OK, Race #2:
The heat in the Dez is increasing and it is sitting around 100 degrees for our next race. I ended up with one blister on my right hand and two on the left (tells you I switch up and can use both hands
). I break out the duct tape and tape them up for the next one.
Again Rack and I head over early to the start as this bomb run has more obstacles in it with some small to massive boulders. We stake out a line and this one has us sharing the trail again with a slight left about 100 yards up to avoid a VW size rock. After that, you stay right of these massive cluster of rocks and make a hard left behind them which is the end of the bomb and head out onto the course.
So after we setup our spot the rest of the gang starts showing up. We lost a couple so there is only about 25 in this race. We are all standing around waiting and the conspiracy starts to kick in. Everybody wants to only run 2 laps on this course because it is hot, late in the day, the course is more technical and it is tapping into our nap times. They want to get the group to run a slower pace to get the white flag after the first lap...They said that the leader of the first race needs to back it down on this one as he was like 6 minutes out front of everybody.
So after about a 20 min delay and backing in the sun some more, the banner is up....Same thing as the last race, banner flickers bike lights up and off we go. This bomb was a little more sandy and a slight up hill off the start. Rack gets a better jump on me and pulls out to about a half bike length as he had a nice new shinny back tire mounted up...I grab 3rd, then 4th and start to reel him back in. As I pull up next to him and before we get to our left of the boulder section, Rack chops the throttle and I go on by. Not sure why, I should have backed off too so he would have dropped in front of me, then I could have yelled at him the whole race. As I was getting to the end of the bomb, another guy from my right dropped in front of me and got the holeshot.
We made the left around the rocks and headed on out. I dogged him for about a quarter mile and when he over shot a right turn, I made my move and dropped in the inside and took over that spot...The course was laid out sweet, a lot more technical with some rocky single track and a couple rock littered uphills that were chewed up from the handful of races that already cranked through there. They had a hard way split that took up a rock infested hill. I screwed that all up the first time and was zig zaging and dog paddling my way to the top. We dropped into some fast and slow sandwashes and more rocks....It dropped out on the desert floor to swing back around with more rocky terrain and some big G outs. It then dropped onto a what used to be a fast wash/trail but was chewed up and had some rock exposure. I found some new lines off in the bushes and jumped on those. The course wound back up into the hills and popped out on a downhill into the finish shoot. They threw the white flag (I guess the leader ran slow enough) which means one more lap. My hands felt good as the duct tape was holding. It was hotter and with more canyons, the heat was felt more. I cleared the uphills better the next time around as I selected my lines better. I was in a good rhythm and the bike was running great. I do not have a stabilizer on this scooter and it would have been a plus.
I came over the last hill and saw the checkers flying. I was kind of bummed as I would have liked to get another lap in, but oh well. I finished and was in one piece. Smiles all around. Rack stepped it up and finished 1st in class on this one so he went 2-1 on the day. He should be moving up to Amateur soon...
I went over to the start as GMan was getting ready for his run. I gave him a few pointers on the up hills and to get off the main lines if possible. He would see the single tracks and to grab those as they were fast still. Gave him a smack on the back and headed to a location to watch him race. He did awesome, finishing 2nd overall and first in class. This kid is getting fast and has a smooth riding style.....Scaring the crap out of his old man.
So it was a good day by all and everyone survived the heat and no injuries...
May have to check the calendar and do another one soon....