DHaggs Jr. on a rocky up-hill!
DHaggs Sr. going through the scanner!Pictures By: Rapid Image
Round #13 of the PA State Harescramble Series was held at Rausch Creek MX Park in Tremont, PA. Once again we were blessed with absolutely perfect racing conditions. There were crystal clear blue skies lying over dark green wooded mountains with a crisp chill to the air. As we unpacked our pit area I couldn’t help but to feel as if there was something missing from Rausch Creek. Maybe it was because we were spoiled at last weekends GNCC race at Unadilla or maybe because the biggest Motocross race in the world was taking place right down in Maryland, whatever the case I just didn’t feel any excitement in the air.
The turnout seemed to be what I expected with Des Nations taking place on the same day – weak. I also considered the fact that last years track was so absurdly rocky I wouldn’t blame anyone for not showing up this year. Most of the regulars on the state circuit showed with some of the local Rausch Creek motocross riders. When we were sitting on the line the track announcer made it clear that the track wasn’t nearly as rocky as last year because they took out the lower section of the mountain. This didn’t mean to much to me because no matter what he said I knew that this was Rausch Creek and where ever that trail leads to after the start it isn’t going to get any less rockier. Good turn out or not I was finally feeling as if I was back in race shape and I needed to get a good two hours in.
I got a really good start, second into the first turn but I backed off of the gas because the dirt was super slick. Course workers watered it just before the green flag dropped so it was smooth as ice. Nobody wants to crash at the beginning of a race so I was extra cautious on the throttle until I got away from the start section. A couple of guys passed me a few turns in because the track direction changed from when I walked the start section previous to the start of the race. I hesitated again on a blind jump section and two other riders aired it out right next to me. When we finally went into the woods I was about mid pack. I was pushing hard right away until I reached the first fire road; they use long fire roads to piece the woods sections together on the mountain. The woods were so dark and the soil is that grayish blackish color which blends in with rocks that stick out like the tips of glaciers. The fire roads are a great way to make up time but they are so dangerous because it’s like your riding blind. I was flying down the first road and my front tire hit some rocks and made my front end look like it was doing some kind of salsa dance. When you loose control like that it’s kind of scary when you’re in 4th gear doing around 40mph. I don’t know what some of these younger kids think because they fly down these roads like they were paved. I guess they don’t have to worry about going to work the next day, or knowing what it would feel like to crash at that speed, or answering to a wife.
After my little bobble I got back in my groove and blitzed the rest of the course. I felt absolutely perfect, I felt like I was back on track like last year. My bike was working great, I felt great, the track was as good as it can get for Rausch Creek, and the weather was more that cooperative. I caught a guy here and there and for a good bit I found myself riding alone, just looking for someone ahead of me to push for. They decided to use parts of the motocross track again which was cool because there were no peaked doubles, just jumps that you could really launch off of and not have to worry about not making the landing. I felt so great and I knew that this was by far the best ride of the year. It wasn’t till about the 6th lap when I saw DHaggs Sr. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him out on the track so it was cool to catch up to him at this race. I passed him on a nice off-camber uphill that opened up to the last section of fire road on the mountain, I yelled at him but it wasn’t till after I learned that he didn’t hear or even see me pass him. He had some trouble of his own on the start. I guess he was a little confused as well and had a little crash that may have slowed him down but it didn’t stop him from finishing the race. He finished the raced and told me of his crash and when I looked at his knee I knew that it was pretty serious because blood was showing through his riding pants and those babies are made of some thick material. When he managed to start getting unchanged as soon as the van doors closed they seemed to open again and he said, “pack it up, I’m gonna have to go to the hospital for stitches.” So I packed everything up and headed home to drop him off at the local hospital. He left his one knee brace on and it’s a good thing he did because when he got to the hospital and they took it off the gauge in his knee split all the way open.
On the way home I just couldn’t help but to feel really good about my ride. I pushed as hard as I could for the whole two hours and four minutes that it took me to complete 7 laps on the 6 mile track. I ended up finishing in 7th place but I’m not worried because I know that the results will come. What’s important is that I feel like I’m in race shape again and I am looking forward to this weekends race at Hurricane Hills.
I will have to represent this weekend for DHaggs Harescramble Racing because #099 will be trackside nursing his knee. There were about 25 total stitches that went on the inside and outside of his wound. It’s amazing to think that he rode the whole race like that and managed to pull of a 6th place. Hopefully he’ll have a speedy recovery and make it back for one more race before the end of the season!
