PA State Series Round #5 Information

What: Round #5 Foot of the Mountain - Neelytown, PA

When: This Sunday June 4th / 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 raod on your left.

Pit Fee: $10

HARESCRAMBLE IN SKIPPACK!!!

Click to enlarge image

Be sure to save the date for Saturday, August 19th because District 6 is having a race in Skippack township which is only 20 minutes away! I can assure you that you are not going to get any closer to home, this is practically in our backyard. I hope that those of you who find it difficult to venture to a PA State round, which are usually on Sundays, find this harescramble race a bit more accommodating. It is going to be a great day of racing and both my Dad and I are extremely excited to race on our "hometown" track in front of our family and friends. All the information is found on the flyer (above) but as usual I will update the website the previous week with all of the race information. Hope to see you track side!

Round #4 Pics

Pictures By: Frank Sake

Round #4 Race Recap

Round #4 was hosted by Foot of the Mountain in the beautiful hills of Neelyton, Pa. It was a picture perfect day for racing and the rows of trailers in the pits showed it. The lot was packed and the racers that registered were from all over PA and surrounding states. The big hype for this week was the amount of track changes that were made both in the grass valley and up on the mountain. Regardless of all the changes there is one word for the always challenging Foot of the Mountain track, “rough.” When the spectators gaze upon the sloping field, unless they venture up on the mountain, they have no idea what struggle lay ahead of all the riders at the start. Up on the mountain the trails were rocky but lengthy enough to still keep a good flow and some momentum for the hill climbs. If you ask me I thought the track was great compared to the last setup from last year. If you stretch another couple miles out of the coarse then it would be an ideal harescramble track, but yesterday was pretty darn close.
The start was in the valley at the base of the mountain on an off camber hill. After a line went off the starter had to wait a couple more minutes then usual because of the dust storm that was left behind. DHaggs Sr. was 2 lines ahead of me and he again got off to a good start. It wasn’t long before I lost him in the dust as the riders in his class disappeared into the woods. I got an okay start, probably about 4th or 5th into the first turn. I stayed in that position because you had to keep a pace until you got into the woods because you couldn’t see in front of you thanks to the dust. I was able to push hard in the beginning of the race and set a good pace for the remainder. My arms got tight but I didn’t get arm pump like the previous races. Although the track was very rocky it was spread out nice and I was able to find my rhythm and flow from the woods to the valley. In the first couple laps I passed up to 4th so I held 3rd for a good portion of the track. I only made one little mistake that set me off pace for 15-20 seconds. It wasn’t till about ¾ of the race when I was able to make the inside move on a long off camber turn to take second place. I continued to push as hard as I could until I saw the checkered flag, which I compassionately brought attention to with the lady at the barrel, I kindly shared that I didn’t like the fact that no one gave me the white flag indicating one lap to go. It’s nice to see the white flag because then you know that in one lap it will all be over with so leave everything you have out on the trails. I kept my consistent 2nd Place spot on the podium again this week! Turns out that Broc, the rider I passed for 2nd place the week before, took 1st place this week. The guy who won last week held onto third after I made the pass on him.
I feel great and the bike feels great and on the bike it all seems to work together. I also tried some new Maxxis tires this week and I must say that I am quite impressed.
I am also impressed with the ride that DHaggs Sr. put in coming in 10th out of his class, a much deserving improvement from Hurricane Hills. He rode his bike how is should be run and with some different tires he put in a good race. Although a crash in the first turn never helps anyone he managed to salvage some good consistant laps in the middle of the race to help put himself back into the heat of the battle.
It was definitely a good day for both DHaggs Jr. and Sr. Hopefully we can relax a little over these next two off weeks, save some gas money, and work on getting faster.
Special thanks to Frank who barely made the long trip. He was out there getting dusted out like the rest of us. He even helped my dad out and was a temp. pit boy. Maybe next time he’ll take my advice and save Bertha for a night other than the night before the big race trip. Getting up at 5:30am and walking back in the door at 9:15pm makes for a looong day.
Looking forward to trying out the Atlantic Series in a couple weeks, they race bikes on Sat., and returning to Round #5 of the PA Series - Foot of the Mountain! (Again)

PA State Series Round #4 Information

What: Round #4 Foot of the Mountain - Neelytown, PA

When: This Sunday May 7th / 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 raod on your left

Pit Fee: $10

Round #3 Race Recap

Hurricane Hills in Clifford, Pa hosted the third round of the PA State Harescramble Series this past Sunday. Torrential downpours Saturday left conditions for Sunday’s race, to say the least, dreadful. Hurricane Hills is already known for its difficult uneven terrain and rocky conditions, with rain it just made matters worse. The track consisted of: rocks, mud, boulders, deep whoops, slick tree roots, more boulders, hill climbs, downhill’s, soupy mud, and even downed riders who seemed to fall victims to all of thee above.
The rain held up for the whole morning until we were sitting on the starting line. It started to drizzle when the flag was about to drop for the first line. Every class was in the same boat with our bikes stuck in the soupy mud at the starting line. When we were warming up our bikes I did a practice start and my boot actually was getting stuck in the mud like a suction cup.
I got the best start of my career, took the holeshot and didn’t look back for the rest of the motocross track. The motocross track was extremely slick on the lines and if you got beyond that the mud was super thick. I lead the pack around the motocross track and then headed up the mountain into the woods. At first glance the track appeared to be in okay shape. I felt good with the lead and tried to flow where I could. Some sections you had to just take one step at a time because they required some special attention. All of the uphills were particularly difficult due to being whooped out and the amount of exposed boulders and tree roots. Once completing a lap the whole track changed. With the surroundings being as they were they lead to numerous open lines and some of the more popular ones had ruts about 3 feet deep. So basically you were dealing with the deep rut, the slick tree roots that could wash your front wheel out on and the slick boulders that could spin you upside-down if you tried to crack your throttle. Oh yeah did I mention that in some spots you had to go up a huge vertical hill and try and not hit the tress on it?
The track reached up and got me on the second lap; I got squirrelly on an up hill and put the front wheel into a tree. My bike feel over and so did I, but I recovered quickly and tried to get back on pace. What hurt the most when I fell was seeing the second and third riders, which I was holding off for two laps, pass me.
As the race continued to progress the track conditions continued to get poorer. More ruts, more boulders, more tree roots, more riders in the way, and more mud from water running down the mountain. I got a little bit of arm pump when trying to push my way back up to the top of the pack but after it faded I was really working the track, picking awesome lines and flowing where I could. On the last lap I pushed even harder and it wasn’t till about a quarter mile was left when I saw someone in my class in front of me. With circumstances the way they were I was a little uneasy pushing so hard but I was going to fall or I was going to pass him. I was running outta time with only about three turns left. Just before going down the last down hill I was going to make an inside move but the other rider cut off the inside and with my momentum I took it outside. I gassed it down the hill to get in front of him and then threw it into the burm at the bottom. I went back into the woods and was on the gas, when we came out the checkered was 30 yards away and I held him off. When I stopped at the barrel a second later he slammed into my back tire in disgust. Turns out it was Broc, who came in second overall in the series last year. Yeah it was the guy who I battled with for second place last year so it kind felt good to give it to him right at the end. That’s racing...Broc took third while I took 2nd place!
The seasons resumes in two weeks at a more difficult track, Foot of the Mountain. Hopefully it will just be difficult and not insanely difficult if it rains.Thanks to Bub for showing up and seeing how it all goes down. Maybe next time he won’t wear his nice moccasins so that way he can get in the woods and see what it’s really about. With any luck he’ll be out there with us soon!?

