Chronicles of a Racing Beginner.

[Brass]

I thought I would start a thread on here to document my racing “career”. Those that know my riding skills will find the humor in that.

Since joining the RMDRA in 2009 I have heard other members talking about their experiences and the “thrills and spills” of racing. Specifically it was Thrityseven that inspired me to not only race this year but to commit to myself to try to attend each race of the provincial series.

Make no mistake; I have no dreams of winning a #1 plate like that of our beloved hero. My goals are simple, show up, put in an honest effort and try to finish each race entered.

The reality will likely be different but it won’t be for a lack of trying.

Before going any deeper into it, I have to give my wife full credit for her support of this. As you all know, racing isn’t cheap and it takes up a lot of time. She could easily have said no (and probably should) but instead she’s been right there to back me up and say “do it”. She’s awesome. Wait, what was that paper from the insurance that you had me sign?

The backstory;

In my younger days, my brother and I would ride a lot back in Ontario where we grew up. It was common for us to ride until dark through the woods of our property. I tried really hard to leave him out there but he kept coming back. Looking back, I should have tried harder.

We only had 42 acres of land but that backed onto about 100,000 acres of crown land that we used as our playground. There were no races back then, just trails we cut ourselves through anything we couldn’t drag a bike over/through/around.

Winter in northern Ontario could be difficult on a bike but that wouldn’t stop us. We would stud our tires and ride the lakes and rivers as much as possible.

Ice racing was something we both tried, just local club stuff, usually the weekend after an official race. One of the local clubs would use the cleared tracks from the week before to hold a fun race for the less skilled. There were limited rules; don’t run anyone over, don’t get run over. If you break the rules, someone will try to get your victim or you to a hospital but please be courteous and don’t bleed in their truck.

Personnal note, you must try ice racing a CR500. It will make you humble.

Ice racing it easy, just follow these steps;

Buy a 1988 CR500, then install 50,000 Kold Kutter screws in the rear tire. You won't need any in the front, it never really touches the ground.
Get up to the start line and find the biggest guy there to start it for you. After it has kicked back and broken his leg, find another sucker to start it. Once started, climb on and rev it a little to warm it up. At about this point, you'll scream like a little girl, pee on the seat and freeze there! This is for the best since you'll need something to help you hang on.

When the flag drops, let the clutch out and lean left, you'll already be at the first turn. Keep leaning left until the screaming stops. That will signal that you've run over all the other competitors and you've won. Be sure to remind them to be kind and not bleed in the truck.


Fast forward to the fall of 2009.

I was bored and needed something to keep me busy over the winter. Perhaps a dirt bike to fix up and sell in the spring would do.

A quick search turned up a 1990 Suzuki DR350, in a crate. The yellow beast had a gear sticking out the side of the cases, bleeding suspension and really no one to care for it. Until I came along with $400.

In the spring of 2010, it rolled out for the maiden voyage onto a trail called Fisher Delight. We installed a bridge that day. It was also my first trail ride in 20 years….. uh oh, I may have to keep this bike for another little while to see what I’ve been missing.

After some teething (starting) problems the motor came apart again. In went a 387cc high compression big bore kit, mega cycle cam, high lift rocker arms, adjustable ignition plate, adjustable cam sprocket. The list was much longer but you get the idea. Starting was no longer an issue, if you knew the sequence! Get the procedure wrong and you’ll wear your leg out!

Once started that motor would do wonders, the suspension though was still 1990 tech with 20 years of abuse. Just as bad was my office worker lifestyle wasn’t up to par with convincing the 270lbs of beast to go where I wanted it to.

Please Mr. Suzuki, would you mind going a little left, I would plea. “Screw you” was often the answer, sometimes followed by a kick to the nuts.

After the swelling reduced and feeling returned to my groin, I went looking for something a little more polite. That’s when I found my current scooter, a 2008 KTM 200 XCW.

Great background but still rough around the edges. There were some days when it would kick me around but some time spent with Riders Edge, it now behaves quite nicely.

Which brings us to this past Sunday and my first race, Riviere's Revenge.

To be continued....

[giantjoe]

[Spinalguy]

:tapping fingers:
continue please.

[Rod]

Awsome stuff Brass.

Cheering from the sidelines!

[Brass]

Part 2 … Err, uh … Part 1 .. Anyway, my first race.

More background;

The week before the race, work had me out on tour. I had left on Monday to drive up to Fort Nelson BC, working my way back down though the week. For what it’s worth, there would be an extra 3551 km on my truck by the time I would pull into my driveway. I was bagged!

We arrived at Clint’s late on Friday. Set up the trailer, burnt some cow on the grill and I passed out.

