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Place: 7th
Site: South Bryson
Guest Columnist: Cindy Gross, L613
This started off as a good weekend for everyone. Pat's bike seemed to be running good, everyone was in good health, and the weather was cooler than it had been.
Pat and I set out for a practice lap. He took off and I didn't expect to see him again until I got back to camp. But about five minutes into the course he was waiting on the side of the trail to tell me that he was heading back to camp. His bike was acting up again. Pat's weekend went downhill from there. Despite the help of Pat's Dad (a long time desert racer visiting from Arizona), Rob Cook (Over 30 Amateur Winner X649), and way too much money spent on parts, they have yet to find the problem. Needless to say, Pat didn't race.
Sunday morning we had a surprise. Dale (X699) pulled up with his girlfriend Lynn. He was ready to race. He hadn't been out much this season and wanted to enjoy the excitement of the last race. Unfortunately he broke his collarbone and wasn't able to finish the race.
On a brighter note, Rob won 4th place in the morning race in the Over 30 amateur class AND 4th place in the afternoon race in the Over 30 intermediate class. Way to go Rob!!
And then on to me. I enjoyed the track - it had some fun sections even though it was a little rough. I lined up on the outside and got a good start. I was fifth for a while. I spent most of the race between 6th and 8th place. The first lap was great. I was focused on what I was doing and everything was flowing smoothly. Then I started having some problems with my bike. I guess Pat's mechanical problems were contagious. I stalled the bike in a turn and got it started right away, but it wouldn't go into first. I spent some time fighting with that before I decided it was more important to get going than to get first working. Then I was going down a straightaway in 5th gear and it cut out on me like it wasn't getting gas. I kicked it down a couple of gears and all seemed fine. Not too long after that Robin (L604) caught up with me and finally passed me. I stayed right behind her until we reached an uphill. About halfway up the hill the bike cut out again. I tried to kick it into first, but there wasn't any first. Then I tried to go up in 2nd gear, but all I did was dig my wheel into the ground (I need more clutch practice!). I finally backed it down the hill and then it wouldn't start. I heard a bike coming up and gave it hard kick. It started and I went up the hill. Stephanie (L699) was even with me, going up the left hill and taking the left line. I took the right. We came out at almost exactly the same time and I gunned it and went in front (sorry Stephanie!). I took off as fast as I could but I didn't think I could catch Robin in the remaining mile or so of track. Stephanie worked hard, but I managed to stay ahead and finished 7th. Stephanie pulled in right behind me in 8th. We then got to congratulate Beckee Morris (L617) on her 1st place win!
And one last highlight for the day. Not only did Shannon McKamy (L1) get her usual win in the Ladies Expert class, but she also finished 10th in the Pro class. Way to go Shannon!
Thanks for reading! See you on the track! Cindy