PA State Series Round #3 Information

What: Round #3 Hurrican Hills - Clifford, PA

When: This Sunday April 23th / Race Starts 11:30am

Where: Directions - Take PA Turnpike - NE Extension to Route 81 to Exit 206 (Old Exit 63), Lenoxville. Take route 374 East to Route 106 East, go 3 miles to the track.

Pit Fee: $10

Round #2 Race Recap

Flying Dutchmen hosted Round # 2 of the PA State Harescramble Series this past Sunday and let me tell you it was a perfect day for racing. Conditions were much better than the preceding Round #1 two weeks prior, late showers during the week left the remains of a loamy track for race day. Some would argue and say muddy, but with soft soil and some puddles laying on the track it made for some nice lines that formed quickly. I would bet and also say that some would argue with soft, due to the loads of rocks that are supposedly “shipped in.” When it comes down to it, I thought the track was great besides the fact of it getting beat up a little bit by the end of the two hours.
I got a really good jump off the line and kept a good hard push the first few turns. Unlike last week I made it a point to remind myself to stay relaxed. The last thing I wanted was to get all pumped up again and ride over my race pace. And that is exactly what I did - stayed relaxed and set my pace. I felt good for the first lap and then my arms got a little tight for the second lap. I continued to push and it wasn’t long before my forearms were relaxed and started to loosen up. I maintained my focus for running “my race” but it didn’t take much to get sidetracked for a second. As I mentioned the track conditions were muddy and slick and just before the half way point I went down. After I regained my composure I was back on my pace pushing harder after the half way board was up. About a lap into the second hour I was racing hard with two other guys in my class. We had a good fight going on passing each other back and forth until about the third lap of the fight I made a pass and stuck to it. I stepped up my pace knowing that there was about a quarter of the race left. There were a lot of lappers on the track; one of the classes had 55 riders on the line. With such a good turn out for the day it only meant that there would be a lot more racing within the race. As the track got beaten down with deep ruts, braking bumps, and more exposed rocks, riders were begging to feel the wear of a two hour harescramble race. I began to feel a little fatigue myself as a result of giving it all I got for the last lap. With about 4 minutes left in the last lap I went down on a really tight turn. My front wheel rode up on the berm and got washed out because the end part of the berm broke away. By this time in the race I was spent and I had to pick up my mud caked bike, weighing about 300 pounds, with what little energy that I didn’t save for a situation like this. While picking my bike off the berm I placed my foot down to find that there was no ground for about 2 feet and I hit the dirt with the bike falling right on my leg. Again I got up and to make matters worse here comes the two riders that I worked so hard to pass for three laps, they passed me. I kicked my bike about 4 times and it finally started. I managed to find a little bit of strength to try and finish strong and I did. It turns out that I finished 5th in my class, which is good and bad in some aspects. It’s bad because I would have had 3rd considering that I made some little mistakes that cost me two positions on the last lap. It’s good to know that I can run with the top guys and I can disregard my worst outing at Round #1. It’s also good that I have my confidence back and it’s even better that Round #3 is at Hurricane Hills. It’s closer to a true haresrcamble track and in two weeks we are really going to find out how prepared I am.
D. Haggs Sr. also ran at Dutchmen putting in a good race even though he was sick all week long. Unlike myself he would defiantly disagree when I say that track conditions were ideal. He put in his laps and finished 14th in his class, staying consistent in both rounds. DHaggs Harescramble Racing continues in two weeks for the PA State Harescramble Series Round #3 at Hurricane Hills in Clifford, Pa. Until then it is back in the gym and back in the saddle this weekend for practice. I would like to thank Mary Anne, Sean, and Logue for making an appearance this past weekend. It was nice to see you all at trackside and it was nice to have photos available for all too see on the site. Thanks again…

Round #2 Pics

DHaggs #925

DHaggs Sr. #99

Photos By: Mary Anne Wade

PA State Series Round #2 Information

What: Round #2 Flying Dutchmen MC - Pine Grove, PA

When: This Sunday April 9th / Race starts 11:45

Where: Directions - TAKE 309 NORTH to I-78 WEST. CONTINUE ON I-78 WEST TO EXIT 19 (STRAUSSTOWN). MAKE RIGHT OFF THE EXIT RAMP ONTO RT 183 NORTH. CONTINUE ON RT 183 NORTH FOR APPROX. 6 MILES TO BLINKING YELLOW LIGHT. MAKE A LEFT ONTO RT 895 WEST. CONTINUE ON 895 WEST FOR APPROX. 6 MILES TO FDMC ON THE LEFT. (Approximately 1hour and 15minutes from Horsham Area)

Pit Fee: $10

Round #1 Race Recap

Well for my first race in the new class and on my new bike, I must say that I am a little disappointed in the results. Everything about race day was perfect except for the race it’s self. The track was as dry as I had ever seen it, hard as a rock and flat. Every single time that I have raced at Flying Dutchmen it has been a slop fest – not this time. The weather was great, partly cloudy all day with a nice crisp wind to keep you alert. I got an okay start, probably in the top ten in the first corner. There were 29 guys in my class so being in the top half at the start sure does eliminate some hard work throughout the race. I wasn’t even through the first lap and I got the worst case of arm pump. I kept pushing hard hoping that it would work its way out of my forearms; I think that only made it worse. For those of you who don’t know, arm pump is like getting shin splits but in your forearms. Kinda hurts a little considering that you have to try and hold on to that bike. Keep in mind that your forearms are taking the brunt of it. I wasn’t riding to my potential and the first half of the race I was worrying about my arms instead of the racing. About 1 lap past the half way point the arm pump started to fade and I found my groove. If I were in my old class I may have been able to make up some ground but the guys this year are way too fast. I felt really good the second half of the race and the track was finally starting to develop some good lines. I pushed and flowed through lapped traffic but riders in my class were no where to be found. I went through the barrels after the white flag and probably put in my fastest lap of the day. When I came around to see the checkered I knew that it was too little too late and I ended up finishing in 14th place. Flying Dutchmen is known for being a motocross style harescramble track so there were motocross guys who know that track better than anyone. I’ll have to put in a better effort next weekend and start off the race at my pace and try and relax a bit. As far as my class goes, I’ll get a better understanding of where I stand when we reach Round #3 at Hurricane Hills- a much more realistic harescramble track.
D. Haggs Sr. made an impressive showing at Round #1 finishing 19th in his class. His line was packed from one side of the start to the other. He looked good in his new gear and when I had the opportunity to pass him he was showing good technique and better conditioning. His last lap was a little more enjoyable this time around. Hopefully he can keep up the good work for the remainder of the season!
As for now it is back in the gym and on the bike this weekend to get read for Round #2 which is hosted by Flying Dutchmen again on the 9th of April. I will hope to have a better race recap for you then.I would like to thank Kenny and Mike for making it to the race. Kenny snapped some good action shots which can be found in the post just below this one. Thanks again…

Round #1 Pics

#99 D. Haggs SR.

#925 D.Haggs JR.