I would like to thank my sponsers: DHaggs Harescramble Racing, MSR, Scott USA, TAG Metals, Scott Powersports, Kenda Tires, Twin Air and Pivot Works!
The turnout seemed to be what I expected with Des Nations taking place on the same day – weak. I also considered the fact that last years track was so absurdly rocky I wouldn’t blame anyone for not showing up this year. Most of the regulars on the state circuit showed with some of the local Rausch Creek motocross riders. When we were sitting on the line the track announcer made it clear that the track wasn’t nearly as rocky as last year because they took out the lower section of the mountain. This didn’t mean to much to me because no matter what he said I knew that this was Rausch Creek and where ever that trail leads to after the start it isn’t going to get any less rockier. Good turn out or not I was finally feeling as if I was back in race shape and I needed to get a good two hours in.
I got a really good start, second into the first turn but I backed off of the gas because the dirt was super slick. Course workers watered it just before the green flag dropped so it was smooth as ice. Nobody wants to crash at the beginning of a race so I was extra cautious on the throttle until I got away from the start section. A couple of guys passed me a few turns in because the track direction changed from when I walked the start section previous to the start of the race. I hesitated again on a blind jump section and two other riders aired it out right next to me. When we finally went into the woods I was about mid pack. I was pushing hard right away until I reached the first fire road; they use long fire roads to piece the woods sections together on the mountain. The woods were so dark and the soil is that grayish blackish color which blends in with rocks that stick out like the tips of glaciers. The fire roads are a great way to make up time but they are so dangerous because it’s like your riding blind. I was flying down the first road and my front tire hit some rocks and made my front end look like it was doing some kind of salsa dance. When you loose control like that it’s kind of scary when you’re in 4th gear doing around 40mph. I don’t know what some of these younger kids think because they fly down these roads like they were paved. I guess they don’t have to worry about going to work the next day, or knowing what it would feel like to crash at that speed, or answering to a wife.
After my little bobble I got back in my groove and blitzed the rest of the course. I felt absolutely perfect, I felt like I was back on track like last year. My bike was working great, I felt great, the track was as good as it can get for Rausch Creek, and the weather was more that cooperative. I caught a guy here and there and for a good bit I found myself riding alone, just looking for someone ahead of me to push for. They decided to use parts of the motocross track again which was cool because there were no peaked doubles, just jumps that you could really launch off of and not have to worry about not making the landing. I felt so great and I knew that this was by far the best ride of the year. It wasn’t till about the 6th lap when I saw DHaggs Sr. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him out on the track so it was cool to catch up to him at this race. I passed him on a nice off-camber uphill that opened up to the last section of fire road on the mountain, I yelled at him but it wasn’t till after I learned that he didn’t hear or even see me pass him. He had some trouble of his own on the start. I guess he was a little confused as well and had a little crash that may have slowed him down but it didn’t stop him from finishing the race. He finished the raced and told me of his crash and when I looked at his knee I knew that it was pretty serious because blood was showing through his riding pants and those babies are made of some thick material. When he managed to start getting unchanged as soon as the van doors closed they seemed to open again and he said, “pack it up, I’m gonna have to go to the hospital for stitches.” So I packed everything up and headed home to drop him off at the local hospital. He left his one knee brace on and it’s a good thing he did because when he got to the hospital and they took it off the gauge in his knee split all the way open.
On the way home I just couldn’t help but to feel really good about my ride. I pushed as hard as I could for the whole two hours and four minutes that it took me to complete 7 laps on the 6 mile track. I ended up finishing in 7th place but I’m not worried because I know that the results will come. What’s important is that I feel like I’m in race shape again and I am looking forward to this weekends race at Hurricane Hills.
I will have to represent this weekend for DHaggs Harescramble Racing because #099 will be trackside nursing his knee. There were about 25 total stitches that went on the inside and outside of his wound. It’s amazing to think that he rode the whole race like that and managed to pull of a 6th place. Hopefully he’ll have a speedy recovery and make it back for one more race before the end of the season!
I would like to thank my sponsers: DHaggs Harescramble Racing, MSR, Scott USA, TAG Metals, Scott Powersports, Kenda Tires, Twin Air and Pivot Works!
Picture By: Dennis Haggerty Jr.
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