YOUR RACE

A friend of mine on his website (www.firepolicemx.com) started a page to let people share their race with others. When we get back to the pits we all tell our stories of the things that happened out on course. e-mail me your tale and I will put it up for others to enjoy. Send them to Keith@nmdrc.com

John O'Farrell #822/50+ Novice class


    A rider for Christ and my O8 Rattlesnake pre-ride

  Hello everyone out there in NMDRC land. This is #822 / 50+ novice class;
yes the guy that crashed in the pre-ride. My CR500R and the Rattlesnake bit
me again, what can I say.  A lot worse this time, but I’m well on my way to
starting recovery after having my broken, lower left leg surgically
repaired. I was transported by ambulance later Saturday evening to Lovelace
Westside hospital and next day they operated on me, inserting a permanent
titanium rod down the center of my tibia and screws to the rod to set the
bone in place.
  Here is my story. I went down the small hill at check point one, saw a
smooth wide decent and transition into the sandwash so hit 2nd gear for some
speed and momentum. There was a small choppy section entering the wash that
sent and caught me in weird side to side bouncing rhythm. When I bounced
back to the left my back tire swung left and I turned into it slightly to
straighten up, but my front tire came down and sank into some very soft sand
that cocked it to far to the left and sent me and the bike into an endow. I
got face and chest planted into the wash, but my left boot got hung up in my
bike that was still flipping, this torqued my foot/ankle downward and back
breaking my leg about 2-3” above my ankle before it pulled free and I slid
away from the bike. OOOOCH did that hurt, and continued until I finally got
some pain meds quite awhile later in the Espanola hospital ER room.
  As a Christian, during the crash and after, I feel the good Lord is
knocking on my door and telling me to lay down the racing for now to refocus
on Him and get some spiritual things re-prioritized in my life. This time I
said yes Lord, I hear and I obey :).  Not sure what the future will bring.
  I want to thank everybody for your prayers, concern and getting me out of
there and to the hospital. Take care and God Bless all you NMDRC folks!

                                        Sincerely,
                                                          John O’Farrell
 

The Dunes
April 19th 2008
Farmington, NM

I had s

I had spent most of the time from Corralitos to now working on my bike. I had to remove the engine and split the cases. Why? A stripped drain plug! Yes, it had to be done. Rex decided to help out and loaned me his ’07 YZ250 to practice on. What a fun bike! Unfortunately, I grenaded a crank bearing the second day of riding. Without much training, I also neglected my diet and substituted too much water with beer. (That was my excuse preamble)
Rex(#5), Lucas(pit man), Jack(#4) and I(#100) convened at my house and we loaded up in Jack’s truck for the weekend of fun.
The pre-ride Saturday was almost déjà vu of last year. Well, with the exemption of moisture! The sand was so dry that it was like riding on mud; slipping and sliding everywhere. I had a hard time relaxing and the arm pump was almost instant. I had fun playing with all the traffic and had some other riders make minced meat of me, as well. After one loop my arm pump showed no sign of loosening up, so I called it a day.
We all socialized for a while and watched the mini’s before heading to town. I had reserved a room at Day’s Inn for Rex and I not knowing who else was coming. No more rooms were available so Jack and Lucas found a room at another hotel. From there I was on a pasta hunt.(carbs) The Italian joint we found last year was not favored by the others in the group, so we settled for Golden Corral. Food pickin’s were pretty slim and the people were…….We ended up bedding down around 9:30. What an early night!
Jack and Lucas picked us up around 7:30 Sunday and we caught breakfast at the local diner. After bacon and eggs, it was on to the track to wait for our race to start. As soon as everyone started getting ready, it was posted that the race was postponed till 10:30. I decided to take the Keith Clark approach to getting ready and waited till the last minute. I had scoped the starting area earlier and wanted a line to the left away from the instant whoops. Luckily, there was one more spot still left open.
Standing with both feet on the left of the bike, we waited for Brett to raise the flag. Whoosh! There it went- leg over the bike- one kick- nothing. Aaaaarrgghh! Two more kicks and I was going already behind ¾ of the pack. This isn’t what I had planned! lol I anxiously tried to pick off guys right away to get me in front and in relax mode. After the bottle neck, we raced into the hills before returning further up the start wash. Here everyone swept outside to the left. By now I had passed four bikes and by holding tight to the right through the deep whoops, I could pick off a few more-Greed- Four whoops in, I swapped, rolled the gas, swapped, panic revved, flipped with the bike following suit, DIRT. Owwie! My bike landed upside down on the seat. I picked my bike up and gave it a quick inspection: nothing bent! Two kicks and I was on again.
By now I was with familiar racers, the B class! Probably where I belong J After the crash there was no relaxing. Half way through the 1st loop past the pits, I pulled over, goggles and helmet off, and tried to relieve my arm pump. 10 bikes went by before(put# here) asked if I was alright. Realizing how lame I must have looked, I geared up and fell in. After crossing a couple of big washes, I ran into a downed rider in a corner, brakes on, swung wide over the berm, DIRT. Kicked for a few and raced on.
I pitted right away and found Lucas(still healing from a shattered collar bone in Gordo) waving me in. He asked, “what happened to you?” I explained to him and Jessica about the crash and told them to be ready each loop. I needed the break!
I stalled the bike after coming down the big dune by the pits. Kick, kick, kick. Oh, man! Aaron offered help, but I held my pride and got it going again. I rounded the trees and shot up the dune trying to pass #387? right at the jump. I landed squirrely and snaked the rest of the way up where he let me by knowing he would see me again. After all, this wasn’t the first time!
During my second pit, I killed the bike even though I was taking no gas.-Don’t ask. The bike flooded and after kicking forever and being pushed I gave in and let Aaron kick for while. As soon as it revved I jumped on and continued to putt past the finish check. A couple of stalls later in the third loop, I tried passing someone while turning down the dune hill that approached the camps. Came in hot, squared the corner, hugged the inside, DIRT. I struggled to pick up my bike while facing down the steep slope. As soon as I was vertical another rider rounded the corner, grip caught the rear fender, pulled the bike away, DIRT. I walked around the other side, picked it up again, walked around to the up side, and mounted. Out of breath, I looked down the hill. At the bottom was a small group of spectators that had been watching the action. I extended arms and fists in the air celebrating a small victory and they cheered and whistled me on. My inner child quickly mended, I coasted down, pop started and charged on.
Fourth loop, half way through the ‘back nine’, I again found a stalled rider in a burm-yes-….DIRT. Hidden on the inside behind a tree, I struggled to start my bike. Two guys passed me, the second giving my rear tire a love tap. Even Rex lapped me here, hollering as he went by. I decided to relocate. Finding the road next to the wash I saw Jack pushing his bike back to the pits. Later I learned that his rear hub shattered ripping his rear sprocket off. Man, I wish I could ride that hard! I spotted a 14’ sloped trail into the wash and figured I could pop start there. Chug-a-Chug—nothing! I kicked until I was turning blue. I watched other riders like Daniel#3 and even Keith#362 cruise by on the other side of the wash. No one offered help! Understandably, they were racing, but what about the two spectators who walked their dog right past me? I know, I know, quit whining, baby. After busting my knuckle open on the gas tank, I decided a better method of starting my bike was to turn the gas off and lay it over to drain the carb. Vroom! Yes! Even though I had filled my goggles with sand during the event, I was happy just to get going.
I finished without any more problems, only one bobble, no DIRT.
I have never had so much fun while having so many problems during a race. I only blame myself for the poor performance. It wouldn’t have been possible if not for Brett w/ WEBE, good job on the course; High Velocity Cycles, and Rex Cameron who made sure that I was able to go. Thanks everyone.
 

Marek Coston

Corralitos 100
3/16/2008

3/16 My race, Shall we say wind, Race morning was kind of cold, although the wind was not blowing. The quads can thank DJ that they got out before the wind picked up. I went in to the trailer to finish getting ready and came out a few minutes later to what looked like a traffic jam out on pit row. I could not believe how many bikes were out there. I went walking down through the rows to find mind row. I kidded around with Possum and Tim for a few then counted there to be 15 bikes in my class. Wow, at this point I was hoping to make the top ten. At the start I let Tim go ahead of me so he would not have to pass me on the track but mostly so I would not feel bad when he did. I took off pretty strong and started passing a few guys. I caught up to Tim but at that point my right arm started its normal ache and I could not twist the throttle. Before the first check point I could feel my rear tire was starting to go low on air. Tim started to slowly pull away from me before G out alley. By the mid point of G out alley my rear tire went flat. I finally got the ache in my arm to go away before the silt section but then my other hand went numb. With my numb hand and flat tire I really slowed down in the silt section. I bike came by me and it was (           ) from my class who gave me a friendly yell then Bruce Derkinson (also in my class) came by and actually grabbed my shoulder as he went by just to say hi. At the end of the silt section my front tire caught a rut and I hit the ground. I got up quickly and got moving again. There was a two hundred number bike that I caught and while making the pass I over shot a turn and wound up way out in the bushes. I made the pass stick and kept moving. At this point I was really starting to have fun but I had to use the whole track criss crossing back and forth to use every berm. As I got into the six miles in an acre section a four hundred number and a guy and my class had caught up to me. I totally blew the corner leading both of them astray but I pointed them the right direction and got in behind them. I chased they guy in my class and finally made the pass. I put some ground on him but then at the check point he caught up again. I once again turned up the speed and put some more ground on him. In the Little Rio Grande he had caught up again so I was going as fast as I could to stay ahead of him. I could not shake him so when I got out I moved to the side and let up so he could go by. When he went buy I saw the notorious license plate on his Camel Bak and realized it was none other then the famous Jimmie Crawford. No wonder I could not shake him. I continued on as hard as I could even trying to look good for the crowds that were out there watching on the track just after “Herman’s Corner”. I came into the pits but my tire was shot and I knew there was no way I could do another thirty eight miles on a flat after having just beat it up for the past twenty eight miles. I called it a day and watched half of my class go through the pits after me. I was very disappointed because I hate not finishing a race and because I had so much fun. At this point the wind was howling and every pair of goggles that could be found was being worn by all the people trying to pit for their racers. Your could say at the point the race for me blew and sucked. Things got better when I saw my son turn the last corner finishing his first Iron Man race. He was back safe so I was OK. I will be ready for the next one. See you on the flip side.