Photos By: Kenny Gogolin

PA State Series Round #1 Information

What: Round #1 Flying Dutchmen MC - Pine Grove, PA

When: This Sunday March 26th / Race starts 11:45

Where: Directions - TAKE 309 NORTH to I-78 WEST. CONTINUE ON I-78 WEST TO EXIT 19 (STRAUSSTOWN). MAKE RIGHT OFF THE EXIT RAMP ONTO RT 183 NORTH. CONTINUE ON RT 183 NORTH FOR APPROX. 6 MILES TO BLINKING YELLOW LIGHT. MAKE A LEFT ONTO RT 895 WEST. CONTINUE ON 895 WEST FOR APPROX. 6 MILES TO FDMC ON THE LEFT. (Approximately 1hour and 15minutes from Horsham Area)

Pit Fee: $10

2006 Schedule

Date - Event - *Series - Results

*National Events in Red

March 26 Flying Dutchmen *PA Series Round 1 14th Place

April 9 Flying Dutchmen *PA Series Round 2 5th Place
April 23 Hurricane Hills *PA Series Round 3 2nd Place

May 7 Foot of the Mountain *PA Series Round 4 2nd Place

June 4 Foot of the Mountain *PA Series Round 5 4th Place

June 25 Back Mountain *PA Series Round 6 or 3rd Place

July 23 Rausch Creek - *National Harescramble & *PA Series Round 7 3rd Place
August 19 Skippak *District 6 4th Place

September 3 Foot of the Mountain *PA Series Round 8 3rd Place

September 10 Back Mountain *PA Series Round 9 Cancelled
September 17 Rausch Creek *PA Series Round 10 3rd Place
September 24 Unadilla *GNCC 13th Place (Out of 51 riders)

October 1 Hurricane Hills *PA Series Round 11 2nd Place

October 8 Power Line *GNCC 19th Place (Out of 31 riders)

October 15 Meteor MC - *National Harescramble 2nd Place

Here We Go Again!!!

It has been a long winter, a warmer than average, but still long. I hope that everyone had a good holiday season and you enjoyed the little bit of snow that fell. Like myself, I am sure that you are all anticipating spring. Spring for me is that time of year again – race time! I have been working hard this winter to be able to shoot for the same results that I enjoyed this past season. I again would like to thank my sponsors and everyone else who made the whole year possible. With out you all I would have never been able to accomplish my goals or finish 3rd in the PA State Harescramble Series. Although it was not my primary goal, I managed to finish 3rd in the AMA District 6 Series on top of my state honors. It was a very proud moment for me accepting my awards at the banquets knowing that I was just fortunate to be able to compete and overcome the hardships all year long. So I would like to thank you all again.
Having said that lets look forward to this years season. I switched bikes, I am no longer on Suzuki, and I am now part of the KTM family. The bike is great and I have been riding almost every week this winter, weather permitting, trying to get it dialed in and ready for this season. I still have a bit more testing with it before I will feel comfortable on it for the first round. I know that my program last year produced acceptable results and with my new ride under me I anticipate another solid season. The only change that I cannot control is my new class that I have advanced to (201- Open B Class). The competition is going to be tough knowing that the other top guys from last years class also advanced. Not to mention the riders who may not have advanced in the B class from last season. They have a year experience of running in that class and know what kind of pace is set. I am just looking to stay consistent and competitive this year. I am really excited to see where I stand after the time I have been putting in this off season.
In addition to the PA State Harescramble Series I am also going to be using other series as filler races to get more experience and see how I am stacking up to other competition. A new series, The Mid-Atlantic, it will be interesting to see how they make out in their first year. They race on Saturdays so for some of you who have trouble coming on Sundays it will be more accommodating for you. ECEA is a tough respected series expanding over 3 states. Then there is the most prestigious off-road series in the United States – GNCC. In addition to Unadilla I hope to make another trip to The Wisp, depending on how tight the points are in the PA State series. Both The Wisp and a PA State round fall on the same weekend.
I am overly excited about this upcoming season and I look forward to seeing the regulars, Jimmy B in the pits more, and some new faces trackside this year. It is shaping up to be a interesting season so stay up to date and make it a date to come out and enjoy some action packed harescramble racing.

This Years Weapon of Choice

2006 KTM XC-W 250

2006 Season Update (Coming Soon)

New season, new bike, new class, new plate color, new trailer, new attitude, new conditioning program, new schedule......updates coming soon!

Happy Holidays!!!

From DHaggsHarescramble Racing:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

and a

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

2005 Final Overall Standings

PA State Harescramble Series Final Points Standings

http://www.harescrambleracing.com/data/2005PAPoints/PAMotorcyles_files/sheet003.htm

District 6 Harescramble Series Final Points Standings

http://harescrambleracing.com/data/2005D6Points/05District6Motorcycles_files/sheet002.htm

2006 Class Advancements

http://www.harescrambleracing.com/html/body_2006_advancements.html

GNCC Final Point Standings - National 250C

http://www.gnccracing.com/results/2005/seriespoints.asp?s=4&c=27

Thanks again for all of your support throughout the 2005 season!!!

For Sale - 2004 Suzuki RM 250

*For Sale*
2004 Suzuki RM 250cc
ONLY $3,800

Extras Include:
Pro Taper Bars (Grips and Dough-nuts)
Acerbis Handgaurds
Clarke Over-sized Tank
Front Disk Guard
Michellin Tires (MH3 Front and Rear)
Excel Rims
Carbon Fiber Pipe Guard
Pro Circut Works Pipe and Exhaust
Uni Air filter
Renthal Sprockets and Chain
TM Design Chain Guide
Stealthy Flywheel Weight
2005 Graphics
Works Connection Skid Plate

This machine is ready to ride with well over $2,000 in extras put into the bike. On a motocross track it dominates and on the trails it is intimidating. Tires only have 3 rides on them. I have no complaints with this bike it went above and beyond my expectations, good for a beginner rider and a steal for an expert. It will be hard to see it go but it must go now! It is located in Montgomery County, if you or anyone you know is interested please e-mail me at dhaggs18@yahoo.com or call me at 215-720-4982. As soon as technical difficulties are settled with my computer this bike will be on e-bay so act now before you have to play the bidding game. Thank You!

Final Recaps Coming Soon!

I just wanted to let you know that the final Round (#12) of the PA State Series will be recaped as well as the final 2005 season. I am in the process of moving and when my system is up and running again I will post as soon as possible. Thank you for all of your support throughout the season! I am looking forward to next year.

National Harescramble Results

For the final results please click on the link below:

Meteor National Harescramble

Classes:
Dennis Haggerty Jr. (201-Open C)
Dennis Haggerty Sr. (Senior C)

National Harescramble Information

Click on the flyer for all of the information for this upcoming weekend for Round #10 of the National Harescramble Series.

*I will race - (11:00 - Novice Event Sunday, October 16th)

Flying Dutchmen Race Recap

Due to insane speed the photographer was unable to catch a tranquil shot of the rider pictured above. No need to adjust your computer, he is really going that fast!

Muddy would be an understatement, it was just downright nasty. Although Pine Grove, PA didn’t get the same flooding downpours as Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, they did get quite a bit of rain. As you can imagine the track was, to simply put it – sloppy. It was nice that the rain held off for race day because that would have just made matters worse. This was no perfect day for racing like it was the previous week at Hurricane Hills; this was just the opposite. The forecast didn’t damper too many racers spirits with a little less than average showing. There were 22 in my class and that is just around the average. Flying Dutchmen made some track changes that were nice, I probably could have raced the old track with my eyes closed. Although there really isn’t much you can do with a flat field but put more turns in it and add some rocks. The start was probably the coolest part of the track because formerly it was a fairly long straight but now it was twice as long, easily about a hundred yards. It is a fast paced track basically all motocross with some woods sections, nothing that would stand up to a true harescramble. I got a good start probably about 5th and by the 2nd turn I was running in 3rd. I felt as if I were in third for the whole race, there was so much mud I guess I couldn’t tell if someone in my class was passing me. I did have some good battles with the number one rider overall in my class for a couple laps. He had gone down and then I passed him and then he passed me back and I trailed for a couple miles till the second to last lap when I finally made the move. We came through the barrels and got the white flag, he was hot on my tail and I got out of a rut into some soupy mud and he made the move on the inside. There was only a couple miles left in the last lap and I just couldn’t find the speed to catch him. He took an unusual 4th and I followed behind him in 5th for the day. I felt good about the race overall because I made minimal mistakes and I pushed hard the whole 2 hours. Hopefully for the last and final round we will have fair conditions so that the three of us who are in the points lead can have a good battle for one final time. This weekend it is off to NJ for the final round of the National Harescramble Series, the same series that I raced in at Good Springs, Pa where I took first place. Then there is one final round remaining in the PA State Series and that is also at Flying Dutchmen on the 23 of October.

