Round #10 Race Recap

Round #10 of the PA Harescramble Series was held at Rausch Creek MX and ATV Park in Tremont, PA. The crew at Rausch thought that they would mix the racing schedule up a bit and run the quads at our normal time and put the bikes in their spot – after this experience I hope that they keep things the way they are for next year. We were suppose to start the race at 2:45 but some new trail and 4 creek crossings made for a long day for some of the guys in the quad race. We sat on the starting line for about an hour while the crew at the park attempted to pull some of the damaged ATV’s off of the rocky course. Sitting in the shade with most of my fellow bikers you couldn’t help but to make small talk about how rough it was out there considering machines with four wheels were having trouble. It wasn’t long before Mr. Starter came running up telling everyone it was go time and to get back on their bikes. The first three lines took off and wouldn’t you believe that on the 2nd turn someone in the third line got really hurt so we were delayed again while and ambulance attended to the fallen rider. The track officials rerouted the course so that the rest of the pack could take off.
I got a good start, third into the first turn. There were only about 5 or 6 turns and then it was up a 4 story hill climb that separated most of the pack. Just before we headed into the woods I got passed and then the trail went up into a single trail in-between these huge bolder rocks, probably as big as a four-wheeler. The guy who passed me fell and there was no way around as I watched the leaders take off. By the time I made it around the fallen rider after that section the front of the pack was no where in site. The first two miles I was able to push really hard that was until I hit mile 3. Miles 3 till about 5 were nothing but straight boulders mixed in with some of the steepest down hills and up hills that I have ever encountered. In the mix of all that was a creek that they crossed you over 4 times, and need I say that the banks we had to go up were about 4 feet tall with boulders and slick tree roots on them. Some of the sections I thought were borderline dangerous, I feel sorry for anyone who would label themselves as a beginner because if they were on that track they know what an expert course is like. After repeatedly asking myself if the Rausch Creek crew was a little whacko, the first lap was finally over. First lap I was on the board as 6th, and the following lap I would catch one guy and slide into the fifth position. As the race went on the track got a little better with some more lines opening up, but at the same time it got worse because all of the good lines were hammered from everyone taking them. I felt really good on the bike, my suspension was perfect yet again and the wide ration gearing was working to my advantage. I was able to charge throughout the whole race again - thanks to not crapping up. Cramping up at this track would have been so easy because there were a lot of leg dangle’n sections.
And while I’m on the topic of the track let me say again how steep some of these down hills were. They were so straight down that the front suspension would completely bottom out; mine did so much the one time I almost snapped my wrists because all of my body weight was pushing down on the handlebars. Right after a couple of these hills was a 4 or 5 foot drop off right into the creek below, and when I say right after I’m talking like you had 3 feet to turn after flying down these hills or it was bike bath time. For most of the race I was by my lonesome, I saw DHaggs Sr. out on the trail – said Hi, then continued to push forward. Second to last lap my arms and upper body were getting a little tired from the continuous miles of boulder and tree bashing. I got the white flag on the last lap and I fought my way up to third place by then. On the last lap I made sure not to do anything stupid so I set a steady pace and gave it all I got. I wasn’t at all sad to see those boulders, down hills and up hills for the last time. The last section of the track was really fun because there were a couple doubles that were used from the motocross tracks. It’s been a while since I aired it out a little bit. I came through to the checkered flag and took home 3rd place for the day. I went back to the trailer and saw that my Dad wasn’t there and I was a little worried because from lap one I was thinking that he was going to have some trouble. I went back to the finish line and wouldn’t you know they sent him out for another lap and he came in about 10 minutes later. He’s the man for finishing that race let alone making it outta there alive. He did mention some sick superman bike throw that he performed while standing the bike up at the top of one of the up hills back on the mountain. But that was one of the last miles on the last lap so that’s still pretty good considering what we just raced through. He took home 4th on the day and full cooler of beer which was not at all needed after a race like that. When all was said and done we got our plaques and pulled out of the parking lot at 7:00. The different schedule made for a long day but never the less it was a lot of fun!
We leave Fri morning for the UNADILLA GNCC in upper state New York – the most prestigious off-road race in the country. I look forward to racing with the best riders in the country for three long hours. Watch out JUHA!!!