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Bobsleding in Lake Placid

We just got back frome an incredibly cool-figuratively and litterally-event this past weekend in Lake Placid, NY.

Ron was asked to take part in the Chevy Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge held on the Mount Vanhovenerg Olmpic Bobsled run. The 1980 Olympics were held here so it was pretty neat to be where the Olympians still train.

When we arrived the temperature was -10 degrees (I have never been that cold before). Now, we're from California and not used to those types of temperatures. It gets a little cool in North Carolina during the winter, but -10 was something different. But don't worry; it warmed up to -4 for the high later that day.

Our first day consisted of checking in and receiving our winter clothing from Columbia Sportswear. Great, and I mean great, items they gave us to keep warm, thank goodness. They had all the sponsors logos on them, so they looked a little like race uniforms.

Then they took us up the mountain and gave Ron instructions on how to drive the sled, what the track looks like and what to do to steer through the turns. Ron and the group of drivers walked the track and most of them slipped and went down the track on their butts.

Ron's first ride down the track was with Boris Said as his brake man and Ron didn't really care for the ride, but the next ride down Ron drove the sled and had a blast. When he got to the bottom of the hill you could hear him on the radio saying, Wow that's cool. From then on everytime he came back of the mountain he had a big smile. I got to go for a ride down the mountain with Ron as his brake man and I have to tell you, it was an experience of a lifetime and nothing what I expected.

The next day they took us higher up the mountain and let the drivers drive from 3/4 mile part. The first day was just over  a half a mile. But this part was faster and had 12 turns to negotiate. Each of the runs were timed and that's where the competitive nature kicked in for the NASCAR and NHRA drivers. We got to hang out with Randy LaJoie, Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine, Steve Carlson, LW Miller, Donny Lia, and Joey Logono and on the NHRA side, there was JR Todd, Jeg Coughlin, Bob Vandergriff, Jr, Phil Burkart, Morgon Lucas and so many more really neat people.

On Friday night they had a nice dinner and auction to help raise money for the bobsled team. That's what this whole Bobsled Challenge was about - to raise funds and awareness for the Bo-Dyne Bobsled Project, Inc.  Geoff Bodine and Bob Cuneo build and design the sleds our athletes use in Olympic and World Cup Competition. We found out that Americans used to race in sleds built by Europeans, and didn't do so well and now that they are competing in the Bo-Dyne sleds built in America they are winning medals and representing the USA in golden fashion. 

Saturday began the competition and oh yeah, the tempertures were in the high 20's and low 30's a real heat wave, but I have to say I could finally feel my toes in this warmer weather. Ron was paired up with his brake man, Sgt. Vest from the US National Guard. It was really cool to talk and hang out with so many of the National Guardsman at this event. They helped moving sleds and polishing rudders all day and some of them rode with the drivers as their brakemen. Ron had a blast in the competition a little bummed he didn't do better but I said not bad for a "rookie" his first time out. You can see the whole competion and our trip on January 20th on Speed. It should be good!!

I think the coolest part of this trip was definately meeting some of the US Bobsledders and talking with them. We couldn't believe what they go through to compete for our Olympic team, how they live, how they train and what they do to live out their dreams to be World competitors. It's incredidble and what Geoff Bodine is doing for all of them making people aware and giving our athletes very fast sleds is Great!! We also got to go to the ice rink where the American Hockey Team beat the Russians in the 1980 Olympics. That was the very coolest thing just being inside where so much history happened, it was incredible!!!

Ron and I had a blast on this trip, met some great people, raced a little, got to hang out with our friends  and were able to see a Beautiful part of the country, Lake Placid. Thank-you Geoff for inviting us.

If you are interested in helping out our US Olympic Bobsledders and the Bo-Dyne Bobsled Project, Inc, check out the website www.bodynebobsled.com .  It's definatlely for a Great Cause!!

Seems you had a blast

03:53, Wednesday, January 23, 2008 .. Posted by S. Lynch

Hi Lindy, thanks for sharing this adventure with us :)

Newhall

01:37, Tuesday, March 25, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Lindy,
<br><br>
<br><br>I know you won't remember but we went to school together and our parents knew each other, (Lee and LoRee Nomura), Craig worked for your dad at Bill's Muffler in Newhall. Craig follows your races and told me how great your web site is. Have pix from school and have wondered where you all went....good to see life has been great. Just wanted to say hello.
<br><br>
<br><br>Kim (Rousseau) Gianandrea