Round #3 Race Recap

Round #3 of the Pennsylvania State Harescramble Series was held this past Sunday at Foot of the Mountain in Neelytown, PA. Anyone who races dirtbikes could tell you, “by coincidence” on many race days the weather doesn’t always agree with the days events. The conditions are usually a muddy sloppy mess, not so true on this day. With green mountains protruding to the horizon and a crystal clear blue sky as a backdrop, the scene was set for an absolutely perfect day of racing. There were some track changes that were made from the last time we raced at Foot of the Mountain. Mainly a lot more single trail then usual, a switch in the track direction and some nice little mud pits, (where my Scott Works Goggles came in handy) that were sporadically placed around the track. The farmer’s field and the starting line were the same; mainly the trail up on the mountain is where the most noticeable changes were made.
I got a really good jump off the line and I headed into the first turn only to get closed in by two other bikes from the outside. I liked my inside spot on the line but I think taking a wider spot next week will give me the momentum that the other bikes had to get up the hill just after the holeshot. Since the track direction changed we went into the farmer’s field first this time. I’d much rather head right into the woods because if you get a good start it gives opportunity to make some space between yourself and the rest of the field. I stayed in the front of the pack until we made our way back into the woods section of the track which went up the mountainside. I couldn’t help but notice right off the bat how rocky the track was. They ran us over old beat up trail and some new trail that exposed some gnarly boulders. It wouldn’t have been that bad but it just didn’t seem like there was anywhere to take a break up there. I thought my suspension was set up great, and my Kenda tires were hooking up really well but there were a couple of spots where I was getting battered around pretty well. After flying around some of the open spots on the course and then being funneled into these single trails and forced to slow down I really felt heated up. My MSR vented gear really worked well and with some sips of my camelback I was forgetting about the heat factor. On the first lap I was heading down a rocky down hill when my bike abruptly stopped. I thought for sure that I had a flat tire so I looked over my right shoulder but everything appeared to be fine. I looked at my rear brake thinking that something was stuck and holding my pedal down but again, nothing. I then looked over my left should at my sprockets and there it was, a baseball bat sized branch and it was jammed in my chain guide pinching my chain. I kicked at it and tried pulling it out but I was going down the hill pretty fast so it was really jammed in there. I then tried leaning the weight of the bike on it and kicking it as hard as I could, half of it broke off, the rest I struggled to pull out while I lost about 4 spots, I finally got it out. The next two laps I was pretty fired up about the stick so I charged hard and played catch up. I got a bit of arm pump but rode it out and kept looking for more riders in my class. I thought it was pretty weird but for the rest of the race I was all alone. It wasn’t until the last lap I ran down a guy on a Honda and made a pass stick on him. I managed to save some steam for the last lap and made another good charge but the damage was done on the first lap so I had to settle for 3rd on the day. I know that it could have been a lot worse so I was happy with the outcome.
DHaggs Sr. put in another consistent ride picking up an 8th place finish in his class. He managed to salvage some points out of the day despite already feeling worn out before the race even started. He’ll be back and be stronger for Round #4 which will be held at the same track, Foot of the Mountain in two weeks.
I would like to thank my sponsers: DHaggs Harescramble Racing, MSR, Scott USA, TAG Metals, Scott Powersports, Kenda Tires, Twin Air and Pivot Works!

Round #3 Pics

DHaggs Jr. #925 behind DHaggs Sr. #99 on the Starting Line

DHaggs Sr. #099 Staying Sharp

DHaggs Sr. #099 Lookin Ahead

DHaggs Sr. #099 Stayin Smooth

DHaggs Jr. Makin a Pass

DHaggs Jr. #925 Stayin on Pace

DHaggs Jr. #925 on the Charge!

Photos By: Christina Mykijewycz

Round #3 Info

What: Round #3 Foot of the Mountain - Neelytown, PA

When: This Sunday April 22nd / Race Starts 11:30

Where: Directions - 76 West - Get off at Willow Hill (Old Exit 14) - Left on Rt 75 follow 6 miles to flashing red/yellow light - Left on Rt 641 and follow that up and then back down the mountain and you will see a Red Barn - Make a left and the track will be just down the road on your left.

