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Race Results 2008
From Brian 9/18/08
Summer is over and we're welcoming the autumn
now. It's about time! I can't take much more of this dust. A lot has
happened this summer. Our son, Ian, had his first birthday on July
30th. Amy and I are so blessed. Patrick and his wife Paige, had
baby number two. We made our way out to California for that. It's a
girl! Audrey Delilah Garrahan. She looks just like Patrick. She's so cute!
It's really neat to see our family grow, one baby at a time.
I did quite a bit of racing this summer. I
encountered many different elements at these races. From tornados to desert,
some good ol' east coast woods racing, to moto at Millville.
I started the summer with a road trip to Iowa for
an OMA. Then, off to Utah for a National Hare Scramble. Britt, my Mechanic
back east, joined me for the trip. Iowa was quite interesting. It
rained the whole time we were there. As we were sitting in the motorhome waiting
for the race to start, we were watching tornadoes touch down on the hills
across the valley. Shoot! That was the course out there! In the OMAs, we
get practice the day before. We could barely get around the course in practice, so
I chose to ride the little bike: The Karate Kid. It ending up being a bad
choice. Gussy had to change the course so much that it was just roads and
grass tracks...not that slow. I brought a knife to a gun fight. Chad from
Valli Motorsports flew in with Dennis Stapleton and Bobby Garrison. Dennis raced
one of my four fiftys and even finished the tornado run. There was so much rain
by the last lap, people and bikes were floating down rivers. I came to the last river
crossing and it was chaos! People and bikes everywere. I actually got off course
and looked for a safer place to cross. It took me like five minutes to find a
place to cross. Whibley took the win with Jarret getting second. I finished
third, and Dennis finished 8th. We got loaded up and cleaned up. Waited for the
John Deere to pull us out, then off to Utah.
What a difference Utah was! From tornadoes to desert. I
was actually quite good. We headed straight there to get some riding and some
good camping in. We went to Mohab to do some riding, which I always wanted to
do. It was awesome! I wore a tire completely bald in three days riding on
those big rocks. The race was ran at Bull Hollow Monticela for round six of
the National Hare Scrambles. They had a nice motocross track with really good,
fast sections. There were some nice river beds and lots of dust. I woke up
ready to race. I said to Britt, "I'm getting a good start, making a pass
for the lead on the fith corner and never looking back." That is
exactly what I did. It was great. The loops were so long, I didn't even
encounter dust until the fourth lap. With me getting first again, that makes
four National wins this year, and enough to wrap up the Championship. I'm stoked
I finally wrapped one up.
My next couple of races were spread out through the summer
months. In June, Britt and I headed up to Michiagan for another OMA. I always
enjoy racing in Michigan because it's so sandy. I also really enjoy the
loose soil. Maxxis tires really hook up well in these conditions. After pro
practice, I chose the Yamaha four-five-o this time. We got a nice little rain
Saturday night, which made for ideal conditions on Sunday. I got a good
start and followed Jarret and Whibley into the woods. I had nothing for them and
they were really going fast this race. I was really disappointed in my riding,
and myself, at this race. One good thing though, was youg Adam Bouner put the
pressure on me. We had a really good race and he actually passed me once or
twice. Well, just once. I passed him back across this long grass
field and let the big girl eat. It came down to who's out-braking whom. Wow, it
was close! Whibley ended up getting the win by seconds over Jarret, and I ended
up on the podium for third.
