Due to some of the Kessler’s members doing their bag training to get used to low oxygen conditions for our trip to Togwotee later this week, not everyone was in attendance for BridgeMatFest this year, but I received this report from the guys on their drive home and was asked to post it between sets on the treadmill watching Schooled and other snowmobile videos (it’s hard to see with the bag on your head – you just have to cut some holes for your eyes). Anyway on to the weekend events…</SPAN>
Despite our best intentions of a peaceful, violence and property damage-free First Annual BridgeMatFest, the weekend ended up being quite the celebration, both of personal freedoms and personal responsibility. The main contingent stormed into Mass City 10ish central on Thursday (we don’t switch to eastern time when we go there, it gets too confusing). First stop was Tiges for some nachos – if you haven’t had them before they are the best nachos in the Yoop and are worth a ride to Mass just for them. Conversed with Mark the bartender (and also Nacho maker) and tried to get him out braaapin with the crew, as usual he refused. The snotty east coast half of the crew arrived from Delaware at 4am (they stayed on eastern time zone so as to not confuse themselves).</SPAN>
Friday morning started bright at 9 am EST (us Midwesterners were early risers and ready at 8 am CST). As is our routine we rode to Pluchak’s for some of the best gas around. It was somewhere in the 2 block ride to Plutchak’s from the TK World HQ that we lost the bulletproof 500ss (See item 3 below) – If ANYONE tells you that motor is bulletproof, they should talk to Maximum_Always , burndown #2 (first one under warranty built by Rob’s Performance)... Friday continued with a lost TK Member in the bush…found him a few hrs later under a solar blanket. (How do those things work?) Made every possible stop from Ontanogon to Hooooooooooootin. Walked the Bridgemat several times.</SPAN>
Just for Kicks and without a sled, Maximum_Always drove the GMC with trailer down the Billy Nickels – you would be surprised how few people stopped to ask what the heck he was doing – the ranger did ask to see his trail permit, luckily for him the blown 500ss was on the trailer with the sticker – the ranger asked that he display it more prominently. Stopped in at the Mosquito, thanks Don and Donna for their hospitality. Those Sheboygan old fashions sure were yummy. You know it’s a great bar when the extend you a line of credit! (Thank you!)</SPAN>
Friday riding ended with Timner breaking M7 part 517-33911-SPAR (see item 6 below), so his shock was bouncing around. Believe it or not, and it true Arctic Cat fashion it took (2) M7 part 517-33911-SPAR to fix it. We looked to borrow the part off Danger Dave’s sled and found his shaft was missing – we heard CuzzinOlaf may have been playing hide the shaft with it but it wasn’t confirmed, no further comment…</SPAN>
Henrys for the smorgasborg with Carmalita – Good as always. Thanks for the dessert advice Sally! Make sure to hang up that Marilyn poster we made! In less than 2 years that will be priceless!</SPAN>
Back to world HQ. Ran an open door policy for Friday evening social hour. Nice to meet all you guys - place got pretty crowded. (From who we remember Thanks – Mark, Dwayne, Bebo, Michelle, Greg, Bill Nichols, Antiradio, Herbal Pharmacist, and about 100 others) Another good night in Mass!</SPAN>
Repairs Saturday morning included a mix of new equipment and cobbled together parts. Thanks to FGsacts for letting Maximum_Always use your sled on Saturday. Saturday morning Chad at M&M hooked us up with the needed M7 part…let us use his tools too. Thanks for the help, we appreciate it.</SPAN>
Hit an ultrasecret TK location known as Koolaid. As usual CuzzinOlaf missed out some great real estate because his head hurt. </SPAN>
The band was dominant all Saturday. Braaaaaeped it good in some deep pow. More Mosquito time…lively crowd, bunnies etc… Saturday night started with Kessler’s Italian night Smorgasbord – we outdid ourselves this time... On the way back from Henry’s we experienced the most dominant band – actually it was the first time we were ALMOST dominated. </SPAN>
We fought through though and made it to the World Headquarters where were able to share the great news about the modifications we made to FGSact’s sled – new light weight cooling system is 8 pounds lighter without the coolant (see item 5 below). No need to thank us yet Andy!</SPAN>
Saturday night ended similar to the Occupy Oakland movement - minus the flash bombs and tear gas, but the tent city was destroyed by some evil capitalists. Rumors abounded from an inside job caused by a failed hourly hand check; to capitalists coming in and seeing value in the wood used to build the tent and buying it on the cheap and selling it high; but I like to believe that the root cause was frustration due to the massive amounts of snow outside – it is pretty hard to protest something when you already have it right in front of you. I think the other occupy movements are in a similar state of disarray.
