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by Ken Murphy
You should set your watch, or whatever time keeping device you use, to key time - your minute number. In other
words, if you're on row 30, you should set your watch 30 minutes *later* than the key time. The reason for doing
this is so your watch will read 8:00:00 when they drop the green flag for your row (assuming 8 o-clock is the start
time).
Early, late and on time
If you are early to a check, you obtain 2 points for the first minute early, 5(!) points for each minute after that. In
other words, if you're one minute early, you get two points. Two minutes early = 7 points, three minutes early, 12
points. Being early, aka burning a check, is bad juju! If you are late, you obtain one point per minute late. If you
are on time, or "on your minute", 0 points are awarded. Now, to know where the checks are, you need to know
where they can't be. Checks can't be in the 3 miles after a check, or the 2 miles before a known check, like a gas
stop, or known finish. When you go through a check, make a mental note of the mileage, which is posted in the
check, and rage for the next three miles. This is known as "three for free". There are some "gotchas", but I'll cover
those later. Now that you know where they can't be, how do you know where they can be? That's easy as well, if
you break it down. The rules say that a check must be on an even tenth AND an even minute. What does this
mean exactly? An even tenth is defined as .20, or .50, or .30, not .32 or .48. An even minute means the check
must occur at the top of the minute, it can't be at 1:37seconds down the trail. That being said, let's continue: If you
are in a car, and are traveling 60 mph, you're traveling at 1 mile per minute. That would be an even tenth (.0) and
an even minute, right? Now, if you're traveling 30 mph, you're going .5 miles per minute so, that's an even
tenth(.5)AND an even minute. Now, what other speed averages will you likely see at an event? If you cover all the
tenths, you see:
Avg miles/minute
18 mph .3
24 .4
30 .5
Ok, now you know where the checks can and can't be. Resets, free time, etc. A reset is simply a device used by
the promoter to stop time and allow you to get back on schedule. If you have are set from 5.0 to 7.4 and the speed
average is 24 mph, then you move your odometer ahead 2.4 miles at the 5.0 mile marker. What this amounts to is
an 6 minute rest period.(7.4-5.0/.4 = 6 minutes) The clock keeps running, but you've just been teleported 2.4 miles
ahead. Take this time to drink water, eat, catch your breath. Free time is different - the mileage remains the same,
but you just sit for however many minutes.
Now you know where the checks can and can't be, right? Now you need to know the difference between the check
types. Red & white flags at a check are "secret" checks. As long as you're on your minutes, no problem. Green &
white flags are an "emergency" or tiebreaker check. You will be timed down to the second in these checks. If you
are on time, try to enter the check at 30 seconds into your minute for a perfect score. If you're late, just get there as
soon as possible. Any other color flags are not timed checks! Don't be fooled. You could encounter an
Observation (OB) check, but they aren't timed. You just have to have your card marked. Since you know where the
checks are, what speed to average, how do you ever get caught? Sneaky promoters, that's how! Here are some of
the things that you'll likely see in an enduro: A "special test" is a section where the promoter knows most riders
can't average 17 mph, but the average will be set to 30. You most likely will be "checked in" at the beginning to
ensure that you don't go in early, and "checked out" at the finish. This would mean that the special test is at least
three miles in length right? So look for places in the route sheet where there is a reset, a speed change, then
another reset more than 3 miles from the previous reset. There will likely be a special test in that area, be
prepared. Some might give you a reset at the end of a special test, of length more than 3 miles. Beware, that 3
miles was your "three for free" and the next possible could be just over that next hill.
The last thing to cover, is the difference between "gas stop" and "gas available". A "gas stop" is a known check (or
control), and therefore, there cannot be a check for two miles before a gas stop. As "gas available" is NOT a known
control and there CAN be a check in the two miles before the gas. Same function, different wording. Beware.
There are many more ways that a clever promoter or race organizer can fool the rider. I don't want to try to cover
them here, that's half the fun of racing an enduro. The cat and mouse game between the organizer and rider *is*
he mental part of this sport. Learning it by experience is the most fun way. One last note, and its something I heard
when I first started racing: You'll learn more about racing enduro by WORKING ONE event, than you will by RACING
TEN. Most promoters need help anyway, so please support you local club by helping out. Enjoy.
Ken Murphy