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North Carolina Hare Scramble/ GNCC Round two of the National Hare Scrambles Series was run in conjunction with the GNCC series. The race was set in a scenic camping area in Northwestern North Carolina. Brian and I were really looking forward to a good race to keep the series lead in the Hare Scrambles Series. The GNCC series this year is going to have television coverage most likely on Fox Sports and the series looks very professional and there were tons of racers and spectators on hand with perfect weather and a good course layout. Brian got the second pick for starting position and I was the fourth pick. We both got alright starts right about tenth place but after only a quarter mile I got a vine stuck in my rear brake pedal and had to back my bike up to get it out resulting with me being stuck at the back of the AA racers. Brian was just inside the top ten and holding his spot in line. We got to a big grass track section and I picked off a few of the riders trying to quickly work myself back into contention. I probably got up to between fifteenth and twentieth when about five miles into the race my chain derailed. It was all wound up underneath my countershaft sprocket and I tried to roll the bike back to get the chain out but didn't have any luck. I worked on it, pulling and tugging trying to get back on the trail but it was really wound tight. All of the AA racers past and then the rest of the riders started to go by. Finally I got the chain out but it cost me any chance of a decent finish. I got back on the trail but had all of the A riders racing for position in front of me. Meanwhile Brian was having a good ride going tucking it in behind Shane Watts and trying to follow him to the front. Brian followed him for the second and beginning of the third lap then his bike started to act up. His throttle was sticking and his bike was making funny noises. Brian tried to nurse it along but it was getting progressively worse. Brian stopped for gas at the end of the third lap but his bike wouldn't restart so he had no choice but to call it a day. I kept my head down, enjoyed the course and rode good but I can't give up a chunk of time like I did and catch the top riders. In the end I ended up 19th overall. Shane Watts took the lead with about two laps to go and then rode away from the field. The real race was for second place. Jimmy Jarret, Chuck Woodford, Paul Edmondson, Fred Andrews, Rodney Smith, Mike Lafferty, Josh McLevy, and Steve Hatch battled for second swapping positions like mad. They raced until the checkered flag with the second through seventh place riders finishing only twenty seconds apart. Brian and I are disappointed with the way the race went and will be training hard in order to get a good finish at the next race in Tennessee. |
