Well, its a late race report... Work sucks!!!
The Leadbelt National Enduro was held May 23, 2004 at St. Joe State Park in
SE Missouri. I had a feeling leading up to this one that the weather was
going to cooperate this year and we would have perfect conditions. And I
was right!!! After 6" of rain the week before the 2002 event, and 4" of
rain two days before the 2003 event, we were treated with PERFECT trail
conditions this year rather than the quagmires of the past two.
I was able to get row 21 again this year, but with no Lafferty on it, there
wasn't much to get excited about being on that particular row. On the other
hand, I had 3 good riding buddies sharing the rest of the row with me, and
all the National guys on the rows behind. I couldn't wait to get started!
The opening 3 miles was at 15 mph, perfect for a warm up. We rolled on up
to where there were a few of the rows in front of us sitting around. I
thought it best to sit there and wait, even tho my odo was only showing 2.82
miles in. Of course, that would be my first mistake! My odo was showing
almost 3.0 when I found the odo check marker at 2.9! So now I was behind by
about 30 seconds and possibles were up and coming!!! I stayed on the gas,
and never really made up for that mental error. I checked into the first
check 36 seconds into my minute. DOH!
The Missouri Mudders have typically ran races where there is very little
transfer section. Basically, they had one 50 mile loop that we ran twice
with a Gas Stop in the middle. There were two resets in each loop, which
meant 3 test sections per loop, and 6 test sections total. I think the
shortest test section was around 11 or so miles, with the longest up closer
to 17 or so! The resets were short, and the test sections were long... Not
much time in there for timekeeping, or breathers for that matter!
I checked out of the first test dropping 3 points. Luckily the 36 seconds I
was late to the check-in didn't cost me on the way out, as I was 49 seconds
into the 24th minute. I felt better about that and cruised on up to the Gas
Available at 20.6 miles.
I haven't talked about the trail yet... All I can say is, it was freakin
awesome!!! They were running us thru a bunch of new single track trail that
they made for their hare scramble last year. There was NO DUST, and the
stuff was just loamy, hookup, throw big moist dirt clods up in the air type
of stuff!!! I was in heaven!!!
The next test section after the gas available I was able to make the
check-in a little easier, even tho it was at 24 mph. I zeroed the check-in
again and hopped on the gas thru the three for free. After looking down to
check my time, I realized I was doing halfway decent job of staying on time,
cause I was only a few minutes late! I was hoping I could keep it up, as
they were dropping us back down to 18 mph. But that could just mean it was
going to be some really tight nasty stuff... =) It ended up not being too
bad, and every time I looked down I was getting more and more on time, until
I was within 10 and 20 seconds of the top of my minute! Woo hoo!!! Lapped
traffic was a bear at this point, but I managed to keep it going, and
finally looked down when I knew I was getting close to the checkout, and I
found myself 20 seconds HOT! I backed off, and got closer to the middle of
my minute in anticipation of a tiebreaker check. I saw the red flags, and
rolled in ON TIME! I couldn't believe it... After three years of trying, I
finally zeroed a test section at the Leadbelt National Enduro!!! (dang, no
tie-breaker tho!)
Down to the reset, and then back on the gas at 24 mph to the finish of the
first loop. I made the check in on my minute, but was about 20 or 30
seconds into it. Turns out I would do this the rest of the day, even
dropping a point at a check in on the second loop, so no complaints I guess!
In this section, they had a little more open stuff, with some more new stuff
thrown in, and of course, had my favorite part of the whole course... The
waterfall! Its a series of rock ledges going down a creek. I can't tell
for sure how tall the biggest drop is, but I know I bottomed my suspension
hard twice going down this thing! One of the times, my skid plate slammed
the flat rock and made a really nasty sound. I was cringing on the inside,
but the spectators that were near me, well, I heard them all going "Ohhh!"
and "Owww!" and "Ehhh!"! =)
In for the gas stop... I get a sandwich, and some chips, and some potato
salad, and some gatorade. Swap out goggles. Sit there drinking my
gatorade. Keep checking time. Refill camelback. Check time again. Sit
and have some more gatorade. Check time again. OK, two minutes to go,
better get geared back up. I was putting my gloves back on, when I saw one
of my row mates (who had got in 7 minutes after me) carrying gas over to put
in his bike. DUH!!! I'm at a GAS STOP!!! Put gas in your bike you
moron!!! Where is my GAS!!! I finally locate it. I'm squeezing this
STUPID gas can I got at Wal-Mart that has no vent hole on the back trying to
get gas out of it. Finally I give up waiting on it, sure that I have enuf
to make the gas available.