There are wind mills in the Pincher Creek area, you may have noticed them. It seems that it makes perfect sense to have them in an area where there are high steady winds. Great for windmills, not so great for sleeping in a tall aluminum tube that is 27 feet long. To a bystander protected from the wind, the trailer rocked so much it would no doubt look as though a porno was being filmed inside. The reality was that we were hanging on to the mattress for a completely different reason, to keep from falling off the bed!

Saturday, we woke up to a great day. The sun was shining and the brapp of 2t’s could be heard on the wind.

Being a day early gave me a chance to go down to the track early and have a looky! The first thing you see getting there was the tire wall. Man are they tall! They wouldn’t be so intimidating if they were just piles of dirt but because they are so unnatural, having to go over them seems foolish.

A walk of the rest of the obstacles helps to build my confidence, everything looks like it can be done, not easy but I’ve fallen down on worse. It helps to associate the obstacles to similar ones on trails I ride.

There are telephone poles set up in a zigzag, no problem here, it’s just a few logs like the Fallen Timber trail. Whoops, like Kook, tighter and steeper though, a bolder and log pile so many parts of Mclean, a rock garden like Moon Rocks. Fort Mac. loader tires lying flat …. Hmmmm haven’t seen that on the trails I ride. And don’t forget the tire wall. I can feel my sphincter tense up.

I could really use a nap.

After checking out the rough stuff we swing over to the sign up area and get that out of the way, then a stop for sound check. Chatting with the locals we find out the starting order. Peewee would be doing a parade lap around 10:30ish. All subject to change.

The sun is nice. More coffee please.

The Peewee’s get moving on their lap. Wow, those kids are awesome. They have to go over logs and rocks just like the rest of us. Some need a bit of help, many clear the problem areas on their own. Well if they can do it on PW50’s...

The faster kids are next. Again, they just charge through. I remember my younger days on a CR80 and thinking back, it’s still my favorite bike of all. Those kids don’t know how good life really is at that age.

I watch the kids go over the tire wall for a while, doesn’t seem too bad ….. Oops, spoke too soon. One of them gets bucked going over the top and lands hard, away from his bike. He’s hurt, nothing serious at least. A short time later another is too aggressive with the gas and basically jumps the tire wall, landing his bike flat on the other side. He’s down as well and holding his ankle. Tough young guy though, a few minutes later he limps over to his bike to head back out. Hmmm …. I have a 6 hour meeting on Tuesday and have to be able to stand the whole time through it. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.

We continue to watch as riders come and go, some clearly not having any trouble and others looking as though they are in a rodeo and are sitting on top of the wildest bull.

And this is only the part of the course that we can see, what else is out there?

A nap would be awesome.

After the races we head back to the trailer to wash off the dust and get set for an evening of relaxing.

Why is my face so tight? Oh sludge, I have a sunburn. Stupid thinning hair.

Some beer and BBQ might help to ensure a full night’s sleep. Lying down on the pillow hurt, note to self, go buy a shampoo with sunscreen.

Again, tonight someone had turned on the wind machine. About 1:30am I hear my bike fall over. 2:45 a chair that must have been rolling along like a tumble weed hits the side trailer. Sometime around 4:30 I manage to slip into a comma.

Waking up around 7:00 we get coffee going. People are on the move and getting ready for the day. Many more are still driving in.

A glance in a mirror confirms I’m burnt from the neck up, my wife who has very fair skin is the same. We both are afraid of showing any facial expression.

To live through the day we have to get some sunscreen. Mostly for her since she won’t be covered by a helmet or other riding gear. She’ll be my pit crew.

In truth, the short drive to Pincher Creek is a welcome distraction. Butterflies are gathering in my stomach.

Driving in, I spot a few familiar trucks, Spinalguy goes by, then another truck with an RMDRA sticker. Heading back there was some construction traffic to wait for. Dobi and Dirtyboy thought that was a good time to stand out on the road for some coffee recycling. One of them needs to cut back on the asparagus!

We get back to the trailer with plenty of time to gear up and head over to the riders meeting. There we learn that there will be a parade lap followed and the starting order for the day. The “B” riders will start first, then Ladies and beginners. The “A” and pro riders will start later in the day.

We’re told to meet on top of the hill for the parade lap. That means riding part of the course to get there. No problem, a couple short hill climbs and I’m there.

Wow there are a lot of bikes here for this! A quick scan and I’m seeing guys gathered up in groups of 10, 20. I take a guess that there are about 60 riders total, possibly more. Good thing we’re being split into two start groups.

I spot Primerib and ride over, try to chat a little to keep my mind off what’s to come.

When the parade lap starts I hold back, not wanting to be “that guy” that crashes and holds up everyone. Turns out it will happened anyway.

Starting on the hill there is a short straight followed by a right turn dropping down a hill. Easy, stuff so far right! Until I touch the rear brake on the bottom of the hill to make the left turn. The dusty ground offered me little traction since my weight was too far forward. The back wheel passes me and down I go. Great! 30 seconds into the parade lap and I’m already picking up my bike. A sign!

