Photo by Paul KummTCCX, a fundraiser for Tom Carter, came together in exactly 7 days.
Last Sunday I was out at Dane Emde’s north Fort Collins property discussing the cyclocross possibilities with him when it dawned on me that his property would make a great location for a fundraiser for Tom Carter. Dane was all for it. The only issue was, the best date on the calendar was only 7 days away. At 9:30 that night, I sent an email out to the local cx race promotion players. Jay Zorn, Tim Lynch, Jason Trujillo, Dan Burnett and Ainslie MacEachan (as he was working on an event for TC at the Rio). Everyone was 100% on board. We scrubbed the Rio event and went all in on TCCX.
During the course of the next 7 days, Curtis Heideman designed shirts, Tiffany Ankrum worked with Susanne Akin (AkinZ) to get them printed, JZ rallied his usual crew to get the course designed and laid out, Jason, Dan and the CYF bunch set up registration and results. Ainslie rounded up beer and got ready for announcing the event. I went about my business of spreading the word and connecting people with their counterparts and just like that, a race was born. 103 racers in 7 categories did battle on the course that included two creek crossings, 3 barriers, 15,000 prairie bumps (by my count), a steep run up, mud and a bourbon shortcut. We had an MTB Olympic medalist and a track national champion on course. We sold 60 shirts and have more on the way. We drank a couple gallons of bourbon and many, many gallons of beer. A couple hundred spectators braved the brutal Colorado weather to watch (Sunny and upper 60s) and 9News and the Coloradoan took note. 9News Video-
The dust hasn’t settled on the exact amount raised just yet but between donations, tee shirt, food, and beer sales and race registrations, we’re looking at roughly (very roughly) between $3k and $4k after expenses (porta potty, tee shirt blanks, food…). Once we have the exact amount in hand, we will make a donation to the GoFundMe campaign that Mike Weber set up. The donation will be in the name of TCCX.
This event was is a testament to what the FoCo Cycling community can do in an extremely short amount of time.
Be sure to thank the following people when you see them around.
Tom Carter for screwing himself up. Couldn’t have do it without you man.
Mike Weber for the GoFundMe campaign. $15,894 before our race.
Course- Dane Emde of Creekside Electric and Solar graciously let us use his land and spent a ton of his own time setting it up.
Course set up volunteers- Jay Zorn, Dave & Molly Cropp, Ned Smith, Dan Ramse, Matt Gough, Bill Beach, Bill Speg, Shauna & Todd Sledge, Mark Duff.
Tees– Curtis Heideman designed, Suzanne Akin built and organized by Tiffany Ankrum.
Course Design– JZ, and Dane Emde.
Registration– Dan Burnett , Jason Trujillo, Rob Noble, Andy Clark and CYF.
Beer organized by Ainslie MacEachran and donated by Coopersmiths, New Belgium and Oskar Blues.
Mower, Ronny Bush (as usual)
MC/Muzak- Ainslie, Chris Ellmer
Tim Lynch watching all the bills come and go.
Cooking burgers and dogs– Miss Dane
Gretchen Potts– Wicked changing kilts.
Beer pouring-Natalie Santelli
Bourbon pouring– Mark Duff (ouch)
Prizes– Nicks Homestyle, Howling Cow Cafe, Dane Emde and CYF.
PhotosPaul Kumm and Joseph Glaser
Racers– can’t have a race without racers.
9News Video
