david auker

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-Dear Chat List Members (It IS called "Chat," something even Charile

Brown can understand? Good grief!)



Robert's and my upcoming sprint, being a contest betwixt two elder

racers, is an amusing development! This re-duel was

encouraged/(engineered?) by an Oregonian in France, thus conspicuous in

his absence!

    

I originally politely declined the invitation, thinking it questionable

to occupy my energy, much less our racing community's time! But I had a

change of mind upon petition from my old friend Robert when he waxed

poetically (he IS a lawyer!) about generating funds for a charity.



This best two-out-of-three street-drag on city streets (probably

illegal) will hopefully provide some entertainment to participants of

Portland's traditional New Year's Day Ride which starts at noon on SW

Front Av, and proceeds in typical unruly fashion to Laurelhurst Park, in

SE town, where we all jump in the pond for a swim (No, wait! That's the

Polar Bear Club elsewhere...).



Maybe we'll start a tradition (it IS kinda boring on these short days of

Dec/Jan!)? All I can say is, I don't really care who wins/I really want

to beat this tall guy that has a lot of past experience at the national

level in track racing, and really does know what going fast is all about

(at one time, anyway)! Should I lose, Albert has agreed to help me with

a belated concession...



Please consider bringing some extra $ along to the New Year's Day Ride,

and have fun contributing to Robert's suggested recipient, Transition

Projects. Bicycle racing can basically be quite a selfish sport, so

here's our chance to help others that might not be able to sprint down

some dark, wet and slippery Portland street (god, am I really gonna do

this?!), ok?



By the way, who IS Charile Brown?



-David Auker

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