A few turns and hills later, we are all stopped on a side hill. Ahead riders are trying to make their way up a climbing side hill with a tight 90 turn to the left. Many don’t make it and go down. With the trail so narrow, we wait.

Finally, my turn at the hill. A Sweeper is there near the top telling me to keep right at the turn. Since I can’t see the line, I’ll trust him. At the turn, I’m looking right and see the line he’s pointed me on heads into some small trees! sludge, I can’t see a clean line and close the throttle. Losing momentum, I go down. Hmmmm….. keeping right won’t work for me! Others make it but they must be running some type of ultra secret, super sticky tire and running super bikes with motors putting out 180 ft/lbs of torque.

After the “Hill” there are a few more ups and downs until the final downhill before heading into the trees. This last down hill is steep and has a right hand 90 just before the bottom with trees on either side. To make it really interesting, the steady flow of riders have pulled all the loose dirt from the top of the hill down, making it loose and slick. I make it down ….. this time.

Once down, there is a small creek crossing and we hit the singletrack. Finally, some terrain I enjoy!

A few more creek crossings, a run through a cattle gate that is a touch narrower than your bars and a few straights before getting back to the enduro section.

Back in the main enduro section you first meet a zigzag of telephone poles, then a sharp left over a small tabletop, right onto a straight, right, another straight, right again and you’re looking at the log/rock mound. 5-6 riders are there, sizing it up. 2 make their attempt, one of them making a clean run, the other struggles. I pick my line and head at it. Clear the first boulder and log but my rear skips to the right and I’m off the pegs trying to get my balance. Too late, down I go. sludge. Ok, we can do this. Pick the bike up and get over the next log only stuff the front wheel into the next log knocking me down again. Frustrated I pick the bike up, get it pointed in the right direction and “gas gas it”. This catapults the bike over the log in a spectacular fashion! Without me on it. Naturally it lands vertically on the rear fender and I’m still surprised it didn’t stay standing up. If anyone has video of that, please forward a copy to me!

Once finally clear of the log/boulder pile there is the rock garden. Keeping left shows a clear line, and it would be easy if I had been on the pegs and on the gas. I wasn’t. Bucked and kicked, the bike pulls me through. Parade lap over. Hmm the bar is not in line with the front wheel.

A quick run back to top up with gas and Dobi stops in with a few words of encouragement and to say that my class is starting in about 5 minutes on top of the hill.

A short nap would be awesome! My face hurts from the sunburn, the dust has a slight cow pie/e-coli taste and the arm pump is at full capacity.

Gotta go, the race is about to start.

The start line is on top of the hill again. I get there just as one of the classes is about to go, 30 B I think

I’m at the back.

Butterflies are buzzing in my stomach and I realize that I’ve had 2 cups of coffee, a bottle of water, 2 bowls of cereal and now a full bladder. This could be a problem!

Here comes the start, “Just finish” I tell myself.

We’re off!

I’m 3rd going into the first turn heading down the hill but the rider in front of me grabs too much front brake and goes down, too close to go around him. The others in my class go by and I’m last.
No problem, the “hill” will gather us up and I’ll be back in the hunt. Just take it easy until then, let the arm pump work itself out and you’ll be fine!

Working through the mix of turns, straights and small hills I pass a couple riders. Not sure if they are in my class or not but I feel better now that I know I’m no longer last. Finally at the “hill” and sure enough there are about 15 riders lined up waiting for the carnage to be clear enough to get up.

Patiently I wait to see the rider ahead of me make it up, then I go. It’s not pretty but I’m up! One of the riders I had passed is right behind me at the next downhill, he slips past and is gone. Next is the steep downhill with the 90 right in the trees, another beginner, 267 is down at the bottom, blocking the line. Once clear I carefully work my way down and past him and into the trees and single track.

The creek crossings so refreshing, washing off a bit of the dust while cooling you and in my case waking me up!

Out of the single track and back into the enduro section. The zigzag logs are a bit harder this time since I’m getting really tired but I make it through, then the log/bolder pile. Not pretty but I’m over. The rock garden Dobi and Hendrix13 are there for more encouragement. “Just gas it” they say, the bike has the gas, but I’m just about out. The bike carries me through in an unflattering manner.

The next obstacle is the tires, these lay flat and there is no option to go around them. “Just raise the front wheel and hammer into it” I tell myself. Like a miracle it not only works but I’m still on the bike!

Another turn and I’m at the check point. Thank you ladies for holding me up while being scanned. I’d hate to fall over at the check point!

Next are the whoops and tire wall. With no energy to spare I take the “chicken route” around the tires and would for the rest of the day.

My next lap around started off well enough. I would pass Stretch as she has some trouble on the hill climb with 2 telephone poles across it.

