comment on. I have to remind EVERYONE, even during these events, NO trails at Rampart are ONE WAY! Expect on coming traffic around any corner and ride accordingly. This is public land and we can't "rent" it for the event. One way trails are the #1 request, but it won't happen. Maybe if Rampart was originally laid out with that in mind but your issues include:

What if you break down
What if your buddy breaks down, can you go find him?
Who decides which way to ride? Do you do Devils slide up or down?
There are just not enough "through loops" to do it, you will force people onto the road at some point, and that is a no-no.

I'd like it too, but it won't happen.

Glad you all had fun....

Rod

[enigmatic_redhabu]

Hey, Meterpig.
I was one of volunteer the event. This event was my 4th with RRMMC, offroad motorcycle poker run.
I did the traffic control at the starting and I was one of the sweeper crew.
Thanks for many wonderful pictures. I am so glad that you guys had a wonderful time.

Yesterday, event was indeed successful one. we had only two serious accident (broken legs with medivac, and neck & back injury with fly for life and a few miner injuries and three death bikes we had to hulled it out.

Jinny

Originally Posted by MeterPig

Well, alas, the final poker run is in the bag until 2008. If you were there, you know it was a hoot. It was my first time riding with other folks and being passed by very fast people. It was also interesting to note, again, that some ATV riders have no respect for anyone. For example, there are a total of two poker runs per year. To miss this fact that today there was a poker run with a well marked route would take a complete act of retardation-as exemplified.

Story goes like this. I am rolling some hill on the west side of Rampart when I come up on two huge ATV's. You know the kind that are designed to pull cows out of ravines. Of course they are doing about 5mph. Of course the dude on top is wearing spectacular protective gear-sunglasses. And of course he is on a well marked course for the poker run. Either he was being a total ass or just an idiot. I vote idiot with the display of genius.

Ok, off of soapbox.

The run was a success with only one medivac. (really people, ride your own ride...) Anyhow, I am sure the Rampart folks raked it in as designed-and I am very happy for them. The RRMC does a great job creating a riding area everyone can enjoy-even rednecks. The trails are, for the most part, pretty good. I would love to see more single-track, but again, I doubt much would survive unless many barricades were placed.

At the end there was a "raffle". I put this in quotations as much was given out without a ticket. Different, but kept things lively. There were a number of kids there-yay! COHVCC was there and some free sound testing (mine passed with 85DB's). On a side note, the sound guy himself said 4t's were lounder given they produce more pressure waves. . I will take my old 2T. On another side note, there were ton of loud bikes there-and I mean loud. Yet, I saw no MX stars or people that were so fast, it just blew you away. Nor did I see a bike speed away so fast as to give the impression that loud pipes do great things. But hey, close trails, piss people off, annoy me. I don't care. I passed at 85DB :)

Well if you have read this far, you are looking for pictures.

Here is the Link

As for my personal experience, I truly enjoyed one way trails! No worries about some rider bombing down towards you as you are traversing a hill. I wouldn't mind seeing some trails designated one-way on the weekends or something. I know that opens a hole hive of issues...but....

The KDX only had one breakdown-a lost kick-stand. No matter as I was given one at the "raffle". My thanks to Tony, Trevor and the gang for shouting out my story.

The KDX no doubt is a pig on tight trails. Yet, it makes you pick an accurate line. It will not power, brake or steer you out of a bad decision. Should I get on a newer dirt bike, no doubt would it blow my mind. Still, I will take my piggy bike with everready enging rarely needing a rebuild.

Today was another change-I ran my pre-mix at about 20:1. For the record my plug did not foul, birds did not fall out of the sky and the bike had more power. Just my opinion. With that ratio, I am done with expensive two-stroke oil. I am heading straight to Wal-mart. :)

As for the two-stroke experience, sure there is little engine breaking. But then again, there is little engine breaking. Less need to choose a gear on the downhill, no surprise slow downs. One can just focus on speed up or no speed up. Plus there is nothing like being on the pipe!

Ok, I am done bloviating. Enjoy the pics.
Tony

Me at a sweet overlook

Stay the trail dammit! ;)

Hey greenies, where would these kids be without dirtbikes? Hmm? Gangs? Drugs? Nintendo? Getting chubby watching TV? Hmmm??????


Over and out!

[Green Stainz]

thanks for the pics and info. will have to get down there next spring for the poker run

[elimin8or23]

Originally Posted by Green Stainz

thanks for the pics and info. will have to get down there next spring for the poker run

I will be posting a list on this forum as well as the one I originated from (TT) closer to the time of the spring run. I will be "reserving/saving space" for anyone wishing to camp up there or even just ride together.

I hope to see everyone up for the spring run!!!!

Later,
~Tony