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View Full Version : TF Thoughts and Confessions...from a rookie attendee



ironchop
06-23-2014, 07:14 PM
Well from Thursday thru Saturday night my son and I loitered around Haspin making both Merry and Mayhem.

The thing about TF that struck me the most was that despite all the activities and the wicked sweet machinery of all kinds littering the place, TF is about and always has been about people first. Trikes second. You could have loaded every threewheeler there on a convoy of Fruehauf flatbeds and left and we would STILL have had a blast. I didn`t even meet much more than a twenty+ members of 3WW in person and probably fifteen trikers who aren`t even 3WW members who attended. There simply was no time to meet everyone I wanted to because well.....We love riding that much.....so meet and greet had to take a bit of a back seat this go-round. To those I had the pleasure of meeting, talking, riding, etc thank you for your hospitality. Tristan ("PORKCHOP" per Andy...LMMFAO) commented that he was so impressed with all you guys and how friendly you all were even though we only knew each other in an online capacity. He said he felt so welcome it was like seeing old friends and family again. We made plans for our return in `15 on the drive home. Porkchop is already making lists of machines he wants to buy and a couple builds he might try and tackle. Yeah, its a little lofty of a goal to add 4 or 5 new trikes to the stable in one year but who knows?


This is what I learned from the experience:

1) Brian Raffa will try to make out with a Pomeranian if you aren`t careful
2) DC, while I never caught him to meet/ chat, likes to write his name on stuff
3) Billy looks not as tall as I had imagined and yet not quite as ugly
4) Fabio is stealthy...one second he`s there and the next? *Poof!*
5) I am nothing without a Big Red.
6) taking the headlight off a 200X is a really stupid move
7) riding your racers on the trails the day before the MX is also a really stupid move. They tend to get F@%#ED up and quit runnin right
8) You can never bring enough spare parts. That's what CaptainWeezy is for.
9) Duros suck on a trail. Bring some trekkers too like I did.
10) Trekkers hate to lose traction and only slide laterally at what can best be described as 'mediocre'
11) Two brand new DID chains is not enough for Haspin trails
12) Honda Dry film chain lube is worthless. See #11.
13) Back brake pads on a 200X are worthless. Haspin is covered in Nature`s version of Clover Valve Lapping compound and it sands down everything quickly.
14) an ATC200X is actually a really decent trail machine when lightly modded for power.
15) ATC70s are nothing to be ashamed of or mocked. You will get schooled quick.
16) If you think yourself a "racer", bring your A game.....there are experts among us that would blow your mind on a 30yr old trike.
17) Don't park down a hill at Haspin in between rain showers.
18) the back of a rental van makes a great lounge when it rains
19) There are little kids who are faster than me.
20) Matt offered and then let me ride his green 650 Taurus. And I want one.
21) Matt is a super cool MoFo. See #20.
22) Hide your cell phone all day. You won`t lose it and people can`t get ahold of you and distract you from the task at hand.....Riding...and Bullsh!ttin.
23) I need a two stroke.
24) I should have brought shorts. I would have swam in my boxers but who the hell wants to see that? Ask my wife.
25) Haspin has a habit of destroying more stuff in less time than you are probably used to tearing up...Because Creeks and Sand. That's why.
26) I need MORE trikes. One per person isn`t gonna cut it. You need a puttin trike, race trike, trail trike, shower trike (to go to showers) and a couple spares.
27) 200x CHAIN TENSIONERS ARE THE WORST ENGINEERING DISASTER EVER PERPETRATED ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
28) Porkchop hates those tensioners too. Just ask him.
29) Andy (CRAZY70MAN) comes up with clever nicknames...we are 'The Chops'.....Iron and Pork
30) Porkchop has anger management issues on the trail.
31) You apparently can`t tear up a Lifan motor. Porkchop tried really hard but failed.
32) Bring more cash. You think you have enough but then you see seven other things you can`t live without at TF.
33) Howdy seems to hate working on Polari and yet he has a couple nice ones. Which means he works on them.
34) Bring several pairs of shoes/boots and four times more socks than you think you need.
35) Workout more. I never felt like more of an out-of-shape fatass than after that first day riding and all my joints and muscles were locked the hell up tight!
36) Bring meds. See #35.
37) Ditchmud...he loves hats....and bullhorns....and Viking helmets...and Bundy Hill stickers...and telling stories. I didn`t mind one bit.
38) Porkchop is a really great young man and I`m super proud of him. He`s a skilled rider too.
39) Missing the MX race doesn`t sit well with me.
40) Missing the signup for the Drags sucked as well.
41) Bring a generator and a camper.
42) I forgot to buy two tshirts and hats
43) We are coming back every year from now on and you can`t stop us.


