2005 Bus Roadeo Summary

The 16th Annual Bus Roadeo and training Sept. 17-18 were huge successes. Attendance was up from last year with 47 contestants paying the roadeo entry fee. Thanks to all the drivers for making this year's roadeo fun and competitive. A big thank you to Souris Basin Transportation and Minot City Bus employees who helped, and for allowing DTA to use the Minot Public Works facility and grounds. Finally, thanks to transit managers, state DOT employees and others who helped judge the Dakota event.

The winners will advance to the national competition held in conjunction with the CTAA Conference June 4, 2006, at Orlando, FL.

Additional drivers from across the region joined many of the roadeo contestants on Sunday for morning training in bus driving, first aid, use of wheel chair lift devices and wheel chair tie-downs. A total of 58 drivers attended the training.

All drivers had a time of learning, sharing and indulging in a very tasteful steak banquet after the roadeo. The banquet was a celebration of a great day, a great year and great service to the many transit riders across the Dakotas.

Roadeo Winners

Awards were given to the first five places from both states.

North Dakota

• 1st place - Den Kuehnemund, Souris Basin Transportation, Minot, ND
• 2nd place - Dennis Ullmer, Elder Care, Dickinson, ND
• 3rd place - Ed Harrington, Minot Commission on Aging, Minot, ND
• 4th place - Ron Gieser, West River Transit, Bismarck, ND
• 5th place - Joe Berger, Elder Care, Dickinson, ND

South Dakota

• 1st place - Kevin Disburg, River City Transit, Pierre, SD
• 2nd place - Carl Rathbun, River Cities Transit, Pierre, SD
• 3rd place - Lance Kuper, River Cities Transit, Pierre, SD
• 4th place - LaVal Paris, Prairie Hills Transit, Spearfish, SD
• 5th place - Randy Walton, River Cities Transit, Pierre, SD

Pictures

Click on the pictures below for a larger view.

	SD Roadeo Winners (l to r): Randy Walton, Lance Kuper, Kevin Disburg, Carl Rathbun and LaVal Paris.
ND Roadeo Winners (l to r): Joe Berger, Dennis Ullmer, Den Kuehnemund, Ed Harrington and Ron Gieser.
	First Aid was a Sunday morning training session for bus drivers at the Roadeo.
Darrell Francis, from Souris Basin Transportation, giving instruction to the participants before the start of the Roadeo. There was good attendance this year and two buses were needed to get everyone through the driving course by 3 pm.
	DTA held their first ever vendors show at the 2004 conference in Minot ND. Over 20 vendors participated ranging from buses, to software, to bus seats and even National Transportation Institute had a booth at our conference.