Missouri Hare Scramble

The Missouri Hare Scramble was held much earlier in the year than normal, which was good because it usually is super hot and humid, but bad because it rained most of the week before the race leaving the course muddy.  We raced in the past there when it was a little muddy and it had some deep mud holes that had many riders stuck in them the last laps.  Brian was a little worried about it so to take his mind off the mud he went indoor go carting with the crew from Fun  Mart Cycles after the open house.  This race is always good.  The promoter sets it up in a clover leaf shape, with a couple of miles of woods before coming back to the motocross track in view of the spectators.  Brian had a bad weekend the week before at Tennessee but still had the points lead so he knew that he needed to win to add some points to the cause.  He was pumped up for the race all week before the race.

The Kawi boys of Fred Andrews and Chuck Woodford grabbed the holeshot.  Brian got an alright start and was right behind Andy Shae when Andy hit a barrel on the inside of the corner scattering the field in an attempt to miss him.  Brian got into fourth behind the Kawi's and Jimmy Jarrett and watched them all battle for the lead and splash each other in the puddles.  Brian was happy to be following the front runners and staying dry and made a point of looking around in the muddy spots so he wouldn't get stuck later in the race.  His camel back broke and he had to stop and take it off.  He charged back up to the lead pack who now consisted of the Andrews, Woodford, Raines, Scott Plessinger, and Jimmy Jarrett.  Brian once again had a problem on the next lap when his handguard came loose.  Brian stopped and tightened it up and once again caught up to the lead pack.  This time when he caught them Brian passed the whole pack in short time.  He was surprised he got around everyone that quick and knew he had caught them twice so he put the hammer down and put a minute on the other riders.  He held the point position for the three laps and came into the pits going into the last lap for a splash of gas.  He still had his lead going into the last lap.  About two miles into the lap there was a section that was pretty nasty with a big rut all the way through it.  Brian came out of the section with his bike overheating he saw the pack of Jason Raines, Chuck Woodford, Fred Andrews, Scott Plessinger, and Jimmy Jarrett had caught him, by cutting across the field instead of riding the course through the woods.  Brian threw up his hands and the others saw him and let him go in front of them.  Brian ended up having trouble in a mud hole and got passed.  Chuck Woodford took the first National win of his career, followed by Scott Plessinger, Jason Raines, Fred Andrews.  Brian finished in fifth. 

After the race Brian was pissed and went out to where the riders cut with the promoter.  The promoter didn't want to do anything and Brian was going to protest the guys who cut.  The guys that cut had a discussion with Brian and told him not to protest them because it was a mud race and a free for all.  Brian was still planning on doing the protest when Jason Raines came up to him and told him in private not to protest and if he did they would protest him.  Brian asked for what and Jason said it didn't matter it would be four against one and they would win.  Brian actually didn't get his protest in in the half hour protest period but the other four did so Brian had to file an appeal.  He talked to the AMA the day after the race and they said they felt bad for him and he was probably right but no official saw it and they weren't going to do anything. They also said that it was four against one they had to go with the four.   How is an official supposed to see anything when they don't go to the races?  These guys are racing for money and want to win so they will do anything to better their situation and since the AMA has never done anything to penalize anyone for cutting,  what is supposed to stop someone from cheating?  Their own conscience?  Ribbon?  Officials?  Another tough question is what exactly is cheating.  During a mud race the original line is often not passable after a couple of laps.  Someone finding a different way around is often a smart rider not a cheater.  Taking an inside around a tree instead of going around makes sense since it is quicker and easier.  Now going across a field instead of going though the woods is another story.  That's cheating.   The rules are that you can go on 25 feet on either side of a trail marked with ribbon but if there are arrows on each side of a trail you must stay on the marked path.  If the trail obviously goes into the woods you must go into the woods and not cheat and take the easy way though the field.

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