The Great Teams

30TH Annual Eppie’s Great Race on July 19, 2003

FAMOUS FACES, GIFTED ATHLETES AND REGIONAL CELEBRITIES
HAVE MADE UP THIRTY YEARS OF ‘THE GREAT TEAM’

Each year prior to “Eppie’s Great Race,” a three-person team that always includes regional businessman Eppie Johnson and two other “celebrity” athletes, “set the pace” for all of the competitors that participate in the following “Great Race” a few days later. Known as “The Great Team,” Eppie’s pacesetters have included some of the Sacramento area’s most respected government officials, media representatives, regional business leaders, renowned athletes, local celebrities and “semi-celebrities” throughout The Great Race’s 30-year existence.

Eppie Johnson first formed “The Great Team” in 1974. Every year since, Eppie has acted as the Great Team’s “Paddler,” while the two other guest Great Team “athletes” compete as the team’s runner or bicyclist.

The Great Team’s purpose is to run, bike and paddle the Great Race Course to the best of their ability a few days before each race; thus, setting the “time to beat” for the rest of The Great Race participants. And since 1987, the Great Team has also included a Great Team “Iron Man” and “Iron Woman,” who set the pace for the Great Race’s individual athletes that compete in all three events.

If during the actual Great Race, which is implemented a few days later, any Great Race participant beats the time set by The Great Team, that participant receives a certificate for a free meal at Brookfield’s restaurants.

Some years, the time set by the Great Team has been very hard to beat…and at other years (depending upon the level or how “in shape” the Great Team members may be on that particular year), the time to beat has been pretty easy!

This year, the Great Team will set the time for The Great Race course on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 at 8:00 am, near the William Pond Recreation Area on the American River Bike Trail. The 30th annual “Eppie’s Great Race” is scheduled for the following Saturday, July 19, 2003.

This year’s Great Team will include McClatchy Corporation President and CEO Gary Pruitt as the runner, Director of Regional Parks, Recreation and Open Space, County of Sacramento Ron Suter as bicyclist, and of course, Eppie Johnson as the paddler. This year’s Great Team Iron Woman will be KCRA Channel 3 Morning News Anchor Deidre Fitzpatrick, and the Great Team Iron Man will be Eppie’s Great Race Co-Director Charles Willard. All accomplished athletes as well as widely known Sacramento area business and media leaders, the Great Team for the 30th Annual Eppie’s Great Race promises to set a pace that will be difficult to meet or beat.

The following is a list by year, of the famous “Great Team” members throughout the Eppie’s Great Race history:

1974

Burnett Miller, former Mayor of Sacramento, owner Burnett & Son Lumber Yard
Larry Turner, then-Executive Director of the Aquarian Effort, a well-respected, regional drug-abuse prevention program

1975

· Dick Cable, then-News Anchor for KXTV Channel 10, Retired

· Alan Galaway, Sacramento-area Insurance and Real Estate Broker, Retired

1976

· Pete Liebengood, Television Personality

· Jim O’Neil, renowned Athlete, Retired

1977

· Creighton Sanders, then-KCRA Sports Anchor, Retired

· Peter Snell, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist

1978

· General Willard Shank, California National Guard

· Bruce Reid, Sacramento Union Reporter

1979

· Christine Hanson, then-KCRA News Anchor and former Playboy Bunny, Owner Mermaid Vineyard Napa Valley

· Cary Nosler, Founder and Owner of “Sunrise Natural Foods”

1980

· Sally Edwards, Founder of “Fleet Feet”

· Jack Heckel, then- President of Aerojet Corporation, Retired

1981

· Tom Hannigan, then-California State Assembly Member, Director Department of Water Resources California

· Frank McPeak, Community Relations Manager for The Sacramento Bee, Retired

1982

· Illa Collin, Sacramento County Supervisor, Active Supervisor

· Bart Von Housen, Von Housen Motors of Sacramento

· John Weed, World-Class Kayaker (the only year Eppie Johnson was not the Great Team paddler due to injury), Kayak Instructor

1983

· John McIntosh, Owner of “McIntosh Sports Cottage”, Trader in Old Coins

· Bob Duvall, Local bicyclist and member of Sacramento Golden Wheelmen.

1984

· Bjorg Austerheim, Western States 100-Mile Run Champion

· Jerry Ketchum, then-Owner of “Carmichael Honda”, Retired

1985

· Frank Corfee, then Owner of “Heavenly Valley Ski Resort”, Stock Broker

· Colonel John B. Wood, then-Commander of “McClellan Air Force Base”, Retired

1986

· Ken Campbell, Sacramento-area Dentist

· Bill Briner, then-Director, Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation, Real Estate Developer & Broker, Lake Tahoe

1987

· Peter Raffetto, then-President of “River City Bank”, President Cal-Net Bank

· Ramey Osborne, then-President of “Spare Time, Inc.”

· Rich Ongerth, (first Great Team Iron Man) Sacramento Attorney, Art Gallery Owner

· Cindy Trimble, (first Great Team Iron Woman)

1988

· Charlie Massey, then-Owner of “City Bike Works”

· Jeff Polahoff, Owner City Bike Works

· Frank Cirrill, Director Emeritus of “Eppie’s Great Race”

· Shirley Willd-Wagner, Race Director of “Eppie’s Great Race”

1989

· Dave Spottiswood, Sacramento-area Attorney, Practicing Law

· Jeff Holden, Director of Sales Local Radio Station, Director of Sales Clear Channel

· Frank Cirrill, Director Emeritus of Eppie’s Great Race

· Nancy Fish, local athlete

1990

· Butch MacElwee, Vice President of Markstein Beverage Company

· David T. Lane, Interim President and General Manager of KXTV channel 10 (CBS affiliate)

· Ron Ongerth, then-Eppie’s Great Race Director, Sacramento Attorney, Art Gallery Owner

1991

· Jim Sochor, then-Football Coach for the University of California, Davis, Retired

· Michelle Canny Gilles, Director of Nutrition Services, Wenmat Athletic Club

· John Green, then-Owner of Carmichael Honda