Dirt Dog’s 1st Annual “Adopt a Family for the Holidays” ATV Fest
By Steve Burrell/ Dirt Dog’s ATV Trails

A holeshot thank you to all the sponsors and participants who all were a very vital part of making the fundraiser a huge success and a weekend of ATVs, dirt bikes, fun & friends, both old and new. There were good people, great prizes, excellent trophies and Texas tasty food all weekend. It rained everywhere but here. The weather was totally perfect for riding. As I sit here Monday morning recalling the 3 day weekend, it is raining cats and dogs. Rain away, it’s my day off. I sleep well when it rains. Again, a big thank you from Dirt Dog’s and our co-host for the event, The Texas Good Old Boys ATV Club of Houston to everyone who contributed in any way to help make this event happen for the people in Colorado County who will benefit.

We are pleased to be able to donate to the beneficiaries of the event over $2200.00 in cash, plus the Dirt Dog’s Toys for Tykes program. The recipients of the proceeds are The Colorado County Food Pantry and Children’s Protective Services (Charity Division), and we will be donating additional funds to Colorado County’s “Deputy Santa Program” for a total of almost $2500.00 in donations.

The weekend started early Thursday when Flipper came towing in. Now this group was tough enough for me. They were the 1st pack in, and other than some local faces, were the last ones out Sunday evening. Up for the events early in the morning, and still riding when I hit the bed at night.

Friday brought my own private parking spot in for the Richmond Suzuki/Dirt Dogs Racing Team LTZ-400. Cliff Jones RVs of Sealy has provided the backdrop of our shows with some of the finest Toy Carrier RVs out there. Thanks for the parking spot Jim!

The ATV show brought in some very eye catching quads. There were graphics kits and there was chrome. There were sports and there were utilities. But the hand painted quads of the Pasadena Mudslingers from PCS Designs & Performance were my favorites. Girls, you can even have Paul Boutte paint you up a pink flamed Polaris and name it “BARBIE” like he did for Kathy Sikes. Make no mistake, Barbie beat the socks off of a dozen or more Kens over the course of the weekend in and out of the mud and water.

The mud drags were a new attraction at Dirt Dog’s this event. They were well christened early in the weekend. The racers took a 50 foot running start, hit the mud runs, and crossed the finish line at the mud pit. Winner of the 4-wheel drive was Daryl Brandes, 2nd was Matt Burnal, 2 wheel drive winner was Kathy Sikes aka”Barbie” 2nd place 2wd was Jack Bates of The Texas Good Old Boys. A very special thank you goes out to J & A Landscaping and Nations Rents of Victoria for the construction and their sponsorship of this feature and the contribution it made towards generating proceeds for the fundraiser.

The wheelie contest attracted a large crowd of onlookers. Brandon from TexasATVs.com took 1st Place on his Honda 400EX followed by Shane Burrell on his Richmond Suzuki Dirt Dogs Racing Team sponsored Suzuki LTZ-400 in the sport class.

The Tug O War saw it’s share of casualties. The pink “Barbie” went down without a trophy after a broken chain ended her reign of terror over the Kens for the weekend. The real feature here was when Kathy thought Texas Good Old Boy, Bruce, called her “Cheap”, when he had actually said “Sweet”. Now that is a story all it’s own! Our own Jimmy Noska took the 1st Place with his still shiny, showroom-pretty Polaris 700 Sportsman. Delan (Flipper) Padilla took 2nd Place. Darrell Kelsoe of The Texas Good Old Boys took top honors with a 1st in the “Other Class” with his 4 wheel drive Kaw Mule.

The Endurance race brought a hard core group of determined riders to the line. After 5 hours Andy Adleman of The West Houston Off-road Race Park shared 1st Place with Josh Kru when a rain brought the race to a compromised ending. Capturing the checkers in the youth class was Josh Womac. Talk about determination, this kid fought the dust and approaching darkness with no lights, took a chance with a pit stop, fixed the lights and back into the race he went, thanks to a quick Pit Dad!

The next event, my favorite, was supper at The Texas Good Old Boys ATV Club camp. Talk about the chuck wagon gang. They had a Texas spread, BBQ brisket, ribs, chicken, grilled boudan, and, well that’s where I had to stop and go for a late night ride.

Then the alarm clock went off Sunday morning. As KING KRUNCH was being unloaded, we awoke to the tuned pipes of 1600 horses under the hood. Thanks to Jeff Hoy of Columbus Transmission and to Texas Off Road Performance for their contribution in making the event more colorful. PS.-The local deer hunters have put a bounty out for you for scaring the deer away. Don’t feel picked on Jeff, one hunter actually came over looking for RED DOG for ruining his shoot when RED DOG gave a rev of his engine and scared the deer away.

The Sunday events started out with an outdoor church service by our own Al Riley, Jr. of The Rock Island Baptist Church. Al is a much better pastor than he is an ATV rider, but we don’t hold that against him.Now that too, is a whole other story in itself. Al was the high bidder on a set of loading ramps as well as a 3 time winner in the general raffles. A Good Day for Al!

The Scavenger Hunt was won by Robin Sharp. Congrats to Robin on her win of a camo luggage pack.

In the Youth Scavenger Hunt, Corey Koenig took his prize with a Moose Racing Hat. Derick Wicoff, won an electric music synthesizer.

The Poker Run went to Christie Hawley, and with her left a fine pair of folding loading ramps which were greatly needed and appreciated.
by her family.

The Ellison Arctic Cat TV and Richmond Suzuki MX Helmet was awarded to high bid by our most senior rider here at Dirt Dog’s, 85 year old Ruby Williams. Go Ruby!!

Thank you to all the other participants who were too numerous to mention in one article but just as important as those who were.

There were 35 winners of 1 year subs of ATV RACIN’ EXTRA MAGAZINE, that’s the gift that gives all year. A special thanks goes out to Editors David & Jessica Screws, for their support of this event as well as The Texas ATV Cross Country Series Races here at Dirt Dog’s, at our West Houston Off-road Race Park and the state-wide series.

A special “hats-off” goes to the Columbus Wal-Mart for their generous donation of $250.00 cash to each of the beneficiaries of the fundraiser. Thank you Danny.

Keep your hats off because HEB Pantry Foods of Columbus generous donation of the food for the concession stand made a tremendous impact on the event. Not only did it provide the fixins for some good ol Texas food, but greatly enhanced the bottom line. Thank you Steven.

Last but not least, Thanks to The Texas Good Old Boys ATV Club, whose donations, judging, and contributions made this happen. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Other sponsors and supporters who we give a standing ovation to are:
Richmond Suzuki, Moose Racing, El Campo Cycle Center, ATVRental.net, Wild West Honda, TexasATVs.com, Hurst Yamaha, Ellison Arctic Cat, ATVGear.com, Henson Kawasaki and Cliff Jones RVs of Sealy. The Texas ATV Cross Country Racing Series, Superior ATVs, ATVSource.com, OffRoad.com. Columbus Transmission, Curtiss Automotive, Columbus Plg & Feed, , Butler Office Supply & Printing and Gibson Muffler & Automotive all of Columbus. Dale’s Fun Center, Constable Alton Brown, Mathis Interests.

The event was such a success that The Texas Good Old Boys, sponsors and participants have already started planning for next year’s Dirt Dog’s 2nd Annual “Adopt a Family for the Holidays” Event. Same time, same place… C’YA!