I have been racing now for 6 weekend straight and I am tired, my bike is beat, money is thin and if I had the chance…I would do it for 6 more! This is racing…

Hurricane Hills Race Recap

One of the worst races of my career and I still managed to pull of a top 5 finish. Hurricane Hills hosted Round # 10 of the PA State Harescramble Series on what seemed to be a perfect day for racing. All riding conditions were ideal and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
The race started on a bad note when I got a terrible jump on the start, probably my worst one this year. I was well into the pack as we came around the first few turns. I quickly carried a fast pace on the first lap tying to release some tension regarding my horrid start. The track was fast and shorter than most, probably around the 3-4 mile mark. It wasn’t till about mid way through the race that my left side back muscles from my hip to my shoulder blade started to pull. Certain sections of the track were used in the previous races this year and they were really whooped out. I tried to get back on pace and just when I started to feel good again I began to feel sick to my stomach. I fell off pace again contemplating if I should just pull off the track and stop. I knew that the race was almost over so about half way through the second to last lap I pulled over in the woods and got sick, drank some water and then got back on the bike to finish. I tried to make up the ground that I lost but it was hard on such a short track. I felt better than I did before stopping so I took the white flag when I came around and gave it all I had on the last lap. I honestly didn’t think that I broke into the top ten but sure enough when I wasn’t hurting I must have been moving because I took 5th place. Not bad for having the one of my worst races all year.I had fun though and that is what it’s all about. It was especially nice to see my good buddy Logue out there cheering me on. He had a workout himself, helping riders that magically make their bike disappear and want help getting back on the right side of the stone wall. We had a great trip, good food, nice company, a beautiful day, and action paced racing. I want to thank Logue for “seeing what it’s all about,” my Dad for getting my bike ready, and Biggs for letting us stay at his house so that we didn’t have to make that long haul Sunday morning. Only 2 rounds left and they are at Flying Dutchmen, a great spectator track might I add. It is a great fight that myself and an other rider are showcasing for 2nd place overall in the PA State, looks like it is going to come down to the final rounds.

Unadilla - Biggest GNCC Ever!

Unadilla Valley Sports Center waited nearly 40 years to hold an off-road race, and it was worth the wait for the 1700 racers who took to the course over an action-packed weekend. With two full motocross tracks and miles of New York woods, hills and mud thrown in the race, the Unadilla round of the Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series was a true test for everyone.

The Unadilla GNCC offered all of the thrills of the legendary motocross track combined with rough and rugged GNCC terrain. Rain early in the morning turned a dusty track into a muddy one, but then it dried out to leave perfect traction. It led to great racing.

*KTM’s ten-time world enduro champion Juha Salminen said “It was rough, I liked the track, but it was very tough. There were so many riders out there."

*Two full-time pro motocrossers tried the event and did well, Ithaca, New York’s Paul Carpenter and Skaneateles, New York’s Bobby Kiniry. After bad starts, they both pulled through, with Carpenter in 14th overall and Kiniry in 17th.
“Man, that was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” said Carpenter. “I have tons of respect for these guys. There were so many ruts and roots, I couldn’t believe we had to ride a motorcycle over it, and especially not race over it! But I had fun. - GNCC News

My whole GNCC experience was one of the greatest weekends of my life! I want to thank my Dad and Jimmy B for renewing the memories from 20+ years ago.

We arrived Friday night and awoke Saturday to ideal racing conditions….blue skies temperatures in the 70’s and a loamy race track. We hiked the 10-mile loop that awaited 1700 racers for the historic weekend. Needless to say it was not a walk in the park, after all this is GNCC, the biggest and most prestigious off road racing series in the country. After making our way back to our campsite we watched more of the ATV’s and Juniors rip their way around the coarse. An exquisite pre-race day meal and it was off to a good nights sleep. When I awoke on race day/my birthday, I was bummed to see dark cloudy skies. On such a day I would let the situation get me down, but ohhhhh, this is not any ordinary day. I had another superb pre-race meal and it was time to get ready. Just when I was gearing up the skies opened up and it began to pour. There was no stopping the race so it was Jimmy B and his rain jacket to the rescue. After my Dad went to peruse the starting line he hurried back to tell me to finish getting ready because it was “packed.” I think packed was an understatement because there were 611 rides preparing to test the challenging Unadilla track – and no, the rain in no way helped. Just prior to the first line taking off the rain began to slow and then there was ten seconds till my line was off and running. 71 other riders were in my class and we all were focusing on the first turn. I got a good start probably in the top 15 and held that position heading into the woods. The woods section was so rough and like the pros said, there were too many people. Technical sections turned into bottlenecks, which prevented anyone from trying to set a pace for the 2-hour duration. Mud, rocks, roots, off cambers, up hills, down hills, and then you were released onto the famous Unadilla Motocross track. Unfortunately from all of the rain it made the racetrack very slick. I wasn’t able to charge the track like I had anticipated the night before. It surely was an honor to just be able to ride on the track and let me say that all of those pro guys make it look so easy. The track is beautiful and I hope there are better conditions next year, but then again it could have been a lot worse. I tried to set a good pace when I could and overall I was happy with my performance. I held onto 17th out of the 71 other racers on my line which gave me a 112th overall finish of the 611 racers that rode in the morning race.
Following the amateur race were the pros and they go for three hours instead of two. After rejuvenating myself and cleaning up the sloppy mud Jimmy B, my Dad, and I set out to watch some of the fastest riders in the country. There are simply amazing and it is even more amazing that they run that pace for three hours. I guess I’ll know what that feels like next year. Not surprisingly it was Juha Salminen who handled it best, turning Unadilla into Junadilla . The big race was over and our campsite was ready to be torn down. We headed back south to PA and ended up crashing at Biggs’s house to split up the long haul home. I had such an amazing time and I am glad that I have another weekend of memories to add to the Unadilla vault.Focus moves back to the PA State Harescramble Series this weekend with Hurricane Hills hosting Round #10.

History in the Making!

Suzuki GNCC Series Coming to Unadilla this Weekend
Famed motocross track set to host its first-ever off-road race.
- press release -

New Berlin, NY – After nearly 40 years of racing, the famed Unadilla Valley Sports Center is about to enter a new era, as the Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series’ presents the first-ever Unadilla GNCC on September 24 and 25. This will mark the first off-road race of its kind ever held at the track, and the combination of two motocross tracks and New York’s toughest woods should make for an unforgettable weekend of action.

“We’re really excited about this. In fact, we can’t wait,” says Greg Robinson of Unadilla Valley Sports Center. “We’re going to use both motocross tracks, the original pro track and the U2 amateur track designed by Doug Henry, as well as all the hard woods, swamps and trails.”
Over 1500 riders are expected to take to the famous track over the weekend, including motorcycle, ATV and youth racers.

