The MCA for services to the International Messenger Community is not a prize for winning a race. At the time the Award was conceived, CMWC was beginning to be more about the racing than the happening. I wanted to re-establish the spirit of the championships, to restate the reason that we all come to this event every year. The MCA is a reflection of the axiom that everyone who comes to a CMWC is a winner, whether they race or not.
Marcus himself was very much in love with the CMWC, and in many ways he was the unlikeliest bike racer imaginable. He was several other things, of course. Editor of Mercury Rising messenger zine, unofficial spokesperson of the SFBMA, leader of L Sid, and a friend to all, myself included. The enthusiasm of Marcus brought CMWC and the international messenger community to San Francisco, and it saddens many people to this day that he did not live to see it.
This award is for people that inspire and empower the wider messenger commnunity, that put all of us before themselves.
Marcus Cook nominees
There have been many many people nominated this year, which has made it difficult. I am trying very hard not to bore you and not to turn this into the oscars but I want to just quickly share some of the names with you:
Doug & Melissa, who went back to LA from Budapest and put on 4 races, organised and BMA, established a co-operative, and opened an office open to all in downtown LA.
The messengers of Dublin & Glasgow, who organised Glasgopoloco & ECMC 200, showing everyone a great time and keeping the spirit of the championships
Damon Voutour, currently president of the SFBMA, and a constant source of inspiration & entertainment to the messengers of SF.
Shawn Bega, past president of DCBCA, indefatigable engine of 3 CMWCs, DC, Zurich & Philly, proud sponsor of Team Bega, webmaster of the fantastic DC courier website, second only to messengers.org and host of our public space the electronic messengers mailing list.
Nadir Olivet, organiser of the Gran Premio of Guatemala, which made it possible for 'los chicos' Ines & Luis to come here.
Philip Moeller, with Daniel Meinzer organised the first pre champs event in Freiburg 1999. Caught the torch of ECMC 2000 when it seemed like there might not be one. Is currently serving as the manager of 'los chicos', which means that everything they need: bikes, transport, food, ightseeing - everything is taken care of. Actually, I think I'll ask him to be my manager next year.
Fish, he«s one of those "traveling messengers", (right now he lives and works in copenhagen). fish has organized lots of races and events, always trying to find new and different ways of bringing the community together (pre-ecmc event amsterdam, rookie fixed gear champs, mallorcapoloco). fish also conceived a working(!) "race format" for CMC«s and often played a key role as the "race captain".
But none of these fantastic people can be given the award this year.
But before I go on to the actual recipient, I would like to once again thank Horse, or Simon Firth as some of you might know him, for making this fabulous trophy and Bilenky Cycles for providing the floor upon which he found the parts for it.
And now this year's recipient: I have to say that it was a fairly overwhelming consensus from the committee, who I must thank for making a nearly impossible task possible: Wendy, John, Joel, Rebecca, Joe, Kai & Till
And now onto the recipient. He's not here tonight, unfortunately. Altho' he has already received the award once for Joe Hendry. I quote from Joe Hendry's nomination of this guy:
"There's something about being a messenger that inspires activism and community. Maybe it's the anger from having to save yourself from sometimes unattentive and incompetent drivers on a daily basis. Maybe it's the freedom aroused by the superiority of the bike in urban transportation. Or maybe it's from the constant stereotyping, pre-judgment and discrimination.
Today there are many outlets for that activism and community. Most cities have benefited from their own zine, alleycats and the experience of other messengers around the world. For someone like me many others have already worn a path to follow.
Derek Chadborne was one of those people."
-Buffalo Bill