I've been waiting for some ride reports from the Hollister National Hare Scrambles. I saw a few DRNers racing saturday. Congrats to Bigbird and Uncle Moose for finishing strong on saturdays morning race. I't was good seeing you guys after the race. Sidenote to Ret Sr. : You better be riding next time I see you. I also watched the afternoon race. My friend Kelly took 3rd overall and first in class (open C)! Sandbagger :debil: . I pitted for him and also noticed some women DRN'rs competing as well. Good job out there. Way to represent!
Sunday's race went off at noon. The weather was very good. It is always cool to watch the starts. The AA riders went off first. At the sound of the gun, they blazed into the first turn. There were a few riders who tangled in the first turn. Shane Watts got up very slowly and reportedly hurt his leg badly, possibly breaking it. Starting from the last row, I got to see all the starts. It's pretty scary watching the carnage. I was hoping to get a good start and avoid a pile up. When the gun went off, 49 vet B riders charged uphill, dodged some big trees, and headed out on a 14 mile loop. After getting a good start, I tried to settle into a decent pace. I don't like to take too many chances on the 1st lap. The trails zig-zagged all over the park. We went up fast dusty fireroads for what seemed like miles, only to drop back down on some impossibly steep single track cut into sidehills by mountain goats, deer, or insane humans! These trails were really some of the funnest and most difficult parts of any race course I've done. Near the end of the lap, we get dumped out onto the Hollister GP motocross track. It is a very fast and fun track with some good safe jumps. When you cross the finish check, there is a digital read out giving you your position in the race. I was coming in simultaneously with several riders, so I never knew what place I was in. As the race went on, I started to wonder when the AA riders would start lapping us. I never like to get in their way, but sometimes it happens.
There were quite a few people crashing out there. Luckilly I was able to avoid most of the trouble. I did manage to go the wrong way briefly. I realized that I screwed up and when I went to turn around I dumped my bike on the ground :o . I got into a couple good battles with some riders, but never anything dirty. At the end of the 3rd lap, I came through in 7th place in my class and pitted for gas and goggles. I didn't get white flag, so I expected at least 2 more laps. I took off on my 4th lap and noticed I was catching a small group of riders. I could tell they were tired and I wanted to get by them as fast as possible. After getting by about half of them, I heard a 4 stoke coming hard! I didn't have to look, I knew it was Brian Garrahan. He passed me easily and I watched him as long as I could to check out his lines. He didn't look like he was even riding hard on his 450MXC, very smooth. I finally got by the whole group of riders in front of me. Soon after, Fred Andrews and Russ Pearson blazed by. As I enterd the MX track, Andy Grider blew by on his 450 Honda. By the time I got half way around the track, Jason Raines passed me right before the big drop off which is followed immediately by a 4th gear double. I followed Raines off the jump, and by the time I landed, Doug Blackwell was carving inside me into the next turn. Very cool stuff! I was surprised to see the checkered flag at the finish. I had mixed emotions because I felt good even after over 2 and a half hours. I ended up 4th in vet B and 89th overall, so I can't complain.
Over 800 riders raced over the 2 days and everything went according to schedule. Congrats to Brian Garrahan for winning for the 3rd straight year. He was 8 MINUTES a lap faster than me :| .I don't know how those guys do it. Also thanks to Joe at Faultline Suspension and Jacklyn at The Pit Stop for all the help.
See you all in Reno!
Sunday's race went off at noon. The weather was very good. It is always cool to watch the starts. The AA riders went off first. At the sound of the gun, they blazed into the first turn. There were a few riders who tangled in the first turn. Shane Watts got up very slowly and reportedly hurt his leg badly, possibly breaking it. Starting from the last row, I got to see all the starts. It's pretty scary watching the carnage. I was hoping to get a good start and avoid a pile up. When the gun went off, 49 vet B riders charged uphill, dodged some big trees, and headed out on a 14 mile loop. After getting a good start, I tried to settle into a decent pace. I don't like to take too many chances on the 1st lap. The trails zig-zagged all over the park. We went up fast dusty fireroads for what seemed like miles, only to drop back down on some impossibly steep single track cut into sidehills by mountain goats, deer, or insane humans! These trails were really some of the funnest and most difficult parts of any race course I've done. Near the end of the lap, we get dumped out onto the Hollister GP motocross track. It is a very fast and fun track with some good safe jumps. When you cross the finish check, there is a digital read out giving you your position in the race. I was coming in simultaneously with several riders, so I never knew what place I was in. As the race went on, I started to wonder when the AA riders would start lapping us. I never like to get in their way, but sometimes it happens.
There were quite a few people crashing out there. Luckilly I was able to avoid most of the trouble. I did manage to go the wrong way briefly. I realized that I screwed up and when I went to turn around I dumped my bike on the ground :o . I got into a couple good battles with some riders, but never anything dirty. At the end of the 3rd lap, I came through in 7th place in my class and pitted for gas and goggles. I didn't get white flag, so I expected at least 2 more laps. I took off on my 4th lap and noticed I was catching a small group of riders. I could tell they were tired and I wanted to get by them as fast as possible. After getting by about half of them, I heard a 4 stoke coming hard! I didn't have to look, I knew it was Brian Garrahan. He passed me easily and I watched him as long as I could to check out his lines. He didn't look like he was even riding hard on his 450MXC, very smooth. I finally got by the whole group of riders in front of me. Soon after, Fred Andrews and Russ Pearson blazed by. As I enterd the MX track, Andy Grider blew by on his 450 Honda. By the time I got half way around the track, Jason Raines passed me right before the big drop off which is followed immediately by a 4th gear double. I followed Raines off the jump, and by the time I landed, Doug Blackwell was carving inside me into the next turn. Very cool stuff! I was surprised to see the checkered flag at the finish. I had mixed emotions because I felt good even after over 2 and a half hours. I ended up 4th in vet B and 89th overall, so I can't complain.
Over 800 riders raced over the 2 days and everything went according to schedule. Congrats to Brian Garrahan for winning for the 3rd straight year. He was 8 MINUTES a lap faster than me :| .I don't know how those guys do it. Also thanks to Joe at Faultline Suspension and Jacklyn at The Pit Stop for all the help.
See you all in Reno!