It will take a truly versatile rider to handle such a variety of terrain – fast, wide-open motocross tracks and tight, technical woods. Spectators and riders will get a first-hand look at all of it. Riders in all classes will get a shot at the track, and fans are free to explore the expansive facility all weekend long – including the numerous jumps, mud holes and hill climbs.

UNADILLA GNCC This Weekend!!!!!!

By Jason Weigandt
Unadilla Valley Sports Center may be the most storied motocross facility in America – if not the world. The Robinson family has been running races there since 1968, and they’ve all been big ones, like Trans-AMA events, the United States Grand Prix and the Motocross des Nations. And all of those events have made the track a legend. The big hills, black dirt, natural jumps like Gravity Cavity, the Skyshot and the Wall, it’s all a part of American motocross lore.But now Unadilla is about to be a part of more history. Next weekend, the Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series marches into Unadilla Valley Sports Center. It’s the first off-road race of its kind at the ‘Dilla, and the course will pair the original Unadilla pro motocross track, as well as the U2 amateur course, with some hardcore woods trails.When it’s over next weekend, it may turn out to be the ultimate GNCC event. For more info, we turned to Greg Robinson, who runs the facility with the help of his family.

Greg, This is a real opportunity. People are going to get to ride on the real Unadilla pro track, as well as the amateur track.
Yes. Absolutely.

Wow! So what kind of terrain will the woods have? The motocross tracks are well-known, but what else is there?
There’s a lot of neat, open hard woods, and then it goes into some swamps and brush. There should be a rail road track section, too. Jeff Russell and I were talking about it. There’s an old railroad that hasn’t been used since the early 1900’s, so they’re well grown over. That should be neat. It goes right along the river that runs along our property. So, I expect some real tight woods racing. There’s a lot of woods. We’re looking at 6 – 8 miles of woods as well as our motocross track. We haven’t laid the track out yet, it just depends on what kind of mileage we can get. But the woods, they will be great, lots of tight trees and hills and swamps.

This sounds like fun, then. People in this area have been dying to race a GNCC, the GNCC regulars have been dying to get on that track, and then it sounds like the rest of the place, the woods and all, should be good.
This isn’t a motocross track where we threw in some woods. This is a woods race with the motocross tracks, but they’re big tracks. You know what the terrain is like on the motocross track, well, the woods should have some really tough terrain, like big hills and stuff like that. I think we’re going to do well. We have some big clubs here. The two local clubs here have well over 600 members, and they feel like they’re going to have a pretty big turnout, and if we have that with your regulars, well, we might have to hold a three-day event!

Rausch Creek Recap

It was another beautiful day for hare scramble racing in Pennsylvania. Round #9 of the PA State Harescramble Series was held in Tremont, Pa. Rausch Creek was highly anticipated by many of the riders and the coarse did not disappoint. The park officials used their rugged technical rocky woods section with their vertical down and up hills, along with the natural MX track, which twist and turns through a natural ravine.
Before the race even started I was in good spirits thanks to the jovial pit crew that came out to see some racing. It was nice seeing some familiar faces rooting me on from the trackside. Al, Scott, Lil’Scotty, Dave, Tina, and Cheri seemed to be all over the track pushing me to keep my pace.
The start was short but I managed to get into the first turn 4th and after a section of the natural track we headed into the woods and I squeezed into third. The coarse had some of the most technical sections that I have ever ridden in and some nice long fire roads where I was pushing the rpm’s in 5th gear. As the race went on the one-line sections got really chewed up exposing more boulders and random tree roots and branches. The overall coarse could have been a little bit longer with the amount of trails they had to work with. It seemed as if they put you in the woods and they one lined you to all of the technical sections on the mountain and then some fire road and then you were out again. There were some really steep up and down hills. The biggest up hill that was back there is what separated me from the 1 and 2 spot. On the first lap there was at least 5 or 6 guys, from the previous class, already stuck on the hill and 1 and 2 just snuck up the hill while I creeped my way to the top, barely making it. By the time I got to the top they were nowhere in site so I just stayed on my pace for the rest of the race. I didn’t see anyone in front of me and nobody passed me the whole race. I felt good; it was a fast track so I managed to fit in 8 laps in 2 hours and 4 minutes. Good enough for third place. I will take an other podium spot, and I will take any race where I walk away and I don’t have to shell out money for something damaged on my bike. It was a great race and I would just like to thank every one who came out to enjoy it with me.
This weekend is UNADILLA – GNCC!!!!!! More to follow….
P.S.- Video will be up sometime this week, my host site is temporarily down.

New Sponsorship!!!

Spectro Oils has selected me to represent their company for the remainder of the 2005 and the 2006 race season. The contract is for a co-support sponsorship which will help me get Spectro products at racer support costs. I am very grateful for the opportunity to help promote their product and in exchange Spectro's quality oils and products will help me become a more successful racer and produce the best results possible. For high quality products and oils check out www.goldenspectro.com

Round #9 Information

What: Round #9 Rausch Creek Motorsports Park - Tremont, PA

When: This Sunday the 18th of September/ Race starts approx. at 11:00

Where: Directions: 309 North to I-78 West to Rt61 North to 183 West to 209 West to 901 N (Take 901 N through the town of Tremont and when you see I-81 about 200 yards in front of you the park is on your Right)

Pit Fee:? (Most likely $10)

Back Mountain (Round #8) Recap

What a remarkable day for racing! I cannot think of a better way to put it considering it was definitely better than I am about to describe it. Back Mountain hosted Round # 8 of the PA State Harescramble Series. The weather, the track, the results and the whole day in general was incredible. When Back Mountain hosted Round #6 back in June the weather was dry, hot (102degrees) and dust was a big factor. Being blessed with the weather we have been having both my Dad, who was back in racing action, and I knew that the dust was going to be a factor. When we arrived we had noticed that the coarse had been changed a great deal and the crew at Back Mountain was well aware that it was going to be dusty. With track changes, water trucks, and some good use of hay I would have to admit that they did all that they could and to say the least it was an awesome effort.
The track it’s self was awesome, the guys there definitely know how to lay out an impressive Harescramble track. The event is located right next to the river on a topsoil farm in Dallas, Pa. Compared to other tracks they have more of an availability of land so the coarse stretched to about 8 miles. Beautiful terrain that was rock and boulder free, just some high-speed field sections, sandy straight aways, and some tight technical wood sections. Dust was issue on some sections of the track but nothing compared to what it should and could have been.
Unlike my Dad I got a terrible start. They wrapped the start to the left right around all of the riders on the start and then dove into the woods. I guess seeing my dad go around me in the front of the pack got me all distracted. At Back Mountain they do an old fashioned start where you have to stand in front of the bike and then hurry around it, get on, start it, and then off you go. Well to make up for time you should have your kick-starter out so that way you just have to get on and kick, well – I forgot to pull mine out. I lost a lot of time and probably went into the woods well in the back of the pack. There were 37 riders in my class so you could say that I had my work cut out for me. I didn’t get to upset that I got a bad start, I just said, “okay, here we go,” and just started picking guys off. When I went through the scanner tent after the first lap I was surprised that I worked my way up to 6th. I kept at it and for the next two laps I held 5th until the second to last lap when I approached someone in my class. I was on his tail in a dusty section and instead of slowing down, because I couldn’t see where I was going, I followed him up a hill climb that had some super deep sand. He got squirrelly and stuck on the hill and since I couldn’t see where to go I went down but the bike kept running so I got back on an found my way up the rest of the hill. I was fired up and caught back up to him just before we went through the scanner tent for the last lap. While I waited a second for him to get scanned I saw on the computer that he was in 3rd, which meant I was in 4th. This was racing at it’s finest, gunning for that podium position with 8 miles in front of you to make the pass, try to pull away, and not make any mistakes. That’s just what I did….we battled for a good 4 miles side by side each one of us making moves to shut the other down. I made a good tight pass and made sure that I would stay in front of him. I finished the last half of the lap mistake free and held on for a 3rd place finish. I proceeded back to the pits after I went through the tent and my Dad was there talking with some riders. He was wondering where I was and why I didn’t pass him. I guess since he was riding his new KTM that he thought that he was on some rocket bike? I reminded him that passed him on the first lap while he was in a good battle himself. He finished 8th on the day, yes –again. That’s why he still maintains the nickname “crazy eights.”
I felt great the whole race and went as fast as I could for the whole two hours at a pace that I have not raced at before. My Dad felt good as well since his bike is now 47lbs lighter so congrats to him for making it the whole two hours. Hopefully we can keep this good momentum into next week for Round # 9 at Rausch Creek.
P.S.- Sorry that there is no video or pics, I gave the camera crew off for the day.

