We would try something different, then analize the film and see what would work. First we had the front two guys pull the outhouse with ropes. The sled was bouncing side to side the whole time so that was no good. We finaly hit on something that was working real good. All four pushers were move to the back. After all, this is called the outhouse push, not pull. After some more testing, we discovered the proper hight for the bar. We had to get the downforce of the pushers just right to move the sled at max speed with minamum slippage.
Wow! It was fast! One more small factor. It was planned to have Ken Mulvania be one of the pushers but a skiing accident had left him side lined. Well, we just happen to have some very fast runners on our team so a quick call to Michael Greenman and the spot is filled.
The team was set, from left to right is Mike Roe, Peter Tel, Chip Roe, and Michael Greenman. The sled was set, inside is our rider, Jordan Welter. All we had to do was glue everything into place and meet at the race the next week. Well, if there was a worst day of the winter, I am sure this was it. I was to take the pictures and transport the outhouse. I left early thinking I had plenty of time and still arived almost exactly when I was supposed to. Now, would everyone else get there? Sure enough one by one they show up. We register the team and get set for some good racing.
Now this sled(outhouse) is not only fast and airodynamic, it is real light also. Then we tuck little Jordan inside and still not weigh over about 90 pounds. The other outhouses were real heavy made out of thick plywood and two by fours. 
Another feature on our sled is the fact that there is no board accross the front of the sled. All the others are plowing snow while they are pushing the sled. Not a good design.
After some of the other teams get their first race in, I move down the track for a mid race picture or two. This is not bad but I keep looking at that big tree at the finish. 
I am getting soaked out here and I am not running to stay warm. I decide that I could get some real good shots from the finish line so I move down there. Not bad, and our team is still winning every time.
The finish line has an orange stripe painted and a man standing there to signal which lane wins the heats. All of the sudden, he is called away because his boy is sick and he must drive him home.
"Can you take over,"he asks? And I agree. Then next time our team comes down, I tell them,"don't worry guys, its in the bag". I think they know that I wouldn't cheat but I was hoping to get them to loosen up a little. Well, this was it. It was down to us and last years winners. We had made some drastic changes but was it enough? They had built there own sled also. Not as light and sleek as ours but a good sled none the less.
The second heat against this team and if we win, it would be over. Now if I was the starter, I would have red lighted the Excell team. I didn't see what happened but they had the jump on us. Our team was closing but then the just drifted off to the side of the track. Soon, Mike was in the deep snow and slowing down. This made the team turn even farther off coarse. Not good but we had one more race.
This time, they would switch lanes. Back to the start and after a short rest, they would try again. This time, Team Messiah had a much better start. They were ahead the entire way and breezed to the finish. Now this was a big relief to us. We had waited all year for this. It was like the Team Messiah Supper Bowl! Savor the moment because I know that next year will not be easy.
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