Like everyone else, facing the idea of trying to race on a washed out flooded mud track was not the most exciting idea. But I was sure that we would have a good track after we beat on it for awhile, with some help from the sun and wind. I was also excited that they had the track direction going CCW this time. Always a nice change up.
Practice was difficult. I made it all the way around, and remained vertical for three laps. There were areas that you could open her up and go.
Then they quickly moved into the moto's. As usual, where we were at in the Pit's, you could not hear the PA system or announcements. After coming in from practice, I decided that I better go find out where they were at and get staged for my motos. Race #1. (EV3 50+B)
I got there to find out I just missed my gate drop. I shot across the gate and took off after the group. I raced my ass off, began catching guys and making pass's. I was taking chances with my speed, and ended up crashing from cross rutting in the straight-away's twice. But no matter, others were still flopping and going down as well, so I still felt like I was making progress. I like that kind of pressure to perform when you are already at an disadvantage.
With each passing race, the track began to tack up, and almost every corner and many straight-away sections were rutted, and getting deeper, and deeper. By my 2nd race (#8 moto 1), I could feel my organs beginning to ache from how rough the track was getting. And I wear a kidney belt.
Once again, with rain in the forecast, they decided to skip intermission and go right into the second set of moto's. By this time the fog had lifted, and the heat and humidity were climbing again. Couldn't stay hydrated enough.
In the end, as DelBalso stated, we ended up with a track that challenged all skill levels. I would race that track every day if I could, just to better develop my cornering, rut skills, and mud racing techniques. As usual, it took me to get two moto's in to start to be able to really pin it and rail, but by the end of my 4th moto, I didn't want to quit!
What a mess.
With Fog, the humidity/moisture in the air is at 100%.
You could here it's effects in the way most of the bikes were running. Even in the video's Nancy took, it sounded like most were loading up and wouldn't clean out.
Losing time during my big push from missing my gate drop.
Gaining some Momentum again.
Not a typical way a 53 year old man spends his Sunday mornings. haha.
I was actually moving pretty fast when I had both of these spills, but the nice thing about a mud track, it's so slippery- you just slip and slide. Nothing ever hurt.
Shaping up
Even though we only ended up with three of us in the EV3 50+B class, there was always somebody within range to challenge you.
Yea Baby...…. Love the ruts!!!