Tarantula 100
February 17th 2008

Dave Sturgess #101
I didn't decide to ride until the Thursday before the
event! I hadn't been seriously off roading for 6
months due to a neck injury. I dug my 450 kx out, old
tires, old oil and pretty beat up. I figured it would
be a good time to try out my helmet camera since I
thought I would probably get last in my class. Checked
the pressure in my tires, and my oil and coolant level
and set off. I did the preride on Saturday and
realized my bike was jetted very rich (took it to
baja) because it wouldnt rap out on the long road.
Luckily I had tall gearing already on the bike 14, 46.
So I leaned the bike out, strapped on a gps unit on
the handlebars and showed up sunday morning. I had
about 50 percent of my usual prerace jitters, drank
some coffee and lined up. The flag waves, my bike
started in gear and I took off. Second to the corner,
first up the hill to pole line, then promptly passed
back, I then returned the favor because he blew the
first right turn off pole line. I settled into a
comfortable pace that I knew I could do all day and
got passed by 4 or 5 guys. Everything went swimmingly
and then I got to the road. I started going through
the gears 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 92.9 mph on the gps. I
was pretty amazed. I just kept it pinned the entire
way down the road showing the bike no mercy. I was
staring at the gps seeing if I could hit 95 and I hit
a dip slamming my face into the gps. I decided not to
look at it anymore. I passed all the dudes back that
had passed me!. I decided not to gas for my second
lap, although I couldnt see what was in my tank.
Second lap same thing, all routine then 92.9 down the
road. Stopped for gas for my third lap and set off
again. About a quarter of a mile from the road I hear
a guy behind me yelling. I moved to the left of the
rough ass trail but wouldnt slow down. He couldnt get
around me, but I held a clean line to the left. I
figured once I got to the road it wouldnt matter
anyway. I turn onto the road start going through the
gears, get topped out at 92 and I hear this guy
pulling up beside me. I look over and Its Matt Preslar
(my buddy). He's doing at least 96 or 97 mph. I give
him a thumbs up, he flips me off and then proceeds to
spray me with rocks (thanks Matt!)  Anyway I finished
up not knowing where I came in and couldnt believe I
won over 30 expert. I think it was actually my gearing
that won it! The helmet camera turned itself off at
the start of the race, and I got nothing
(uuurrrrrggghhhh). I set off to find Matt to tell Him
I owed him one, which means I will just drink all his
beer the next time I'm at his house. Thats my race.
Hope to see you in Cruces!
Dave Sturgess #101
p.s. Tim, I bought a trials bike!!
 

Tim Dugan #363

So the last time that I was really on a dirt bike for any amount of time was Rio Puerco last year, and what happens Saturday morning before the pre-ride my expert idle the great Jimmy Crawford wants to pre-ride with little old me. I'm thinking I've got a new bike that only has 30 or so miles on it and wanted to just cruise through the pre-ride and then change the oil and hope that is a good enough break-in for Sunday's race. Plus not having any practice time in a year, I can't possibly ride the great Jimmy C. Oh well I figured we get on the track and away he would be and I'd see him again in the pits, nooooooot  he made me lead,poor new motor!

Sunday morning I fill up the bike, it takes just over 1 gallon and I have a 3 gallon tank. Perfect no pit stop for this Amateur. On the line I hate having a 4-stroke with dead engine start, but wow it started first kick. So surprised I forgot to take off, but still made it to the first corner third. Sorry to the two Kawi guys that ran into the back of me.The dirt and the track where so awesome, just like Jimmy I was smiling the whole way. Until Keith passes me like I'm standing still, did you install nitrous on that old CR? So I spent the next 10 miles trying to get around him again. Then #354 and #359 and I diced it up a couple times,You remember I said no pit for me they both pitted and I thought this was my chance on I went. Second lap was pretty uneventful until about a half mile out from the motorcross section at the pits, my bike starts to slow,   what.....whats going on.....oh no I'm out of gas that can't be. Just over 1 gal in the pre-ride and I did two laps in the race that's about 2.5 gals I needed for the race I can't be out. Sure enough I'm out and have to sit there watching my whole class go by me and especially #362 Keith Clark. He was laughing and pointing as he went by, that wasn't very nice. So then he shows up with a little gas to get me back, that made up for the laughing. But later I got to thinking about him laughing and the fact that he showed up right away with some gas,ummm?????

REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE PROOF THAT KEITH CLARK SIPHONED GAS FROM MY BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Thats my story, Tim#363
 

Marek Coston:

Our trip down to Alamogordo Saturday seemed a little delusional. Some stretches felt like we were going boarding instead of racing with the snow falling and all the trees having snowcaps. Things cleared up by the time we reached Gordo and the sand was looking sweet. After winning my ‘sandbagger’ jacket last year, I was going to race my first expert race this weekend. Rex and I found pits near Jeep#361 and Aaron#606 and unloaded. Rex forgot to pre-enter, yet, made it through the tent faster than me. I think the bouncer at the entrance helped by slowing me down. Ha! Just like the races, Keith ;) Though this was my sixth visit to the Tarantula, I was nervous as hell. Everyone geared up and went to tech. When tech was done, I noticed Lucas#66 going out and tried to follow him. Man, he was cooking. I lost sight ten miles in and glanced down at my gas tank….Half a tank?! “Dumbass, you forgot to gas up!” I meandered across the desert back to the trucks to top off. I can still hear the laughing as I departed once more. The pre-ride was educational and consisted of grenaded engines and empty gas tanks along the way.
Later we learned of Paul Luce crashing hard by the corral. Paul’s mom calmed down a bit when we heard that Keith was out there with him. Joe Marquez and I jumped in Paul’s truck and sent out to retrieve the carnage. When we arrived, Keith was still there monitoring Paul’s condition. Paul had come too hot into a corner and high sided right over the berm launching 30’ or so. He complained of a swollen hip and groin and had rang his bell. I could tell by his more comprehendible speech! ;) Keith gave us a condition rundown-Thanks Keith- We loaded up the twisted KTM and Paul and returned to the pits. After assessing his symptoms, the EMT’s ambulanced Paul to town for x-ray’s and other tests. (Paul did return to hang out. Glad he’s OK)
Race morning was upon us and after eating breakfast, I thought that I had control of things. I geared up and fell in line. There were 12 bikes on the line with me. After the dreaded dead bike start, I managed to be 6th into turn one. An angry mob of bikes diced it up in front of me and I ended up following #111 for a while until he started swapping in the deep whoops. I managed to pass him and had already lost sight of the mob leaders. I reached checkpoint one and 30 yards later processed what the volunteer had yelled at me, “where’s your helmet card?” Again I ridiculed myself just as the day before. Two other bikes had been hounding me since the start and after the long paved road, they slipped by me in the checkpoint.
Finishing loop one, I rolled into pit. There was the Mayor(DR) pitting for me! He told me to forget about the helmet card and get going. No one was going to protest last place. I pushed on into my second loop. Half a mile past checkpoint one, I saw a downed bike with Paul Scroggie helping out. I didn’t recognize the rider curled up on his knees but the bike number was 66, Lucas. I pulled off and downed my bike to help out. Another rider, (insert # here), went back to the checkpoint to alert paramedics. When he returned to let us know they were coming, Paul took off. I picked up Lucas’ bike to lay it next to him and give him something to sit up against. Still in gear, I shifted down 4 times to neutral! Dude was hauling @$$! It was a long right hand sweeper and Lucas, knowing he would miss the groove, decided to hop out into the flat field and catch some virgin traction there. One hump kicked him over the bars sending him tumbling. He for sure broke his collar bone. Jokingly, before I left, I told him to get a wife that I could tell back at the pits, “He wasn’t moving when I saw him”. An un-repaid favor I owe him from Shotgun. Paul, I, and (insert#here) didn’t track how long we were stopped, but agreed that it wouldn’t make much difference anyway. The rest of loop two was rigorous but still manageable.
Loop three saw the demise of Pikachu’s ambition. As soon as I hit the tight deep whoop sections, my shoulders and back began to give out. ‘sob’ I reverted back to tractor mode. No more braapp-braapp-braapp. Now rrowr-rrowr-rrowr. Paul Scroggie, who was changing a front flat in the pits, now passed me like I was standing still. I maintained my original speed through the fast whoop and sweep sections but my concentration was now on finishing. And that I did. 6th out of 6 in my class. Who’s sandbagging now?
All in all, no complaints. It was as fun as fun gets. --Marek #100-not #366
 

The Dunes
Farmington NM
April 14th &15th 2007

Talk about a fun course! This was my first visit to the Dunes and man, am I glad I ride at Southern a lot. The ups, downs, whoops and washes were all pretty familiar terrain, yet brutal for a race course. I can usually cruise through stuff like that but I had to push hard to hit it in race mode. The pre-ride was a meal and a half from all the riders I was behind. I was in so much traffic that I wasn’t sure I’d remember the course the next day. By the time I made it around one loop, I had dropped it once, ran over 3 other guys who dropped it and killed it twice. My arm pump was so bad that I could barely take my goggles off. I was totally disappointed with how out of shape I felt. That night I was bound and determined to get ready for Sunday. I convinced the group that I was with( Rex, Lucas, Jack, June and all their women and kids) that some pasta was in order.(D.R. got me hooked on that). We found a cool place called ‘The Junction’ I think. It was a little Italian place that had all you can eat spaghetti or fettuccini plates. Awesome! Loaded with a bunch of carbs, we hunkered down for the night. Sat. morning we checked out and made our way for the course to the riders meeting. Everyone lost attention for a moment while a sweep rider in the background was having trouble getting up the monster hill by the pits. He finally made it and everyone dispersed to their own pits. Being used to racing first thing, waiting for the C class to finish their race was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Everyone had that pre-race adrenaline rush all morning so we tried making up for it by watching the race. It worked out pretty well as for the number of riders that were blowing corners, crashing, getting lost, and outright dicing it up was plentiful. And that was right around the pit area! Too bad we couldn’t see the whole course. As our race time crept around, the race to get ready was on. I geared up and fell in with the rest of the grip twisters by the starting gate. It’s impossible to remain still while waiting. Our dear comrade Keith happened to pit right next to wear our class was lined up so he was able to relax, walk around, and ‘oh, is it time to go? Oh hum.’ While the rest of us got to white knuckle our grips with anticipation. I have decided that it’s easier to be in front if that’s where you start so I cheapishly got a jump on everyone as we lined up one by one towards the starting zig-zag. One by one, ten seconds apart made for a pretty smooth go. I was able to get past most or all of the 200cc class in front of us, but as always there’s those guys with no courtesy to hold a line and let you by. As I was behind one of these ‘Sunday drivers’, he also got caught behind his own kind. Pretty soon the bikes started backing up. There was no place to pass as we had made it into some tight single track with steep inclines and descents and no one wanted to eat a tree. It took almost 2 miles to clear it all up. I would have some guys gain on me and pass me in most of the tight technical sections, but they seemed to back off once you got to a wash or some steep hills. That’s where I let my 450 and my desire for speed shine. I came out of the hills once into a wash and let loose. There wasn’t much distance to the next sharp left and incline to get around the guy in front of me so I got up and showed him my fender. He must not have liked it ‘cause he didn’t let up! I yelled out ‘almost made it!’ right before blowing the turn making my own berm outside to get around him. On my third loop, I felt an awkward presence near by. As I turned my head I saw a flippin’ headlight with a little # 4 gaining on me like I was standing still. By then there were a couple of whoop sections that I had started rolling and I was happy to let Kyle Abney by. A few others like Chad Dutton and Daniel Walker also lapped me. ‘Wheeww!’ Only a fourth loop was left for me. With so many mis-matched numbers out there, it was hard tell who was passing me and who I was passing. Every time I came through the start/finish check the LED board said I was in first but I figured ‘of course’ since started first, I was the first each lap to come in and the other lap times weren’t recorded yet. I figured some one that started 40 or 50 seconds behind me might not have passed me, but could still have faster lap times. I’m usually lucky to get a 4^th or 5^th. I had a tear in my eye-or was it a dirt clod- when I finished. I crept back to the trucks almost moaning. My left knee was on fire, thumbs were bleeding and my torso felt like loose rubber band. I thought I gave myself a hernia while gagging some sand out! Low and behold, when the results came out, I was still first! Holy crap! Of course the ‘feces hit the rotary oscillator’ with some other riders but I think it takes more than one or two races to claim ‘sandbagger’. This was my first ‘first’ in NMDRC and I’ll keep it. Thanks NMDRC, WEBE and all the other racers for keeping our sport alive. Like the sticker on my truck says: “life without racing is no life at all”. Of course the other one says: “If you didn’t crash, you riding fast enough”. I think I’ll remove that one. Marek #366

