Just back from the Endurocross in Hemingway, SC. WOW, im fat and out of shape. As Will Ibsen, Bo Ibsen and myself travel up to Hemingway, the rain began as well. We arrive and see the track, pretty cool. However like most Endurocross tracks,this was open to all of the rain! The guys were working on the track in the rain, problem was they had a water truck out there. You guessed it,they were making a mud pit, on the track. The cross ties, tires, logs, stumps, yes big stumps with roots, and clay based track was getting pretty slick, I mean very slick. So I get on my gear and hop on my FACTORY GORDON BOWDEN MONTESA 4RT and head up to the start for practice in the rain. Arriving at the staging area Will comes up and says Chad my rear brakes arent working! At the same time the promoter comes up and say no practice!!!! We are starting the heat races. No time to bleed brakes, plus we were pitting out of my truck in the rain. So the Amateurs heat race 1 goes out and they were having a tough time. Pro heat number 1, I pull up to the line and next to me is KTM rider Bryan Henson and some of SETRA's other top guys. Im thinking there taking the top three, Im out of shape, these guys ride every weekend, im done. Lets race, Im last after the first turn. We get to the most difficult section, 180 degree turn with logs, and stumps and a big pile up. After the turn im in third, after lap three its me and Henson. We distant ourselves from the rest, and both go over the bars in a angled railraod tie section. I get up, bike still running and win the heat. I never thought that short of race would have kicked my butt! I was spent! So i hurry up and go over to Will and tell him to just ride smooth, dont worry about trying to go super fast. He come off the line in I think fourth, and is in first after the log/stump turn. By lap three the boy was lapping people. Needless to say he was way in front, and in control. So while they are running LCQ's Will and I are talking about the main. I told him with money on the line, watch out for them trying to take us out, we were alot faster. So here we go once again Im in last off the start, I can see Will in mid pack. Lap 2 Will was in control and out front. I have moved up to third, and what I was telling Will about happened to me. Henson gets me, I get right back up and go around him. He went down in the process of taking me out, somehow! By this time Will has fell a few times and still in first. I manage to get back in third. Will went on to win and I got third. And let the comments begin, bring a real bike next time, that was like cheating, ride that on sunday in the hare scramble, and a few others. However the majority were impressed and asking where they could get a bike, and some wanted to go up to TTC and ride. The facility is AWESOME. Mx track is very nice. The guys did a great job on the Endurocross also. Will made alot of money , and I got a little for third. Oh yeah, the guy that took me out finished in the back of the pack.
CONGRATS on surviving !!!! I'm older and alot fatter and couldn't begin to imagine doing that !!!But Chad , I justgot some ty80's for my boys .(11 & 9 ) so we have to get together when I get there bikes done and Grow their trials roots ! cause then they can learn how to go fast! And when the older one is ready for a bigger trials bike , I think your young one might be ready for a ty80 ... They are going to need a Gordon/Chad training session (me too )if they are going to go to ITSA events with me ! (my point in the ty's). Holler at me soon ...Have a Merry Christmas ALL! Glenn
Posts: 112 | Location: summerville,sc. | Registered: February 28, 2005
