MI National Enduro - September 30th

[fatherandson]

Who is planning to attend the next round of the National Enduro series?
We had a group of DRN members in Wolverine, MI this weekend helping to find and establish trail for this event. It will be a great event with a mixture of challenging trail tests and easy connecting sections.
If you want to view the flyer, application and a map, you can print a copy from www.enduroeng.com.
This same group of DRN members will be at the event on 9/30. Look for the DRN signs and stop to say HI.

 

[jrccc20967]

Mike I would like to thank you and the memebers of Lansing Motorcycle Club for the great weekend.The Nat. trails that we worked on this past weekend will be alot of fun.I hope that Uncle Denny can keep that new KX all together on our next ride.Hey Fred keep an eye on your swingarm Denny my be looking for one.

 

[AnneBrooks]

Are lights and licenses required for this event?? What's the terrain like, typical Michigan sand? Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[Fred T]

Yes and no.

Originally posted by AnneBrooks
Are lights and licenses required for this event?? What's the terrain like, typical Michigan sand? Thanks in advance for the info.

Can't totally spill the beans but this event is like no other in MI, the trail will be challenging and there are some beautilful views along the ride too. Look for rocks, roots, logs, uphills, downhills, tight trail and some other really cool stuff to ride in that will make the ride one of the better Michigan runs from what I can tell helping set up trail this last weekend. Mostly all new trail with connectors and no whooped out sandy single tracks to speak of.

 

[WALKMAN]

fred, talking with parker on saturday during my hike he said lights and liscense were not a requirement to run their event. someone might want to check this out? priced the swingarm, not very pretty :( the tabs holding the chainguide are bent very bad with one bolthole just about ripped out, i'm going to take it to a machinest today, he might have to make new tabs! kawasaki= to much horsepower=to much speed + rocks= disaster:scream:

 

[fatherandson]

Anne, most of the challenging trail will be on private property. Most of the connector trail will be two tracks and gravel roads. You will see very little pavement. I would recommend lights and a license (or make it look good). The law enforcement in the area is cooperative. Hope you can make it!!

 

[MN KDXer]

Would lights/license be an absolute necessity? I was thinking about heading over for the event.

 

[fatherandson]

Please read between the lines.....you need to have a headlight attached to the front of your bike and a license plate attached to the back fender.
Do not get caught up in the detais and enjoy the ride!!!:D

 

[xr600r]

mike , do you know if mike lafferty will be there , even though he has
already got the championship ? my wife and i , and some freinds of
ours are going to spectate . we'll probably camp at weber lake for
the week-end . :cool:

 

[fatherandson]

Last year Lafferty had the title wrapped up before the MI event and he still rode the race. Actually his mechanice, Alan Randt, is responsible for the event. I am sure Mike L. will be there. Last year he rode an 400 EXC four stroke and won the overall by a couple of points.
If you camp at Weber Lake, be sure to come to the staging area Saturday night. Fred T and I will be there!

 

[xr600r]

yea , we were there last year , watching lafferty ride in the woods
is amazing , we'll try to swing around that way sat. night.

 

[MN KDXer]

I understand the headlight and license plate "plan". Can the "plate" be duct tape w/ numbers? I've done that before. :)

How about age and/or driver's license requirement? My son is only 14, so he doesn't have a license, but he looks large enough to be 16+. Maybe, I should just pen in "16" as age and call it good. :)

 

[fatherandson]

I would not want to encourage someone to break a law....

However, if I were running tech inspection and someone told me the number on the tape was from a lost license plate I would pass the bike. I know that a 14 year old can ride enduros...I did it 21 years ago...my dad handled all of the paperwork and signatures.

 

[KTM Mike]

I hope to be there (still trying to re-arrange my schedule) - but I sure hope there is a separate loop for A/AA riders so us slow guys can survive! Is there?

Nice to hear its not the typical Michigan endless sandy whoops (see my post on woods technique!) guess I will find out how bad my rocks, logs and roots technique is! Seeing that this is a National - is it likely way above a back of the pack C class rider's abilities?:(

 

[fatherandson]

I am headed to Wolverine again this weekend to mark the trail. I know the plan is the same as last year. No A/AA loop. Everyone will ride the same trail. It will challenge the AA riders, but not kill the C riders. Qualifier rules = No timekeeping.
There will be a number of sections. The longest and most difficult sections will be in the beginning. Towards the end of the day the longest section will be 4-5 miles.
I raced this event last year (my first race in 10 years). I was still riding hard and having fun at the end. I was able to compare my score to Lafferty..... it is amazing how fast he rides!!!

 

[KTM Mike]

Originally posted by fatherandson
Qualifier rules = No timekeeping.

fatherandson - can you explain more about what "qualifier rules" are? All I have picked up is that you basically dont get burnt points for coming in early - but if you do arrive at a check early you can not depart until your minute comes up. Arriving early IS NOT a problem for me! :eek: Are there still resets etc to allow the slow pokes some breathing room?

 

[fatherandson]

I have only ridden one race using these rules. So others may know about the details than I do.
The beginning of each section (special test) is treated like the start of the race. You pull up to the flags, wait for your minute, and go as fast as you can through the section of trail. After each section will be a reset to get most riders back on time. There will be "connection" sections that will not be timed and will consist of two tracks and open trail. You can arrive to the check at the beginning of the section early and if you do you'll find other riders taking a break. If you arrive at the check at the beginning of the section late, it will cost you additional points.
I hope this is helpful. If others can better clarify these rules, please do.

