As all of us Hare Scramblers know, a good race always starts on the Saturday before the big competition. The Saturday pre-race ride is for sighting in the single track course and finding all the fast lines for the following day. On this particular Saturday on the Whiskey Creek trails in Parksville, B.C, my riding was lacking. My body was in good shape and my bike felt amazing, however my mind was wandering. Thoughts and visions of crashing and tumbling passed through my mind, but I was trying my hardest to block them out. After a somewhat questionable pre-ride, I packed up and headed to the May’s house. That night, Kurt Mortenson, Jarrett, a few of our older racer buddies and I got together and mechanically prepared our Ten Four Racing Courtenay Motorsports Husqvarnas for the Roots of Doom the following day. I went over the whole bike and also installed a front mousse into my bike with help from my teammates and Kurt’s dad, Alan. We all went to bed fairly early that night because every good racer knows, the key to a good race is lots of rest.
At 7:00 AM Mrs. Mortenson woke me up and we almost immediately left for the race site. On the way we stopped at Quality Foods for a wholesome breakfast, I questioned the two Bennys and hash browns I stuffed down and knew I might regret it halfway through the race. We arrived at the Whiskey Creek Trails at 8:15 AM and set up our pit area, we were looking good at 8:30 in the morning, not something any hare scrambler can say. Although all of our bikes looked great, Kurt’s bike especially glistened under the sun that morning.
It was time for the race to start, the Ten Four Team and I all looked spiffy in our Answer gear, and quite protected behind our EVS armour. We lined up without our bikes for the Lemans start (something I had never done before). I was excited for the running start because I knew it would spread us out more evenly. The air horn went and our group of Masters/Experts took off in a mad sprint for our bikes that were about 100 or so feet away. Surprisingly I got to my bike first and headed for the first corner with Jarrett a few inches behind my back tire. I’m still not sure what I was thinking in that first corner but for some odd reason I took it way too wide, leaving a lane open for teammate Jarrett May. Knowing his riding style and ambition, I knew he would capitalize on the situation. I was second into the single track and right away I had lost sight of the pro. Keeping up to Jarrett meant unhealthy speeds and inevitable crashes, so from here on I worried about the guys behind me. There were a couple tip overs on the first lap but I was still successful in slightly pulling away from the opponents behind me.
On the second lap I began to slow down a notch and worry about being smooth. About halfway through the lap I clipped a tree and went into the bush, therefor allowing Quinn McCullough to catch up. He was hungry for the pass; another small mistake on my part allowed him to get by me. I got up and pushed and pushed some more. The next time I saw him was at the gas fill up area; he left right when I was pulling in.
The third lap was a grind for me. I kept catching glimpses of Quinn and it fuelled my fire. About 15 minutes into the third I had caught up, hollered and stayed as close to his back wheel as possible. He fell in a tight section of the course and the only way around him was over his machine. I decided to wait. In doing this I rested and of course saved some hard feelings. Once we got back going we headed into the treacherous downhill “A” section of the race. On the way down Quinn pulled ahead showing his determination and outstanding technical skill set. I, on the other hand, lacked at controlled speeds and crashed on the way down, putting half my bike on the trail and the other half on a steep sandy slope. I managed to pull my bike up and carry on in the hunt for first place, but by the end of the third lap I had caught up once again.
Going into the fourth, Quinn seemed bagged and almost immediately pulled over for me to go by. Luckily by this time the Bennys started to kick in for me so I was not as tired as I had expected to be. In saying this, I was still very sore and fatigued. I knew this last lap would test my endurance and riding ability. I rode at about 80% the whole lap because I knew if I pushed it would mean more injuries. Part way through the lap I got stuck in a mud pit and prayed that I was far enough ahead to stay in first place by the time I got my bike out. After this incident I cruised knowing that any mistake from here on out could cost me the race. By the time I came around the last corner I could barely hang on to the bike any longer.
It was the first Expert race I had passed the finish line. Immediately after, I dropped the bike and gave my mom and dad a hug, as well as Jarrett. I was stoked on my first win of the series and I could hardly control my excitement. I am pumped to go racing at Tanski in a few weeks, and I hope to see all the competitors back on the line.