Pit Fee: $10

New Sponsorship!!!

Twin Air Airfilters has informed me that I have been selected to represent their company for the 2007 racing season. I am very excited to be able to continue using their products because ever since I have been riding a bike I have been using their durable filters. I’ve had success with their products in the past and I look forward to maintaining that same productivity this upcoming season. For more information please visit www.twinairusa.com

Round #2 Race Recap

Round #2 of the PA State Harescramble Series was again held at Dutchmen MX Park in Pine Grove, PA. Round #2 was scheduled for Hurricane Hills in Clifford, PA but snow and icy track conditions rescheduled the race back to DMX Park. With the weather report calling for rain on Sunday I thought that we were in for the same conditions as the previous weekend’s race. When we arrived at the complex you would think that we were somewhere totally different. With a sunny and dry week the facility and track were in a breath; appropriate - a good notion to settle the uncomfortable feeling of the overcast sky above. We parked the van and trailer, registered, walked a bit of the track to see what changes were made, got ready, warmed the bikes up and headed to the line. So far no rain in sight but that would change about 45 minutes into the race.
I got a great start, holeshoted the first turn and went into the first field section in second place. The track conditions were completely different; there were no long bottomless muddy straight aways, instead almost concrete like dirt. Besides noticing the numbers on our bikes and the color gear we were wearing, any spectator there would say the biggest difference between last weekend and this weekend was – speed. Since the track was so hard and had some of the same straight aways, the pace of the race increased dramatically. I felt good at the beginning of the race, not so much in a zone but just like I was carrying a comfortable pace. The first couple of laps were spent battling it out with Luke D’Antonio. We would make passes on each other, pull away, catch up, get caught up with lappers, and we managed to keep the same bike lengths between us for a while. The race was going good and like the previous week I was looking forward to the mid way point to make my moves and push to make up some spots. After Lap 4 when I came around the finish and through the scanner I couldn’t get scanned because my barcode came off of my helmet. I knew at this point that the rest of the race wouldn’t matter much because I wasn’t going to get scored. I made sure to try and keep the same race pace as the previous laps so I continued to keep Luke insight. Somewhere in between not getting scanned and the end of the race I saw DHaggs Sr. in the back woods section. Since I was in an edgy “cruise control” we hung for a while and finished out the back woods section. It was the part of the track that, we both learned later, each disliked equally. It was tight, slick, and mostly one lined. Just before about halfway into the race is started to drizzle which was good because it kept the dust down but some of the sections were so hard that it made them slick. I was just happy that it didn’t down pour, a drizzle was just fine during the race. The only other excitement during the race is when Luke’s brother Noah tried to make a pass on me on the white flag lap. I decided that I would rather him finish the race like he started it, behind me, so I made a pass stick on one of the last turn before heading back onto the main motocross track. I look forward to battling with both of these brothers for the remainder of the season; we have some great racing ahead of us!
This week I managed to grind 12 laps out of this track, in only 2 hours and 1 minute, a little different from last weeks 11 laps in 2 hours and 10 minutes. When the results were posted I was surprised that I managed to make the top ten, even better I placed 7th. For not getting scored and setting a pace after the 4th lap, I’ll take it. I learned a good lesson, don’t trust the glue on the barcode, throw some tape on it too. DHaggs Sr. had a good day spliting his class and finishing 8th.
The series resumes in 2 weeks at Foot of the Mountain in Neelytown, PA.
I would like to thank my sponsers: DHaggs Harescramble Racing, MSR, Scott USA, TAG Metals, Scott Powersports, Kenda Tires and Pivot Works!

Round #2 Pics

Dennis + Noah + Luke = Racers

DHaggs Jr. #925 - Air'n it Out!

DHaggs Sr. #099 - On the Gas!

DHaggs Jr. #925 - Lead'n the Pack

DHaggs Sr. #099 - Stay'n on Pace

Sr. and Jr. - Nuf' said...

Pictures By: Christina Mykijewycz