| 2003 Race Reports |
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March 2, 2003
Lebanon, Missouri
2nd of 16 in Vet
About 100 years ago Albert Einstein hypothesized that the faster you go, the more time
slows down. I'm pretty sure I proved him correct at Round #1 of the Missouri Hare
Scrambles Championship near Lebanon, Missouri. Einstein's Special Theory of
Relativity definitely helps explain why the AA's make such darned good time on the
trail. But more on that later.
The 2003 racing season began for me with a new class and a new bike. My trusty '99
KTM 300EXC now sits idle in my garage, waiting for a new home, and in its place on
the racing circuit is an '02 KTM 300MXC. After winning the Open B class in 2002, a
change was in order and despite encouragement from others, I eschewed the A
class in favor of the Vet class. Rather than accept the fact that I've passed the Big-3-0
(almost two seasons ago, to be exact), I prefer to say that I have matured to the extent
that I am now eligible to race with the experienced, crafty veterans of the MHSC.
The day began with a chill, as Missouri has had one of its snowier winters of the last
several years. Snow was still on the ground as I left to meet up with Matt Sellers at our
usual I-44 meeting place. When we arrived at the Elk Creek site, the absence of ATV's
(they raced the day before) left plenty of room to park. Thankfully, the ground appeared
to be unfrozen with relatively decent traction. Temperatures were in the low 30's while
we signed up and unloaded the bikes, but as the morning progressed the clouds
gradually moved out.
I took a full practice lap to work out the arm pump and loosen up. The previous
weekend I had met up with Lars Valin (MHSC #9) at Flat River and he thoroughly
flogged me. My left knee was still a bit sore from a minor twisting while attempting to
keep up with his "leisurely" trail riding pace. But during the practice lap, I didn't notice
any pain at all and actually felt good about the 30-minute run. Lebanon is one of the
more punishing courses on the MHSC schedule, with an incredible amount of rocks.
My rock-hard KTM seat wasn't broken in yet, so I knew I was in for a good ass-beating.
At the start, the Vet class was lined up many rows back and I was able to watch Matt
fight for the holeshot with Karl Harris (MHSC #191) in the Open B class. Karl was first
into the woods, and as Matt said after the race, "He was gone!" When the board
dropped for our class, I was outside of the top 5 at the first turn and began a slow
move through the pack. I could see Kevin Ruckdeschell (MHSC #94) ahead of me and
a bunch of unfamiliar bikes. I got around a couple guys at a muddy spot just after the
first open run through a muddy pasture, and eventually caught up to Tom Eidam,
MHSC scorekeeper and Senior class fast-guy. Tom let me around, but a couple miles
later I tangled with a guy while trying to pass and crashed. It's very depressing to
watch all guys you just worked so hard to pass go flying by you while picking up your
bike. I righted the bike and re-passed most of them by the end of the first lap.
The bikes were spread out more on the second lap and passing became easier,
although I did have to follow a freight train of riders through a long, tight section. But I
was finally able to ride at full speed and make up some time. At the end of Lap 2, I
had moved up 3 spots to 2nd place, a minute behind Robbie Jo Reed. The bike was
running flawlessly, despite the torture I was putting it through by locating with my front
tire about 80% of the rocks on the course. One particularly unpleasant rock smacked
my rear disc guard hard enough to knock it off the brake caliper carrier. I found Matt
early in the third lap and moved on by, catching some lapped traffic along the way. I
glanced at my watch at the end of the lap and it showed I was about 90 minutes into
the race. With that pace, a fast 4th lap would get me to the scoring trailer just in time to
get in a 5th lap. I had mixed emotions about that, as my body was taking a beating
(mostly just the ass part).
I dropped the bike once or twice on the last lap but arrived at the scoring trailer without
incident. My race was over. My reliable Casio Ironman watch had shown 12:47 at the
start and read 2:48 at the finish. Brandon Forrestor had passed me at the 7-mile mark
of the last lap and was the only AA rider to lap me. Brandon started out the season
right with the overall win, finishing about a minute ahead of Chris Nesbitt. I wasn't
able to catch Robbie Jo Reed and finished less than two minutes behind him in 2nd
place, 27th overall.
