Anyone happen to have the first few years of Troika results? Looking for '81, '82, '83. Thanks.
My best friend was Klaus Scherler, who lived in Spokane untl his death a couple of years ago. Klaus did the Troika nearly every year for a long while and even dragged me out to do the one in 1984, which I believe was the first one at Lake Newman. Neither his widow nor I have the records you are looking for - but my contacts there tell me one of these two people are almost sure to either (a) have what you are looking for or (b) be able to tell you who does.
Bob Olson. Long-time triathlete in Spokane. 509-328-8148. Tell him Brad Vanwert & Lew Kidder suggested you call.
Bill Close. Another oldie but goodie. 509-624-2980.
Thanks very much. Bill only had stuff back to '89 but I have a message in to Bob. Be fun to see what he has.
I now remember some others from the earlier years too. Roy Allen did those early races, married a triathlete, then retired from the local police force and moved to a lake outside of town. Wayne Wilson, another local police officer, did a lot of the early races too. Ken Hinds and I were life and death for the masters title at the 1984 race; through the years thereafter, I saw Ken’s name in results, both in tri’s and at Bloomsday.
Another possibility is David Harrison. David was the former owner of Canoe Magazine and the father of early Ironman stars Julianna Harrison (later Brenning, now Nievergelt) and Nancy Harrison. Nancy made the top 10 in Kona on three occasions and Julianna was 6th (I think) in 1984. I think David & wife now live in Hailey, Idaho, and I saw his name in the results for a recent Troika.
Or you could go to the back files of the Spokesman Review. Probably wouldn’t get complete results that way, but I bet you’d get a fair amount - plus some clues on names from that era.
The race director from those early years was Kenny Hendricks. He died quite a while ago, but maybe there is a daughter with a box of dad’s old records in the attic.
Thank you Lew. I have checked out the micro film on the Review. Early years of Troika they only listed the top five, if that. Couldn’t remember getting a result past what was at the park but I thought someone might still have that stuff around. Be fun to see some of the times from the old course. Also be fun to see what my times were. Never bothered to keep track or write anything down back then. Troika was just a lark for a couple of us that climbed together.
So, you got me to go back and look at my old log books. Saturday, August 23, 1984. Says I did the 1.1 mile swim in 29:23, 50 mile bike in 2:10:10 (included both transitions), and 13.1 mile run (from the high school into downtown) in 1:35:10. 23rd after the swim, 6th at T2, 6th at the finish. 4:14:43, probably equates to 4:32 or so for a true HIM. Geez, who WAS that guy? I couldn’t carry his jock nowadays.
Found some photos too. Shots of Karen and me getting out of the water (I remember it being COLD that morning - and wetsuits were still three years away). Then they show this geek on the drops with toeclips and an old, white Bailen helmet (the brain bucket). And finally, Klaus, Nancy (Klaus’s other), Karen, and I in the park at the finish. Band stand nearby, which they used for the awards ceremony. I won the IM slot for 40-44, but passed it on because I was already in the race. Must have fulfilled some sort of inner need, because I never did anything beyond Olympic distance after that year.
Ya I still think back on my first Troika and laugh. I was never a serious triathlete in those days. Still swam some after college but never really biked for exercise just transportation. Got out of the water, added a set of running shorts to my speedo and off I went in toe clips and a “net” helmet. I remember being pissed because I really didn’t want to buy a helmet just to do Troika. Just got rid of the helmet, the bike and my original shoes this last year…not like I had used them lately.
Funny how the gear changed. Once they allowed wet suits I decided it was posers sport and didn’t do a Tri again for years.
I weighted less and was in much better shape 25 years ago. That I did keep track of. I have to think I’m faster now than on that first Troika so I’ll take that as a good thing 
Be fun to know if that is actually true. Hopefully someone will come up with those results. I think Mark Finke won my ag those years. He is still racing and doing well. Maybe I should track him down.