Y`all were kickass and I`m so glad to have met and hung out with whom I did meet/ hangout with. Thanks to everyone who put this thing together.

matt3x
06-23-2014, 08:37 PM
There are usually leftover t-shirts that go on sale after TF is over, so you might be able to grab some. The shirts were awesome this year as were the people. Just a great time all around. Gotta thank MIK6 for introducing us to scrambler shots at shoe tree - yummy!

ironchop
06-23-2014, 09:23 PM
Yeah I PMed somebody about that but now I remember I probably shouldnt have razzed Billy. Im six six. Most people are short to me. I hope Billy is a good sport. All kidding aside, he was cool to meet and I appreciate the whole thing.

Now he can pay back my insolence by hiding the spare tshirts :)

Eric250R
06-23-2014, 09:29 PM
Was nice to finally meet you, you're a super cool dude, and yes, as a 8 time trikefest veteran, I can verify everything you wrote. And I also witnessed "porkchops" anger with the 200X tensioner. Lol. See you next year !

Eric250R
06-23-2014, 09:39 PM
Btw, what happened to the hot sister in law you were going to bring ? Lol

86T3
06-23-2014, 10:13 PM
I dont think i met you ironchop but you hit the nail on the head. The trail riding at haspin really isnt the best, i look forward to hanging out , barrell racing, mx and draging. The people there are the absolute best people you'll ever meet in your life. This was my second yeaf and my wife's first, she was absolutely amazed at how everyone treated each other. We lost the key to our quad from thursday afternoon to saturday morning but we never had to walk anywhere. I wish this happened more than once a year, its really a refreshing change from everyday life

ironchop
06-23-2014, 10:16 PM
She backed out when I didnt get the topend back on her Scrambler and the front CV shaft fixed in time for TF. It has an FRE? or something removable dome head on it with a torque plate that uses the base nuts with studs coming out if them to hold down the T plate. They got lost when she moved here to KY and the company went out of business in '08. I think shes a little upset I didn't get it done in time because of my own trikes needin stuff. I have to make them or buy a new jug and head. It has same brand pipe too. She wasn't gonna come without a ride and she didn't want to ask to borrow from anyone else. Im going to fix her quad soon so she will go riding with us. Don't worry. She.aint gettin any uglier any time soon so we will bring her next time. Hell or High Water.

It was great meeting you and your crew too, Eric. Thanks for letting us hang with y'all. Porkchop says Hi and to watch out for his Uncle Buddy. Lol.

ironchop
06-23-2014, 10:55 PM
CaptainWeezy and his crew Jeff, and that 200M fella.

These guys saved my whole weekend on Friday when the cam chain tensioner bolt vibrated out of my cylinder, hit the ground somewhere halfway up a wicked hill, shot ALL my engine oil out that hole in a few seconds onto my leg and down in my boot. I caught it in time. Caught a nice burnt ankle too. When Tristan was towing me past the MX track before the race, that was what that particular issue was.

200M guy and Weezy hooked me up with on off another trike. I can't put into words how much I appreciate this and the offer to use his trike to ride. Those guys were awesome.

ps2fixer
06-23-2014, 11:04 PM
I'll add one for your list :)

43) Prepare for the trip ahead of time, staying up all night sucks since you won't get much sleep with machines going most of the night.

I only got around to meeting 2 people both 3ww members, but I did a ton of riding, 80+ miles according to my dad's trip-meter. Had a few spots that were quite a challenge to make it though, mainly the rocky hills, 250sx did great as well as the 250es. I think my 350x clutch is getting worn out, but it didn't do bad either. 250sx was king out of the 3 for me though :).

jb2wheels
06-23-2014, 11:05 PM
I have not been to Trikefest but everything you said applies to all the times I've been to Rampage in OK, too!