The following race was another OMA in Ohio. It was held
at a nice motocross facility called 330MX. This was rather close, so it was
nice not to have to drive forever to get to a race. I took my good friend Nick
"Daringer" and Nate Alering. Nick just had knee surgery, so
he was just spectating and relaxing. The track was really bad after pro
practice, and I was not looking forward to Sunday's race. Luckily, I woke up in
the middle of the night to rain drops. I love back east! It hasn't rained
in California in months! The track was sweet on Sunday morning, and I was
pumped to go racing. "The Karate Kid" got me off to a great
start and I was leading by the moto track. The moto track was pretty nice with
big hills and natural terrain off-cambers. Whibley got by me going into the
woods, and Jarret and I got into a few encounters on the first lap. The last
encounter ended with Jarret and myself on the ground letting Whibley get
away. The final encounter was actually quite funny. Jarret crashed and I passed
him right after that. There were some logs to cross, and as I was crossing them,
I hit neutral. Jarret was right on me and I fell on him and was wedged between
both bikes. I had to wiggle free and get going again. That gave Whibs a big
lead. I stayed on Jarret until he made a mistake, which gave me second. Young
Adam Bouner ended up getting his first podium. My placing second also
moved me within two points of Jarret for second in the championship.
The last race of the summer was Millville, and we made
a nice road trip out of it. "Cinci Nate" and Britt accompanied me on
this trip to Minnesota. This was a birthday weekend for me so I wanted to have a
good time. We hauled ass up to the quad cities to do some socializing with my
good friend, Tim Taber, from Funmart Cycles. Taber is always a good time. We
woke up the next morning, keen on riding. I've spent a lot of time in the
area and knew of some good tracks. We got some rain that night and the track at Coal
Valley was perfect. We got our fix on and then headed to Millville for
the race. Pro practice was awesome. Millville baby! Get some! All I could think
of on the way up there was hitting that huge tabletop after the whoops, then
blasting that uphill triple. My heart rate was like, one-sixty, just sitting
there waiting for them to open the track. I rode until seven thirty that night, foaming at the
mouth. Lets go racing. The "Karate Kid" got me a great start and out
front right away. First, some sick hare scramble whips, then into the
woods. Whibs, once again, made a pass on me and checked out. I rode a strong
race and finished on the podium. Finishing second to Whibley is getting old,
though. Matt Crouch made a return to the series and got his first podium. Nate
Alering ("Cinci Nate") had a strong ride and won the open A class.
Guess he doesn't have to drive home.
I am pretty happy with my results this summer, getting
on the podium at every round. Winning the National West Coast Hare Scrambles
series and moving into second in the OMA series isn't bad for an old, busted
up man. I am going to keep working hard and get some more race wins by the year's
end. I set a goal for race wins this year and I am still a few short.
How about that Trophy Team in Greece?! Good job guys!!
Rich would be proud, and a lot of us other motorcycle fans are, too. Maybe it
opened some peoples' eyes, and we can send a full assault and kick some more
ass!
Thanks ,
Valli Motorsports, Yamaha, Am-Pro Yamaha, Maxxis, FMF, Arai, Spocket Specialist,
Motio Pro, Worksendurorider, Proclean, IMS, NoToil, Wiseco, Maxima, Racetech,
Powersportgraphx, Works Connection, BRP, DP brakes, Answer racing, Scott USA,
Tireballs, Steahly Flywheels, Nor Cal Motorsports
6/9/2008 - update from Brian Garrahan
Now that I'm back east, I'm getting used to
the different elements: Tight trees , mud holes, roots and rocks. In the west,
we have these objects too but they are not as confined in one small area. You
have time between obstacles, but back here, everything is in your face
constantly. It takes a lot of work and concentration.
I headed to Loretta's for my first GNCC of the year.
Unfortunately I was a little unprepared. I broke a bone in my foot a week before
the event and could not train or ride. I went out to have a good time and meet
up with some of my buddys I don't get to see to often. Wattsy was there, Kanney,
and Mclevy, whom I hadn't seen since '05. I was out all of '06 with a broken leg
and Mclevy didn't race last season.
The course was rough. There were huge braking bumps
going down the hills and the place gets rockier every year. Wattsy was leading
the race when he decided he rather be riding with his good bud instead of
winning another GNCC. It's funny Shane doesn't even race any more and he is
still the fan favorite. He won't even be at a race and they still want him to
win. The whole lap I rode with him flashes were going off. My result was
less than stellar and I ended up fourteenth.