Here’s my version of what the race was like (Race Story)



I know I said I would not practice the Dunes this year, as it didn’t seam to help last year at all. I lied!!!!!!! Pat Hudman and I were out there at least 4 nights a week beating on what we thought was the race course. We were hardening our hands and working the sand corners and hammering the whoops hard. It is a little risky practicing the Dunes, what with BLM breathing down everyone’s neck and everybody and their son riding out there. We had several near misses with other riders going the other direction and so on. We even had encounters with horse riders and foxes. I had to work Thursday so didn’t get out there until Friday morning. Cruised a safety lap to ensure that the course was going to be safe for everyone, stopping and removing man-eating rocks along the way. All of you can’t appreciate that, because you never knew they were there in the first place. I lost count of the roots I cut out and rocks I marked or removed. Those big tires painted orange were not there just by chance, they were covering huge rocks that could not be removed (I call it recycling tires, or moving litter to a useful position). Pretty clever huh?????? Anyway, spent the rest of Friday helping Brett and Curt mark the course with X’s, arrows, and W’s. Man, we put out a lot of course markers. If anyone got lost, then it was purely your own fault. That was truly a great marked course. It rained all night Friday night, but by Saturday morning—the course was beautiful. Everyone knows what rain does to sand---it “fluffs” it and makes it thick and deep. What a great pre-ride!!! I got arm pump so bad I had to stop during pre-ride and shake my hands. I wandered what my hands would do on race day.

Sunday morning was a beautiful day. Went to Prayer meeting and riders meeting, and then------Hah—no race until 10:00. That was great. I thought I would load up and go to Head Canyon Motocross track and bang out a few laps to try to help relieve the arm pump. I did and wound up doing 6 laps at speed, loaded up and rushed back to the Dunes. When we lined up for the race, I was nervous as usual and hoping that my “warm-up” would alleviate the impending arm pump. The single file start was cool; it kept me from getting splashed with mud from the muddy little wash. I rode for a good length of time without arm pump, even managing a pass on Tommy Black in the first few miles. It didn’t last though, I got arm pump really bad about 6 miles in to the first lap and had to move over to let him back around. I was riding dead last in my class and had moved over for several other riders to pass me. Some dude on a Suzuki was flying around the track “out of control” I thought. He would pass me and crash only to be passed back. Then he would catch me and pass again and wad up again. This went on for a while---poor guy. I thought to myself, if he would only slow down a little he would be much better off. Around the middle of the second lap, I had started to regain feeling in my right arm and was getting into a rhythm. I came across Pat Hudman pulled off the side of the track (you can’t miss him with his BRIGHT orange riding gear). His hands must have fallen asleep again. He filed in right behind me. I rode for all I was worth trying to let him think I was alright. I caught up to Tommy Black again and was contemplating where to pass. I was right on his back tire when going down one of the big hills when he brushed against a tree. I brushed against the same tree, but it knocked me off of my bike. Apparently that tree didn’t realize that I own a Stihl Chainsaw and with the flick of my finger could end its life. Next time it does that to me, it’s over!!!!!!!!! Tommy sped away and Pat passed me. I collected my bike (still running) and climbed aboard and took off. I caught back up to them and snuck around. I caught the dude on the Suzuki that was crashing so much and buzzed around him. The next guy to catch was #148 (In my class). He was motoring along pretty good, and a pass was going to be difficult. Lucky for me, he got caught behind a troubled rider on the big hill climb, and I blew by both of them without any problems. I caught and passed a lot of people who I don’t remember the numbers. It was free sailing without arm pump. I knew the course really well and was able to just kick back and fly. My pit crew was awesome and very fast. As I was pulling out—Pat was pulling in. The last couple laps were just fast and flawless. I was especially glad to see the white flag, although I wasn’t expecting it so soon. The checkered flag was even better. The little muddy wash held up much better than last year and the whole course was just awesome. When the race was over, I found myself VERY hungry. I was eating everything in sight. This must have been a hard race, because usually eating is the last thing I want after a race. Did I mention I finished 1st place in the Vet-Pro class!!!!!! Thank you to everyone involved, especially to my friends and sponsor—Denco Racing---for everything they do. Thanks also to: Desert Sports of Farmington (Parts and service), Rio Yamaha of Las Cruces (Bikes), Badlands ATV and Cycle of Las Cruces (Tires and parts), Sun Country Cycles of Farmington (Tubes, lubricants, and goggles), and all of my friends and family who operate our pits. And last but not least, Thank you Patrick Hudman #12 for being the best practice buddy a guy could ever ask for, you rock…………….Good times……Jimmie Crawford #155
 

Corralitos 100 March 18th 2007

Keith Clark #362
My race! I don’t think you can call it a race. It was more of a Sunday stroll. My race my pre-ride was actually more exciting than the race. After working the sign up trailer I barely made it out for a pre-ride before it closed. I did the first section but it was quickly appear ant that I had not even started my bike since the last race. I have been busy but that is another story. After the road crossing, I came across the number 6 quad who had lost his front sprocket. There was no fixing it so I took my Camelbak off and left it on his bike so I could give him a ride back. After dropping him off at the pits I made my way back to his quad to get my Camelbak back and off I went. I was riding OK but just did not feel like I had any energy. I think I blew every turn on the back “6 miles in an acre” section. As I was approaching the rock hill to traverse from the front of the hill to the back I came upon a female rider who was riding about half my speed. I passed her and went up and over the hill. Another mile into it dropped it over into a small g out. I knew she was coming so I got up quickly and took off. Not long after that I dropped it again in a corner. This time she was close enough to go by me, as I was getting going again. I pushed hard and got by her again. I was riding at what I thought was a slow pace through the flowerbed. As you head toward the lone hill there is a long straight away with a 90-degree right-hander at the end. As I was slowing for the turn I felt the back end of the bike pop and start coming around to the left. It hit the ground and quickly popped around to the right and that is about the time it bucked me off. As I was flying through the air face down looking at the ground pass beneath me it felt like slow motion. In fact I remember thinking to my self as the ground passed beneath me the “I was going alot faster than I thought I was”. Soon after that is when I hit the ground and bounced across the desert like a rag doll thrown out the window of a fast moving car. I landed face down and I would have laid there for a few minutes to recover but I remembered the bike behind me and I did not want her to think I was seriously hurt. I picked myself up off the ground and could immediately feel that my right knee was loose. I have had torn ligaments in my other knee and know what a loose knee feels like. I hobbled over to my bike and picked her up but nothing seemed to be broken. I waived on the other rider and climbed aboard my bike. When I tried to kick her over I realized it hurt quite a bit to try to bend my knee and get it up on the kick starter. My hand was also hurting but it was easy to understand why. My landing pad was not a flow bed, rather it was rock bed with sharp rocks the size of small puppies. I managed to get her started and off we went. It was at that point I realized my other problem. When I would turn my right foot in to step on the brake, first it would be painful in my knee then my lower leg would go numb so I could not feel the brake. I missed a few more turns because I could not grab the brake. I managed to pass the other rider once again but not long after that I dropped it again and she went by. After I got going again and was yelling at myself for not riding better I realized I should just stay behind her because at this rate she will make it around the lap quicker than I would. My male ego would not let that happen so I passed her again and off I went. I did not have any more problems the rest of the lap other then I would occasionally catch my numb leg hanging on to the brake when I was trying accelerate. After the lap I found that it also hurt to try to take my shoes off. It felt like I was pulling my knee apart. My hand was hurting but the swelling was not that bad and I could still grab the throttle. I could stand and kick start my bike so I knew I was good to go for the race. The race was pretty uneventful, I fell once on my second lap due to exhaustion. I could give out all the excuse why I was in such pitiful shape that I had the worst race of my life but they are just excuses. I promise to do more training before the next race. The Dr said I defiantly have a meniscus injury to my knee, the MRI will tell us what it is. Keith