Daddio
06-23-2014, 11:23 PM
You nailed it down ironchop. It's all about the people first. It's kind of like a family reunion, but the way we are all related is our interest in 3 wheelers.

It was good to get to meet you in person. I'm sure we'll see each other again next year. I wish TF lasted longer so I could spend more time visiting friends, old and new. I wasn't even there for two whole days this year, so I had to really bounce around a lot to try to see as many as I could.
I would also like to thank everyone who makes this event a reality, year after year. That would be not just the organizers, but also, all of the great 3 wheeler fanatics that attend every year. :w00t: :w00t: :cool:

M.Pargiello
06-23-2014, 11:34 PM
Not sure if I met you or not.. But #4 is completely true. I tried to stop by a couple times I spotted him but poof. John is gone. Always next year.

#6 is also true. I even packed mine to bring, but left it sitting on the sled. Had to improvise, shook like hell but Peepers on a big red was plenty light to see :)
196307

Edit: I think you were parked next to me for the group picture...

ironchop
06-23-2014, 11:44 PM
Well said Daddio

Heck if it weren't for Swinehart, I'd have slept on a deflated air matress. Tip of the ol' hat to you, sir.

#45) That ATV tow strap from Tractor Supply was the smartest $14 Ive ever spent.

ironchop
06-23-2014, 11:48 PM
Mr Pargiello, I recall seeing that setup. Tristan took zip ties and.attached our head lamps on our plates. Worked pretty well.

Billy Golightly
06-24-2014, 12:06 AM
3) Billy looks not as tall as I had imagined and yet not quite as ugly


...:lol:

Well, theres worse things I imagine!

Was good to meet you too man, as you probably found out, it takes more than one year to even meet and get to know everyone. Hell I've been going for 11 years now and I still meet new people that are regular attendees, although its rare, it does happen! Definitely sounds like you enjoyed yourself which is the main thing. We'll see you and hopefully the hot sister in law next year? :D

CRAZY70MAN
06-24-2014, 05:53 AM
I look forward to seeing you guys next year. Sorry you missed the events. I think we should consider at least an events board at the main office for those who are new or need some help,have??? Great people those Chops....and your list made me lol. You pm me if ya need any help or parts..

ironchop
06-24-2014, 09:23 AM
. I think we should consider at least an events board at the main office for those who are new or need some help,have??? ..

I agree.

TF was the first time ever I wasn`t furious to be broke down....lmfao

Great to meet you too, Andy.....and Kizer and Wickersham and all them. See ya next year.

keister
06-26-2014, 01:43 PM
#46) Bring extra plugs for 2-strokes.

Haha!! It was great to meet you two.

fabiodriven
06-26-2014, 03:04 PM
Yup, total pleasure meeting everyone every year. Doesn't seem to get old.

I go rogue a lot, yes. I traveled alone and bounced around from place to place with most of my time being spent at the river during the day. I'd get way out in front of Craig on my SX with him on the Duckster in the woods and then pull off and kill my lights. He'd go quacking by and not even see me, then I'd jump in behind him and leave my lights off and he didn't even know I was there. One time I rode right next to him but back a half a bike length for about 5 minutes before he noticed and shat himself. This is the last this will be discussed as I need the element of surprise for the rest of you next year. ;)

roostin atc
06-26-2014, 03:40 PM
I will never forget that. That was priceless and also very startling. Good times

Dirtcrasher
06-26-2014, 05:29 PM
2) I did that so you guys could find me!! :D

ironchop
06-26-2014, 05:39 PM
yeah I came up to introduce myself, Steve, but met Billy and Raffa instead. Porkchop was givin me the Ol`Stink Eye for it. I talk ALOT and he asked me not to get distracted in any meaningless conversations when we could be riding instead :)

He just graduated HS a week earlier so I tried to make this trip more about him and less about me so we bolted off to tear some stuff up.

We will be there all week next year and you can`t hide from me then.

JasonB
06-27-2014, 04:34 PM
lmao nice list! and i think we met over at Capn'Wheezys camp around thursday or friday. You're one tall rider!