Budd Pell
Budd Pell
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http://mmba.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54545
Go To the above link to read about A True MMBA Legend and Friend: Bud Pell
Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Bio:
Bud Pell
Bud Pell-A Michigan Mountain Bike Trail Building Legend
For those who didn’t know Bud when he lived in Michigan, he was one of the premier MMBA trail builders.
If you’ve ridden at Bass River, Highlands, Ionia, Maybury and Stony Creek you’ve ridden on some of Bud’s Trails. Before that, Bud worked his magic at Maybury, the mountain bike trail was one mile long and open to two way traffic.
You rode to the end, turned around rode back and tried not to crash into anyone. Bud’s efforts changed all that!
Bud’s nature was to listen to what needed to be done, and then just get it done!
One of my favorite Bud memories is asking him how he got involved in building trails in Ionia? He said that’s where he kept his glider plane.
I asked when he got into gliders? He remarked just after he sold his Lotus race car. Bud had great toys and other pursuits.
Some of these pursuits were racing outboards in Northern Michigan, spending 23 years on the Mt. Brighton Ski Patrol ( Telemarking of course), putting together hand carved boomerangs, helping with bird rescue, making fishing lures, and designing disc golf courses.
Bud moved to California to escape winters and finished his life in Washington.
Bud did not bike much in Washington. The trails in his area aren't as well maintained as Michigan's and they're either straight up or straight down. Instead Pell got into disc golf. He helped build the first course around which now sees over 100 people per day.
After leaving Michigan, Bud enjoyed keeping up with the MMBA through the Bent Rim Bugle newsletter. He tryed to get a group together near his town to build a new trail but few seem to be interested in volunteering. He said the MMBA is "so *beep* progressive." He's was really thrilled and proud seeing how far MMBA had gotten.
Bud passed away in his sleep in December of 2006 at age 73. This was completely unexpected and tragic. Many folks were in shock as Bud was still going at full speed and was more active than folks one-third his age.
There are many who knew Bud better than I did though none more honored to have shared in his life. When riding the trails he worked on, I will always have a friend on the trail, as Bud left so many of the best things we remember in our lives.
Bio Written by Ray Fullerton, Member-Michigan Mountain Biking Association.
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Crested Butte History 
