2011 Bixby BBQ & Music Festival

[Gaspar]

Gaspar. A buddy of mine here at work would have liked to got involved with the BBQ festival in Bixby. What all does it take to get started competing in these local events ? He makes great BBQ and would really enjoy competing.
Is it just a pride thing or is there money and prizes also ?

Oh!! Yes there is money.  To compete in most of these local comps, all you need is a good team name and an idea of what you're doing.  There are several online resources that can help you out with figuring out your timing.  One good resource is The Smoke Ring http://www.thesmokering.com/ it's kinda like TNF for BBQers.

Bixby had a total cash purse of $12,000.  Many of the guys in these big rigs you saw there just travel from town to town competing and making enough money to pay for their lifestyle.

The best way to learn how without making a big investment in failure is to go to one of the comps and hang out with one of the teams on Friday night.  Share a beer or two and we are likely to tell you anything.  The more beer, the less we lie.  But seriously, we love people to come hang out and ask us questions.  We had one guy that everyone on this forum likely knows who hung with us until 3:30am on Friday asking every question in the book, from timing meat to wood choice to injection techniques.  We're a friendly bunch!

There are about a dozen teams that we regularly compete against, and in many cases loose to, who started as guys that hung out at our tent or came to our classes.

[Gaspar]

I will be posting information soon on the Tulsa Art of BBQ.  Anyone interested in becoming a judge will be able to sign up in the next week or two.  If you are interested in becoming a Certified BBQ Judge you can visit this link:

http://www.kcbs.us/classes.php

Most competitions have a certain # of certified judges and the rest of the judging seats are open to the public.  They will train you on the basics prior to the event.

[joiei]

If your really interested there is a competition coming up this weekend at the racetrack in Claremore.    Here is the info from the Claremore Revellie Rotary  http://www.claremorereveille.com/2011%20RD_TriFold%20Final%20rev040111.pdf

It is fun, not as big as Bixby and if you need further fun things to do there is always the casino.   I don't know if the horses will be running. 

[Conan71]

if you need further fun things to do there is always the casino.  

No thanks, I'll just throw a stack of bills in the chiminea or use them to stoke the smoker if I want to lose money and inhale smoke at the same time. 

[DolfanBob]

No thanks, I'll just throw a stack of bills in the chiminea or use them to stoke the smoker if I want to lose money and inhale smoke at the same time. 

Buuwahaha ! BAM ! 

[Gaspar]

There will be around 75 judges this year for the Tulsa Art of BBQ.  You may apply now!

www.tulsaartofbbq.com

KCBS requires a certain # of certified judges, so if you are not certified please apply early for the best chance at getting a judges seat.

The judges at this event are really treated like royalty by the Drillers staff, inside of the Driller's facility. . . far better than sitting in a hot dusty tent like most BBQ competitions.

Good luck! 

[Conan71]

Finally, it doesn't conflict with MS-150 Mother Road ride this year. I think I can do it!

[heironymouspasparagus]

Way off topic here...Conan, can you give me a quick overview of who are the serious bike shops in the area?  Have been out of touch for 20 years and can tell from cursory look that things are dramatically different.  (Don't find Al's anywhere....as an example.)

[Conan71]

Way off topic here...Conan, can you give me a quick overview of who are the serious bike shops in the area?  Have been out of touch for 20 years and can tell from cursory look that things are dramatically different.  (Don't find Al's anywhere....as an example.)

Tom's 68th & Peoria and on 15th St. right by the coffee shop.  Great mechanics and Tom is an all around nice guy.

T-Town 71st between Riverside & Lewis on the south side of the road, their sister store is 27th & Harvard, Mid-Town bicycles, that's the old Venable's location.  They have some of the best mechanics in Tulsa as well.

Bicycles of Tulsa 57th & Mingo East side of the road

Lee's 2nd & Frankfort, their sister store is the Trek store at 98th & Riverside.

Superleggera 11th St. across from Home Depot in the old liquor store, high end road and mountain bike. These guys are true enthusiasts and geared more toward the racer crowd.

918 XC in the same center as Charlestons on Brookside, more mountain bike and cyclocross-oriented but they sell and work on road bikes too.  I just bought a new mountain bike from them.

360 Sports in Owasso (not sure the exact location)

There's also a guy in Claremore who advertises reconditioned bikes on Craigslist, but can't remember the shop name right now.

If you are in Norman any time soon, BikeOne just off Main is a great shop, they are also the primary sponsor of the team I race for.  PM me and I can put you in touch with the right person there if you need a deal on anything.

Those are the one's I can think of at the moment.  I know people at all the shops other than 360 and the one in Claremore.  At last count, someone told me the Tulsa area had something like 18 shops which is a lot for a market our size.  I'm not sure if that's true or not.

[Gaspar]

Finally, it doesn't conflict with MS-150 Mother Road ride this year. I think I can do it!

Yes!  We didn't want to interfere with your schedule this year.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Thanks a lot!  Lee's is the only one that rings a bell!  Venables - any connection to Mid-Town?  Or different people?  Lot's of changes!

I think I have been to BikeOne (last summer).  I spend some time in Moore/Norman area and try to go to some places of interest when time allows.  Couple of bike shops I have been to, but don't remember the names.  Main street sounds familiar.