RonKMiller
Sep 13th, 2007, 11:43 am
...but they had a HUGE advantage - they were riding their 1978 Kawi 1000 "mini-bikes" - that they are rapidly ditching in favor of 65 new Harleys. A really unfair advantage... although a "formula" was developed to account for the differences... :think:
Still, damn fine job to beat 24 other teams. :D
Jeez, that makes two firsts for us this year along with Iron Horse BMW being named best dealer in the nation for customer satisfaction.
City motorcycle cops beat 24 other U.S. teams
CARLI BROSSEAU (brosseau@tucsoncitizen.com)
Tucson Citizen
A team of four Tucson police officers cruised to victory at the Motorcops.com National Training and Skills Championship in Frisco, Texas, last month, police said.
It was the Tucson Police Department's first win at a large event, although it won smaller regional events, said Officer Kenny Vaughan, one of the competitors.
"We're moving along," he said.
The team outrode 24 teams from other police departments from nine states, he said. The officers - Vaughan, Robert Garcia, Jeff Couch and Shawn Ramsey - placed in the top 10.
"The consistency of the four of us is what keeps us strong," he said. "It's our drive to be good and to be safe. The bottom line is going home at the end of the night."
The Tucson team left Texas with 17 trophies and plaques.
The competition's seven events - including a slow ride, a relay and a cone maze - were scored based on time and penalties. Hit a cone, add one second. Put your foot down, add five. Time counts in the slow ride, but slowest wins.
All Tucson officers rode Kawasakis, and officers from other departments rode Harley-Davidsons, Hondas and BMWs. A formula was devised to account for differences, Vaughan said.
The team's sponsors were Tucson, the Tucson Police Foundation, the Tucson Police Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1 and Arizona Victory, a motorcycle shop.
The trip cost at least $4,000 plus each officer's weekly salary, Vaughan said.
Still, damn fine job to beat 24 other teams. :D
Jeez, that makes two firsts for us this year along with Iron Horse BMW being named best dealer in the nation for customer satisfaction.
City motorcycle cops beat 24 other U.S. teams
CARLI BROSSEAU (brosseau@tucsoncitizen.com)
Tucson Citizen
A team of four Tucson police officers cruised to victory at the Motorcops.com National Training and Skills Championship in Frisco, Texas, last month, police said.
It was the Tucson Police Department's first win at a large event, although it won smaller regional events, said Officer Kenny Vaughan, one of the competitors.
"We're moving along," he said.
The team outrode 24 teams from other police departments from nine states, he said. The officers - Vaughan, Robert Garcia, Jeff Couch and Shawn Ramsey - placed in the top 10.
"The consistency of the four of us is what keeps us strong," he said. "It's our drive to be good and to be safe. The bottom line is going home at the end of the night."
The Tucson team left Texas with 17 trophies and plaques.
The competition's seven events - including a slow ride, a relay and a cone maze - were scored based on time and penalties. Hit a cone, add one second. Put your foot down, add five. Time counts in the slow ride, but slowest wins.
All Tucson officers rode Kawasakis, and officers from other departments rode Harley-Davidsons, Hondas and BMWs. A formula was devised to account for differences, Vaughan said.
The team's sponsors were Tucson, the Tucson Police Foundation, the Tucson Police Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1 and Arizona Victory, a motorcycle shop.
The trip cost at least $4,000 plus each officer's weekly salary, Vaughan said.