"Old School Dirt Riders"

Carlton Ranch Family, County Line

Race #5 Report page

Getting there

After winning 2 out of 4 races this season I went to race #5 needing just 9 points to be promoted to the Master A class.

We set off for the race which was just 3+ hrs or so away up near Sarasota Florida.

 After we we got there and set up our pit area I went out onto the course to see what it was like.

The Old School Dirt Riders club had one prime piece of property that they really got the best out of.

Through the centre of the course ran a partly dried up river bed, beyond that was a mixture of shady trees, flat out pastures and some interesting off camber

sections, most of the track was made of that soft loamy soil we all dream of riding in, dang this place is perfect!

Around 7.00pm it starting raining real hard, we retired to the camper and I spent the next few hours listening to the rain falling.

Practice

When we woke up the next day at 7am everything was wet, but the sky was clear blue and no rain in sight.

I went out on my practice lap and found it to be very wet and slippery, some riders were either going slow or riding very carefully.

As I rode though the woods I made a mental note to ride the slippery tree roots with care.

I backed off my pace and tried real hard to memorize the track, I wanted to win this race and I made sure the alternate lines were safe to ride.

I came back to our pit area covered in sand but feeling pleased that the course was difficult enough to warrant some skill to ride fast.

The Race

I got my bike up on the line early and got a perfect line into the first corner, I made sure everything was ready to get me up front first.

As the horn blew for my class I pulled the second holeshot of the year and made it through the first few corners in first place.

With the start I was praying for I made the most of it and pushed as hard as I could on the first lap, about a mile from the checkpoint I hit a tree and

went sailing over the handlebars, I scrambled back on the bike and  2 riders I just overtook at speed, looked back at me and waved me by!

I guess they realized I was in a hurry.

I backed off slightly and stayed at a safer pace keeping a good lap average time.

I completed 3 laps in 1hr 38.28 minutes winning my class. I punched the air as I went past the chequared flag knowing I had achieved my goal

of working my way up to the next level "Master A".

I want to thank OSDR, FTR and all the helpers who helped put this race on. I looked at the entry list and there was over 800 riders from pee-wee to AA riders entered.

That's a lot of riders and a lot of organization,

Thank you!

See you all on row 2.....

Results, race 5

Overalls up to race 4

Dave