Durangoans open bottles of wine, checkbooks to support trail access

IMBA Trail News
Volume 12, Number 1
March 1999

by Jon Alegranti, IMBA

Question: What do you get when you cross four of the biggest names in mountain bike racing, 150 great prizes, good food, plenty of wine, a professional auctioneer, scantily clad models, and a burning passion for trails and mountain biking?

Answer: One of the most successful trail-club fundraising events in the universe. Trails 2000, Durango's trail organization which represents mountain bikers, hikers, horseback riders and other trail users in this legendary Colorado mountain town, held its sixth annual dinner and auction January 19 at the Olde Tymer's Cafe. They raised nearly $27,000.

Each year, Trails 2000 executive director Bill Manning, Iron Horse Bicycle Classic promoter Ed Zink, and many dedicated Trails 2000 members tap local businesses, artists, individuals and bike industry manufacturers for door prizes and gift packages to be auctioned off. The event gets great support from the community and has unquestionably become one of the premier social events on Durangoans' calendars.

Trails 2000 sells 96 tickets in advance for $25-$40 apiece. According to Zink, "Each year we have to turn people away." How fast do the tickets sell out? Well, let's just say that two of Durango's fastest residents, Ned Overend and John Tomac got theirs in time.(Then again, do you really think those guys would lose a race for anything?) And just in case Ned and Tomac don't convince you that trail access events aren't just for stodgy old coots, did I mention that Johnny T. brought along a friend by the name of Shawn Palmer? Yep, the downhill duo had just rolled into town after competing in the ESPN X-Games up the road in Crested Butte.

John Tomac at the auction

The action started as soon as the Olde Tymer's Cafe doors opened. Each person signed in, received a bidding card, and picked up a door prize from one of 35 donators (including IMBA). After socializing, hors d'oeuvres, drinks, dinner and more drinks, Trails 2000's Manning took the microphone and got everyone fired up to spend a lot of money.

By the time professional auctioneer Calvin Story grapped the mike, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation. In the next two hours, Storey and his fast and furious style whipped the crowd into a money raising frenzy. They competed for 50 prizes, including Denver Broncos tickets, a ski getaway to nearby Wolf Creek, a beach house for six near Cabo, Mexico, for a week, a White Rim tour with Western Spirit Cycling, framed art by local artists, and a custom Cannondale road bike. Ned "anted up" and outbid the rest for an original painting by local artist Stanton Englehart. Palmer followed the lead of his Team Specialized captain as he spent a little of ESPN's money (thanks to a win in the X-Games boardercross) and bested all competitors for a three-liter bottle of California cabernet. Tomac, perhaps influenced by his houseguest, decided it was time for some new tunes back at the ranch and outbid all others for a dozen CDs and new CD player. Rock on.

But the undeniable highlight of the evening was the now-legendary "Lovers Escape package for two" package featuring Chateaubriand and Silver Oak at the Ore House restaurant, overnight stay and breakfast at the Rochester or Leland House and a gift certificate for lingerie from The Fallen Angel.

One of the secrets of a successful auction (aside from a professional auctioneer and an ever-present waitstaff serving complimentary wine) is getting everyone excited about the items up for bid. And since it's hard to imagine a better way to get people excited about a "Lovers Escape" than by having attractive male and female lingerie models work the crowd during the bidding, that's exactly what the savvy, fun-loving members of Trails 2000 do.

If your mountain bike club is looking for a way to raise money, a dinner and auction is something to consider. Granted, Durango is not exactly Anytown, USA. But with a little time and energy, there's no reason your club can't rally local businesses and the trail community to pull together, raise some money for trails in your area and have a lot of fun along the way. And remember the secret word: "lingerie."

Bill Manning and auctioneer Calvin Storey
photos by Karen B. Anesi; courtesy Durango Herald

Here's a few ideas borrowed from the masters at Trails 2000 to help make your benefit auction a success.

• Keep the bidding portion of the auction to an hour or hour-and-a-half, tops. Any longer wears people out.

• Get a professional auctioneer if you can. They are skilled at working the crowd, and getting the most money for your items up for bid.

• Make sure the auctioneer (or the emcee) recognizes each winning bidder by name as the bidding ends on each item people like to be recognized for their support.

• Speaking of recognition, make sure your nice, printed program includes each bid item the donor. A list of all the donors should also be included.

• Door prizes are a great way to make use of smaller items donated. Lesser value items can also be combined with other small items or with big items to make more attractive packages.

• Location, location, location. Try to find a restaurateur who's a mountain biker (or other trail user). Ask them to donate the place (or a large room) and meals for the event as their contribution. Besides supporting the cause, they'll get a lot of positive exposure out of it. In return for their support, your club might have monthly meetings and dinner there, or make it a regular post-ride beer and eats place.

• One final word of advice from this author: Never hold up your bidding card (not even a little bit) unless you're absolutely serious. Or you might find yourself contributing more to trail access than you planned.

Contact Trails 2000 at PO Box 3868, Durango, CO 81302; (970) 259-4682.