Now here's where the Einstein theory kicks in. I showed a total time of 2:01 and the
scoring computer indicated 2:04. Man, I must have been going fast. After the race I
was 3 minutes younger than the spectators! Special Theory of Relativity, proved once
again.
March 16, 2003
Columbia, Missouri
6th of 21 in Vet
Finger Lakes State Park tends to bring out the bitchiness in the Missouri hare
scrambles contingent, as evidenced by the new ChatRats discussion board. Yes,
folks, at some point prior to the race, it IS going to rain, and there IS going to be mud
on the course. Deal with it and have fun, for cryin' out loud. Personally, and very
seriously, I pray for rain before this race.
Mud is my friend. I relish the experience, especially when it's captured on film by the
HammerDown crew (last year at Kahoka).
The rain gods granted my wish, but too soon before the race. As it turned out, the
course was in decent shape, the sun was shining the whole day, no major obstacles
were covered in slime, and rider turnout was strong. The practice lap revealed a few
moderate mud holes, a small amount of new singletrack, and the usual pass through
the motocross track.
I lined up near the center of the 21-strong Vet class and viewed a straight shot into the
first turn on the motocross course. When the starting board dropped, the bikes took
off but I didn't. Two kicks later, I was on my way in last place. I could see the
next-to-last bike ahead of me as we approached the woods, and I accelerated hard.
The track had a rough section leading to a gentle right-hand turn into the woods, and
as I accelerated hard, my back wheel violently kicked from side to side. For an instant
I had that fleeting thought of being able to save it, but that moment passed in a
nanosecond and I took a violent header into the dirt. Great entertainment for the
spectators; not so good for my arms and elbows. Note to self: put the arm guards
back on the chest protector. A guy along the sidelines came out and helped me pick
up the bike, and in a slight haze I took off into the woods. The haze cleared up soon
enough, but I was out of sync. I tried to make up some time by launching my bike
down a rock ledge about a 1/2 mile into the course, but when the suspension
bottomed, the skid plate thumped so hard against the solid-rock landing that I
decided maybe it wasn't such a good idea to try that again.
I finally caught up to a few guys in my class and started making some passes. I got
around perennial fast guy Rick Kinkelaar but promptly dumped the bike in the fresh
singletrack. He and several other riders sailed on by while I righted the bike. The
soggy pasture section was already developing some nasty, tire-sucking whoops by
the time I got there, and a few creek crossings were showing signs of trouble. When I
arrived at the scoring trailer, my number failed to show up on the display. The RFID
failed my crash test.
The 7-mile course was still in decent shape on the second and third laps, and in
some areas was actually improving. However, a few creek crossings were becoming
downright hazardous. One particularly nasty crossing was already taking its toll on
riders, with Illinois-style ruts developing quickly. Some creative lines and lots of
momentum kept me out of trouble through all the nasty sections, and I gradually
advanced through the pack. Near the midpoint of the race, I was climbing a small hill
on a well-traveled ATV trail when I came up on a stalled bike. The rider was apparently
having trouble getting it started, and since the trail was more of a narrow ravine, there
was no room to get around him. He began a futile attempt to frantically push the bike
up the hill. The helpful guy I am, I slammed my front wheel against his rear tire, again
and again, and pushed him out of the way.
Once again, Matt had started several rows ahead of me in the Open B class, and near
the end of the 4th lap I caught up to him. He had run out of gas and had to pit;
otherwise I might not have seen him. Doug Stone passed me just before the first
check and was just flying. Steve Levian followed, but the gap was too large. On my 5th
and final lap, a few more AA's lapped me. By this time the creek crossings were plain
nasty, but I avoided any bike extrications and continued on to the finish.
My poor start kept me out of contention, as Robbie Jo Reed took his second victory in
the Vet class. I finished 6th, about 3 minutes behind. Doug Stone won the overall by
about a minute over Steve Levian, with most of the AA guys completing 6 laps.
I would like to thank PizzaMan not only for helping put on a great race, but also for
complimenting me on my youthful appearance (yes folks, I am old enough to ride the
Vet class).
