Camp Chaos Fall Challenge:
Up next would be the Camp Chaos Fall Challenge. The course was a total of about 3 miles, about equally split between the woods section and the grass track. Since the last big get together here, I had modified the grass track by breaking up a few straight sections with a bunch of curves, and “redefined” other curves with hay bales, ribbon and stakes. The woods loop was cut down from 2.5 miles to about 1.6 miles making for a bit more enjoyable and fun loop to ride, and shorter lap times to keep the various spectators better entertained. The group all voted for a 1 hour event and before long we were off on the parade lap. From the parade lap, Comrade Mikhail determined the lack of a first gear about made it impossible for him to ride. (there were several short but steep rough hills, with no real approach areas to get up much momentum).
About 4:00 we got the fun rolling again. A quick bit of pairing up some team riders, combined with various individual riders left us with a total of 14 people joining in. The team riders ended up being Mark C (Meterman) and Curtis (3KDXXR2), Doug and Steve (KX250MIRider), myself and my son Mark. Riding solo were Aaron, SmitDog, Inca, Dave F. Larry, Woodsy, Mike K (CR250winters), and Mark W. What I thought was particularly neat was that we had riders ranging from 12 years old (my son Mark) up to 77 years young (Young Ted of course!)
The start was done in two waves – first up being Aaron, Bill, Ted, Dave, Curtis, Steve, then 4 minutes later, myself, Larry, Woodsy, Mike K and Mark W. The various team rider’s partners eagerly awaiting their turns. My perspective on much of the racing is somewhat limited as I was kinda busy riding myself, so I base much of this on what I was told during the bench racing, and from what I could tell from the pics my wife took, and of course based on what I was seeing as I rode (so of course the tale seems to all revolve around me!). I am sure some of the other riders will chime in with other details of their ride.
Zach rang the big dinner bell to signal the dead engine start. Dave F. and Bill both were serious about the hole shot, but Bill’s inside line proved faster and Bill was off into the woods with the rest of the crew giving chase. The second wave then charged off at the ring of the bell. Myself and Mark W. were first off the line, but my 2 stroke was just pulling harder than Marks YZ250F, so I pulled the hole shot. I was actually kinda worried early on – I fully expected to have a first turn crowd to deal with, particularly a certain monster of a KX500 ridden by my buddy Woodsy! Early on I actually was looking over my shoulder periodically – worried that somehow Woodsy or some one else was right on me waiting to pounce on a poor line choice and pass me! I eventually realized I was essentially all alone and hunkered down and decided I would get as far ahead of the other nuts as I could!.
By the time I came out of the woods and into the field for the first time, I had passed a couple of the first wave riders, and saw SmitDog and Aaron on the grass track, with Aaron almost ready for the woods again. I blasted through the grass track, occasionally peaking back to see who was breathing down my neck – I was still in pretty good shape and feeling great! I decided to ride two laps before tagging my son into the chaos. My second shot at the woods went well, I passed a couple riders early on into the grass track (I think I really startled Doug, Dave and Mark C!). I handed off the reigns to my son at the end of my second lap. Mark S charged into the woods, eventually returning to the grass track unscathed. A few riders had gotten back ahead of him by then, but he was still moving quite well. While I had a break for 15 minutes or so, I got to watch some of the action on the grass track. Aaron had pulled a significant lead over Bill, and Bill had a rather large lead on anyone after him. He finished his lap, and I head out to do two more. I passed a couple riders again, accidentally hitting Doug in the back tire on one turn (sorry Doug!) – but he later said he did not even realize it! On these two laps, I would see many more riders on sections of trail that would parallel the sections I was on, urging me to pick up the pace even more – particularly when I would see Woodsy coming along behind me! I never did end up with anyone actually pressuring me from behind though. I then tagged my son back into action, and he headed out for another lap. During his lap, the hour ran out and riders began to come dragging into the finish (though Curtis did do a nice demo of a failed wheelie).
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