After Loretta's I was to have a home race in Kentucky
for an OMA. I love saying that. For this event I was going to try something new
since OMA's are so tight I figure the four five O was a little bit to much
bike. Time to break out the karate kid. A two fifty F tuned by ( Al Pose)
would do the trick in the tight muddy woods. Since we get a pro practice the day
before I was pretty confident in my bike choice.
My start on the little bike was superb and I entered
the woods second behind Mullins. I was taking way better lines than Mullins
so he let me by. We ran a really good pace and pulled away the first lap. I
came ripping through the pits in the lead on lap one. My pit board read
"ride smart" and right at that time, I grabbed a handful and spun a
huge donut. Mullins passed me on lap two and I ran there until the last lap
when another "yellow hornet" (Whibley) ran me down and
pulled away almost catching Mullins. Third place was good and I was really happy
with the performance of the bike.
Rio Grande, Ohio would be the next round of the OMA's.
Nate "send it" Kanney was to show up to this one and mix it up with
the "yellow hornets" with me. Nate has a factory KTM ride
this year and is really riding well. He really is motivated this year and you
can tell by his results. The conditions were going to be perfect for this race.
It has a good mix of fast fields and some tight woods. I chose to ride the
four-five-0. With there being some fast long fields, I would hate to give
up that speed by riding the "karate kid". I hate the dirt in Ohio but
this track got better as the race went on. Best I've ever seen the dirt in Ohio.
Boom! The bikes fired and were off...well, everyone but
me. My mechanic counted fifteen kicks before the big girl fired up. I worked my
way up to eighth by the first lap. Mullins crashed on the first lap and I caught
him and rode with him into the top five by the gas stop. By race end, I managed
to work up to fourth, behind Whibley for the win, Jarret and Kanney.
Sparta Gncc just down yonder. It is actually held at
the Kentucky Speedway. Another local one for me. Kanney and Knighter wanted
to do some riding and testing near the track. I hooked them up with a nice
little place I go called Bucks Run. It has a two and a half minute moto track
and plenty of quad trail to go around. You want hard pack, I'll show you hard
pack!!
My mechanic, Britt, took the truck down the night
before to get a good spot in the pits. Big John always hooks me up with a killer
spot. I got to stay home and sleep in my own bed and relax and spend the
night with the family. Britt called me in the morning and told me he was going
to race the morning race and needed gas. No problem. The race starts at
ten. It takes me a half hour to get there. I'd be there around eleven on
the side of the track.
The track was really good, I thought, for a GNCC. It
had some really good off cambers, lots of rocks and roots. It also had quite a
few little rhythms sections you could jump through. I got off to a good start
and rounded the first lap ninth. I stayed there until the last lap when Garret
Edmiston caught me. I was pretty tired at this point and could not hold him off.
I ended up finishing tenth. I was pretty disappointed that I got tired,
because I definitely don't slack off during the week. I think I'm going to have
to change up my routine a little bit.
Well I'm off on a road trip. I've got a OMA in Iowa,
then off to Utah for a hare scramble. Look for some race wins coming soon.
Thanks to: Valli Motorsports, Maxxis, Powerhouse Yamaha, Yamaha, Arai, Sprocket
Specialist, Motion Pro, Pro Clean 1000, IMS, No Toil, Wiseco Scott USA, Maxima,
Race Tech, Norcal, Powersportgafx, Works Connection, BRP, DP brakes, Answer
Racing, Tire balls
4/17/2008
The migration has started. The family and I
have headed back to Kentucky for the summer. I'm like a surfer chasing the
perfect wave, or a snowboarder chasing the seasons. I'm the dirt biker
searching for the perfect berm, or the right soil. California is baked right
now, and there won't be rain for six months. Thanks but no thanks.
The season has started off quite well for
me. I'm leading the National Hare Scrambles points with three wins out
of five races. I also got to race the first half of the local district 36
races, and to me, those are the best hare scramble courses. Out in Cali, the
racing is all on the pipe up and down huge mountains with a really fast,
smooth flow. I'm leading this series as well, and my brother, Patrick,
is hot on my heels.
