FTR hare scramble 9 report page.

Saturday

I was really looking forward to race #9, I was getting some pretty good  results and was hoping for a more open course with not too many trees.

We arrived Saturday afternoon and setup our pit area. I walked to as many viewing areas as possible to see what I could expect.

 It was very dry and looked to be spread out with wooded sections at different intervals. It was also very sandy, sand that had the consistency of table salt.

Sunday practice

I set off at 8:30 am on my practice lap, within a mile or so I was well aware how tricky it was to ride in dry loose sand (which up to that point I thought I was good at).

The wooded sections were tight but the sand made it difficult to get going....even on my 450 it felt slow.

The race

My starts are never good, so just assume I will be some where near the back of the pack for about half a lap until my race brain kicks in, and then I get moving.

I got my usual bad start but instead of waiting for way through I tried to make my own way, I went wide in the second turn and hit a tree head on, stalling the bike in the process.

As the rest of the riders passed me by I got the bike going and set off to catch them all up. Along the way I saw riders fallen down due to the dust and tight sandy conditions.

 I kept my cool and just pushed until I made it up to 1st  place as I came through the checkpoint, I think the 2nd and 3rd place riders were right with me but I just tried to go a little faster to make some ground.

About a mile into the second lap I got overtaken  by Les Evans 61b, I just couldn't stay with him in the woods.

Halfway into the second lap I hit a tree stump and went over the handlebars, It took me a couple of minutes to get going and it certainly took the wind out of me.

I did not realize it at the time  but my camelback drink tube had broke off in the crash and I had no way to drink my Gatorade from my backpack

I came round on lap 2 still in 2nd place but my arms were killing me from hitting all those trees. I tried to keep up a good pace but washed out on a sandy corner and Randy Rash 19b just got by me.

I caught back up to him and tried to pass but there was no way in the tight woods to pass, I let him go, next corner I was on the ground again my front end washing out in a turn.

If limped to a 5th place finish which considering my start and crashes was good enough for me.

4th and 5th place.

Las Evans 1st, Rick Edwards 4th,  and me 5th !

See you at the next race............

VIDEO

Click on the pictures  below to download and watch the clips.

Dave