On Sunday, May 30, 2010, the Greater Kamloops ATV Association (GKAA) had their annual club quad ride—but let me go back a couple of weeks.

Before the ride, we went out to a local riding area called Scuitto Lake to clear the trail and mark it. There were about 10 members and the biggest concern was how arid it was. It was the middle of May and the bush was very dry—and the regular trails, which often carried a lot of mud, were dusty.

Well, the biggest dust control company we know—Mother Nature—took control, dampened the bush and filled the holes. This accommodated over 70 riders who showed up for the ride and to support the Kamloops Food Bank.

Organizers Ken Kineshanko and Mike Pittenger, with the help of their families and club members, had secured many sponsors like Van Houtte Coffee, Protec Petroleum, Blackwell Dairy, Cobs Breads, Gary’s Custom Meats, RTR Performance, Schultz Motorsports, Pacific Coast Heavy Truck, Tim Horton’s Coffee and Platinum Auto sports.

A variety of riders

Many of the riders where from all over B.C.. Both the Vernon ATV club and Salmon Arm had many of their members out, and there were also riders from Kelowna and the Lower Mainland. Over 66 kilometres of mud, I only saw one clean person and we think she wore a bag over her riding gear and then took if off at the last minute.

Quite a few of the riders camped either at Campbell Lake or the Scuitto Lake camp area, and it rained most of the weekend—but it stopped just before the ride and cleared up. I think Mother Nature owns a quad. The ride started at 9:30 with six groups leaving at approximately 10-minute intervals. Everyone was back by 3 p.m. for the dinner and prizes.

The total raised for the food bank from the riders was $1,560, with another $500 donated by the club for a total of $2,060.