Lebanon, Missouri
2nd of 16 in Vet
About 100 years ago Albert Einstein hypothesized that the faster you go, the more time
slows down. I'm pretty sure I proved him correct at Round #1 of the Missouri Hare
Scrambles Championship near Lebanon, Missouri. Einstein's Special Theory of
Relativity definitely helps explain why the AA's make such darned good time on the
trail. But more on that later.
The 2003 racing season began for me with a new class and a new bike. My trusty '99
KTM 300EXC now sits idle in my garage, waiting for a new home, and in its place on
the racing circuit is an '02 KTM 300MXC. After winning the Open B class in 2002, a
change was in order and despite encouragement from others, I eschewed the A
class in favor of the Vet class. Rather than accept the fact that I've passed the Big-3-0
(almost two seasons ago, to be exact), I prefer to say that I have matured to the extent
that I am now eligible to race with the experienced, crafty veterans of the MHSC.
The day began with a chill, as Missouri has had one of its snowier winters of the last
several years. Snow was still on the ground as I left to meet up with Matt Sellers at our
usual I-44 meeting place. When we arrived at the Elk Creek site, the absence of ATV's
(they raced the day before) left plenty of room to park. Thankfully, the ground appeared
to be unfrozen with relatively decent traction. Temperatures were in the low 30's while
we signed up and unloaded the bikes, but as the morning progressed the clouds
gradually moved out.
I took a full practice lap to work out the arm pump and loosen up. The previous
weekend I had met up with Lars Valin (MHSC #9) at Flat River and he thoroughly
flogged me. My left knee was still a bit sore from a minor twisting while attempting to
keep up with his "leisurely" trail riding pace. But during the practice lap, I didn't notice
any pain at all and actually felt good about the 30-minute run. Lebanon is one of the
more punishing courses on the MHSC schedule, with an incredible amount of rocks.
My rock-hard KTM seat wasn't broken in yet, so I knew I was in for a good ass-beating.
At the start, the Vet class was lined up many rows back and I was able to watch Matt
fight for the holeshot with Karl Harris (MHSC #191) in the Open B class. Karl was first
into the woods, and as Matt said after the race, "He was gone!" When the board
dropped for our class, I was outside of the top 5 at the first turn and began a slow
move through the pack. I could see Kevin Ruckdeschell (MHSC #94) ahead of me and
a bunch of unfamiliar bikes. I got around a couple guys at a muddy spot just after the
first open run through a muddy pasture, and eventually caught up to Tom Eidam,
MHSC scorekeeper and Senior class fast-guy. Tom let me around, but a couple miles
later I tangled with a guy while trying to pass and crashed. It's very depressing to
watch all guys you just worked so hard to pass go flying by you while picking up your
bike. I righted the bike and re-passed most of them by the end of the first lap.
The bikes were spread out more on the second lap and passing became easier,
although I did have to follow a freight train of riders through a long, tight section. But I
was finally able to ride at full speed and make up some time. At the end of Lap 2, I
had moved up 3 spots to 2nd place, a minute behind Robbie Jo Reed. The bike was
running flawlessly, despite the torture I was putting it through by locating with my front
tire about 80% of the rocks on the course. One particularly unpleasant rock smacked
my rear disc guard hard enough to knock it off the brake caliper carrier. I found Matt
early in the third lap and moved on by, catching some lapped traffic along the way. I
glanced at my watch at the end of the lap and it showed I was about 90 minutes into
the race. With that pace, a fast 4th lap would get me to the scoring trailer just in time to
get in a 5th lap. I had mixed emotions about that, as my body was taking a beating
(mostly just the ass part).
I dropped the bike once or twice on the last lap but arrived at the scoring trailer without
incident. My race was over. My reliable Casio Ironman watch had shown 12:47 at the
start and read 2:48 at the finish. Brandon Forrestor had passed me at the 7-mile mark
of the last lap and was the only AA rider to lap me. Brandon started out the season
right with the overall win, finishing about a minute ahead of Chris Nesbitt. I wasn't
able to catch Robbie Jo Reed and finished less than two minutes behind him in 2nd
place, 27th overall.