CORRALITOS 100
NOVEMBER 5TH 2006

Jimmie Crawford #155 30+ Expert

Socorro 100
Oct 14th & 15th 2006

This race sucked!! The pre ride was a good indicator of the race to
come, I got a flat about 6 miles in but rode it out anyway just to see
the course. So that managed to put a good blister on my hand and make 
me real sore. The 3 months of not riding had nothing to do with me being
sore. Well race day started bad too, somehow I changed my time while
setting my alarm so I got up at 3:30 AM and was watching the weather on
TV before I realized I was way early. Oh well it gave me time to stop 
by Wal-Mart and do some shoping on the way to soccoro. Got there with
plenty of time to find the loose hubs and fix both of them and check 
the Craptor over for any other hidden problems, which remain hidden since I
couldnt find them. Well the race starts and off I go, I realized
something was not 100% just past the cones at the start and I was
getting tired so I decide since a real effort was not going to be
possible I would cruise the race and help out anybody who needed it and
ride behind my only team mate that was racing and see how he was
progressing. My plan was working great, I was having fun just cruising
it and got to horse around with Chet Jenkins a bit as I let him pass 
me. I stopped to check on Loretta when she stalled out then she took off
after it started and I followed her for a min and was feeling better so
I decided to race for a while and took off and passed her back up and
made the turn up hill out of the arroyo and it felt weak so I let out 
of it and she passed me back, hope she didnt think I was messing with her.
As I topped the hill Chet was sitting on the side holding his shoulder
so I pulled over to see if he was ok and talk for a bit, thats when the
Craptor just died. After he streched his shoulder out we were ready to
go but when I pushed the starter it just groaned at me and nothing
happned. After a few sec of trying that I checked the cables and all
looked well. Must be the battery going out, so I figured I would just
bump start it so Chet helped me push it to the top of the hill and I
told him to go ahead I was fine now. He took off and I pulled the 
clutch and rolled down the hill, but when I let the clutch out it just started
coughing and wasnt evan thinking about starting. Great, for the second
time I am left on the side of the course broke completly down. Oh well,
I looked at everything I could think of and let it cool down and tried
to start it again but no luck, it was not gonna start. Now the fun
starts, the first of the rain starts to roll in and I can see the down
pour coming two hills over. I start trying to figur out how to stuff
myself under the fenders to stay somewaht dry but I am just not gonna
fit, so I Take the seat off and try to set it on the sixpack rack to
provide shelter. You guessed it, that sucked, so I just put it back on
and got ready to be soaked. Thats when I noticed a small out croping of
rocks about 100' away on the side of the cliff to the left of the
course, it had dry dirt under it and looked just big enough to laydown
in. So I started climbing across to the rocks as it began to rain 
harder and I managed to get ther easy enough but had to take my helmet off to
fit in the crack. I squezed back into this little dry spot just as it
started to gush down the rain, it was tight and small but I was staying
dry. I had a great view of the course and watched everybody go by on 
the second lap, laughing everytime someone stopped to look down both sides
of the dropoff along the course to see if I was down there. Thanks for
those who took time to look for me. I guess thats why nobody told the
check point I was broke down, they must have thought I was already off
the course?? Well after the rain finally stopped I crawled back out of
my hiding place and into the light nice and dry, then scaled the cliff
back over to the course and waited for the third lap to come by so i
could cheer the experts on. I finally head a quad but is way too quite
and moving to slow to be Dave Scott, so I knew they must have called 
the race and it was the sweeper coming to get me. I was suprised we he said
he had no idea I was stuck out there, he radioed back and got some help
on the way to tow me back in. After a huge effort of pushing the 
craptor up the hill with help form the rescue guy, he towed me back in (thank
very much). As i was being pulled up to my truck, Ben was pulling away
to go get me but he managed to find out I was back before he got to 
far.
 What a race, now it's time to teardown and rebuild the whole quad so
this wraps up the season for me. I'll be back next year, ready to do it
all over again.

#50 Dustin Walters
Wide-Open Racing

Carlsbad 100
Sept 23rd & 24th 2006

Gabriel Fragoso 99QM Quad Mini II

Rattlesnake 100
July 2nd 2006

Rattlesnake 100, My race report.                                                           Yep, that’s it. I was sidelined with the whole knee thing. It is bad enough not being able to ride. It is much worse sitting around watching everybody else ride. I have more then once had the thought to give up the racing for a while to concentrate on other things and save some money. Just the thought giving it up saddens me so that is not a possibility. The friends that I have made as well as the exhilaration I experience while ridding my bike is well worth the time and expense. Thanks to all the well wishers and I will see you on the track soon. Keith #362

The Rattlesnake is always my favorite race, and this year was better
than usual since I didn't have any issues at all with the Craptor. It
ran great the whole time and didn't have a single problem. This was the
first chance I have had to ride since the Oh My God but I got the oil
tank fixed and had to put the 20" stock tires on. I got a little
surprised when Rick came by saying 30 min for quads, I thought I would
have more time but that's what I get for not paying attention. I got all
the tires aired up and gas topped off, checked the oil and all the nut
and bolts in sight, all was fine so I started getting all the gear on
and putting myself in the right frame of mind. 5 min to go and I kiss
the wife put the helmet on and get on the quad fire it up and realize I
forgot to put my clean filter on. I still had the same filter on it from
the last race and it was full of dirt, oh well too late now.
The start was great, I love small groups or one at a time. I was hating
that I had 20's on it since all I did was spin and #52 got the jump easy
enough and I needed every bit of available traction since the 450's are
fast anyway. The first lap was great, Justin got away with in the first
mile then Anthony caught up and was nice enough to wave as I let him by.
I felt I was doing purdy good cause it took a lot longer for him to
catch up than I thought it would and I was waiting for Ben to sneak up
behind me which he finally did just before the first small up hill and
fast section. Then I was all by myself for a long time having fun
putting along as fast as I thought I could. I made it to the last set of
arroyos and was about a 1/4 the way in when I got that feeling so I
looked behind me and sure enough there was Matt Morris bearing down on
me like a bat out of hell. I didn't have the dust cloud on my side this
time so I thought about just pulling over for him, then changed my mind
and rolled the throttle on to full stop and just held on. It seemed to
be working too, he wasn't getting close enough for me to be in his way
but at the same time I wasn't really pulling away either. This was the
most fun I had the whole race, he was right there and I was keeping
ahead with power and skill, I was loving it cause I knew it would only
last as long as the arroyo did and the story would change after the
pits. I had my fun and teased him a bit by looking back and waving him
to catch up in the last big open part of the arroyo. He stayed on it
hard and went to my outside for the pass right before the scoring gate,
I slowed down and let him have it since I knew he would be faster than
me in the upcoming technical section. Thanks for the great Race Matt!!
After that I was very tired for the second lap, and the third was slow
too, I really need to get in shape!! Matthew Lopez caught up in the same
place at the end of the 3rd lap, I tried to put on a repeat of the first
lap but was too tired and let him around just before the u turn by the
fence, he already had me beat by time so no point killing my self just
to cross the line first. What a great course this year, now I have time
to clean up the craptor do some riding and change the filter before
September, see ya in Carlsbad!!
#50 Dustin Walters
Wide-Open Racing

30th Annual
OH MY GOD 100
June4th 2006

Keith Clark 30+am

The OMG 100 is always a fun race. This year looked to be no different. The thing I have never liked is the long sand washes. I have never been any good at turning in the sand so the tight wash is tough for me and my poor seven year old two stroke is no match for the state of the art four strokes in the long washes. As always I hated the pre-ride. The course was too long, too hot, too dusty, too many danger spots, too much sand, and not marked well enough. After the pre-ride I was ready to pack it up and watch the race from the pits. And then as always, Race day came and the competitive spirit had taken over. Out of the six of us in my class, three of us camp and pit together. It is great how not only the people I am trying to beat but also other racers stop by to wish each other luck and tell each other to be safe. As everybody headed for the start line, I like always hung out not wanting to sit on the line to long. Finally I started it up and headed over. I pulled up on the side of where the other racers in my class had lined up. I got of my bike to walk across the line and shake everybody’s hand and say “Good luck, I hope I beat you”. It’s all in good fun. Ben and I lined up side by side. Previously back at the pit he told me I had to pat him on the butt as I passed him on the course. Since I did not know if I would see him again I chose to go ahead and do it as we pulled up to the start. We took off and as I suspected his 500cc bike pulled the hole shot on my. Into the second corner I held it pinned longer and managed to get by him. Into the first wash I went and after a few turns I could see a rider ahead of me. I pushed hard hoping it was someone in my class. I caught him and passed him but something was not right. As I exited the arroyo I knew what it was. My rear tire was flat. I continued to push knowing the Tim Dugan and Ben “Possum” Martin were right on my heels but it was difficult when the rear end would catch a groove and slide around on me. I used as many berms as I could but the flat corners were difficult. Tim caught me just after the first checkpoint. I kept him in my sight for a while but I had a flat and he was riding very well. At one point during the race as I approached a rough section my back end swung around where I could see my rear tire. The bike and I launched into the air but I managed to save it without hitting the ground. I passed a few more riders but at the end of the lap I decided to call it quits. I did not want to chance another lap and have the tire come off the rim and leave me stranded out on the course. Ben never did pass me but it turns out he blew up his bike in the first wash. I parked the bike and sat down. Less than 24hrs earlier I was ready to not race, now I sat all bummed because I was not going to be able to finish the race. I changed clothes and headed over to the scoring trailer to help out. Cindy had done a wonderful job of running the transponders and the results were out as soon as the race was over. At the end of the day most everybody had left, the quad race was over and the results were posted came what I knew I was going to dread. The last bike to load in my trailer is my three-wheeler. Last year there was another camper parked too close to my trailer and there was barely enough room to load it. As I was trying to get it into the trailer the backend slipped and Charles Gregory helped me lift it up and push it in the trailer. He was there waiting for Ben and DR to finish loading up because they were going camping. My family and I were going to go with them but something had come up where I had to go home. That was the last time I saw Charles. I loaded my three-wheeler on the trailer without a problem this time and closed up the trailer but not forgetting all the friends that make this series what it is. See you at the next one. Keith

