- Aug 11, 2002
- 568
- 0
Here’s a “little” story about my first race.... Was I nervous? No, hahaha! I know it long but this is the shortest way I could describe the event.
First, I spend a day making sure my bike is in good enough condition to run the 12-mile course. I replace the the cracked clutch perch, bend back the brake lever, make sure the jetting is good and throw on a few stickers to hide all the scratches. Then I go out and get brand new riding gear (first full "get-up"), because I figure if I'm gonna lose I'm gonna look dang good doing it!
The next day, I spend planning a route for the 7-hour drive (find hotels\restaraunts ect.). After I get that all done I stay up all night checking the bike over (tightening bolts, adding coolant, changing oil & everything else I forgot to do the day before)
The third day finally comes, load the bike, tools, gear, gas, & the cooler. It's time to hit the road... Whew, finally get there. What a long day, I'm ready for some sleep (it's 11pm), but I've still got to check in, unload the valuables from the truck, and lock up the bike (all the while it's raining HARD!). I go to lie down and just could not sleep! I just kept thinking' about the start, the bike, and the whole deal... but then i began to think about the ride home and fell asleep real quick :)
Waahoo it's race day!! Jump up and into the shower, the alarm clock at the hotel was broke and we were an hour behind! Got dressed loaded the truck and headed out. 25 minutes later were finally there! Unload the bike get it started and once again give it a goin' over, everything’s good, let's go relax & watch the kids race. The time passes quickly, so now I'm headed to the line & ready for my first race!
I'm the last to go there are 7-10 classes starting before me so I wait patiently as the nervousness grows. Slowly but surely, 1 class then 2, 3 & 4 are off. My heart is pounding so hard I look over to see if anyone notices! Ought ohh here comes the A class back through the woods, it seems that someone had made a slight mistake when marking the course! The A & B riders had ended up on the highway, but no pros. They were gone! Somewhere out there on the 8000acre farm. An hour later we are ready to go, everyone’s back and our engines are warm.
2 classes to go and I will be off... My leg is starting to shake now and boy am I nervous (the guy next to me ask if that is my heart beating j/p) the flag goes and I kick it over... no go! Try it again and she starts right up, everything is calm. I'm just ridin'!
First hill, my BRAND NEW perch is shattered when a downed rider forces me to jump into a small ditch to the right. Man, that sucks! Hurry back to the truck to find another perch...shew, I'm in luck I brought the cracked one. Hurried and installed it and I'm back to the race! The rest of the race went on without a glitch (well, almost, but I won't talk about that.)!
This was one of the best weekends of my life! I think I got like 15th or 16th out of 38 or 39, but I didn’t care! I had too much fun to even remember to check the scores.(my dad did though)
I still get nervous when I go to the line, but nothing like I was on that day.
First, I spend a day making sure my bike is in good enough condition to run the 12-mile course. I replace the the cracked clutch perch, bend back the brake lever, make sure the jetting is good and throw on a few stickers to hide all the scratches. Then I go out and get brand new riding gear (first full "get-up"), because I figure if I'm gonna lose I'm gonna look dang good doing it!
The next day, I spend planning a route for the 7-hour drive (find hotels\restaraunts ect.). After I get that all done I stay up all night checking the bike over (tightening bolts, adding coolant, changing oil & everything else I forgot to do the day before)
The third day finally comes, load the bike, tools, gear, gas, & the cooler. It's time to hit the road... Whew, finally get there. What a long day, I'm ready for some sleep (it's 11pm), but I've still got to check in, unload the valuables from the truck, and lock up the bike (all the while it's raining HARD!). I go to lie down and just could not sleep! I just kept thinking' about the start, the bike, and the whole deal... but then i began to think about the ride home and fell asleep real quick :)
Waahoo it's race day!! Jump up and into the shower, the alarm clock at the hotel was broke and we were an hour behind! Got dressed loaded the truck and headed out. 25 minutes later were finally there! Unload the bike get it started and once again give it a goin' over, everything’s good, let's go relax & watch the kids race. The time passes quickly, so now I'm headed to the line & ready for my first race!
I'm the last to go there are 7-10 classes starting before me so I wait patiently as the nervousness grows. Slowly but surely, 1 class then 2, 3 & 4 are off. My heart is pounding so hard I look over to see if anyone notices! Ought ohh here comes the A class back through the woods, it seems that someone had made a slight mistake when marking the course! The A & B riders had ended up on the highway, but no pros. They were gone! Somewhere out there on the 8000acre farm. An hour later we are ready to go, everyone’s back and our engines are warm.
2 classes to go and I will be off... My leg is starting to shake now and boy am I nervous (the guy next to me ask if that is my heart beating j/p) the flag goes and I kick it over... no go! Try it again and she starts right up, everything is calm. I'm just ridin'!
First hill, my BRAND NEW perch is shattered when a downed rider forces me to jump into a small ditch to the right. Man, that sucks! Hurry back to the truck to find another perch...shew, I'm in luck I brought the cracked one. Hurried and installed it and I'm back to the race! The rest of the race went on without a glitch (well, almost, but I won't talk about that.)!
This was one of the best weekends of my life! I think I got like 15th or 16th out of 38 or 39, but I didn’t care! I had too much fun to even remember to check the scores.(my dad did though)
I still get nervous when I go to the line, but nothing like I was on that day.