So now I'm starting my loop about 40 seconds late. I am an IDIOT!!! I'm
going like mad trying to get back on time before the check in...
Eventually, I catch Jerry Cook, the other AA on my row and he lets me by.
I'm still down about 30 seconds... And getting pissed cause I didn't put
gas in my bike... After a few more miles, the check in comes, and I'm right
back at the top of my minute, but now fatigued just a bit for having to push
it so hard. The speed goes back up to 24 mph, and I start getting late.
Randy Hawkins passes me for the third time that day, and I again tried my
best to stay with him. What fun!!! Getting close to the end of the test,
and I run out of gas... DOH!!! I switch her over to reserve, PRAY I make
it to the GA, and go whimpy on the throttle for fear of running out. I
checked out of that section 2 minutes down, and Lykke didn't catch me this
time! Of course, he was probably timekeeping thru a lot of that section.
=)
The 5th test section of the day, I finally dropped a point going into it.
The 24 mph average was just too much for me to keep on the way in. I
shouldn't feel bad, I think only like 5 guys zeroed that check all day. =P
Hawkins was catching me on the way into that check, so I knew he was about
20 seconds into his minute when he checked in. I stopped on the way out and
nodded him on with my helmet. Game on!!! I put the chase on, but it didn't
last long. =) All it takes is a few bobbles and they make big time on ya.
I can't believe how consistantly fast and smooth those guys are.
I think it was the final test, when Hawkins caught me right before a
powerline trail. I know he was late, cause I was two and a half minutes
late at that point... Anyway, I chased his dust trail all the way up and
down the powerline trail... We were flying! Toward the end of the deal,
which was probably close to a mile long, I saw him going off to the right.
I didn't see the big, dried up ruts at the bottom of the hill in time to
avoid them. Luckily I got most of my 4th gear downhill speed scrubbed off
~before~ I went over the bars!
The final reset of the day, and I found just myself, and Randy Hawkins
sitting at. I didn't say anything to him while I tried to get some water
out of the big water jug that was sitting there. Stephen Reed pulls up.
Stephen gets some water out of the jug too. I hold his bike for him while
he fights the thing. Its about time for me to go. Stephen asks Randy, "So,
I hear you've got some kids on the way." (I guess he is expecting twins).
It kind of reminded me of sitting around the water cooler, and just another
day at the office. I chuckled and took off...
The course was almost as good, if not better the second time thru. It was
actually getting bermed up in places. Perfect traction all day. Plenty of
rocks to keep things interesting. The waterfall. And even the open sand
stuff around the pit area was fun. I zeroed my first test section at a
National. Only got passed by 2 National guys all day (Hawkins and Lykke).
Got to put chase on with em each time, just to try and learn something.
Dropped 30 points for the day which was good for 4th Overall BJEC points,
and 24th Overall at the event.
I asked Hawkins after the race what he thought about the course, he said he
"thought it was a little sketchy out there in places". I can't imagine how
it could be sketchy at the pace he was going... Our local fast guy Steve
Leivan took 4th Overall, finishing not far behind Hatch, Hawkins, and Lykke.
I was really happy for him!
Its kind of funny looking back... Two years ago, I houred out at the 10th
check, dropped 250 some odd points, and took home a 1st Place B 200 trophy.
Last year, I ~almost~ houred out at the 12th check, dropped 131 points, and
took home a 3rd Place A 200 trophy. This year, I didn't even come close to
houring out, dropped 30 points, and don't take home a trophy. Go figure!!!
On the other hand, the amount of fun and satisfaction I got this year makes
up for not getting one of those silly trophies. Can't wait till next
year...
Oh yeah, results and photos (check out the waterfall!) are on
www.blackjackenduro.com. And uhh, there are two 30 minute videos up on
www.dirtbiketv.com of the race which includes some helmet cam stuff. I
haven't got to check them out yet. I've heard its like $3.95 for a one
month subscription, which would let you view all of the videos they have up
on the site. Quicksilver Nat'l is up on there too. I'm gonna have to check
it out when I get a chance...
--
Brian Jahelka - 2004 KTM 250 EXC
BJEC - MHSC #20 - FMHSC #6
Thanks very much to my sponsors: Moose Racing USA, Dunlop, Letko Competition
Cycles, Scott USA, Flatland Racing, Midwest Race Products, Motorex, and
DeCal Works
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