WCCR's Story...
The Wolf Creek Canyon Relay came into existence in 1983. It was conceived by a runner from Helena, MT by the name of Bill Coddington. The entry fee was $2!. Bill managed the race for 4 years then dropped it. It was picked up by Bob Stingley from Great Falls. Bob added a rule that each team had to have at least one female runner. Bob ran it until 1991 when he dropped the race. At that point, our most famous Director picked it up. Mr. Carl Clark, who ran it from 1992 through 2016 when he retired and turned the race over to Race Montana, Inc. Carl managed the race with a friend until the friend moved away from Montana. For several years Carl awarded plaques to the winners, then later switched to ribbons. He also started collecting the now famous post-race giveaways by using rebates!
He spent the year between races collecting items for the giveaways, letting available rebates guide him to make his purchases! They gave away kitchen items, tools, office items and did this until the "rebate fad" subsided. He then started giving away the jackets that so many have been awarded over the years. In all his time as director, Carl says he only ever had two sponsors; Bob's Mini-Storage in Black Eagle and Osterman's Restaurant at the finish line. Mr. Osterman was a sponsor until he passed away and his daughter took over. She continued sponsorship for a few years after. For the last 10 years, Carl has run the Wolf Creek Canyon Relay with NO sponsorship and no profit from the race. Everything went back into the Relay. Only one year saw a loss.. it was a year with only 12 teams. He increased the fee a decade ago so he could donate $5 from each runner to charity. All of us who have ever run the relay owe Carl a big "THANK YOU!" for an amazing event every year!