 

[Timr]

Here's an attempt to explain how a regular "AMA" enduro is run under "ISDE" type conditions: (real ISDE rules are different, with regard to entering test sections and staying on time. Is this enduro going to be run under ISDE rules or AMA rules that mimic ISDE type of race?)

1. Each section ("test section") starts with a Restart, yellow flags. This is a known control and is marked on the route sheet/roll chart.

2. You don't necessarily go "as fast as you can" to the next check. You still try to maintain the designated speed average. If the section was a 12 mph/speed average, and you went "as fast as you can" to the next check, you would still burn it. To get around this, most promoters will set the speed average high(24 mph +) so that no-one, even AA, will be able to zero the section. (one National that I rode a few years ago had a section with 90 mph speed average!!:scream: )

3. After the "check out" of the section. There will be a reset. This will put MOST people, but not all people back on time. If the reset is 30 minutes and you check out of the previous section 45 minutes late, you will still drop 15 points and the next restart. (In this situation, you need to go around all of the people sitting in line at the restart and get them to mark your card and take off into the next section.)

4. Technically, you're not supposed to show up to a Known Control, yellow flags, (restart) more than 15 minutes early, but this is rarely enforced.

So, what you end up with is a pattern of Start - Check - Reset. Followed by Restart - Check - Reset over and over until the end of the race. As long as you don't fall too far behind, you should be able to race through each section, stop at the reset, and then roll up to the restart and wait for your row number to come up and then do it all over again. Hence, you don't need any time keeping equipment.

I hope this explanation is somewhat clear. :confused:

BTW, I used to live in Michigan, and rode the CCC Tomohawk ride at Wolverine back in '93. GREAT trails!! If I wasn't going on a long trip to Dirtweek, I would consider driving up there for this race. Maybe I'll make it up there next year.

 

[fatherandson]

Update on the trail

Thanks Timr for clarifying the timekeeping issue.

I wanted to provide an update on the National enduro. We spent the weekend marking the trail. We put arrows on over 100 miles of trail. The last timed section will be an A/AA only section.
There will be plenty of resets and a lot of the transfer sections are fun (and fast) trails and two tracks.
The gas area will be the same for three stops and there will be plenty of spectators spots. Two of these spots will be grass tracks that are included in a timed section.
DRN will be well represented with a team of pre and sweep riders who you may see at a check also. If you are planning to ride this event, we will have a sign at our camper and will probably be wearing our DRN t shirts.
Please stop and say HI.

 

[KTM Mike]

thanks for clearing up the time keeping issues as well. Also, glad to hear the A/aa riders will get their own abuse away from us "normal" folks!
:p

Hearing there is good spectator spots might mean my wife and kids might show up at this one - typical enduros sure can be boring spectator sports!

 

[fatherandson]

Some of the spectator spots may only be road crossings. However, if the spectator arrives early enough, they walk back into the trail for a better view or action photo.
One of the grass tracks is set up on a hill which makes for great viewing.

KTMMike, if you get to the race early on Saturday afternoon, I may be able to give you and the family a quick tour of the spectator spots and an idea of when you will be there.

 

[jrccc20967]

I don't know about anyone else but I can't sleep at night. I just lay there and think about how much fun we are going to have in the next few weeks. Maybe I am crazy to ride my 1st enduro at a Nat, but hey you have to start somewhere.Look forward to seeing everyone.

ps please keep all my brother firefighter's in your prayers. Thank you

Big Jim

 

[Fred T]

It's a good one really...

because you only have to concentrate on following the trail and riding your best with no time keeping to worry about. Theres 50 miles total of single track followed by resets and easy connector trail. It will be a great ride and a very cool grasstrack section to boot. It won't kill you but it will test your skills. See ya there Big Jim. ;)

 

[KTM Mike]

fatherandson - if we manage to get there early enough i will certainly look you up - the wife and kids will appreciate it!

Big Jim - its not that you have to be crazy for your first enduro to be at a National - you just simply have to be crazy to do your first enduro! (it sure helped me) I did my first enduro in July - have done three since then (4 if you count the Mini Moose) and am totally hooked! I have yet to place well - but I dont even care - I have to much fun paying people to put myself through that sort of abuse, and finish back of the pack. Make your goal to simply finish - that has been mine each race - dont worry about placing well.

Fred T is right - no worries on time keeping - but from the perspective of a slow guy - I never have to worry about time keeping anyhow!:confused: the format does sound neat -

to be honest - I am a bit leery of doing a "National" and a bit unsure of the whole qualifier format - but the last three races sure have been a blast - so what the heck - go for it!

look me up a the race - i will be in a motohome with a KTM on a trailer;) - oh... guess there will be lots of those... oh well...

 

[fatherandson]

Jim and Mike,

My suggestion for you guys is to ask for a number in the 40-50 range. There will be a trail established and treat it as a trail ride. Have fun!!
Fred and I will probably be sweeping the last section. So if you guys are really late....you can ride with us. HA! HA!! HA!!!:p

Jim, is Walkman racing or working?? Ask him if I can ride the KX.
Just kidding.
I will be staying in Fred's motorhome and we are trying to create a DRN flag so everyone can find us.

Mike Jr.