Suzuki 24 Hours of Conyers, 17-18 May, 2008


2008 Suzuki 24 Hours of Conyers webcast
Expo & Support Crew Stories
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17th May
09:30 a.m. - The Southern Off Road Bicycling Association organized a Trips for Kids ride. Mountain Bike pioneer Gary Fisher (kneeling, front) joined in the fun. photo: Carl Mesta www.mestaphotos.us
10:00 a.m. - Camping Tips 1. Don't (just kidding!) 2. Bring mini whisk broom to sweep out the tent 3. Choose the porta-potty with the _most_ toilet paper 4. Bring a hand held flashlight 5. Don't toot in the tent! 6. Vent your tent right during daylight And you won't wake up wet in the night 7. Bring a portable bike rack 8. Don't use the urinal for a sink! 9. Don't forget your sleeping bag - especially if racing solo 10. Crank the "jamz" (translation: turn up the volume) 11. For a 5-person team, bring ALL five people!!! 12. Read the 'best supplies' tip on www.grannygear.com	Photo: Elizabeth Gillespie
	12:30 p.m. - Wolf Pack Having Fun Men's Sport team Wolf Pack hails from the "lowcountry" around Savannah, GA. Team member Ron Wolfe says the highest elevation around home is a highway overpass. So,the course at Conyers may not have the long climbs of Vail Lake or Killington, but these U.S. Coast Guard servicemen are still a bit out of their element. Wolfe is the only team member to have previously raced a 24 - Pat Lineberry, Steve McCarty and Ron Green are new to the discipline with varying backgrounds in cycling that include road racing. Their strategy? "Well, we came here to have fun," says Wolfe. "We didn't know the Navy Special Warfare Flyin' Frogs (Navy SEALs) team were coming when we signed up. Now that they're here, the match is on." Here's proof that not all maritime battles happen at sea...
12:30 a.m. My First Ever Night Lap by Paul Skilbeck OK, so I was a 45 year-old virgin, I admit it. And now I'm all gleeful. That was the most fun I've had in a long time! In fact it has rekindled my enthusiasm for mountain biking. It wasn't only the course, it was also the bike, the Ellsworth Evolve (a 29er that you should test ride before buying your next mtb - you might want to get this instead of what you were thinking of). NiteRider kindly lent me an astonishingly bright light which made my first ever night lap totally doable. Flashing through the forests on singletrack at night was a new, intense, focused, wildly fun time that left me grinning from ear to ear and talking excitedly to anybody who would listen. All the benefits of cocaine without the hangover! It's been so long since I've ridden a mountain bike, I'd forgotten how much fun it can be. I know this sounds corny, but that night ride has set me on a new course. I've been riding my road bike too much. Now I can look forward to some incredibly fun night rides in Marin, and possibly on an Ellsworth Evolve... that bike rides sooooo sweet! Life is good. Thanks Granny for this great course, and Ellsworth, and NiteRider for providing such excellent equipment - and to my dear friend, the former Granny Gear operations manager Elizabeth Gillespie, for persuading me to ride a couple of laps for her Group Therapy team. I'll be smiling all the way home.	The lap before my night lap... It's all her fault...
Sponsor Spotlight: Suzuki Loves the Ride Suzuki is the fourth largest car maker in Japan, and with its recent entry to the U.S. market is looking to establish a place among established industry giants. How do you create a loyal following for your brand? Find an audience that values the attributes of your products. Suzuki hit the jackpot by sponsoring Granny Gear Production's events. "Mountain biking is a great sport for us because we offer vehicles that support an active, fun lifestyle," says George Fox of local dealer Son's Suzuki Conyers. "Our cars fit that image - they are high performers and fuel efficient, just like these cyclists here this weekend." Fox clearly enjoyed the event and the many people he met. "I can't believe the dedication and performance of these athletes," he said. "What a great event for us to be assocated with! You'll definitely see us back at the 24 Hours of Conyers next year."		George Fox with the Suzuki SX4
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		About your reporter Hi! I'm Paul Skilbeck. A journalist and press guy on the international mountain bike racing scene since 1989, I am your humble reporter for the 2008 Suzuki 24 Hour Series opener. This is how I look in my reporting clothes, but if you roll over the image you'll see that I'm not merely a pencil squeezer. Before we get started, please don't forget the support by Suzuki of 24-hour endurance racing when considering your next 4-wheeled purchase. Your support of sponsors is what keeps them supporting the sport!