| Team Spirit Award
In the old days those “spirits” were
usually found in the saloon at night swapping yarns amongst fellow
“wagon masters”. Now that the West becomes more and more settled
each year and the families move in, those old geezers are more apt
to sit around the campfire or be in bed by 9."
--original prose submitted by Jim Nixon, Team Spirit, Kansas City, one
of the founders of the Spirit Award
The Tour de Nebraska Spirit Award is given annually during the last
evening of the tour at the TDN Awards Banquet. It was created by
a group of distinguished gentlemen from Kansas City, so fondly named
Team Spirit, to inspire others to spread joy and humor during Tour
de Nebraska. It is a traveling award in that the Team so honored
must return on tour the following year to choose the next worthy
recipient. The award itself is a roadkill cup mounted on a stylish
wooden plaque.
The Team Spirit Award is based on the following behavior categories
(of course these have been amply demonstrated by Team Spirit):
S |
is for stamina: ride with ease and/or speed (considering
age, conditioning, equipment) |
P |
is for personality: make acquaintances with other
tour members, with town folk, and with local officials such as
police, newspapers, mayors etc. |
I |
is for inspiration: sing, gleeful gestures, and encourage other
riders |
R |
is for roughing-it: tent in any weather, enjoy the heat-distance,
and ride with delight in the rain |
I |
is for interest: wear distinctive jerseys, team hats, or bestow
objects of fun such as ice cream bars, pins, noise makers |
T |
is for tipping: one or both of these sub-areas merit consideration
- tip the mug, shot class, tumbler and/or provide tips to other
riders on how to bask in Nebraska and relish the experience -
point out good stops along the way (pie, food, shade), must see
sites, local color, or impromptu swimming, volleyball, face painting,
etc. |
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Past
Team Spirit Award Winners
- Zoo Bar Team: Paula Lowe and Gayle Resh
- Mike and Karen Smith
- Susan and Rich Rodenburg, TDN organizers
- Team Bike Me (Dept. of
Roads), Jim Ferguson
- Team Spirit of Kansas City: Jim Nixon, Dale
Basham, Mike Rimmer, etc. al
- Chip Hackley, Lincoln
- Motel Torell
- Team Nurses: Sharon Hagelgantz and Jennie
Burianek, Lincoln
- Corey Collins
- Jan Keplinger
- Team ZooMen
- Robert Pewthers
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