When I came to the “Hill” the hill won and down I went. Stretch would catch up to and get stuck on the hill behind me here. I made it up and went back to help her up since I caused her to get hung up but she was already on the move again. She’s tough!

The next bit of fun was the downhill with the 90 right. Going down I knew I was in trouble. “oh sludge, oh sludge, oh sludge” crunch, decorating the trail with a portion of my front fender. Sorry Clint for not picking it up. At the bottom I had to stop and remove my front tugger strap, wouldn’t want that to snag in the front tire! I notice a rider coming, bypassing a section of the course, must be a sweeper I think to myself. Nope, #267 ...

Into the trees and the single track, I feel more at home and try to pick up some time. The bike feels weird because the bars are now turned noticeably when going straight. It takes some time to get used to the feeling. Once I do though, being able to see the front wheel makes the bike feel more like a mountain bike. I pick up speed.

Out of the trees and into a field I ring the little 200 out, managing to get into 5th and WFO. The bars go from lock to lock and my sphincter snaps shut like a bear trap so suddenly that I’m vacuumed down to the seat, saving me from being ejected. Let’s not try that again!

The dust has been blowing into my helmet, between it and the sunburnt scalp, I’m a bit uncomfortable. My bladder is also sending me warnings on the harder bumps. All this is helping me stay awake!

Back into the enduro section and the log/bolder mound snag me for a moment before going through the rock garden. Not proud of the technique here but I make it through. Next are the flat tires. I cleared them on the last lap but I had more energy then. This time my legs don’t get me up on the pegs and I don’t make it. A bystander with an RMDRA dirtier moose shirt helps shove by battered bike up. Thanks to whoever you are!

Another lap down.

Coming up on the “hill”, 267 is behind me, he’s in my class so I’m staying on the gas. The “hill” doesn’t give me any trouble on this round and I heading for the next tough section the fender eating downhill 90.

Getting to the bottom, I spot 267 just heading to the water crossing, somehow ahead of me without actually passing. Gas it!

I’m furious and riding possessed. A bit of advice from Dirtyboy flashes through my mind, “sometimes going faster is smoother”. Thanks DB! I click up a gear and open the throttle more, 267 falls way back. On the straights, another bit of advice is triggered, this from Dude, “sit down in the easy sections to save energy”. I cut my fastest lap and won’t see 267 again until I’m finished.

In the end, I place 5th. More importantly a finish and still haven't had a pee, not even a little bit! I’m exhausted and thrilled to have made it through in one piece.

Later at home I would find all the marks and signs of my off bike adventures. A large bruise on the crown of my foot from a rock that I had hit mid-way up one of the hills, several small cuts and scrapes, a bruise on my thigh from unknown hit. The bike was just as badly treated, broken front fender, tweaked front end, new dents on the pipe, brown brake fluid, and a bent bark buster.

I had a great time. Next stop Porkies.

Now, where’s my pillow.

[primerib72]

Good read! Thanks for your novel like perspective and looking forward to more Brass.

[thirtyseven]

waaaahooooo!!!! porkies, a whole different mind game! Thx for the beverages....

[Bark]

Thanks for posting Brass, I enjoyed the read! I had a hard time not joining this event, I wanted to give it a try. But, I chose to do the trial at Lee Fryburger's this past Sunday. Hopefully I'll try that one next year. Looks like a ton of fun from 37 & Stretch's vids!

[Brass]

Since this is my first attempt at off-road racing, I thought other newbies may find it interesting.

Certainly the racing Vets will read this and chuckle at what I find challenging, just the same there are those out there that may find similarities.

To those that have thought of going to a race, I would suggest trying it out. If nothing else you will be able to say you tried, on the other hand you may get hooked.

I can’t say that I’m hooked yet. I did enjoy it and found it challenging in ways that normal trail riding does not.

[Rod]

Great stuff, thanks for posting!

[thirtyseven]

Brass, here is a cool tidbit for you. At my very first race in alberta I met a gentleman parked beside me... I struggled in the rain to finish I think three laps of a smallish course. the gentleman that parked besids me lapped me something like three times. Fast forward to last weekend, he lined up beside me in 40a!!!! (I beat him to the first turn too!)

[erniebearskin]

Hi Brass, not sure if I missed above but did you race beginner class? Approx how many folks in that class, just curious?

[Brass]

Hi Brass, not sure if I missed above but did you race beginner class? ?

Chronicles of a Racing Beginner!!

Approx how many folks in that class, just curious?

There were 8 entered and I think 2 didn't finish.

[dirtyboy]

Thanks for posting your experience. It was entertaining to say the least.

You can also reverse the saying and it works. "Smooth is fast" and sometimes going fast is smooth.

No parade lap at Porkies so be ready to go after the rider's meeting! It should be a fun day.

I can't wait to hear the next installment.

[thirtyseven]

Brass, dont hold out on us! What did you think of Porkies? Howd your race go?