#50 Dustin Walters

This was the best race I have ever had yet, I was not passed by any one
in the novice class for a change. And I was keeping up somewhat with
the other amateurs. The pre ride felt great, I loved the course and for a
change it was mostly a high speed course which is what I like. Still
rough enough that if you just hold it wide open you are gonna get thrown
at some point hard. I did switch to race fuel and changed jetting on
the Thursday before the race and hadn't ridden it since, I also had a
host of new goodies that I didn't have at the last race and really haven't
got used to yet. All this was on my mind on race day, how will
everything work under race conditions. Well we got lined up and when it was my
turn to go I was a bit nervous, but happy at the 1 at a time start due
to all the dust. I took off and quickly had it in top gear full
throttle sliding the corners on the road and feeling very happy with how I was
riding and how the Raptor was reacting and handling the road. I made it
to the drop in at the first arroyo with out a single error and no sign
of the next rider, so the grin was ear to ear under my helmet. I ride a
lot of arroyos and feel very comfortable in the so I was flying through
this one(at least for me anyway) when I made it to the first cut
through the sage brush. I was to confidant in my quad and got a little off
course and then caught something and got jerked around almost sideways. I
managed one of my fly all over the quad but stay on it and keep it in
the right direction maneuvers and the whole event didn't even slow me
down. About the time I was congratulating myself for not getting thrown
off I made a good curve to the right and noticed it felt funny but after
getting straight it felt fine and the next curve to the left felt fine
so on I went dreading what I thought was wrong. Soon I made it to the
first section of "forrest" and that's when I could tell the tire was for
sure completely flat, and to top it off I got caught by #52 so I
figured I would ride as fast as I could keep it under control and the tire
stay on, and off I went doing my best. It took another couple of minuets
for number 56 to catch up and a few more for #57 my team mate Ben. So I
felt I was still doing ok since it had taken them that long to catch
up, so that encouraged me to keep going despite the flat. After the last
check point and headed to the stop sign I saw a Quad coming behind me
so I figured I am close to the pits so I rode it hard as I could go to
try and stay ahead of them, I couldn't tell who it was but knew if I
made it to the last arroyo ahead of them I could finish the 1st lap in 4th
place ( not by time, by position). It worked and I was all happy about
that so decided to go for another lap just for fun, I made it to the
arroyo again and was careful at the site of the near crash. I figured the
rider behind must have pitted since he had not caught me yet, it took
until the end of the arroyo but he caught me #75, and off he went, now I
was in 5th. I kept the same pace as before all the way to the last
check point again, each time I turned to the right the back would nearly
slide around on me, and I did blow a few corners but nothing crazy. I saw
a yellow quad coming down the hill fast to the check point so I punched
hard figuring I could repeat the first lap. This rider got close enough
at one point I saw who it was #104 Blaine Bearden, a very fast rider in
the novice class. That meant if I slowed down even just a little I
would be passed by a novice who started way behind me. Flat or no flat I
had to stay ahead of him, I almost got thrown twice but managed to dust
him out and put a good lead on him before the last arroyo (thank god for
the dust, he would have probably passed me without it) which as I
looked back he was just entering as I was exiting. That's was close, but I
made it in very tired from fighting the flat for 57 miles and trying to
hold off Blaine, but overall satisfied that I had just had the best
race yet!! See ya at the rattle snake.
#50 Dustin Walters
Wide-Open Racing
 

Jimmie Crawford #155

About the Cuba Race, What a great time. I didn't get there until Saturday around 10, so I was feeling a little out of the normal. DJ and the crew had everything set up and had managed to save me a space for the Yamahauler. Went to the registration line first thing and was out of there very quick (now why can't they do that in Alamogordo?????). Over to the transponder trailer where Keith and Cyndi were super friendly and helpful in getting those things rung in. Also a great thanks to Dustin "Warwoman" Walters for helping out there. The pre-ride was a blast and it was nice to get back onto my '06 racebike. I practice on an '04 that
is just as nimble and quick but lacks 5th gear (but makes up for it with a steering stabilizer). The race bike does not yet have a steering stabilizer-but I've ridden most of my life without one! I've heard that once you get used to having one, you get thrown off without it----Am I right DJ????? Anyway, race day was cool as we did not have to rush too much with the 0830 start time. It's amazing how much less stressful a mere 30 minutes is. The start was awesome, I started with Greg Sceiford. I have raced for years and have always looked at Greg as one of the "Legends" of racing. It was a little stressful starting next to him as he typically kicks my @$$, but at the same time it was an honor-knowing I had grown up enough to race with the legends and start on the line with them. Well, of course, Greg got the hole shot and sped away making it hard to see. Not to worry though, I trailed in his dust for the first lap keeping him in sight the whole time. At the first lap pits, we both had to stop. It seems my awesome pit crew was faster than his and I got out of the pits before him. I intended to stay there so I pinned it and never looked back. I didn't see him any more-Mainly because I was scared to look back. I caught #66 and passed him, and then caught Connor McDonald in the first wash. I could not pass him in the wash, but stayed right on his back tire. As soon as we got out of the wash, he let me around. I then caught up to Joseph Marquez and managed a pass on him. I caught up to Pat Hudman and had to work for a pass in the second wash. After I got around him, he stayed right in my dust forever. The path was clear, except for a few novice riders, for a wide open race. I was on my game and reeling in Paul Scroggie slowly but surely. At the second pit stop in the third lap, my chain broke. What a disappointment. I had to stand there at the check and watch all of my hard work pass me by. I held up the broken chain so Pat could see it and notify the pit crew to send a chase truck out to get me. The race was over for me. That was
almost enough to make me cry. I have had a bad run of luck this year with chains and sprockets. I broke a chain on my '05 in practice for the dunes race and ruined the case. I broke a chain last Tuesday on the replacement bike and ruined the case. And then this chain. Luckily, it did not get the case.............Well, I've found the problem- The chains!!!!!! All hints seem to point towards that huh? We were using the Regina Chain Co. chains and 3 in a row they have broken. Needless to say, I'm not a fan of Regina chains nor do I recommend them. From now on, Its D.I.D., RK, or Renthall----no exceptions. Tim, I know you'll be relieved to hear that it was not the bikes----Yamaha!!!!!

Well. Anyway, I was lucky enough to break down at the check point. Those guys are so nice and helpful. They radioed in and my pit crew knew I was broke even before Pat got there. What great people, they offered water, beer, consolation, etc. Thank you to Bill and the Checkpoint #2 crew for all of their hospitality and help. Andy Lake and Pat came and got me in his truck and we went to town and ate a bite and returned to the pits. Though it was disappointing not to finish, it was a very fun race and I had a blast. Better luck next year for me, I guess I'll have to give up my 11th overall slot to Pat. Thanks everyone for putting up with my madness and mouthiness during my time of major disappointment. There is little consolation that will shed light on a bad situation like that, especially since racing is just about all I do for fun anymore. I work ALL of the time. Seems that anything anybody says is just fuel for the raging fire that is already going in my head. I wanted to scream at something, just didn't know what......Good times......Jimmie Crawford #155

Rio Purco GP
April 29th & 30 2006

#50 Dustin Walters
Wide-Open Racing

This was a good race. I started off by forgetting to turn my gas on so
at the start it stalled as I was pulling up to the line, but managed to
get it on and started just as the hat dropped. I caught back up and
passed 1 of the quads before the first turn and held 3rd in my line until
just before the downhill jump, then just didn't gas on it enough. There
was a wreck at the second tree but another quad already stopped and
they looked to be ok so I kept on going and was trying to find my rhythm.
I thought I was doing ok but not riding as hard as I could, I kept
expecting the harsh bottoming out I am accustomed to and the tippy feeling
in corners so I was riding like normal. After the first lap ghostly
white bare chest greeting me at the gate I tried to pick it up and managed
to get 20 seconds faster, but still riding easy. Lap 3 was a little
quicker still but I still felt like I was not going all out. Lap 4 I was
getting tired and my goggles were getting to dusty so I took them off
only to find my glasses were the problem with a little sweat and mud mix
creeping down in front of my eyes which turned out to be a good thing
since there was the bare chest waiting for me again. The muddy film made
Keith almost look tan, but then he turned around and started wiggling
his but at me so I had to go in a hurry!! I pitched my goggles to one of
my team who just happened to be at the exit of the gate, and hammered
down for the 5th lap. I caught 1 person and passed them and stayed in it
the whole way to the arroyo, it's amazing when shocks work like they
are supposed to(thanks Greg), and the axel does work too it stayed on the
ground instead of tipping up. If only I would have remembered I payed
good money for all the up grades for a reason on the first 4 laps!!
About 1/2 way through the arroyo I decided to switch to reserve so I would
not have to worry about it during the 6th lap, well that was a mistake,
it stalled out and died and didn't want to start back up. I switched
back from reserve to the on position, and it started back up and I took
off thinking I was ok that wasn't too bad didn't loose much time, and
about that time Dave Scott pulls up behind me. I didn't want to hold him
up and I was at a spot I could pull out of the way and let him pass, so
I did all happy for helping him out, then it hit me, he is on his last
lap. IDIOT, why did I do that, I could have held him off for the next
20 yards to the end of the arroyo and made it to the gate before him,
then done my 6th lap. I don't think it would have made a difference
anyway, but with my 5th lap a full minute faster than my first and me
feeling good and actually using the throttle and the new suspension my 6th
lap might have been faster than all my others, and with another 18 min
lap I might have took 5th instead of 6th??? I will never know, but I did
learn a lesson and don't plan on repeating the mistake again. So I need
to get used to my quad the way it is, and get ready for Cuba, see ya
there!!

#50 Dustin Walters
Wide-Open Racing
 

Keith Clark #362

05/01/06 My race went well this round. I had actually been riding and was better prepared for this race then I had been for any race for the past year or more. Off the starting line there were five of us that took off. I started OK in 3^rd place. I got slowed in the first corner and Tim got by me. In all reality Tim was the only person that I was racing against. We normally camp together and pit together so who ever wins out of the two of us has bragging rights while the loser just throws insults at the winner. Tim got by me and was running to the right of the small jumps along side the road. I was actually on the track and hitting those at full speed. With all the dust he could not see the turn so I kept on the gas and went by him. I crossed the road and continued up hoping to make as much dust as I could to slow Tim as much as possible. The fist lap was tough. With all the bikes still bunched up there was alot of dust and very difficult to see. As we were passing in front of the small car out on the track I was on the gas trying to pass on the inside. As I came by the car I caught a rut and it bounced me into the front end of the car. Yes, I hit a car when I was out racing. I managed the pass and kept on the gas. I knew there was a Yamaha out ahead of me that was in my class. My bike was giving me alot of headshake and I remembered that the collar for my steering stabilizer was not tight before the race. I have had trouble with that thing since I got it. Since this race was so close to home I told the guys I work with that I expected to see them out there. Sure enough they showed up and when I went by the pits after the first lap I was greeted with a barrage of water balloons. I knew about them before the race but had forgotten in the excitement so when they came at me it scared me. I chased down the Yamaha and made the pass on my third lap. I was feeling pretty good but getting a bit tired. I was really surprised I did not see him again for the rest of that lap or my fourth lap. I pitted after my fourth lap and just as I was about finished fueling he went by. Off I went after him. I caught up to him over the hills and when we hit the first long straight I had it pinned trying to make the pass. The bike was swapping all over but I was not going to give up. As we got into the corner I was right off his back tire and I noticed him hit the brakes and start to lean in. I was on the binders but did not think I was going to be able to stop in time. I yelled, “watch out!” and he pulled out of his turn and I was on the inside of him and made the pass. I was back on the gas trying to put some time between us and once again the bike was swapping all over. I felt bad thinking I had scared him into the pass but in all reality I just did not want to hit him and possibly hurt somebody. In the second arroyo I heard a four stroke come up behind me. I knew it was not the Yamaha so I let him by hoping Tim had not caught me. It was Robbie so I was pretty good with the fact that it had taken him almost five full laps to catch me. As I started my sixth lap I was feeling pretty tired. Not very far into it there was 200 number picking up his bike. I made sure to make room for him to go by. At the same time there went the Yamaha. Damm, I don’t know where he got his energy from but he was moving. Here was I guy I had caught and passed twice and he went by me looking like he was as fresh as on his first lap. I tried hard but just could not keep up and I watched him pull away. In the end he beat me by less then a minute. The collar for my steering stabilizer that I have to take the triple clamp off to get around the neck was completely gone. It must have broken off sometime during the race. I was happy with my performance and I beat Tim by 3 minutes. Train harder Tim the next race will be here before you know it. Keith

