Supercross athletes join Tribal Council to open RCH Café
4/30/2015 2:00:00 PM - Tribal Observer

By Joseph V. Sowmick, Photojournalist

Excitement is always guaranteed when Ricky Carmichael, Carey Hart and the RCH Soaring Eagle Racing Team make it back to home base.  Along with providing plenty of meet and greet opportunities for lucky fans and participating in a celebrity poker tournament, the motocross athletes joined with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Council and SECR Marketing to open the RCH Café in the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, near the gaming floor on March 18.

SCIT Public Relations Director Frank Cloutier coordinated the effort with SECR Marketing Director Raul Venegas introducing Tribal Chaplain Jennifer Wassegijig and Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Chief Steven Pego as they shared opening prayers and remarks.

“I wanted to mention the tremendous amount of effort that SECR Advertising/Public Relations Manager Kristina Griffus in making the design for RCH Café and the overall appearance of the venue possible,” Venegas said.  “This is one of the best examples where we can have a true collaborative effort and to bring a special dining experience to our players.”

Venegas also recognized the excellent work of SECR Marketing Graphic Designers Brandon Jackson and Brandon Hart in capturing the visual elements of the project and the culinary assistance of SECR Food & Beverage Director Marc Forrest and his team of professionals.

“It was wonderful to have the Tribal Council join together with the RCH Racing Team at this ribbon cutting grand re-opening as we present the new storefront name, ‘RCH Café,’” Griffus said. “The menu items and hours of operation will remain the same as the Snack Shop, however, there will be interesting twists and updates in the décor on a rotating basis for guests to gaze.”

The RCH Café offers four specialty sandwiches that were created and tastefully approved by each of the supercross athletes.

“RCH #4” is a Carmichael creation featuring lean sliced turkey on whole wheat bread with lettuce and tomato. 

Hart prefers “RCH #46”, a healthy gluten-free wrap with lean sliced turkey, lettuce, cucumber, Dijon mustard, oil and vinegar. 

Broc Tickle recommends “RCH #20” that features bacon and turkey on whole wheat bread, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mustard and mild pepper rings.  Ken Roczen’s favorite is the “RCH #94” made with chicken fajita meat on whole wheat bread with avocado, Dijon mustard, bell peppers, onion and lettuce.

Following the RCH Café opening, Carmichael, Hart, Tickle and Roczen offered autographs and photo opportunities to an excited fan gathering that stretched from the casino floor all the way back to the hotel.

 Carmichael is a motocross and supercross legend known in racing circles as the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) by winning 15 championships (10 motocross, five supercross). Some of his accomplishments as a motocross racer include: The 1996 Rookie of the Year; 150 career wins; two perfect seasons; never losing a motocross championship from 1997-2006; and five-time AMA Rider of the Year. 

Hart is a pioneer and superstar in freestyle motocross racing. He was the first rider ever to try a backflip on a motocross bike. And he was the first racer to do an invert superman-seat grab that is now known as the “Hart Attack.” 

Tickle is an accomplished motocross racer who was the 2011 Supercross Lites West Champion. Roczen was 250 class motocross world champion in 2011, 250 class west coast supercross champion in 2013 and 450 class U.S. motocross champion in 2014.