Round One of the National Hare
Scrambles was at Clear Creek. What a great course! They had a little of
everything on this course. When I was done I said, "Now that was a race
course! I'm shot." Patrick banged a huge holeshot and I got my usual bad
start. I worked through the pack fairly quickly and was out front charging and
ended with a couple minute lead.
The second round was in Arizona and that
was quite a shocker for me. The course had nowhere to pass and you had to be
very aggressive. I got a bad start and rode way too excitedly. I would work
up to the top five and make mistakes and drop back; work up, drop back. Finally,
I had a huge crash right over the hangers. Goggles went a flying, and man,
was I lucky to get back up. That's it. I'm done. Cruise control on. Eighth is
all I could muster. The best part of the race was the private jet Valli
Construction provided. We landed on an Indian Reservation with a car on the
landing strip, waiting for us. We were in and out just like that. Home in
time to watch some Supercross.
Round three was at Carnegie Hills
Ca., and it went a little better. I had a good race with Brandt, Davis, and
Powell. Unfortunately, I ran into Brandt up a hill and bent my front rotor. The
sun was in our eyes on a big hill and we tangled going up it. That
made for a hard race, because if you've ever been to Carnegie, the hills
are monstrous! I made a huge pass at the end, down a big hill doing
about seventy five with no front brakes. I made it stick and it really felt good
to get that second win after such a bad race in round two.
Off to Emmit, Idaho for round four, and the
beginning of the migration. Idaho course was really fast but had a nice
flow. Big hills with grass track corners and some really good air. Soule and I
were literally jumping the entire hill. Rad, Bad Russ Pearson got off
to a good start and left Soule, Brandt, and myself in tow. Russ had
some bad luck and left me and Soule to battle it out. They had these long
straights and my bike blew by Soule's KTM. I love NorCal RaceTech...good
stuff. I got to the checkers first again and put myself in a nice
points lead.
Patrick had a horrible race. His bike blew up going down the first river
bed off the start. Ironically the same thing happened to him in '95 in the same
river bed off the start. Crazy stuff! After the race, I started back east for
the first OMA National.
The first OMA was in Tennessee, on some
guy's private cattle ranch. This place was deep. The conditions were good but
way different than what I've been racing these past months. No more wide open
with the feet on the pegs. It's ruts, roots, rocks and bogs from here on out. I
had a good race and ended fifth OA. The Suzuki boys got away, but Dustin Gibson
and I battled it out all the way to the checkers. I was throwing up at the
finish and really wore myself down. I was sick two hours later.
I headed back to Cali for Shasta Dame Grand
Prix, the fifth round of the hare scrambles. This place is a dump. There wasn't
one bike after the race that had a Knob left on their tire. It was super fast
and dusty so the start was going to be huge. My bike fired good but I
missed my shifter, so back of the pack I go. I worked up to third by the top
fire road but it was so dusty it took a lap and a half for me to work up to
second. The race was only four laps long, so when I came into the pits on
the second lap, I was informed I was three minutes down. With the
conditions of the course and my points lead, I figured cruise control was
in order. Never mind the fact Brandt got the holeshot, checked out and was
putting a minute a lap on me.
I've migrated out here to
the Tri-State area, getting some riding in and preparing for my
first GNCC at Loretta Lynns. Wish me luck. I couldn't do without my family Amy,
Ian, Mom, Dad, Patrick, as well as my sponsors: Valli Con Inc, Maxxis,
Powerhouse Yamaha, Answer, Maxima, Norcal Racetech, Powersportgrfx, Works
Connection, Brp, Dp Brakes, Fmf, Arai, Sprocket Specialist, Motion Pro,
Proclean1000, Ims, No toil, Scott, Steahly Flywheel, Ampro, Gbrothersraceing,
Wiesco.
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