The Dunes
Farmington NM April 9th 2006

   Well, here goes my race story. I have to be honest, living in Durango(very close to Farmington dunes) I took every opportunity to get the "home turf" advantage. Myself and countless unnamed others (I'm not going to rat them out) would go there almost every evening and practice the terrain. I even practiced Thursday before the race. I thought I would be a little less nervous and a little less severe in the arm pump category by doing this. Wrong!!!! I was so nervous at the start line my foot was shaking on the peg. When the flag dropped, it was DJ and I lined up together. DJ was sick
and we had agreed he would give me the hole shot. What a gentleman, he almost had to stop and wait for me to get the holeshot. Seems in all of the chaos, I had temporarilly forgotten the arrangement, and had strayed bad on the start
line. Well, eventually I got the holeshot and ran with it. Off we went to the sandy wash (which had transformed into a muddy little mess) where I would rub footpegs with a big Honda trying to get through. I got the much deserved splash of mud on my goggles. What a mess, I should have not tried to wipe them off with my muddy glove. I thought to myself, WOW, that is
bad. I'll surely have to be more careful when that comes around again. Who would have ever thought that a little innocent moist sandwash could turn into a develish hole like that. So on we go. I got out on top and was stricken with a bad dose of arm pump. How can this be, I didn't have any problems with it the last 2 weeks. It's just not fair how the arm pump scenario works. Of all days that I had to get it, why now? Oh well, the race must go on. So through the washes and corners, Smiling inside knowing I had marked or removed all of the potential man hurters the days before. The big downhill section
right before the "snake" canyon was awefully loose and slippery, again I noted to self I'd have to be more careful going down that next time. In the snake canyon I gave her a little too much throttle and slipped over onto my head. I swear I heard my bike yelp in pain. I picked her up just in time to let #80 go by. How depressing. If only I could feel my right arm---things would be soooo much better (and faster). I still have the peanut tank on my new bike so I got the privelage of pitting after every 2nd lap. Thank you to our awesome and very fast pit crew. Almost three laps into the race, I regained
feeling in my right arm. Now we could ride at speed and safe. First, I wanted to catch #80 and pass him so he would know that I'm not really a slow wussy. Then of course, I wanted to catch Paul Scroggie (no reason, I just wanted to). And last, but not least, I really wanted to catch Levi Colton and at least finish right behind him. I had seen Joseph Marquez and DJ
in the pits so I knew they had problems and had pulled out of the race. The last lap just seemed like it was effortless and flawless. I knew it would be my fastest lap (It was). I caught all of those I had wanted to and passed them without injury to either party. What a great race. Next year maybe I won't go near the place and I'll do a lot better on race day.
Lessons learned
...... Living near the race course really didn't do me any good at all
........Yamaha YZ450's are really fast
.........Andy lake is REALLY fast
..........Curt Larson is a great guy
...........The dunes in Farmington CAN be fun
............transponders with a digital place screen are cool
.............moist sand washes can turn ugly after 800 bikes pass through them at speed
..............Kyle Abney is fast on any bike he rides
...............kneepads should be washed frequently
Have a great summer--good times
Jimmie Crawford # 155
 

Keith Clark #362 30+ Am

4/14/06 As with many, this was my first time Riding in Farmington. Right now I am having knee problems and sometimes have trouble walking but I was determined to race this one (although my results don’t look like I was racing). We lined up at the back of the pack and Konrad and I were the last to leave. Konrad got off ahead of me and I followed him around the first couple of corners. When we made the right hander in the wash by the start line we both saw the guy ahead of us hit the ground on the rough crossing. He held up his hand to let me know. He went left and I went right. I got by him and headed off. In the big arroyo I had been told to either stay way left, or way right. I stuck to the right and made the corner. I started to push towards the middle. I should have stayed right for a longer period of time. There were some big holes filled with water. There was a bike right in the middle and he was starting his bike. I was in a rut right behind him and did not want to lose my momentum so I turned to try to get out of the rut. As the front tire started to climb out the guy in front of me dumped the clutch and covered my left side with mud. I got by him and in the next corner my foot caught a pile of sand, which jammed my leg up, with pain in my knee I let out a yell and continued on. The lap continued with only one more episode of pain when I hooked my foot and twisted my knee around. As I came around at the end of my first lap there were two paths that I could take, one went to the left and was a full speed run past the pits and the other was a slow pass in the pits. I took the slow path. My pit crew went into panic mode, why was I pulling in on the first lap? I slowly cruised through waiving to people and saying hello.  Out the other side I went. This time I stayed way to the right and missed the mud. Soon after that the battery on my MP3 player died and the music was gone. One big problem that happens when this occurs is that it gives me alot of time to think. About half way through the lap my tongue was hanging out I realized “I’m a Jedi”, yes that is right, I am a Luke Skywalker, Lord Vader, Jedi. I can do mind tricks. I have tricked myself into thinking that I am good enough to be out on the racecourse. I have tricked myself into thinking that I am in good enough physical shape without working out or riding to last through a race at race pace. It seems apparent now that resting on my laurels will not win races. And when I say my laurels, I mean my a**. Towards the end of the lap when I was going across the top of the pits there was WarWagon lifting his shirt to flash me. Thank’s for the motivation Dustin. I wanted to get away from that as fast as I could. When I pulled into the pits after my second lap, I got some fuel, a cold bottle of water, pressure check in the tires, chain adjusted and lubed, but nobody had a AAA battery for the MP3 player. And I thought I was using a full service pit (Just kidding Cindy). Not far into my third lap Robbie went by me. And know I was thinking that if I only did three laps I would be a total wimp. Up on the top in the deep sand woops there was a stump in the middle that the trail split around. I had gone left the first two times so I decide to go right this time. After I cleared the stump I got caught in some deep sand which sent me forward to the bars where I landed on my kill switch, Deep soft sand, + my weight on the front end, + the kill switch, = me way over the bars checking the front axle nut on my bike. I managed to pull myself back on the seat and the bike was running again but had lost all my momentum and now could not pick up enough speed to bounce over the woops. One by one I plowed through the rest of the woops. Only one more expert got by me during that lap but I did manage to catch a few riders myself. I was passing them where I could find the opportunity. On the backside after crossing a small arroyo there was a small hill that you had to cross and then make a sharp left. I was right on somebody’s tail and started my turn near the top when I caught a rock that shot my front tire out from under me and BAM! my head hit the ground. I picked up my bike and got going again by then all the guys I had passed were now going by me. I got back on the gas and got a few back by the end of the lap. Luckily Dustin had cleared off the hill this time around. At the finish line I got the white flag. This is both good and bad. I was not a wimp only doing three laps, but I had to do four laps. I was smiling anyway and went on through. The last lap really slowed down but I finished anyway. During the lap I once again caught my foot in a rut that twisted my foot around again. My knee popped, I yelled in pain, then my knee felt better. I thoroughly enjoyed the race, the course was fun and challenging, and I promised to practice more for the next race. Keith

This is the best race I have had yet, I was actually passing people this 
time. Well to start I headed out on Friday after I got off work early
and after much a due I made it in around 10:30, coming down the steep
road to the pits in the dark I thought I was on the course but kept
going anyway. Finally I saw the brightly lit-up white tent where a spot
had been saved for us, so pulled the war wagon up and got set up to
camp. Saturday morning we woke up shivering since my heater ran out of
propane during the night, so I started coffee on the Coleman stove right
away. I was so proud of my self for remembering to bring a potholder
this time, I put it on my right hand so when I grabbed the bottom of the
pot I wouldn't get burned. This did not work out, duh, when I picked up
the thin loop handle with my left hand and put my right hand under to
start pouring I realized the handle was very hot (ouch) it was burning
the crap out of my fingers so I dropped it rather quickly on the table
causing it to splash out on my right wrist which was not covered by the
pot holder. So now I have blisters and burs on my hands and I haven't
evan done the pre ride yet, oh well it's always something at least
everything else went good. The pre ride was fun and I got to see how the
wife's little 350 would do on the hills, and was pleasantly surprised at
it's performance. The remainder of the day went well and we went to town
and got more propane and good food, and went swimming at the hotel with
the rest of the team.

