(Click on the thumbnails for larger images.)

Arriving at Grand Prix Motorsports.

Xterra = Registration Table.

Phil Tarman (COG AAD) and Roger Zieseniss (Utah).

Karl Zuercher's Acura ST-1300.

Bud Yates' IBA 48+ Goldwing.

It has everything you need for a long ride.

KZ's New Mexico USA plate.

Roger's been out doing some serious rides.

On the back of a BMW K1200LT.

On the back of a BMW F650GSA.

Serious route planning vs. casual route planning.

Valerie G. ready to take off on her Honda Hawk GT.

Brian Collins and Matt Lasley gearing up for the ride.

Volunteers Bill Lewis and Carey Crain checking starting odometers.

Phil "why are you wasting my time?" Tarman, Bill, and Carey.

Matt Lasley at the Ute Pass bonus.

The view from Ute Pass.

Back at GPM.

Rick "Loud Shirts Save Lives" Hall and Randy Bishop.

250+ miles and all smiles.

Karl Zuercher, all the way from NM to ride in the Rockies.

The experienced Aerostich with another day's experience.

Photos by Randy Bishop, Matt Lasley, Bud Yates, and Karl Zuercher.

Another fun and successful Two-Bits Rally is on the books. A total of 27 riders on 24 bikes came out on a sunny Colorado day to try their hand at a "scavenger hunt" type of road rally, similar to the Utah 1088, LOE 1000, etc., but all done in a 6-hour period of time. Seventeen of the bikes were ridden by folks on their first event of this type, and seven had done them before. Those with previous rally experience included Bill and Becky Gillespie (Waltz Across Texas winner, LOE 1000 winner, Utah 1088, Three Flags, Thin Air TT rally organizers), Roger Zieseniss (LOE 1000 winner, Utah 1088), Matt Lasley (Two-Bits, LOE 1000), Brian Collins (Minnesota 1000), and Tom Mulvany (Two-Bits). Among those on their first rally like this were Bud Yates (recently completed an IBA 48+ ride around the country), and several others with IBA plate backs indicating at least a SS1000. Riders from out of state included Karl Zuercher and Kitty Wolfe from New Mexico and Roger Z from Utah. The bikes included Honda, Acura, BMW, Harley Davidson, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Triumph.

The rally started and ended at Grand Prix Motorsports, the Kawasaki / Yamaha / Suzuki / Polaris dealer in the southwest corner of the Denver area. At 8 AM sharp we had a riders' meeting where the rules of the road were spelled out. Then everyone scattered around the dealership to spend 1/2 hour planning their "winning" route. At 9 AM on the button, or a little later, they took off for a 6-hour ride around the Colorado Rockies to find the bonus locations of their choice. Most were along the base route from Littleon to Silverthorn to Kremmling to Granby to Winter Park and back to Littleton. One of the largest bonii was at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Park near La Junta. No one attempted that one. Rats. Bonii off the base route included Echo Lake, Loveland Pass, Ute Pass, and Grand Lake Lodge. Other bonus points were available at the National Parks and Monuments around Colorado. (The only practical ones were in Rocky Mountain National Park, but nobody noticed or attempted those either. I almost penalized the overall winner for passing on so many points ;) And although almost everyone went through Empire, no one got the 1-point bonus for speeding. But some did buy bread at the bakery in Silver Plume for extra credit at home.

Around 2:30 PM folks began to arrive back at GPM with a few making the most of their time showing up right before 3:00 when the penalty period was to begin. Some arrived just before 3:30, still qualifying as finishers. There seemed to be plenty of smiling faces gathered around the portable hot dog stand as everyone discussed what they thought they did right or wrong, what they learned about rallies, or what great roads they had ridden.

When the scoring was all done Bill and Becky Gillespie had won the class for those with previous rally experience, just barely finishing ahead of Tom Mulvany. George and Sherrie Barrett on a Gold Wing and their son Brett on another Gold Wing rode the course together and finished first in the "rookie" class, gathering enough bonii to finish in a tie for 3rd overall. Karl Zuercher and Kitty Wolfe won the big door prize.

I sure enjoyed planning the event, finding the bonii, and riding the roads too. I want to offer a special thanks to GPM's General Manager Tony Hayter for hosting the event and providing t-shirts for all the riders and volunteers. And want to thank the volunteers: Rick Hall, Carey Crain, Bill Lewis, and especially my lovely wife Beth!

-- Randy Bishop, Littleton Colorado