Stories about Mike

[REKCUT]

I have been to several events with the little blue truck but never really ran any trails with it until Gator. I went out on a little Scouting run the first Day with Rob's 40, my 60, Woody and his rig, Justin and the Pig from Redline and Wickett with his big buggy with a 40 bezel.

The park was very wet and the trails were seeping water. I took the group back to the end of Black Mamba and tried to give it a run up the hill. I hit it 5 or 6 times with no Luck because of the slick mud. Justin from Redline kept tell me to hit it harder but I had had enough. I told Justing to give it a try. Same number of tries and the same results. Next went Woody with no better luck followed by Wickett( who took an interesting sideways jump) and didnt fair any better. Rob gave it one try but after seeing the effort put forth in front of him, he knew in his mind he wasnt going to have any real luck.

As we were standing there laughing about our efforts, Mike brought the blue truck over and lined it up for a run. We were standing in a group and Justin said to me " He's not going to make it. He wont have the guts to hammer it hard enough to get over the ledge". Mind you that Justing didnt really know Mike from the man in the moon. Peggy just looked at Justin and said." You dont know Mike" . About that time off he went, straight up the hill, bounced over the ledge, and the last I saw him he was laying on his side plowing through a switchback farther up the hill.

I got everyone turned around and went the easy way ( only way for all of us) up to the top and waited for Mike to emerge from the trial on top.

As long as I live I will always remember the smile on that mans face. Man was he proud. There were 5 big trucks running 37 and up tires. Several of them have been featured in Magazines and Mike was the only one that made that hill.

I am sure the rest of you have some better memories. I am just glad I got the chance to have this one of my own.

P.S. I did hear Justin asking Peggy for some mustard to go with the foot he had stuck in his mouth.

 

[osagecruiser]

I shared a few of my memories in the original thread....i will miss mike....the more he drove the mini the better or braver he got....i watched him and peggy at tuttle and disney and usually found myself thinking.."damn i hope jake dont see him do that!"...we have all been lucky to call him friend...to enjoy the chilli...to learn about the importance of sharp cutlery....to just listen to the stories he had to tell around the camp fire....we still have one old crow and she is a pretty darn good driver herself and one hell of a cook!...dont know weather you guys know this or not but when pancakes were on the breakfast menu jake always got chocolate chips in his mike and peggy have taken good care of all of us at every event....went out of their way to be sure we were all fed and that jake had a warm place to sleep...i hope we can keep peggy....for the club to loose them both would be unbearable....i for one will miss him

marc

 

[Taildragon]

I think it was flat nasty 08 when the trust mini with Mike behind the wheel just about climbed the unclimbable.

The bounty hill that has never been climbed, I remember Mike giving it the best attempt I have ever seen.

It was truly a work of art watching Mike maneuver, flog, hammer, maneuver, slam, crunch, and will that famous blue mini up the hill. I was SURE on multiple occasions that he was going to flip either end over end or roll back down that hill. I hope some day to have the skills to wheel like he did.

Justin Tubb

 

[Zane]

I went on a weekend run down to Disney Oklahoma with TAC a year or so ago and I decided to leave my rig at camp after running around the rocks behind the dam because everyone wanted to run through the tight trails. The remainder of the day I tagged a ride with different folks. We had gotten to a very steep hill climb with some crazy ledges and of course Mike took the challenge head on and concord it with ease. He got back down and he and I watch others attempt, some made it, some did not. He then looked at me and said "Zane, You want to try it?" With a little arm twisting I said yes and he coached me through the climb in HIS rig.

He loved to wheel, but its obviose to me that he enjoyed the people around him even more. He seemed to always be looking to make everyones wheeling experience better. He will be missed.

 

[66fj40x2]

My favorite has to be at the Ramble a few years back. Not sure who all was there, but Kowboy was leading us around some trails and we ended up on a loose rocky hill climb. Kowboy headed up in his custom-built 40 on 42" Iroks and made with the throttle wide open on his 350. I was next and made it up only by sheer luck and seeing a few rock covered tree stumps that I pointd by 38.5 SX's at caught enough of them to make to the top. We winched a half dozens or so trucks up that hill.... Pretty sure Chris and Rob got winched as well. I know Fro in the White Trash Beater made with 38.5 SX's then came Mike and the mini. I remember someone saying "He'll never make it with those little tires and 22r." He drove that truck straight up the hill to the amazement of the rest of us standing close by with straps and winch lines. I recall Kowboy being so completely impressed with the "lil blue mini with the tiny tires" making that hill climb. All the whoops and cheers as Mike made it to the top after winching so many other trucks was awesome......

Mike, You will be missed my friend but you will ALWAYS be with us!!!

 

[trainrech]

Mike's story is the one that stuck out in my head as well.

 

[KOWBOY]

I recall Kowboy being so completely impressed with the "lil blue mini with the tiny tires" making that hill climb. All the whoops and cheers as Mike made it to the top after winching so many other trucks was awesome....

I came over to post up the same story.

Pleasure to watch him drive ... and a pleasure to talk to around the campfire.

RIP indeed.