Race day was perfect weather, we had fun watching the bikes go and got
to relax until 1, then lined up, I was happy to see that another
armature was in the same boat as me, he was on a Honda 250EX so I knew I
would not be last. After talking to him we decided to go last in our
class so we would not slow down the rest of the class since it was so
tight and near impossible to pass in places. The start was great, I love
the one up take offs, I made it through to the road crossing  and the
mud in the next arroyo before I saw anybody behind me, then just in the
next tight up hill section the first novice caught up so I let them by.
Along the way a few more passed including my team mate Josh, but it took
them longer to catch up than I thought, the wife's quad is doing good. I
made the first big sand hill no problem but could see some quads gaining
on me and knew it was banshees so it must be my other team mates, and at
the next big sand hill that was confirmed as they blew past my mid hill.
Back in the tight stuff was the first stop, somebody was stuck in a
ditch with another guy behind them, the trail was clear but I figured I
would help anyway, I shut it off and the 3 of us started lifting and
moving when another quad that I had just passed  started up the small
hill the first quad got stuck on. Well he did no better and got stuck
himself, the other 2 quads took off and I was going to help get him
unstuck but he had it moving so I hopped back on the "hot little *&^%$"
(A sticker on the tank, remember this is my wife's quad) and off I go.
It doesn't take long to find another quad stuck, it was Cody Longley #51
in my class, he was ok but his predator was dead and blocking the trail
a little so I hopped off again and pulled him out of the way he said
thanks and off I went. I was feeling good and having a blast then I
started catching people back up, this gave me more energy and I was
going faster, on the back side of the pit's I knew there was a small up
hill jump where I had been watching the bikes earlier and I wanted to
try it out. I had lots of speed and saw the small cliff face some were
jumping off and I hit it full on and got amazing air, of course no was
there to see this amazing feat. Then I ran the top of the hill above the
camp amazed at how well her rear shock worked in the whoops and thinking
this is how it's supposed to feel. I then saw someone who had passed me
earlier and they looked tired so I punched into it some more and was
gaining, as we hit the pit on the end of lap one I was feeling great and
hit it up full throttle and passed him in the little whoops right after
the gate. I completely did not expect to be passing anyone so I was very
excited and only went faster after that, I caught and passed to more
only to have them pass me back up shortly after that, but now they had a
tail for their efforts and I was not getting tired yet and pushed them
for 2 or 3 miles before they wore out and I got around them again. I
came into the first long arroyo and passed Josh like he was standing
still, ok actually he was sitting on the ground next to his quad waving
me to keep going and his quad was down with a bad fuel pump or
something. I was still feeling good and came back around to Cody and
waved at him just before taking the corner to wide and stopping right in
front of the huge boulder, where he returned the favor and pulled me
back to clear it, so I shouted thanks and laughed at my self for being
stupid. My next big event was the steep down hill, I slid good on the
first lap and now on this lap was going to fast and the rear brake
locked hard and I got a little side ways. I let off the brake just in
time to hit a big rock witch threw me more side ways, at this point
there was no recovery going to keep me on the trail without a crash so I
just hit the gas so I could make it to the right of the tree halfway
down the hill and hope it was smooth enough to not die. I barely cleared
the trunk of the tree and only busted my knuckles, but made it to the
bottom of the hill and was still on top of the quad in the correct
riding position and pointed in the direction of the course so I did not
need to slow down and just kept on the gas through the bushes back into
the arroyo. Once back on course I wiggled my left fingers and there was
only minor pain some of which was from the coffee pot burns so I ignored
it and off I went full throttle again. I caught and passed on more then
hit the jump again then saw Chris on his Banshee just ahead, I knew he
would never hear me coming on this quad so I up shifted and nailed it so
I could sneak up on him along the whoops above the camp. Well the rear
felt good but the front did not like this speed and I started getting
too squirley and had to let off so he beat me to the pits, but since I
still had another lap and he was done he slowed down and I blasted past
him trying to throw as much roost as I could, I think I got some on his
tires. Brett was holding up 2 fingers and saying two more left, cool I
get to do two more laps so off I went slowing down just a bit with
nobody in sight. I was having a bast now and saving a little bit of
energy and just cruising it thinking I would not see anyone else since
all the novice class was done now. Then I remembered the 250EX was still
in armature class and was behind me somewhere, so I stopped farting
around and picked up the pace just to be safe, slowing only for the big
downhill that busted my knuckles. I saw one of the spotters so I stopped
to say thanks for coming out and helping, and checked my fuel level and
we were talking about the course when zoom, there goes a expert rider, I
looked at the spotter and said well I guess this is my last lap and off
I went. I made it back to the checkered flag with out seeing anymore
racers. Today I am sore and my hands are blistered from the race and the
coffee pot, and the tarp on the war wagon got torn up by the wind on the
way home, but it was all worth it and I had a great race. Oh yea and the
show after the race was great, several trucks and about an hour of fun
went by watching Lary Davis get un-stuck, thanks to all those who helped
him. See you all at Rio Puerco
#50 Dustin Walters
Wide-Open Racing

Tarantula 100 February 19th 2006

Gabriel Fragoso age 8 #101 Micro Quad

Jimmie Crawford  #155

02/21/06 This race story might be a long one. I know, every time I write it turns out to be a long one. My race started back in early December. The date for the race had not be set yet and I decided to take the kids on a surprise trip to Disneyland. It turns out that the race fell on the weekend after we were out of town but my middle son had some stuff to do race weekend because he did not do it while we were out of town the previous weekend. Since the family could not make it out I decided to skip this race. Without the family it is not as much fun. My wife says she doesn't understand that statement since I am always off visiting with people and don't spend much time at the camp. It turns out that I was caught between a rock and a hard place. My family could not go so I did not want to go, yet my racing family was going to be out there without me. I had not told anybody that I was not going so nobody would try to pressure me into it. Thursday before the race my sister called me because she found out I was not going. At this point I was really teetering on whether to go or not and the thought of my nephews out there without us pushed me over the edge. I called Konrad and asked him if he was working this weekend. After he finished laughing at me a few minutes later he agreed to go. Now the panic set in. I had not ridden since the first week in December, I had pulled the top end off my bike a month ago to replace the base gasket, I had not run it to see if it was going to work, and I had a leaking fork seal. I called down to High Velocity and lined up the fork seals, On my way to work I picked up the seals and a few other necessities. Before I left work Friday morning they asked if I could work Friday night also. Since we were not leaving till Saturday I agreed. I went home Friday and started to work on my bike. I took apart the first fork, replaced the seal and put it back together. As I was doing the second fork I found a washer that I had forgotten to put in the first fork. Damm, not a good start. I took the first one back apart and put the washer in. After I was done, I bundled up and took the bike for a cruise down some dirt roads in the 25 degree weather. OK, the bike was ready but I was not. Since I knew I was not going to this race I had not even been working out in the gym to get in some sort of shape. When I showed up to work on Friday I was ready to get some rest in preparation for the weekend. Instead They sent us to Silver City and told us there was a Denver trip after that. I was not happy at that point. When we got back there was good news and bad news. The good news is that the Denver trip was canceled. The bad news was that we had to go to Taos, and then to crown point. By the time we parked the plane it was 4am and the paperwork was not finished until 5am. I got up at 7am and stopped by Konrad's for the pop up trailer and headed home. He got there and helped me load the bikes and we were off. I wasn't driving. I managed to stay awake through Moriarty, Estancia, and Willard. I woke up and we were in Corona, the next time I woke we were in Carrizozo, Then I woke again in Tularosa. We made it to the race to find a welcoming party waiting for us. Actually it was a whole bunch of unhappy people who had already been in line for an hour and a half trying to sign in. I could not believe the amount of people there. I had never seen that many people at a race. Tim Dugan told us where he was camped and guess what, Yep, you guessed it, another new camper. The old one was almost a year old and needed air in one of the tires so he got rid of it. At this point I looked around and said, The line is long, there is no place to camp, I was cold, tired and miserable. I was ready to go home. Konrad said tuff shit were here, deal with it. I knew I could count on him for inspiration. After crossing the pits a few times and watching the line move at a snails pace and tempers escalating much faster I was once again ready to leave. Instead I jumped on my bike and went for a ride. Once on my bike I was happy. My bike has that effect on me. When I got back my son and my nephew had taken the bikes and headed to the kids track. They were having a great time. I went back to the sign up tent and there was no line. I stepped right in and signed up.  As the sun started to drop and the wind was still blowing I was once again miserable. part of it had to do with the fact that I was tired. Flash backs of two years ago when the temp dropped to an all time Alamogordo record of 14 degrees were playing in my mind. I made a few phone calls and we were headed to a hotel in town. Tim offered me a spot in his trailer if I wanted to stay warm. I had already made the reservation but thanks anyway Tim, I did appreciate it. I walked into the lobby to check in and found The Sparks clan walking out. Right behind me walked the Mayor (DR) and Jack Massey. It was shaping up to be a rough night at the hotel. They invited us to go eat with them but instead we hit the Taco Bell and I was sleeping in a warm soft bed with my soft pillow by 8:30. I woke up at 5:30 the next morning refreshed and ready to race. Race day is finally here, I told you it was going to be a long story. When we were in Disneyland I got me a new hat. It is a beautiful one but my wife would not let me were it until she was there. Funny how that works, she does not even like me wearing them but yet she won't let me wear my new one until we are all there. Did I ever mention I am a sucker for the clearance isle. I love a good clearance isle. I have bought some of the most worthless stuff just because it is a good price. A month or two ago I bought a Batman cape in the clearance isle for my son. After taking a look at it I went back and bought a few more for myself. Since I could not wear my hat, I put the cape on my camelback and was ready to race. I was row six with about 20 other guys. It was a dead engine start and my bike did not fire on the first kick but came to life on the second. I was doing ok for a two kicker but got pinched off in the turn and decided to pull back and get them out on the track. I noticed Tim with his new electric start for girls bike had a great start and was up about 3rd. We hit the pole line and I was moving along with the pack passing a few here and there. Out in the whoop section after the left hander we came across Tim who had stalled it. I yelled push the button as I went by. I was still moving my way up but my hands were really starting to hurt. This is typical for me until I calm down. I was talking to myself trying to relax. I was up behind a 250am bike and was trying to get around him. On a right hander I cut in close and went partially through a mesquite bush that knocked  the arm guard of my chest protector around the back of my arm and something started hitting me in the but. I thought I had maybe broken my Camelback and it was swinging behind me. When I got to the first check point I pulled up to a girl and after she marked my helmet I asked her what was swinging behind me. I had a bout a 3ft stick out of the mesquite bush tangled in my cape. Her and I untangled it as the rest of the pack went by. After that little break my hands were not hurting and I started catching the pack and passing them back one by one. There were a few that got away. I knew I was not on my game and the two months of not riding was hurting as I was not in sync with my bike and not moving nearly as fast as I knew I could. About half way through that lap, Devo "whip it" was playing and my music shut off. That was unacceptable I finished the lap and pulled into the pits. This suppressed them as I had told Konrad that I would be pitting after my second lap. He reached for my fuel and I told him "NO" I need my music fixed. My Mp3 player is attached to my goggle strap on the back of my helmet. He worked on it for a few seconds but could not get it on so I pulled my goggles off and got it running again. With my goggles back in place and the music playing I was off again. I was running well but I could feel myself getting tired. As I pulled into the check point at the top of the hill I was told there were EMT's out on the track. I moved along with caution and thought I saw them just before the second check point. As I was moving along out in the back I noticed alot of people standing around and one guy laying on the ground. Even though I knew who ever was there was being taken care of I only make it a few yards past and I had to stop to see if they needed any help. I asked if all was ok and they said they had it under control and were just waiting for a ride. They thanked me for stopping and I was once again on my way. As I left I thought to myself "What a sucker you are!" Even though I knew that the person was being taken care of I had to stop, I knew I could not go on with my race if I was not doing all that I could. It was not long after that when my training regime really started to come into play. When I say training regime I am referring to sitting on the couch watching TV, eating cookies and drinking sodas. At this point none of it was helping me. I knew I was going to do my third lap anyway but when I came into the pits for fuel I told them I was way tired and had no energy left. Konrad gave me an inspirational speech that went something like "Tough shit, get out there and finish!" Off I went. I caught #210 and chased him for a while. I was still moving ok but was very tired and could not muster enough energy to pass him. Finally I did find the energy and got by him. When we reached the first check point I had put a few seconds on him but when the girl was marking my helmet I took a moment to stop and ask her how her day was going and to thank them for being out there. He went by me in the check point and I set off to chase him down again. I managed to get past him and started putting a few seconds on him. When we got to the second check point I saw there were 6 riders there and they were letting them go 2 at a time. The guy told me they were holding them to separate them a bit. I did not know it at the time but there were a few of them that had been stopped to let the helicopter land and now they were releasing them a few at a time to keep them from bunching up. They did not stop me but I stopped anyway to let the guy ahead of me get a little room on me. #210 went on by and then I took off after him. I once again caught him, passed him, then started working on the six guys in the pack that had just left. After passing one or two of them I got in behind a four stroke Kawasaki and we were riding about the same speed so I could not pass him. Together we passed the rest of the pack and took off hauling but. We hit the flat roads heading east and I pinned it. I got by him and kept it pinned. At that point I was thinking to myself "OK, you finally caught and passed him, now you can slow down and let him by. Wait who is that up ahead?" I kept up the pace even though I was tired. I caught that guy and passed him just before the power line road that paralleled the road by the border patrol check point. I kept it moving at a faster pace then I normally would being that tired but since I had just passed him I could not slow down and look like a wimp. Besides I knew that Kawi was still chasing me down. Not long after the final check point I caught one more guy, In a turn I caught a glimpse of his number, He was in my class! I thought I was so far behind I would not catch anybody in my class. The chance to move up from last to second to last excited me so I stayed on his tail looking for a place pass. We hit one whooped out section that the trail spit into two I went right anticipating he would go left. Nope, he went right also. He was not trying to block me, I don't think he knew I was there. I wound up in the bushes going around him and hit a big one as I was getting back on the track that I thought was going to toss me off the bike. I managed to keep it upright and keep on the gas so he would not pass me back. I managed to finish the race without falling or without any of them passing me back. In the end I wound up 4th out of 8. I missed having my family there but I am glad to be back on the bike. Hopefully the people who got hurt out there will recover well and be back out on the track soon. Keith aka  BATMAN

