Breezy
Hill Enduro 2000
By
Marty
Howell
Arriving
late Saturday afternoon (sure seemed hot) we had plenty of time to signup, go
through sound check and visit with Vernon, Gary Webb, Bud Hutchison and Archie
Taliaferro. Webb was his usual jovial self as the motorhomes and pit racers
stirred up a dust cloud every few minutes in camp. Fellow over 40A competitors
Bud and Archie were on row 10. While enjoying a break from the Texas
Championship Hare Scramble Series, the "On Time Racing” team of Lacy
Jones, Martin Howell and myself were on row two.
Sunday
morning the weather was surprisingly cool. Yeah I kept telling myself it's
"cool". Our first bozo move of the day was to miss the riders meeting.
We heard the horn at 7am, but thought the meeting started at 7:15. Oh well!
TRHer Girard Lall pointed us in the right direction for the gas stops and start
line.
The
first loop was a timekeeping trail ride with three checks. At the tiebreaker
check we came in on 0:29, 0:31 and 0:32. Not too bad considering we had to slow
ride for about twenty seconds.
With
20 minutes of free time at the first gas, TSCEC Hall of Fame member Carol Jones
gave us a peppermint soaked towel to cool off with. Geez!!! Talk about cooling
down. The "magic" towel is the cool setup. Archie rolled in with a
flat rear tire, but still carding a zero. Even with installing a new tube Archie
managed to stay on time.
The
first test section was in the second loop. Riding this event two years ago we
knew the trail would tighten up. Sure enough the 24 mph began at 27.8 although
the check wasn't till 29.8. The check out came at 35.0 with the average dropping
back to 18 mph. The reset at 41.2 with ice cold water allowed everyone to get
back on time. I took the opportunity to cool my KTM's rear brake that had faded
completely just before the reset. A short section with a 12 mph average flashed
backed memories of TRH family enduros. The
camouflaged check at the end of this section attempted to catch those riding hot
into the 24 mph speed change at 46.1. They didn't pop us! This was the only
check in we managed to go in at the top of our minute. All others we seemed to
hit 25/30 seconds in our minute. The check out was just before the second gas
and the finish for short course riders.
After
another 20 minutes of free time at the second gas we were set for the last loop
knowing the really "Good-N-Tight " trail is waiting for us. We left
the gas about a minute late, but with an 18 mph average getting back on time
wasn't difficult. The speed changed to 24 mph at 61.1 with a check in to keep
everyone honest and yes the trail was tight. Ask any long course rider about the
two trees about 20 inches apart in this section. I actually got off the bike to
maneuver through them. A check at 69.9 with a reset of six miles put us back on
time. A case of brain fade had us sitting at the reset instead of taking full
advantage of the free zone, so needless to say at the next check we roll in the
middle of our minute. Five miles to the finish and its no time to let the
cramping muscles slow you down. The average is 28 mph and I'm counting the
mileage to the finish. Martin finished with 13 points and 3rd place
in the 16 & under small wheel; Lacy finished with 31 points and I with 26
points.
The
course was well marked and the mileage spot on with plenty of resets and cold
water. Luckily for us riding early,
the dust wasn't a factor. One check was thrown out because it wasn't supposed to
be there. The story at camp was the club didn't know who set it up or anything
about it. Pretty wild but who knows? Our group enjoyed the event and appreciates
the effort by the Breezy Hill Enduro club to put on a quality race. Already
looking forward to next year!
Hope
to see everyone at Caney Creek 2000!
(Editors
note: If you haven’t guessed, Marty is a TRH member)