The Official E-Zine of the
Utah Association of Geocachers
Issue 4 -- September 2004
Table of Contents
The Care and Feeding of Travel Bugs
Lizard Toads in Operation Desert Command - Part 1
Regular Features
UTAG Home
The Utah Travel Bug Race
by Sportstats
What comes to mind when we say racing? Nascar, NHRA, Supermotorcross and Grand Prix? How about the likes of Earnhardt, Andretti, or Force? Locally the names Nish, Fitzgerald, Dastrup, or Card can be associated with racing. The roar of engines sends goose bumps down the spine of even the most casual of fans. Speeds of 700 mph or more, reached on the Bonneville Salt Flats, didn't scare the likes of us UTAG members.
Racing has a great history in the state of Utah. From the high banked ovals of the Fairgrounds, Rocky Mountain Raceway, Bonneville Raceway, Suntanna, Black Rock Raceway or Desert Thunder Raceway. The record books are filled with names like Sneva, Nish, Dastrup, Card and Fitzgerald. The Bonneville Salt Flats have land speed records from Craig Breedlove; and the Terry Nish family is the fastest alive. Utah has always been associated with speed and records. Years from now the history books will not contain the likes of Sportstats, Lefttocache or SirGerald, but our style of racing is still fun and very fast.
The Utah Travel Bug Race began in late April, 2004. Thanks to UTAG and its members, the word got out and the racers began to gather at the start/finish line. From a distance you could hear the low grumbling as the engines were tuned and the tire pressures checked. Aim High rationlized his entry as the "fastest available", "No car with wheels can beat my missle" he commented. Kjobob opted for the international flavor of a slugbug, and GBOTS knew that many caches are off the beaten path and they chose the likes of a Hummer. Moving from cache to cache with the ultimate goal to return to the Downtown Bondo Capital cache in downtown Salt Lake City the bugs were prepared to be released.
Wyopilgrim took the bugs to his daughter, Bjsmamajoy, in Washington D.C. They then were off to London, England. The race officially began on May 8, 2004 in the North of London Travel Bug Hotel cache near Heathrow Airport. It is almost certain that some will be lost along the way, but the excitement of the travel is all we need. Just ask Dale Earnhardt or Terry Nish. "The thrill is in the journey", they would say. Maybe someday the history books will mention the early pioneers of the Utah Travel Bug Race......Well, maybe not. But, ah heck! We will all know who won.
Check out the current positions on the Race Web Page and cheer us all on to victory.
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Race Results (as of this writing, 25 August 2004) First Place: HOMER'S RACE SEDAN, owned by KEEPINJEEPIN, on 27 June 2004. Second Place: After Death, owned by SirGerald, on 27 July 2004.
Missing in Action: #24 Toyota Supra, owned by Damenace. |
| The Contestants | ||||
| Owner | Travel Bug Name | Photo | ||
| Lagoonfreek | "Know Where I've Been... |  | ||
| kjobob | Slug Bug Red |  | ||
| GBOTS | Herbert |  | ||
| Aim High! | Pocket Rocket |  | ||
| KEEPINJEEPIN | HOMER'S RACE SEDAN |  | ||
| KEEPINJEEPIN | MARGE'S WAGON |  | ||
| Sportstats | Wave Hog |  | ||
| sweetgee | Fast Fishmobile |  | ||
| LEFTTOCACHE | LEFT TO TRAVEL |  | ||
| I.C.A. CACHE | MORRIS MINI |  | ||
| WyoPilgrim | 64 IMPALA |  | ||
| bjsmamajoy | Get Me Home! |  | ||
| subaru guru | WRX |  | ||
| Damenace | #24 Toyota Supra |  | ||
| SirGerald | After Death |  | ||
UTAG Magazine Feedback:
All questions, comments, cash awards, ideas, suggestions, salary increases, constructive criticisms, perks, and bonuses pertaining to or resulting from reading this issue of the UTAG Magazine should be promptly sent to SirGerald.