2001 West
Texas Boondockers Enduro
by
Keith Brown
Well I worked straight through on Saturday so I could get off at 1:30. I already had the bikes loaded on the trailer and the van packed so I drove straight home grabbed a bowl of beans & rice (my before race meal) Then Andrew (my 12 year old son) and I took off. The drive to Matador is 3 1/2 hours from Midland so I know I won't make it there before dark. We've had a lot of rain here this week and I'm a little worried that it might be a muddy race. I called David Burgen on his cell and he said it looks pretty wet. It looks like its gonna be the opposite of the Memphis race last month. I feel pretty good because I've already got the Watchdog computer programmed and I made a roll chart on Friday night. I also pre-entered and we got row 6.
At the riders meeting the club members say the trail is perfect so I'm getting excited. The enduro chairman says its like "Velcro" (I later learn he's telling the truth).
We start at 9:06. I tell Andrew to let our row mates take the hole shot. I let Andrew go first as I take the time to start my stopwatch and computer. Its a 50 mile race and I know we'll have plenty of time for racing during the next 3 1/2 hours. The start is 18mph and the trail is moist and open so I quickly get ahead and pass my row mates. At the 2.9 mile marker I check the watchdog mileage and to my pleasure I only have to bump it up 1/100th. As Andrew rolls up he gives me the thumbs up. Now comes the fun part. The first possible is at 3 miles. The traction is so awesome that 18mph is no problem. It's also so wide open that we can usually see 1/10th ahead. With this being the case I stay around 2 minutes ahead, blowing through the possibles whenever I can see far enough ahead. You never know when the trail will tighten up. Later on the trail drops into a tight ravine about 9 feet deep. At the end of the ravine the trail climbs up and over to where I think would be an excellent place for a check-in. I dismount the KDX and quickly peer over the top of the ravine.....still no check so I'm off to the races again. I can't even hear my row mates as they're trying to stay right on our minute.
From that point on the trail tightens up and the brush gets thicker. I now have to slow down as I can only see 1/100th of a mile or so ahead. Every so often I look back to see Andrew topping a hill not too far behind. I know the first check has got to be nearby. I quickly slow down until I'm only 10 seconds ahead. Finally, there it is. We all zero check #1 and later #2. Then it's off to the races. I forgot the mileage but it really doesn't matter. At 30 mph I know that I won't be burning the next check. I quickly forget about the computer and just try to ride fast. The turns are effortless and the acceleration is incredible. I'm having a blast. Several minutes into the test section I hear a rider coming up fast from behind. I pull slightly over to the side. In my mind, I'm riding pretty fast, so I'm somewhat amazed at what I see next. The rider, a KTM pilot named Bailey, just blows right past me about a foot to the right of the trail. He's throwing up a little roost and is CASUALLY GIVING ME A THANK YOU WAVE with his left hand as he keeps on the throttle with his right! UNBELIEVABLE! Needless to say Mr. Bailey soon disappears from my sight after a couple of turns. Shortly thereafter I can see the check-out which is a tie-breaker. For some unknown reason I look down at the computer and in my confusion, mistakenly believe that I'm only a few seconds into my minute. Wrong!! As I stupidly slow down to go in at 30 seconds, the check crew quickly waves me in. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I thank them profusely as they mark my score. I drop 6 minutes and change. At the free time ahead Mr. Bailey asks if the young man on the TTR 125 is my son. I tell him yes, that's Andrew. Bailey tells me Andrew's alright but he's stopped beside the trail with a broken throttle cable. I'm disappointed because I had ordered a new one several days ago and it never arrived. However, I'm also relieved to hear that he's alright. A little later at gas #1 I see Andrew waiting for me with the Gatorade. I tell him how sorry I am and he just says "its alright." He asks me how the race is going and, feeling a little guilty I have to say that it is indeed perfect.
The next 25 miles is like a dream. I smile each time the front tire comes up in the turns. It just doesn't get any better than this in West Texas. I feel like I'm riding ok but with the trail this good I believe there'll be some ridiculously low scores. Also, with those Colorado boys riding today I don't give myself much of a chance at getting a trophy. I don't care I'm having way too much fun.
I reach the Known Control before the finish and wait for my start. The motocross section is a scream today and the KDX feels so good I wonder why I'm even thinking about selling it. I see Andrew waving at me from one of the turns and I lose a second or two yelling and waving back. And then, much too soon I cross the finish line with a smile on my face. That was the funnest enduro I've ever ridden. 2nd place in the 250-C.
Thank you God! Its great to be alive.
Keith Brown