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Out of Hibernation
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.
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).
