Tour of Willamette 2002 cancelled....

Eric and Kari Kytola

2002-03-01

the tour of Willamette was something I never dreamed of being able to

participate in....until 2000. it was something I watched.



I was depressed when I had to miss the 2001 tour of Willamette due to hernia

surgeries in November and March.



the tour of Willamette was the reason I have been riding in the rain since

November.



the tour of Willamette was the reason I wake up at 6:00 am on Saturday

mornings to start eating enough food to hold me through long arduous rides.



the tour of Willamette is the reason I have been counting the calories of

every morsel I put in my mouth since last April.



the tour of Willamette is the reason I quit drinking.



my family has given me so much support.

my son Leif, my son Tristan and most of all my wife Kari

let me go train, so that I could race it this year, in shape.

and they won't be as understanding ever again.



the tour of Willamette......



this news is horrible.











----- Original Message -----

From: "Larry Smith" <llsm-@veloski.com>

To: <ob-@topica.com>

Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 4:06 PM

Subject: [OBRA Chat] Tour of Willamette 2002 cancelled....





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It is with great regret that I post this unpleasant announcement: The 2002

Tour of Willamette, scheduled for April 9 -14, is cancelled.



It wasn't for lack of effort or interest, however, as many volunteers

contributed hours of time and energy since last year's breakthrough event -

and many more were in place to assist during the race.



Our steadfast presenting sponsor, KMTR NewSource 16, had again pledged more

than $100K in airtime for TV publicity and race coverage across the Ackerley

Group of stations. An agreement had been forged with the Outdoor Life

Network (OLN) to bring the Tour to fans across the nation. And rider

interest was at an all-time high.



While we have the infrastructure and volunteers ready and willing, the Tour

of Willamette remains far from adequately funded to present a top quality

and safe event for competitors, the community, and committed followers.



Because, in the end, it comes down to the very real fiscal issue of

corporate sponsorship support to make an event such as the Tour a reality.

And the economic downturn of recent months wreaked havoc not only with the

sponsorship budgets of businesses here in Lane County, but with those of

companies from around the country.



The considerable expense of producing this USA Cycling National Racing

Calendar event has grown faster than sponsorship commitments. I truly wish

that my personal cash reserves were sufficient to underwrite a portion of

the event for yet another year, but I simply do not have the means to do

that in 2002.



I offer my sincere apologies to the racers, fans and faithful supporters of

the Tour of Willamette. I have been involved with the Tour, either as a

competitor or race organizer of each of the 22 previous years of this

wonderful event and I too, am saddened.



But not beaten. We are moving forward even today with a commitment to bring

the Tour of Willamette back in 2003 better than before.



So, any and all interested in helping the cause, please contact me at (541)

302-1570 , and we'll see you next year at the race!



Sincerely,



Larry Smith

Race Director

Tour of Willamette

llsm-@veloski.com



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Jonathan Puskas

2002-03-01

That's a damn shame because Larry threw an awesome

event last year...Many of us began looking forward to

it immediately upon recovering from last year's event.



Cheers,

Jonathan C. Puskas



--- Larry Smith <llsm-@veloski.com> wrote:

 
============================================================

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of Adobe

Premiere. Get your free trial of Adobe Premiere and

master

digital video!

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============================================================

 

It is with great regret that I post this unpleasant

announcement: The 2002

Tour of Willamette, scheduled for April 9 ?14, is

cancelled.



It wasn?t for lack of effort or interest, however,

as many volunteers

contributed hours of time and energy since last

year?s breakthrough event ?

and many more were in place to assist during the

race.



Our steadfast presenting sponsor, KMTR NewSource 16,

had again pledged more

than $100K in airtime for TV publicity and race

coverage across the Ackerley

Group of stations. An agreement had been forged with

the Outdoor Life

Network (OLN) to bring the Tour to fans across the

nation. And rider

interest was at an all-time high.



While we have the infrastructure and volunteers

ready and willing, the Tour

of Willamette remains far from adequately funded to

present a top quality

and safe event for competitors, the community, and

committed followers.



Because, in the end, it comes down to the very real

fiscal issue of

corporate sponsorship support to make an event such

as the Tour a reality.

And the economic downturn of recent months wreaked

havoc not only with the

sponsorship budgets of businesses here in Lane

County, but with those of

companies from around the country.



The considerable expense of producing this USA

Cycling National Racing

Calendar event has grown faster than sponsorship

commitments. I truly wish

that my personal cash reserves were sufficient to

underwrite a portion of

the event for yet another year, but I simply do not

have the means to do

that in 2002.



I offer my sincere apologies to the racers, fans and

faithful supporters of

the Tour of Willamette. I have been involved with

the Tour, either as a

competitor or race organizer of each of the 22

previous years of this

wonderful event and I too, am saddened.



But not beaten. We are moving forward even today

with a commitment to bring

the Tour of Willamette back in 2003 better than

before.



So, any and all interested in helping the cause,

please contact me at (541)

302-1570 , and we?ll see you next year at the race!



Sincerely,



Larry Smith

Race Director

Tour of Willamette

llsm-@veloski.com

============================================================

 Good, Better, BEST! What's better than a year's

subscription

to Ladies' Home Journal? Only a FREE year's

subscription!

Check out this great offer now!

http://click.topica.com/caaacQ1aVxiDpaVE62Bf/TopOffers

 
============================================================

 

To respond to the whole group send to

ob-@topica.com.

To respond to the list manager send to

ob-@teleport.com

To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com





=====

Jonathan C. Puskas

159 Fifth Street

Lake Oswego, OR 97034

impu-@yahoo.com



"If you're gonna charge...charge hard!"



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Larry Smith

2002-03-01

It is with great regret that I post this unpleasant announcement: The 2002

Tour of Willamette, scheduled for April 9 ?14, is cancelled.



It wasn?t for lack of effort or interest, however, as many volunteers

contributed hours of time and energy since last year?s breakthrough event ?

and many more were in place to assist during the race.



Our steadfast presenting sponsor, KMTR NewSource 16, had again pledged more

than $100K in airtime for TV publicity and race coverage across the Ackerley

Group of stations. An agreement had been forged with the Outdoor Life

Network (OLN) to bring the Tour to fans across the nation. And rider

interest was at an all-time high.



While we have the infrastructure and volunteers ready and willing, the Tour

of Willamette remains far from adequately funded to present a top quality

and safe event for competitors, the community, and committed followers.



Because, in the end, it comes down to the very real fiscal issue of

corporate sponsorship support to make an event such as the Tour a reality.

And the economic downturn of recent months wreaked havoc not only with the

sponsorship budgets of businesses here in Lane County, but with those of

companies from around the country.



The considerable expense of producing this USA Cycling National Racing

Calendar event has grown faster than sponsorship commitments. I truly wish

that my personal cash reserves were sufficient to underwrite a portion of

the event for yet another year, but I simply do not have the means to do

that in 2002.



I offer my sincere apologies to the racers, fans and faithful supporters of

the Tour of Willamette. I have been involved with the Tour, either as a

competitor or race organizer of each of the 22 previous years of this

wonderful event and I too, am saddened.



But not beaten. We are moving forward even today with a commitment to bring

the Tour of Willamette back in 2003 better than before.



So, any and all interested in helping the cause, please contact me at (541)

302-1570 , and we?ll see you next year at the race!



Sincerely,



Larry Smith

Race Director

Tour of Willamette

llsm-@veloski.com