Round #8 Information

BACK MOUNTAIN

What: Round # 8 Back Mountain Enduro Riders Club - Dallas,PA

When: This Sunday September 11th/Race Starts at 11:00

Where: Directions - I-476 NORTH to BEAR CREEK/WILKES-BARRE, exit #105, take a left onto PA-115 North. At the bottom of the mountain take Exit 1 (Rt 315 & 315 bus). This ramp will end take a right follow the To 81 signs. At the light take a left and stay on the lane from the ramp. This will put you on Interstate 81 South. Interstate 81 to Exit 164 (Nanticoke, old exit 44) to Route 29 North five miles to Route 11 North. The track is about 200 yards on your right.

Pit Fee: $10

Foot of the Mountain Video/Recap

Click on the screen above. When the page loads click on This Media Files URL: Link under the black screen and the video will start to play.

Race Recap: Well Round # 6 of the PA State Harescramble Series turned out to be a good bad day. The good part of the bad day was that I made it to the checkered flag, walked away from the race and I don’t have to put any money into my bike. The bad part of the day is that I finished 6th. First of all I want to thank my “Dad” mechanic and Bromley’s for making sure that I got my bike back together in time by the race on Sunday. In less than one week I sent out my rear suspension to get it rebuilt and have new linkage bearings put in so that I could race my bike. If I wasn’t able to get my bike ready in time I would have had to race my dads DRZ400 and that baby would have been a tank out there. Luckily I have good people around me and their hard work was definitely appreciated.

I was super confident that I was going to put in a good two hours because I loved the track last time I raced there. Since the last race the track owners totally switch the whole track around, making it a track where only the tough will survive. Let me see there were rocks, rocks and more rocks. The track was super rough with tons of new trail and tight single track. About a quarter of the track is on a hilly farm field which makes for a nice break from the abusive trails in the woods but since the track was so dry the promoters shut down that section of the track due to dusting out the neighbors. That left the riders with a non-stop beat down up and down the mountain. I got an okay start, as you can see it was so dry that riders were fishtailing all over the place so it made it hard to get into that first turn and battle it out. I went into the woods 4th and on the first lap a got a little squirrelly on a rock uphill and stalled and two riders who were trailing me passed me. I tried to keep a good pace but parts of the track would easily take you out of your rhythm due to the technical rocky sections. I tried to flow like I did at the previous race but this track was much more unforgiving. Physically I felt good except for my blistered hands due to trying to hold on from the super bumpy terrain. My lower back took a few jolts from some of the boulders up in the trail. Other than that my spirits were low but let me remind you as I did myself, that there is 7 more weeks of racing and if anything I am more fired up to work harder and put in better laps to get more points. I still hold second overall and I intend too.

I will say that my buddy Kevin Schuler was parked next to me in the pits and he gave me some encouraging words. He is ranked 68th in the country, yeah so he is really good/fast. You can catch a glimpse of him in the video; I really wasn’t that close to him either, I just edited it like that. I look forward to hang’n out with him at the big GNCC race at Unadilla later in the month. Next Week: Back Mountain = back to podium!

PA Series Points Updated!!!

After weeks of anticipation the overall points for the PA State Harescramble Series have been updated and it appears that my guesstamate seems to be correct. After finishing the first half of the season up strong I have taken over the 2nd place slot. I have a total of 40 points, which puts me 28pts behind the leader and 9pts ahead of third place. Prior to the end of the first half of the season I knew that the points leader was way out in front. My intentions for the second half were to distance myself from the third place rider and try to hold on to 2nd for the overall. I now would like to say that after a great summer break and a first place finish at a National Harescramble I am going to try my best and give the points leader a run for his money, show him a tire, so to speak. The next two months are going to be extremely hard and I hope that my bike and myself hold up. With 8 races in 8 straight weekends, and traveling all over Pennsylvania and parts of New York, the second half of the season is going to be a great test of endurance on the rider, bike, and gas money. I anticipate seeing my friends and family that are going to come out and see what it is that I have been working so hard for. See you at the races… Here’s to an even better second half of the season!

1st Place @ National Harescramble!!!!!

Well I finally pulled off a #1 for the day, and man does it feel good! I would have never thought that it would happen at a National race. Since the PA season has been on summer break, I thought that this would be an excellent race to get under my belt before the second half of the season starts. The Unadilla GNCC is approaching and I also wanted to get on a professional track just to get an idea of how insane these pro guys are. Just let me say that after I registered I opened my riders pack, which gives you information about the day and some other series, and I saw that the track was 14 miles long – yes that is one lap! Rausch Creek sponsored the race but it was held in between Rausch Creek and Tower City in a location called Good Springs. There was nothing good about it besides seeing the scanning tent (finish) on the last lap. On a PA State Series track which range from 6 to 8 miles I do 6,7 or 8 laps, well for the National I completed 2. Considering that the pro riders did 3 I didn’t feel that bad. This National is known for being one of the roughest on the coarse and boy does it live up to its reputation. The terrain was some of the most dangerous, fun, rocky, and challenging obstacles that I have ever ridden through. To put it into words to someone who doesn’t ride would be as follows – It’s like riding through Hell for 2 hours. So that sums up the coarse, now onto how fast the pro guys are. It was pretty cool lining up right behind the biggest names in the sport when you watch them on TV every week. Let me be the first to tell you that the television does them no justice. They are so fast that you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. The head of the pack caught up to me with just about a quarter of my race to go and you would have thought that they were racing on blacktop. They were going as fast as I do on an open straightaway and there were rocks, roots, ruts, more rocks, hills and tree stumps in the way and they were riding like there was nothing there. They are just unbelievable! I have to say that my bike was unbelievable and my Dad did a great job on it. I showed up Saturday night to pack my gear for the early start on Sunday and my bike was sitting there waiting for me. I didn’t have to do a thing and it was race ready. I loaded it up in the morning and beat the living garbage out of it on Sunday and it ran awesome. He will be returning to the PA circuit on the 11th of September at Back Mountain. The PA Series starts up again on the 4th of September and I will be at Foot of the Mountain. Racing this National was a great experience, my body will feel for the rest of the week but my mind will never forget it. Number One Baby!!!!!!

National Harescramble Information

What: AMA National Harescramble Series (Round #8) @ Rausch Creek - Tremont,PA

When: This Sunday August 14th/Race Starts at 9:30

Where: Directions - exit #107 from Interstate 81. Make a left at the end of the exit ramp and then follow the race signs to the location in Good Springs, you can't miss them.

