Back in 2004 we started the Rock Lobster team. Jeff Traugott and I were the split sponsors and for the first year we kept the team rolling in a very modest way. In 2005 the Spokesman bicycles sent a couple my way who were interested in getting cyclocross bikes. They were Larry and Karen Bullard. Very nice folks and enthusiastic about the local CX race scene they were keen to get the team issue frames and start riding in the dirt.
Once the bikes were done, Larry came by to pick up his bike. He did a short test ride and Simon and I watched him quickly roll by and said to each other : "Hey, maybe we should ask him to be on the team "Larry looked at us as if we had just handed him the keys to the city- needless to say , he said yes. He raced and eventually made it onto the podium for the overall in the local CCCX series-something I had failed to do for about 5 seasons. We, and he were very stoked.
The next year , Larry asked what it took to be the title sponsor of the team. I told him the various levels of sponsorship and what it would mean in terms of logo placement on the team kits. Immediately he wrote a check and we were team HRS (Human resource solutions - Karen's business ) for the next four seasons. The 2006 kits were the notorious argyle with Karen's puzzle piece logo mixed in. It was a big year for the team with trips to the USGP races in Portland and Tacoma and the nationals in Providence. Team HRS was getting national exposure and Larry and Karen were the ones helping to make it possible.
Larry was always upbeat, positive and wickedly funny without trying to be- he would just make an observation that would be a hilarious truth that most of us might have overlooked. Larry and Karen came to the team parties and got to know the rag-tag CX crew and they accepted us with all of our various eccentricities. They were never trying to steer the team or change anything we were doing- they were unconditionally supportive and really helped launch us to another level.
Larry passed away last weekend , a victim of cancer. He had only just retired from his career at AMD the previous December. He was just starting out on retirement with a dream house that he and Karen built in Scottsdale, AZ. Larry was dedicated, worked hard-was a positive influence on everyone he came into contact with from my experience. He, and Karen's enthusiasm and support for the team in its early years was elemental in getting the team national exposure and helped create the reputation that it has to this day- a group of racers who value having fun while racing and showing people that as difficult as CX can be, the community does not take itself too seriously.
Larry is gone too soon and he will be missed but his and Karen's role in building this team will never be forgotten . Rest in peace , my friend.
All in all, I count a total of 25 riders- that's a mob and I think that we collectively made it more of a race. The following photos will back this up-glad everyone made it and hope that we all show up again next season.