Now here's where the Einstein theory kicks in. I showed a total time of 2:01 and the
scoring computer indicated 2:04. Man, I must have been going fast. After the race I
was 3 minutes younger than the spectators! Special Theory of Relativity, proved once
again.
March 16, 2003
Columbia, Missouri
6th of 21 in Vet
Finger Lakes State Park tends to bring out the bitchiness in the Missouri hare
scrambles contingent, as evidenced by the new ChatRats discussion board. Yes,
folks, at some point prior to the race, it IS going to rain, and there IS going to be mud
on the course. Deal with it and have fun, for cryin' out loud. Personally, and very
seriously, I pray for rain before this race.
Mud is my friend. I relish the experience, especially when it's captured on film by the
HammerDown crew (last year at Kahoka).
The rain gods granted my wish, but too soon before the race. As it turned out, the
course was in decent shape, the sun was shining the whole day, no major obstacles
were covered in slime, and rider turnout was strong. The practice lap revealed a few
moderate mud holes, a small amount of new singletrack, and the usual pass through
the motocross track.
I lined up near the center of the 21-strong Vet class and viewed a straight shot into the
first turn on the motocross course. When the starting board dropped, the bikes took
off but I didn't. Two kicks later, I was on my way in last place. I could see the
next-to-last bike ahead of me as we approached the woods, and I accelerated hard.
The track had a rough section leading to a gentle right-hand turn into the woods, and
as I accelerated hard, my back wheel violently kicked from side to side. For an instant
I had that fleeting thought of being able to save it, but that moment passed in a
nanosecond and I took a violent header into the dirt. Great entertainment for the
spectators; not so good for my arms and elbows. Note to self: put the arm guards
back on the chest protector. A guy along the sidelines came out and helped me pick
up the bike, and in a slight haze I took off into the woods. The haze cleared up soon
enough, but I was out of sync. I tried to make up some time by launching my bike
down a rock ledge about a 1/2 mile into the course, but when the suspension
bottomed, the skid plate thumped so hard against the solid-rock landing that I
decided maybe it wasn't such a good idea to try that again.
I finally caught up to a few guys in my class and started making some passes. I got
around perennial fast guy Rick Kinkelaar but promptly dumped the bike in the fresh
singletrack. He and several other riders sailed on by while I righted the bike. The
soggy pasture section was already developing some nasty, tire-sucking whoops by
the time I got there, and a few creek crossings were showing signs of trouble. When I
arrived at the scoring trailer, my number failed to show up on the display. The RFID
failed my crash test.
The 7-mile course was still in decent shape on the second and third laps, and in
some areas was actually improving. However, a few creek crossings were becoming
downright hazardous. One particularly nasty crossing was already taking its toll on
riders, with Illinois-style ruts developing quickly. Some creative lines and lots of
momentum kept me out of trouble through all the nasty sections, and I gradually
advanced through the pack. Near the midpoint of the race, I was climbing a small hill
on a well-traveled ATV trail when I came up on a stalled bike. The rider was apparently
having trouble getting it started, and since the trail was more of a narrow ravine, there
was no room to get around him. He began a futile attempt to frantically push the bike
up the hill. The helpful guy I am, I slammed my front wheel against his rear tire, again
and again, and pushed him out of the way.
Once again, Matt had started several rows ahead of me in the Open B class, and near
the end of the 4th lap I caught up to him. He had run out of gas and had to pit;
otherwise I might not have seen him. Doug Stone passed me just before the first
check and was just flying. Steve Levian followed, but the gap was too large. On my 5th
and final lap, a few more AA's lapped me. By this time the creek crossings were plain
nasty, but I avoided any bike extrications and continued on to the finish.
My poor start kept me out of contention, as Robbie Jo Reed took his second victory in
the Vet class. I finished 6th, about 3 minutes behind. Doug Stone won the overall by
about a minute over Steve Levian, with most of the AA guys completing 6 laps.
I would like to thank PizzaMan not only for helping put on a great race, but also for
complimenting me on my youthful appearance (yes folks, I am old enough to ride the
Vet class).
Lebanon, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
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