Pit Fee: $10

Fall Schedule

PA State Series Harescramble Fall Schedule
September 4 @ Foot of the Mountain - PA Series Round 7
September 11 @ Back Mountain Enduro Riders - PA Series Round 8
September 18 @ Rausch Creek - PA Series Round 9
October 2 @ Hurricane Hills - PA Series Round 10
October 9 @ Flying Dutchmen - PA Series Round 11
October 23 @ Flying Dutchmen - PA Series Round 12

AMA National Harescrambles
August 14 @ Rausch Creek
October 16 @ Eagleswood, NJ

GNCC
September 24-25 @ Unadilla, NY


PA State Series Banquet
November 19th @ Flying Dutchmen MC

Fall Update!

Well the second half of the 2005 PA State Harescramble Championship Series is upon us and I can hardly wait. Yes the past month and a half was a nice break to get the bike back in shape and even let myself relax a bit. Now it is go time and the schedule is about as jam packed as it can get. This weekend the National Haresramble Series stops at Rausch Creek, PA. This will be a great learning experience for me and a good practice race to get me ready for Round #8 (PA State Series) at Foot of the Mountain on the 4th of September. When September hits I will be racing every weekend until the last weekend of October, that‘s two months straight! Right now I am so anxious and looking forward to having a great second half of the season to match the first half. I know that with the help of my sponsors, my (mechanic) pops working on my bike, Cheri, and the random spottings of Jimmy B working the pit board, this will be a great second half of the season. I am especially excited to race the GNCC at Unadilla, NY where my Dad would take my brother and I as kids. I have fond memories of this motocross mecca and I can’t believe that I am going to get to race on the same track that motocross legends have. Unadilla along with the 2005 Harescramble season will be a great experience. I am going to try my best to finish up strong and give it all I’ve got.

New Sponsorship!!!

ASV Inventions Inc. has selected me to represent their company for the remainder of the 2005 race season. The contract is for a Level-B co-support sponsorship which will help me get ASV products at racer support costs. I am grateful for the opportunity to help promote their product and in exchange ASV’s quality products will help me become a more successful racer and produce the best results possible. For high quality products backed with an unbreakable guarantee check out http://www.asvinventions.com

Back Mountain Round #6 Video

After you click on the video clip above another page will load. Simply look under the black video screen and you will see "This Media File's URL: LINK." Click on LINK and the video will start.

Here is the video of Round #6 at Back Mountain from this past Sunday the 26th of June. Thanks to Cheri for doing another great job of videotapping. You can also see DHaggs Sr. in action (#99). I have some new video editing software so bare with me while I get used to the new formaing. The descriptive text post of the race will be up shortly...it has been a crazy week.

Round #6 Information

Back Mountain

What: Round # 6 Back Mountain Enduro Riders Club - Dallas,PA

When: This Sunday June 26th/Race Starts at 11:00

Where: Directions - I-476 NORTH to BEAR CREEK/WILKES-BARRE, exit #105, take a left onto PA-115 North. At the bottom of the mountain take Exit 1 (Rt 315 & 315 bus). This ramp will end take a right follow the To 81 signs. At the light take a left and stay on the lane from the ramp. This will put you on Interstate 81 South. Interstate 81 to Exit 164 (Nanticoke, old exit 44) to Route 29 North five miles to Route 11 North. The track is about 200 yards on your right.

Pit Fee: $10

Points Update/Guesstamate

On the PA State Harescramble Series website I was listed as 4th in the State Series before updating the points from Foot of the Mountain (Round #4). Bromley's brought the updated points sheets with Round #4 added and posted them at the track yesterday and I was listed as 3rd in the State. Here is where the guesstamate comes in: I figure after the race yesterday I should move up to second because the rider currently in second place was a DNS (Did Not Start) so he unfortunately missed out on the double points race. The number one guy will be very hard to try and catch because he is well out in front so my objective is to keep racing consistently and put some space between myself and the 3rd place rider. I will give an update when they post the revised points standings.

1st Podium Finish @ Round # 5 !!!!!

When the video page loads simply click on This media file's URL: LINK which is underneath the video screen.

With temperatures in the mid-70's and periods of warm sunshine, somebody must have known that June 19th was Round # 5 of the PA State Harescramble Series held at Hurricane Hills in Clifford PA. Not only was the weather perfect but the track conditions were as well. Now I know that, "beggars can't be choosers," but all's the track needed was a little bit of rain on Saturday and the track would have been exceptional on Sunday. It was darn close to exceptional if motocross part of the track was a bit more moist to keep the dust down, needless to say the track was beautiful. I want to applaud B/P Promotions for really putting together a great harescramble track. Round # 3 was held at Hurricane Hills a couple of months ago and the changes in the track for Round # 5 were awesome.
I got a really good start, my new Michelin tires hooked up so well I sunk right into the dry dirt before I was out of the gate. When I got to the first turn I was third and as we went up the hill I made an inside move to take second. I held on to second through the first motocross section of the track, as you can see in the video. I was pumped to get a good start and I held onto that second place start for 2 laps into the race. At the end of the second lap arm pump settled in and I felt tired. I reached a really technical section and took a line that I do not usually take and I ended up going down. I was fortunate that my bike was not damaged because it was a really rocky section. I collected myself while a rider in my class passed me then I was back on the trail. For another half of lap I still felt the affect of arm pump and the crash. I don't know if my body was over the adrenaline of the first two laps but I all of a sudden felt great. Just before the half way mark in the race I felt so good despite the arm pump and energy wasted during the crash. From there on out I was really in a groove, I felt smooth and really in control of the track. Now that I had some idea of what to expect this time around, since I have raced here a could months ago, I found a nice pace for every lap and had a some finesse on the track. Instead of barging my way through the main trail I found some sweet lines that were smoother and less brutal. The second half of the race was really great, I put my head down and stayed smooth on the throttle. Some of the new sections that were put in started to expose rocks and tree roots from all of the riders ripping up the soil. Over the 2 hour period those roots and rocks get really slick and when you have to take a line in between two trees you don't have much room to be bouncing or slipping around.
I knew that it was getting close to the end of the race and as I came through the barrels I saw the white flag for one more lap. I made it a point to really put in a good charge but to stay smart and not ride over my head. I want to finish strong but still remain consistent on the trail and that is just what I did. I really felt really good - meaning, fast, smooth, confident and conditioning wise. I now know what I have to do to be competitive at this level and I just want to keep improving each race. That rider that passed me when I fell ended up taking the win, he passed the guy that was in front of me for the first two laps. I stay in 3rd consistently throughout the race and that is where I ended up - 3rd place. I am very happy with being on the podium for the first time in my harescramble career. It was such a big race too, being worth double points and all. I am pumped to get back on the line next weekend at Back Mountain in Dallas, Pa. A huge thank you to Cheri for doing all of the filming throughout the day!

Round #5 Information

What: Round #5 Hurricane Hills - Clifford, PA **Double Points Race**

When: This Sunday June 19th/ Race Starts at 11:15am

Where: Directions - Take Route 81 to Exit 206 (Old Exit 63), Lenoxville.Take route 374 East to Route 106 East, go 3 miles to the track.

