“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.
TDN 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 considerations – 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.
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
Albert Maxey, Sr.
DiAnn White
Clayton Streich and Ray Stevens
Team Husker: Rhonda Revelle and Diane Miller
Coreen Frasier
David Hill, Tammy Walter, Shari Rosso
Karen Griffin and David Wood
Team 1935: Kay Corell (Omaha) and Bill Utley (Lincoln)
Doug Weishahn and Arnold Hottovy of Lincoln
Cycle Works Team: Kris Sonderup, Rick Dockhorn, Josh Vapenik & Andy Pedley! (Josh, Rick & Andy pictured above.)
TDN Chain Gang Award
Established in 2014, the TDN Chain Gang Award is given to the team with the largest number of riders as indicated on the registration form. It is named after its inaugural winner, the mighty Dundee Chain Gang of Omaha.
2014: Dundee Chain Gang
2015: Dundee Chain Gang
2016: Team Just Sayin'
2017: Team Just Sayin'
2018: Team Just Sayin'
Congratulations to Team Just Sayin' from Lincoln, Nebraska!
