Ripper racing woods fiasco.

[Chippertheripper]

Well, since I couldn't conjur up anyone for a Sunday ride relatively locally, I decided to go race a hare scramble in ri.

What a silly idea that was. I signed up for sportsman, kind of an open class where you go mess around but don't get any points in the series. I just set out to get some adrenaline from racing and use my free pass the vhu gave me.
Hare scrambles are pretty cheap. $45 membership yearly, $30 xponder good forever (or $10 to rent), and $40 for entrance fee. So theoretically next race could cost $50 and trust me when I tell you it's plenty of seat time. Like lrrs there's a fair share of toy haulers and higher end programs, but mostly it appeared to be pretty budget.
The starts are silent. Flag drops, you start kicking and take off. I was midpack in my wave (last, we aren't REALLY racing I suppose) and moved up pretty good through the first couple turns and mud holes. And then...
I fucking stall my bike in the approach to this bridge. Which is in a knee deep soupy, muddy mess. And there they go. So I get moving again and I'm breathing through my eyelids at this point. I'm not in the best, nor the worst, shape, but I'm redlining, physically.
After a dozen more mudholes and many more mud covered rocks, ruts, roots, and whatever else these sadists can find for us to ride over I get stuck, throw a chain, which inevitably knots up behind my cs sprocket and takes my clutch slave out. I'm done. and stuck.
After pulling and pushing like a lunatic, some race staff guy comes by, gives me a hand getting unstuck, and goes and gets an atv to pull me out. I pretty much collapse to my knees in the woods (I'm fucking jelly) and that's pretty much my day.
I watched the fast dudes take off and pack it up.
I've been riding in the woods most of my life. I've never tried to do it at race pace, and when you're out screwing around with your buddies, you can take a break whenever ya want. When I dnf'd. I was really starting to loosen up, remember to breath, and almost find a groove, but that's a challenge for another day, I guess.
My mind is spinning. I gotta lose 20#, get fit, and get my bike sorted. You'll be reading some more of these reports for sure.

[lrrs313]

Sounds like fun in a twisted sort of way; props for even attempting it. Those hare scrambles guys are a different breed.

[union]

Welcome to hare scrambles. Last one I ran I got the holeshot and in the end only completed one lap. Certainly a good work out.

[R7]

Wow, I remember you mentioning it..nice job Woodsocross next weekend? It's 15 minutes from my house...come practice Saturday here and race it Sunday with my neighbor

[Chippertheripper]

If I can get the hydraulic part of my clutch fixed by then I'll definitely come practice at your place. Sunday I'm playing family man.

[csmutty]

Word. I used to run those. Not as fun as riding track because they beat you up so much. Might try it out again next time as long as my bike is sorted. Let me know which one you are going to do next Chippy and I'll see if I can make it. They are hard shit for sure. Even completing a race is a small feat.

[Chippertheripper]

That's kinda what I liked about it. It made running around at loudon seem like strolling around the grocery store with a shopping cart.

[breakdirt916]

for doing this!

...After a dozen more mudholes and many more mud covered rocks, ruts, roots, and whatever else these sadists can find for us to ride over...

those tracks sound brutal

but it's always cool to see the fast guys...makes me understand that in dirty riding, most of the time the obstacle and the bike aren't what slow you down, it's the riding skill!

[bstnsboy]

I can remember riding a couple hare scrambles in the early 90's...some tough rides. now i get winded and sweaty just putting the bike in the truck. it's great to hear someone giving it another shot. props to you ripper.

[Dannyf]

Gotta do some jday rides man. Half woods 25% mx and then 25% hell. Fun shit.

[BrianC]

Funny report... reminds me of my days trying to keep up w/the fast woods guys when I was younger. After many weekends toiling about in the gnarliest of trails, I knew I never wanted to actually do it in a race scenario, and I was in pretty damn good shape back then! The 300 will tire you out quick too, a 200 or even a 125 is a lot easier to deal with out there. Keep postin' em up... good read.

[tls25rs]

Chip,

I've been thinknig about trying one of these things out to see just how bad I would do. Let me know if you wind up doing another one and maybe we can be support crew for each other.

Joel

[OreoGaborio]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9700/5.0.0.979 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

[Pigman]

White plates in Dirt TOOOOOO FTW.....chipper is going PRO

[gmdboston]

Chip,

I've been thinknig about trying one of these things out to see just how bad I would do. Let me know if you wind up doing another one and maybe we can be support crew for each other.

Joel

PSTR Short Course in the fall and winter. Perfect way to start.

[Chippertheripper]

Yeah, I'll definitely do another one Joel. I need to FINISH at least one. In the meantime, I'll be "training" in the Freetown man loop if any of you guys have some weekdays and wanna kick the shit outta yourselves.

No white plates Shawn. Strictly survival.

[tls25rs]

PSTR Short Course in the fall and winter. Perfect way to start.

More info please

[backinthesaddle]

First time I ever raced MX the father of one of the other guys says "don't worry about position, just worry about finishing." Sounded like such useless advice before the race as I started riding in 1974 and my first race was 1984. Sounded like wisdom when I finished the race.

After about 10 years of not going to an MX, but following SX and MX on TV I went to see a MX race yesterday. Watched some of the distances my old "B" class was launching off the jumps, and said can't wait until my next track day up at Loudon.

[Chippertheripper]

Joel:
Pilgrim sands trail riders short course 5 - YouTube
Pilgrim sands trail riders

[tls25rs]

Doesn't look like anything I can't ride. Ride it fast, maybe not or should I say not likely. I'm not a huge fan of the deep and sandy or the long flat out sections of fireroad type stuff but the rest of it looks doable.

Does the PSTR club have a website with info on requirements and location/dates etc.?

Joel

Oh yeah, listening to the guy talk to himself is comical!

[CBR929RE]

I woulda come and watched. I need stuff to do to combat boredom.

[jtaylor719]

I like to try racing dirt one of these days, HS preferrably or maybe the next JDay event.

I hear you loud & clear about getting into shape though. I rode River Loop at Clough yesterday and needed an oxygen mask after the first rocky climbs.

I seriously think woods riding this summer has helped my road racing this season. I grew up on dirt bikes but I've been off the dirt for several years. What a challenge and a ton of fun!

[Chippertheripper]

It absolutely helps, I don't care what anybody says. Just for the feeling of having and letting a bike move around and do it's thing underneath you. Just ask anyone that's seen me step out the turd the gazillion or so times this year. J day looks like fun. It's on the list, for sure.

[Chippertheripper]

Somebody posted some helmet cam footage. It looks like shit on my phone, and doesn't do the conditions much justice.
NETRA Richardsons Farm pt 1 - YouTube

[tls25rs]

Chip, were you in that video anywhere? Some of those deep muddy sections looked like they would have been interesting to say the least.

Joel