Race Reports (better late than never) LONG

CNM

Sponsoring Member
Dec 28, 1999
359
0
On May 20th, me and John headed down to Gulfport, Ms for the Loggy Bottom Enduro. His bike needs a top end but he came along anyway to lend moral support! We arrive at the camp around 2:30 Saturday. Lemming pulls up and says "hi" and tells me there are no early rows left (he's on 40) and I'd better go ahead and sign up. I didn't want to tell him I had no intention of getting an early row. I decide to wait until Sunday morning to get a row. John immediately starts in on why this is a mistake and I should ride on earlier rows (it's not as hot, the trail will be smoother, etc). I've heard the story before (about 100 times) but I still decide to wait until Sunday.

Sunday morning we get to the camp about 7:30. I immediately head to the sign up tent. Row 48 it is!! After getting the bike ready and getting myself ready, I head to the start with about 10 minutes till my row leaves. It turns out that I'm on the last row except for two guys on KTM's who were on row 55. Right from the start it was dust, dust, and more dust!! Lucky for me though, the guys on my row went off and left me immediately! That meant clear trail until the guys on row 55 catch me. There was a girl two rows ahead of me and I pushed myself to catch her. I caught her just before a restart and left the restart just ahead of her. She had a flat tire and had to call it a day shortly thereafter. I had my first mechanical problem when the chain came off my bike. Luckily it stayed on the front sprocket and I was able to get it back on the rear sprocket pretty quick. For the most part, I rode the race alone which suited me fine. That meant no dust! Yes, the guys on row 55 did catch me and pass me. I knew they would. I talked to them at re-sets and they were really nice guys. After the gas there was a 20 mph section which I couldn't attempt to ride at that speed but I got into a rythum and rode pretty well. At the last reset (60 miles) I was late but had to sit and rest a bit. The guys on the KTM's tried to talk me into riding with them to the finish. I applaud their sense of humor!:) First, I couldn't keep up with them and second I was now in survival mode! It was now a straight 12 miles until the finish. A few miles into the section, I started feeling better and picked it up a bit. When I finally made it to the end, I was exhausted!! 72.2 race miles which was 56 actual miles.

I make it back to the truck and John asks how I did. I tell him "I FINISHED and I don't care what my score was". It was great to finish! I ended up winning my class too! Guess it was a good day all around. Next race, this weekend in Little Rock, AR. I hope to have a good story to tell about that one too.

Oh yeah, row 48 was perfect for this race and I made sure John knew it too!;)
 
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LoriKTM

Super Power AssClown
Oct 4, 1999
2,220
6
New Mexico
Hey, way to go CNM! Sounds like everything clicked for you that weekend-- even the chain falling off didn't slow you down! I love days like that, but they just don't happen as frequently as the "off" days!

You'd better include 48 in your next set of lottery numbers! ;)

Congrats on a great ride!
 

sgr

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Jul 14, 2000
63
0
SoCal
CNM, sounds like a great ride, and a smart move to pick your row. Don't you love it when you can handle stuff, like the "chain thing". :cool: You're a real trooper.
:)
 

yzguy15

Sprayin tha game
N. Texas SP
Oct 27, 2000
1,271
0
Way to go! That's quite an accomplishment, to have mechanical difficulties and still win your class. Personally I like the latter rows myself. For some reason they just have more appeal. Maybe it's because you're not constantly hounded by faster riders behind you, and don't have to worry about getting over all the time....
 

Michelle

Sponsoring Member
Oct 26, 1999
1,245
0
Way to go girl :) Awesome achievement. YZGuy even at large trail rides I prefer near the back for the reason of that way I can plod at my own pace (or with a friend), but I've also found out it's definitely not the best place (rut city, bog holes, trails trashed before I get there). I think you need to look at the conditions, how much rain's fallen and stuff like that & then decide the pros & cons.

And CNM, well done on the chain, it's great when you know what to do to get going again :)
 
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