George and Wade were ran the +30 class, which was probably the largest class of the day. They gated well, sliding somewhere up in the middle of the pack.
http://www.georgiaoffroad.com/Gallery/biggun_4-21-01/byrd4.jpg
For the first couple laps George was on the gas hard. I'm not sure how many people he passed, but it seemed like he moved up in the pack.
http://www.georgiaoffroad.com/Gallery/biggun_4-21-01/byrd15.jpg
http://www.georgiaoffroad.com/Gallery/biggun_4-21-01/byrd7.jpg
http://www.georgiaoffroad.com/Gallery/biggun_4-21-01/byrd6.jpg
Wade was running a couple spots behind George. He was by himself for most of the race...
http://www.georgiaoffroad.com/Gallery/biggun_4-21-01/wade2.jpg
Midway through the moto George stalled his 426 (which is probably the only downside to owning one of these nice machines). By the end of the moto he slipped back a couple positions, but rode well throughout the entire 4 laps.
Due to things getting started behind schedule, George's crew unfortunately had to pack up and go home early. I think we will see them in attendence at the SF next weekend.
It was a different type of track than what most of us are used to, and the off-camber corners made it a little tricky. I figure the older riders and off-road guys may have had a slight advantage on the younger MXers. Regional enduro rider Michael Grizzle was there and took 3rd overall in the 250a class.
The sound system was working great for the first several hours. An announcer called the next class to the staging area well before their race began. I got used to hearing it so I decided to listen out for 250d and take a short 'snooze'. Some time later a couple guys came by to introduce themselves. They read some of the bbs's online and saw that a group of us would be at the race. We talked for a little while, when I heard the unmistakeable sound of 400cc thumpers heading down the starting line. hmm..
I know I was listening out for the staging announcement... what class was it??? I threw on my helmet and gloves and headed to the start line. Sure enough, it was 250d that just started. :( (I later found out that the sound system failed for a period of time, which is why I didn't hear my class being called)
Once again I headed out in dead last, but this time the field had half the track on me. Oh well.. I'd ride and have fun anyway.
On my third lap I saw a couple bikes ahead, apparently I'd caught some of the other back-lappers. I passed one guy riding a RM, then came up on another fellow riding a CR. I tailed the CR guy for several corners on the back side. We were on our last lap and there was only one decent straight that I knew I could overtake the guy on, but it was right after a real powdery off-camber - this section was also the part leading to the finish line.
It was a make or break situation. He took a sweeping outside line, and I opted to come to almost a complete stop and take a sharp inside line. The CR rider exited the corner a little ahead of me. The scoring tower/flagman was 200 feet ahead. I sat back on the seat to get better traction, and gave it all she had. I over took the CR250 20 feet before the finish :D
http://www.georgiaoffroad.com/Gallery/biggun_4-21-01/kb4.jpg