Pit Fee: $10

Points Updated

The overall series points are somewhat updated, without my 4th place finish in the previous round (Round #4 - Foot of the Mountain), I am currently sitting in 4th place in 201-Open C in the PA State Harescramble Championship Series. Depending on how other riders finished at Foot of the Mountain I may be able to slide into the #3 spot. Round # 5 is going to be a crucial race because it is Double State Points. So if I were to finish 3rd then it would be as if I finished 3rd twice and I would be awarded double points for that finishing position.
I have been working hard to get some live race footage up on the site but it seems as if the internet is not cooperating with me so please be patient. It will come all in good time. In the meantime I have been working out and getting riding time in every weekend and keeping the bike in peak performance. I am highly anticipating a great race at Hurricane Hills!

Foot of the Mountain

Pictures by Courtney H.
Click on Picture to see more from Round #4

Foot of the Mountain hosted the 4th round of the PA State Harescramble Championship Series this past Sunday. Not only was it a State Series race but also a District 7 race, which is primarily the state of Maryland, so there we a lot of new faces and different talents on the trails. Despite the long haul and the jam-packed parking lot our day started out looking good, that is besides the downpour that occurred when trying to pack the van. Once we reached Harrisburg the dark cloudy sky seemed to open up and the blue skies pushed through. When it came down to race time the lines filled up quick because everyone wanted to get a good spot since the start was a little tricky since we were all on the side of a hill. I have never seen so many bikes in each class before, I think having a dual points race at the same track on the same day helped. My Dad was just one line in front of me and despite missing the shift he got that big beast started quickly and was off and running.
From the start the track runs through a farm field then up the side of the mountain then back out again. Some track changes from the previous year keep all riders alert while pushing through the packed classes. Just to give you an idea as to how many riders were in my class when I looked down the line on the start I couldn’t count how many riders there were because some didn’t fit and had to start just behind our line. After the results were posted it turns out that a full line of 40 riders were in my class – the most that I have ever raced with. My whole mentality for this race was to keep my good start and follow it with constant lap times. In the previous races I pushed a little to hard in the beginning and struggled to find some energy for the end. I got another great start, first off the line and third after the first corner. After scouting the track on the first lap I tried to fall into a good pace that would keep me in the front and keep me in reach for the last lap blitz. The track was perfect considering the amount of rain that fell the days prior to the race. The farm field had some tricky off camber turns with some nice straights. The woods had some difficult rocky hill climbs and some nice down hills, and don’t let me forget the couple sections of that deep, shiny, and sloppy mud. I have never seen so many lines through one spot let alone the number of riders that kept getting stuck and stalling out. After a while that mud spot was just horrendous and some spotters were helping us by pointing out the “easier” line - that is if you could get your bike in that line. Besides the couple mud pits and some lapped riders stuck on hill climbs, I had a good pace throughout the race. There were a lot of real rocky sections and some spots where there were tons of big slick tree roots, which is fine. Throw the tree roots and rocks in with some deep mud just before a hill climb and in the middle of the hill and that could lead to some comical racing. It was mostly the people that were getting stuck that weren’t finding it all to be funny.
The white flag was waving and I barely had something left but I pushed it the whole last lap anyway. My calves were crapping up each time I put my leg down due to tip toeing through the deep ruts, mud and catching my bike from washing out when the front tire slid on a tree root or rock. With about only a half of mile left I came up to some riders in my class and I wanted to finish strong and try to pass them. Coming down a hill into a sharp left hand turn with slick rocks and deep tree roots, I tried to make an inside pass. My front tire slid on the rocks and roots and I tried to hold it up but I ended up going down. My bike was still running so I quickly picked it up and I saw that my bark buster was bent up and my handlebars we badly bent. Although I was lucky enough to be able to still ride the bike I was unlucky to learn that the huge mud pits were just around the bend. It was hard enough to make it through with a good bike and now that my handlebars were bent up it was going to be a task. I was redirected in a somewhat less challenging way and was back on track to finish what was a great race. Just about 50 yards from the barrels I saw one guy in my class and just barely passed him before getting the checkers. Results were posted and I finished 4th out of 40. If I only hadn’t crashed with half a mile to go…..guess that’s racing!
-My Dad finished 8th and that is three eighth place finishes for him in a row, he is now to be called “crazy eights.”
-I want to thank Courtney for taking all of the great pictures, Cheri for doing such a great job being PitGirl and Mike “Kid” Rush for coming out to see the race and making his random appearances around the track.

Round #4 Information

What: Round #4 Foot of the Mountain - Neelytown, PA

When: This Sunday May 1st / 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 raod on your left

Pit Fee: $10

Bad Day Gone Good @ Hurricane Hills

An ideal day of racing would consist of a short travel time, nice weather, and ideal track conditions. Round # 3 of the PA State Harescramble Series was anything but for DHaggs Harescramble Racing. Hurricane Hills in Clifford, PA hosted the third round in the series and despite some misfortunes it turned out to be a pretty good day after all. Figuring we would have quite a hike in store for us Sunday morning we decided to call up J. Biggs and make sure that it would be alright for us racers, my dad and I, to get a good pre-race sleep at his house which is not as far from the track. I would like to personally thank him for his hospitality and understanding of the exhausting life of racing. After an energizing dinner it was early to bed because tomorrow would be race day. There was a 6:30am wake up call and when I pulled back the curtains to get some idea of how the day might be – it was snowing! It snowed a good bit and by the time we were done eating breakfast there was a bitter cold wind that replaced the icy snowflakes. Okay, so far on race day it is snowing and the temperature is staying in the mid30’s. With our stomachs full of carbs and protein we headed up the turnpike towards New York. We were on the road for about 20 minutes when yet again we were dealt another misfortunate hand. With our safety blinkers flashing on the shoulder of the turnpike we realized that our trailer tire disintegrated and there was nothing but a rim on the concrete highway. Thinking that this could have been an enormous problem we quickly counted our blessings and got to work. My Dad located a jack while I worked on getting the lug nuts off. Needless to say that we could barely feel our fingers it was so cold and we just woke up about 45 minutes ago…talk about a stressful warm-up. Despite the snow and numbing cold we conquered the thrashed tire and were back on schedule to arrive at Hurricane Hills in time to register for the race. Upon arrival at the track we notice that not only was parking on a hill, the rainfall overnight made the roads up the mountain pretty muddy. I’ll skip all of the dirty details and just tell you that after getting stuck 3 times we finally parked it and unloaded out bikes and gear. We made registration and finally it was race time.The track was relatively shorter than most harescramble tracks but the woods setup was pretty technical. Using good sections of the motocross track and cutting trails on a super rocky mountain made for some okay racing. Throw in some challenging hill climbs, some sloppy mud sections and 100 plus racers; then you’re in for some outstanding racing. I got a great start third or fourth into the first turn but the way the track was laid out the next turn would put me in the front of the pack or a close second. I felt good for about 4 laps until I tried to go around a lapped rider stuck on a hill climb and lost my back wheel and the bike went down. The bike was on it’s side on a hill which meant that I had to pick a 275lbs dirt bike more than 120 degrees the other direction just to get it parallel so that I could sit on it again. Getting that bike up drained a lot of energy out of me and I felt it when I continued on the next lap. The race went on and I was in a nice groove since the track was starting to break down and some different lines were opening up. The trails in the woods were tight and that lead to some dicey racing in the technical sections where some were faster than others. After all was said and done and the checkered flag was waving I finished 7th in my class. Not to bad for not having my best day on the bike. My Dad ended up finishing 8th in his class and I give him respect for finishing because 2 hours of that track is no reward on the human body. After our long trip the day turned out to be great because in the end our bikes ran fine and neither of us got seriously hurt and that’s what it’s really all about. This week is Foot of the Mountain and it is another demanding track. Hopefully I’ll get back in the top 5 again.