In any event, the destruction of the tent city did leave some occupiers wanting more from their visit to Mass, and the lack of shelter left more than a few looking for a warm place to sleep. This particular Occupier, although his heart and mind may be in the wrong place; is in our thoughts.</SPAN>
Official Bridgematfest Damage List – Nobody was Safe!</SPAN>
Despite our best intentions of a peaceful, violence and property damage-free First Annual BridgeMatFest, the weekend ended up being quite the celebration, both of personal freedoms and personal responsibility. The main contingent stormed into Mass City 10ish central on Thursday (we don’t switch to eastern time when we go there, it gets too confusing). First stop was Tiges for some nachos – if you haven’t had them before they are the best nachos in the Yoop and are worth a ride to Mass just for them. Conversed with Mark the bartender (and also Nacho maker) and tried to get him out braaapin with the crew, as usual he refused. The snotty east coast half of the crew arrived from Delaware at 4am (they stayed on eastern time zone so as to not confuse themselves).</SPAN>
Friday morning started bright at 9 am EST (us Midwesterners were early risers and ready at 8 am CST). As is our routine we rode to Pluchak’s for some of the best gas around. It was somewhere in the 2 block ride to Plutchak’s from the TK World HQ that we lost the bulletproof 500ss (See item 3 below) – If ANYONE tells you that motor is bulletproof, they should talk to Maximum_Always , burndown #2 (first one under warranty built by Rob’s Performance)... Friday continued with a lost TK Member in the bush…found him a few hrs later under a solar blanket. (How do those things work?) Made every possible stop from Ontanogon to Hooooooooooootin. Walked the Bridgemat several times.</SPAN>
Just for Kicks and without a sled, Maximum_Always drove the GMC with trailer down the Billy Nickels – you would be surprised how few people stopped to ask what the heck he was doing – the ranger did ask to see his trail permit, luckily for him the blown 500ss was on the trailer with the sticker – the ranger asked that he display it more prominently. Stopped in at the Mosquito, thanks Don and Donna for their hospitality. Those Sheboygan old fashions sure were yummy. You know it’s a great bar when the extend you a line of credit! (Thank you!)</SPAN>
Friday riding ended with Timner breaking M7 part 517-33911-SPAR (see item 6 below), so his shock was bouncing around. Believe it or not, and it true Arctic Cat fashion it took (2) M7 part 517-33911-SPAR to fix it. We looked to borrow the part off Danger Dave’s sled and found his shaft was missing – we heard CuzzinOlaf may have been playing hide the shaft with it but it wasn’t confirmed, no further comment…</SPAN>
Henrys for the smorgasborg with Carmalita – Good as always. Thanks for the dessert advice Sally! Make sure to hang up that Marilyn poster we made! In less than 2 years that will be priceless!</SPAN>
Back to world HQ. Ran an open door policy for Friday evening social hour. Nice to meet all you guys - place got pretty crowded. (From who we remember Thanks – Mark, Dwayne, Bebo, Michelle, Greg, Bill Nichols, Antiradio, Herbal Pharmacist, and about 100 others) Another good night in Mass!</SPAN>
Repairs Saturday morning included a mix of new equipment and cobbled together parts. Thanks to FGsacts for letting Maximum_Always use your sled on Saturday. Saturday morning Chad at M&M hooked us up with the needed M7 part…let us use his tools too. Thanks for the help, we appreciate it.</SPAN>
Hit an ultrasecret TK location known as Koolaid. As usual CuzzinOlaf missed out some great real estate because his head hurt. </SPAN>
The band was dominant all Saturday. Braaaaaeped it good in some deep pow. More Mosquito time…lively crowd, bunnies etc… Saturday night started with Kessler’s Italian night Smorgasbord – we outdid ourselves this time... On the way back from Henry’s we experienced the most dominant band – actually it was the first time we were ALMOST dominated. </SPAN>
We fought through though and made it to the World Headquarters where were able to share the great news about the modifications we made to FGSact’s sled – new light weight cooling system is 8 pounds lighter without the coolant (see item 5 below). No need to thank us yet Andy!</SPAN>
Saturday night ended similar to the Occupy Oakland movement - minus the flash bombs and tear gas, but the tent city was destroyed by some evil capitalists. Rumors abounded from an inside job caused by a failed hourly hand check; to capitalists coming in and seeing value in the wood used to build the tent and buying it on the cheap and selling it high; but I like to believe that the root cause was frustration due to the massive amounts of snow outside – it is pretty hard to protest something when you already have it right in front of you. I think the other occupy movements are in a similar state of disarray.
In any event, the destruction of the tent city did leave some occupiers wanting more from their visit to Mass, and the lack of shelter left more than a few looking for a warm place to sleep. This particular Occupier, although his heart and mind may be in the wrong place; is in our thoughts.</SPAN>
Official Bridgematfest Damage List – Nobody was Safe!</SPAN>
- One Broken Handguard</SPAN>
- Birch scuffs on the new white hood</SPAN>
- 500SS motor blown, PTO minimal compression</SPAN>
- Ripped Summit Track</SPAN>
- M8 Heat Exchanger with a new hole in it (Thanks for borrowing us the sled Andy!)</SPAN>
- (2) M7 part 517-33911-SPAR (Thanks to Chad at M&M for the replacement part)</SPAN>
- Occupy Movement evicted for not doing their hourly handchecks (Later rebuilt)</SPAN>
- M7 Belt wrapped around secondary (didn’t blow, I don’t know why its on the list)</SPAN>
- 6 Idlers wheels damaged on the Renegade</SPAN>
