Ed note: The first section of this update was written March 12 2002, see explanations below.

Last episode we were getting ready to play in the Wintertime Open at Oak Grove DGC in Pasadena, California. Oak Grove is the oldest disc golf course in the world and was recently in peril of being pulled for a new park design. It looks like the course is safe these days. Thank you to all the people who had a part in the effort to save her.

We had never played Oak Grove so tried it out for a couple days before the tournament started. We spent a night at Roger Curley's house (Alien) but it was a bit crowded over there so we ended up at Sam Hielman's place instead along with the Flying Eye Crew for the rest of our time in Pasadena. The course is lovely -- as are all the California park courses -- but it was small. It was built back in the days when there were only about five different types of discs and none of them would fly very far. Difficulty was increased through the use of mandatory routes and creative pin placements. The weather was good and the tournament went well. Brian Schweberger made the finals in his first tournament on tour. Steve Rico bested everyone from wire to wire for an impressive early season victory. All Winnigolfers cashed and I passed the Shule Monkey on to Dave.

From there we went back to the factory for a day then headed out to Vegas for the Gentleman's Club Challenge. We hooked up with Bobby Dodge at 'The Orleans.' Bob just happened to be in town for work and we all went out and had a good time. Bobby Dodge (-ball) went back home to Huntington Beach to practice up for The Memorial which would take place ten days later in Phoenix. We stayed with Ron Klein while in Vegas. He showed us around town and took us to some buffets. The tournament, a B-tier, went pretty smoothly. The weather cooperated but it was extremely windy on the first day. Scores were up. Steve Rico stuck it out again a captured the win. Again we all (Winnicrew guys) cashed and got some non-winning B-tier money.

While in town we did do a bit of gambling. Dave made about $400 on blackjack and roulette. I lost about $70. I think Avery broke even. As we were leaving town I had the fuel problems with the Winnie. We turned back so I could try to repair her.

Okay, we were south of Vegas in Laughlin, Nevada, sort of a mini-Vegas on the way to Phoenix. It was the first morning of the PDGA summit and I wasn't going to make it. I called PDGA Commissioner Pat Govang and clued him in on my situation. I forced the Winnie into town and searched for a garage. Nothing. Everyone around this place has a motor home and the waiting list to get them fixed in pretty long. I decided I'd have to do it on my own. She finally gave out for good and I rolled into a gas station that would serve as my repair site for the next six hours.

Luckily Team Wendell was still in town. I called them up on the phone and they drove me around town looking for parts all day long. I searched for a new fuel switch for hours, but all the parts stores just looked at me blankly and stated "I ain't never seen no switch like that before." Great. I ripped out the switch and twisted the wires together. Still wouldn't work. I replaced the fuel pump. Pretty easy... pretty inexpensive... still didn't work. I fiddled with wiring, replaced fuses, rigged improper switches, got her running for a few minutes just to end up stalled in the middle of mid-day traffic. Once she even stalled at the entrance to a WalMart. I backed up traffic pretty good for awhile. Finally a pickup truck with a rope pulled me into the parking lot. It was all pretty frustrating. Finally I was rechecking my wiring job and noticed that my instrument fuse had blown. I replaced it... blew another one... replaced it with a bigger fuse and she held. Everything worked.... well, almost. I would only be able to use one of the two fuel tanks... turned out it's the small tank that works. I have to stop for gas every 100 miles now. Yipee.

We got into Phoenix at about midnight and I sat through board meetings for the next two days. I won't bore you with the details but there are some very positive things that will be happening to disc golf in the coming months. I'm very excited.

The Memorial was, as usual, great. Dan Ginnely is the man. Huge field... huge payout... great courses... great parties. Of course it was my birthday too! I got a couple of cards and gift certificates from Linda (thanks sweetie!) and everyone bought me a whole lotta drinks. I had a hard time on Sunday morning trying to play with a hangover. I hung on to finish respectably.

---------- Time Out -----------

Okay. I wrote all that about three weeks ago, but never sent it to webmaster Sullivan. You might be wondering why I haven't gotten anything up on the website lately. Here's why:

• After The Memorial was the El Dorado Open. We got there and played with no problems.
• Next we drove up to the Petrified Forest to visit Roger Cansler and the alternator went out on the way. I pulled over, found a parts store and fixed it.
• From Rogers we drove to Orange Vale for the St. Patrick's classic. A brake line broke. I tracked it down and jammed a bolt in the hose as a temporary repair.
• Got parts and permanently fixed the brakes on a cold Monday of lying under the Winnie.
• Drove to Austin, Texas for National Doubles. It seems that the new alternator was out of balance. It vibrated enough to break the main mounting bolt off inside the engine block. I made a temporary repair.
• We leave Texas on route to North Carolina. 200 miles into the trip we get a flat tire. Avery and I fix it in 20 minutes.
• 100 miles later the temporary alternator repair gives out. The adjustment arm breaks and the mounting bracket break.
• The main lead from the alternator grounds to the engine and explodes in two places.
• After pulling over and waving away a lot of smoke I notice that the engine wiring assembly (most of the engine wires) are melted and/or blown apart.
• I call Don Johnson for some advice and spend the next 4 hours re-wiring the Winnie on the side of the highway with a half roll of electrical tape and 9 feet of wire.
• I rig her to run on the batteries (the alternator is fried) and drive to a parts store.
• Six hours later she has a new alternator and a seriously fudged together wiring system.
• The Winnie runs fine all the way to North Carolina until the last 50 miles when the fan clutch goes out. I have a new one next to me. I'll put it in on Monday.

Wish the Winnie good health. She'll need it.

-Todd and crew

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