( Pro GNCC racers Ryan Rogers and Wally Palmer head into the boulder whoop section on lap 2. Rogers would take the overall win.)Photo: Jim Bull
On Saturday the 19th of August, Blue Comet M.C. hosted its first Harescramble race in decades. You couldn’t help but to feel some excitement when entering the club grounds which were flooded with trucks, trailers, bikes, racers, spectators, sponsors, vendors, club members and live music. I would have to admit that I myself was a little skeptic about how well this day was going to be put together, but I will say that Blue Comet returned to their roots and showed everyone how a harescramble race should be. There were vendors, food, a live band, a PA announcer, free dirt bike rides for little kids, grandstands, a pavilion for the award ceremonies and oh yeah….one crazy harescramble track!
The track it’s self was unique because it had some characteristics of its own but also incorporated some technical challenges that you would find at other tracks around the state. Although it was shorter than most harescramble tracks it seemed to suit the enthusiasm of the cheering fans with more racing action. Unlike the conditions of upstate Pennsylvania there were no continuous rocks or boulders that littered the track. Because of this the track promoters thought why not bring the rocks to us, so they put in a boulder rock whoop section. It was a challenging section on the coarse but not as bad as some of the natural terrain we face up north.
As if boulders weren’t enough there was another section on the track with the same set up but instead of rocks they used telephone poles. There was about seven or eight rows of them and after the first lap they came out of the ground and were scattered all over that section of the track. This made it very difficult approaching this section each lap because they were all in a different spots and the lines continuously changed.
In between the boulder whoops and the telephone poll whoops was the barn which was pretty cool. Cool because it was different and cool because there were three shower heads drenching the concrete floor with water making it extremely slick. I can assure you that it was probably only one of the few spots on the track that didn’t have a blanket of dust on it.
On the top section of the track where you could find all of the action there were a set of grandstands in front of a double, a hill climb, a berm pond, and some of the deepest whoops that I’ve ever been through. Here is where the spectator got their moneys worth watching spills, wrecks, race ending mistakes, pro GNCC racers abilities, and even collecting some mud and dust souvenirs. From here the track worked its way behind the grandstands through the rest of the field and headed back into the tight woods with some nice different variations of creek crosses. The scoring barrels were set up at the edge of the woods behind the starting line which was sweet getting to pin it back up the starting line hill.
After a delay in the starting time, which can be expected at a new venue, it was time to get the main even started. I started the race off with the worst start in my whole career. I’d like to fault it to the starter guy who preceded to send our line off when there was a racer in the class ahead of our who was still kicking his bike. Normally in this situation they would give him a few seconds to try and get his bike started and then they would tell him to move aside so the next line can take off – not in this case! The horn sounded and I was still waiting for the rider to get out of our way. Everyone hit the first turn and I was left in the dust, basically dead last. Dust was such an issue and it is crucial to get a good start so that you can be out front and see. Being in the back of the pack I had to wait for the field to get spread out a bit on the first lap before I could even hope to start making a charge. The track was very hard, dry, dusty, and the tight sections were tight. I gave a good push in the beginning and then tried to set a good pace for the remainder of the race. The set up on the bike was perfect and even though it was hot outside I was feeling good myself. As the laps clicked off I was continuing to push my way through the field and working on picking off riders one by one. As the race went on the track was carving up some good lines so I felt myself picking up the pace and flowing really well. Then it hit again just one lap after the half way mark, cramp! Dang, I was feeling great and then the inside of my thigh started to cramp up so I sucked down some Gatorade in my camelback. That worked for a lap or so and when I came out of the woods and saw the white flag my right hamstrings started to pull. I drank the rest of my camelback and pushed as hard as I could trying to pick off who ever I caught up to in front of me. On occasion on the last lap my leg would cramp up but it wasn’t enough for me to put in a good fight with someone through the last section of the track. I was wondering where #099 was because again I wasn’t able to catch up to him. He had himself a good day of racing despite the fact that his mouth piece to his camelback got ripped off on the first lap so he continued to race without any water at all. Maybe the way he was blitzing that berm pond or looking up at the shower heads in the barn he was trying to absorb some water.
Between the hype, the excitement, the track obstacles, racing in front of our family and friends, the weather cooperation, the live band, our bikes working great, nobody getting hurt, the post race party back at the house and my Dad getting his first 1st place ever…I would have to say that this was one of the greatest days in my life. Although I had a bad start and worked my way back up to finish 4th I was happy with that. I rode really well and tried to maintain a good consistent pace which picked up a little bit each lap. The best part about Saturday was seeing all of our family and friends there. It felt so good for you all to come out and share what we love to do every weekend and that means a lot to us. We rant and rave about the races all the time and before it was hard for you all to comprehend because you really had no idea what it was all about, well now you do. Thank you so much for coming out to support us.
Mom – Kel – Cait – Cort – Bub – Grandmom – Grandpop – Tom – Kath – Nora – Will – Jack – Dan – Dillion – Lamb – Lewis – Mark – Doc – Mike – Steve – Bill – Jimmy B – Alicia – Sara – Stout – Mohar – Erin – Mike – Kenny – Rick – Kevin – JimA – Ed – Dave – Dave Jr – Alice – Chris – and anyone else we forgot!
Thank you for all of your support and we are glad that you had a good time. So far it looks like a go for next year too so mark it on your calendars!
099(Above: Second into the woods off the start - Below: Taking the lead down the trail)
(Above: 925 Gettin ready for the start)
925 (Above: Blitz'n the whoops - Below: Ride'n the edge of the Berm Pond)
099 (Above: Catch'n some air - Below: "What berm pond!?")
Pictures by: Kath Mercer & Eddie Lehr and Caitlin Haggerty
Above: DHaggs Sr. and DHaggs Jr. post bench racing
Above : After getting his camelback mouthpiece ripped off on the first lap 099 rehydrates
Above: The riders for the main start to line up at the start
Above: Camp KTM
Above: DHaggs Racing KTM's 099 - 925
Above: DHaggs Jr. getting mentally ready
Above: Bill and Mike laugh at Steve for asking why this bike doesn't have trainning wheels like his does?
( Pro GNCC racers Ryan Rogers and Wally Palmer head into the boulder whoop section on lap 2. Rogers would take the overall win.)
