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Carnegie Hare Scramble There was a big turnout for the third round of the District 36 Hare Scramble series with over 600 racers showing up for the day of racing. The rains early in the week didn't even look like they got to Carnegie as it was dry and dusty. We lined up for the start of the race in the middle of the motocross track. I checked it out on the way to sign-ups and saw that there was a jump on the inside of the first turn, but if you lined up on the outside you could miss the jump and get a straight line for the corner. I made sure to get to the line early and got just the spot that I wanted. I had a plan if I had a decent jump off the line that I wouldn't go for the inside of the corner, instead would leave the gas on longer than anyone and rail the berm on the outside. Luckily the start worked out just the way I wanted and my KTM 300 shot me into the early lead. I led around the motocross track and then out to the grass track on the hill. After the grass track we turned back to the motocross track. I thought to myself this couldn't be right since I know if we go onto the motocross track that would lead us to where we just started. There was no other markings and a big pack behind me so I continued onto the motocross track. We went around it and got back to the starting line and race behind all the lines of riders waiting to start. People were jumping out of the way since they were just as surprised we were coming there as we were being there. We went though the check and the crews were sitting in their lawn chairs, not ready and appearing to be eating breakfast. I took off up the fire road and got a serious challange from Rod Kreiss who managed to get by me. Not to far after Bryce Olsen, Stevie Bonita, Brian Spearle got around me also. I followed them for awhile until they pulled a bit of a gap over me. I could still see them the next lap about the same distance in front of me and I was starting to ride better. Nate Hicok came with me and gave me a good pit stop along with taking pictures of the race. During the second half of the race I began catching up to some pretty fast riders with low numbers that I shouldn't have been lapping. I didn't know if I had made a mistake at the beginning of the race and was way out front or way behind. At the finish of the race everyone was saying "what happened?." I didn't know and said I should have been around fifth. I was told I finished tenth and was outside the top ten after the first lap. I guess about ten guys got off course and missed a couple miles on the first lap and came in with a good size lead. Oh well, glad I am not really chasing points. Rob Zimmerman took the win ahead of Bryce Olsen, and Brian Spearle once the results were posted. |