Corralitos 100 November 6th 2005

Kyle Clark #33 80 Mini

Kevin Clark #35 60 Mini

When everybody was lined up for my race and we started Marty was lined up next to me and he did a wheelie off the start and I got a great start and out of four people I started in third place. By the first big jump I crashed and number ten passed me. On the next lap I passed her back. The next lap I crashed again but I was so far ahead of her she didn't pass me back,but I kept her off me. Every lap my dad would tell me something that would encourage me. She was close but I beat her.
 

Keith Clark
#362 30+ Amateur
#115 Quad Novice

When I used to race a quad, There was only one class "Quad" and we ran at the same time as the bikes. Ever since they split I have always wanted to race both classes. For some reason I decided this was the race to do it. I was looking around for a quad to ride when I did a transfer to Las Cruces for work. It was just before the entry deadline so I stopped by the Denco office to put in my entry forms. I told DJ that I was looking for a quad to race both and they said they had a Raptor that I could ride but it had a thumb throttle. I told him that would be no problem, paid my entry and the plan was in motion. I did not tell my wife because when I had previously mentioned it she said absolutely not. She said I was too tired after a regular race and did not want me doing any extra. When we were loading the motor home during the week I mentioned that I had found a quad so she had an idea what I was doing. We drove down on Thursday and got there at about 8:30pm. Friday I went out with DJ and Conner to go mark the track. My son Kyle went with us on his XR100 and Kevin went with me on the back of the Raptor to hold some of the markings. After we finished going around the track, Conner, Brian and I went back out and did it again to finish the markings. Friday night when I was signing up someone Konrad was handing out the helmet cards and asked why I had one for the quad class. At that point my wife said she knew I was racing a quad also. The cat was out of the bag. Saturday morning I got ready to take the Raptor out for the pre-ride. I had bought a trash can to make number plates out of but the plastic was too brittle and broke. Tim brought over his wife's laundry basket so we cut the bottom out of it and it made great number plates. I took off on my loop and right away my thumb was killing me. I knew at that point there was no way I could do two laps with that thumb throttle. During the loop I realized that before this it had been 5 years since I had even ridden a quad. I had a good lap, when I got back the gang was suiting up to head out on there bikes. I jumped off the quad and onto the bike. It was at that point that I realized I had not ridden or even started my bike since I shut it off at the end of the last race three weeks prior. As we headed out I saw that it was Konrad, Tim Dugan, Cody Hidalgo, and I with me in the lead (I don't know how I got that spot). I then found out what the problem was jumping from the quad to the bike. The Quad is wide, loud, and heavy. The bike is narrow, light, and much more quiet. The bike is so narrow that I was having trouble keeping my balance because I could barely feel it between my legs. It took the whole first section (about 5 miles of switch backs) before I started getting comfortable on the bike. I was moving along at a good pace trying to stay ahead of the group because I knew they were pretty fast. I stopped out by the grasslands at the fire truck and waited for the group. Konrad came up and stopped and showed me he was going slow because of a front flat. Cody went by and then Tim came up and stopped. We all left, this time with Tim in the lead and me pulling up the rear. The rest of the lap went well but a bit slower. In snake alley we came upon a quad that was moving at a good pace. Konrad passed him just before a turn and I went to pass on his right after the turn when he bounced over and we collided. I heard metal crunch, hit my elbow on something and started bouncing through the bushes. I made it through without crashing. When we got back I told DJ that I was going to try and find a twist throttle for the Raptor because I could not do two laps with the thumb throttle. He told me he had one back at the house but they had not put it on because it had dual carbs they had not wanted to mess with yet. I went and talked to Fred Real who took me over to Don (I did not catch his last name) who said no problem just bring it over. Matt loaned me his truck with the killer stereo and I went to his house to pick up the throttle and a tire for him. When I got back the mini's were starting and so I sat and watched my kids and my wife all race. That was fun in it's self. Afterwards I took the Raptor over to Don's trailer, he was in the shower so I left it there and a message that I would be back to help. I went and checked my bike and found that I had cracked my shifter. I had a spare on in my bag and Konrad got to work changing it. I took care of some other business and headed back to Don's trailer where I found that he had already put it on and was doing final adjustments. I apologized because I really did not mean for him to do the work, I was just looking form some help from someone who know what they were doing. When the morning came around I was ready to go. I like always waited in the camp until I saw the bikes starting to leave.

When I got to the line there were only two or three lines of bikes still on the line ahead of me. Tim and I left together but I did not get a good start and he got out in front of me. Right away he shot me with a rock that struck me in the chest just above my chest protector. OUCH! That hurt. As we came around one turn he was on the inside and I was on the outside. We both hit the brakes and Tim asked him if he was OK, He said yes, I had the better line at that time so I gassed it and got ahead of him. I then caught Matt and got by him. I was feeling good and moving well. In the back section I did one of my signature moves and fell in a corner. Mark went by but I did not know how I had gotten ahead of him. Soon after that in a silty section I saw #329 getting on his bike that was a little side ways and halfway on the track. As I was going by he took off right into me and nailed me in the handlebars. We both hit the deck and I yelled some expletive. I immediately felt bad and asked him if he was OK. He said yes so I got back on my bike and took off. A few people had passed me while I was getting up but I did not know if any were in my class. I took off but my music had stopped and I could not get it started again. My skid plate was making alot of noise. I had told my pits that I would pit after my second lap but I decided to came in after one lap. Toward the end of the first lap a ride had caught up. He had not caught me very quickly but he was slowly catching me.  When he got close enough I let him by and realize it was Ryan Romero. I know he is a good rider but he is only like twelve years old and I can't let him beat me. I turned it up and followed him in for the rest of the lap. I pulled into my pits much to their surprise. I jumped off the bike and told them to fuel it. I looked under my bike to check the skid plate, Walked across pit row to tell Ryan good job, Saw Matt Sceiford go by, and then fixed my music. I told them I had to pit to get my music going more than anything and said bye. I waived to everybody through the pits and as I passed by Matt who was fueling up I said let's go. I hit the track and was having a good time when I came across a kid standing by the track holding his arm and his bike was on the ground in the position it had crashed in (#324 I think). I turned to go check on him. Matt was going by and looked over. I waived him on and went back. The kid said he was dizzy and leaned over and laid his head over on my bars. I took his goggles off and told him to take some slow deep breaths. After a couple of minutes he said he was feeling better but Tim had already gone by me. He asked me to pick up his bike for him. I shut off the fuel on my bike and laid it over. I picked his up and he got on it. He asked how far the road was. I told him to follow the trail and it was at the bottom of the hill. I got back on my bike and took off losing about 5min to my competition. Just as I was hitting the jump my bike went Blaaaaaaaaaaa, I immediately knew I had forgotten to turn on the fuel. I reached down and turned it on before the bike completely died. The rest of the lap went well. I was trying to conserve my energy and my hands. My hand was already starting to hurt and I knew I was forming a blister. After passing through the pits and saying hello to everybody I headed out again. In the switchbacks I saw Tim and he saw me and hit the gas. I was trying to move as fast as I can but still conserve enough energy to do two more laps. I managed to finish about a minute and a half behind Tim. I pulled in, jumped off the bike and sat down to get some rest. My hand had a blister that had already popped. When Konrad came in he changed out my transponder and the tear off's on my goggles.

As the Quads lined up my family headed down to watch the start. I geared up again and jumped on the Raptor. I got to the line and people were lining up. I found the end of the line and got there. When the organizers saw my position and my number the waived me forward, I shook my head no and pointed to the last spot in line. I did not know how I was going to do and did not want to get in the way of anybody who was a regular racer. I left the line to the cheers of the crowd because as it turns out, quite a few people found out what I was doing. The Cheering helped set me off to a good pace. Right away I was thanking Don because my thumb was not hurting and I was twisting the throttle. My hand with the blister was still hurting and never quit throughout the race. As I came around one corner I saw two quads with one more up on it's side tangled between them. I was directed around them and one left just ahead of me. He missed a turn and I got around him. I caught someone else and they let me by. I caught one more as we started the last let to get up the hill to the first check point. The trail jogged to the left around some bushes. I saw a path between the bushes about 2ft wide and went for it. I was blasting through and almost made it when my front left tire caught a Yucca and it yanked me back towards the trail. I managed to straighten it out and got back on the trail ahead of that other bike. I caught another bike as we were nearing the grass lands.  I then noticed there was a second bike just ahead of him. The fist one saw me back there and allowed me to pass at the first safe place he could pull over. I got right on the next one and in a corner where the bikes made a single trail around an S turn I took the single trail and blasted through the bushes to get ahead of him. On the back side of the grass lands I caught one more person who pulled out to let me by. I then got in behind #114 (If I remember the number correctly) I was right on him as we hit the road, I had to stand up because the dust was so bad, I could only see his head but I kept it pinned in top gear so he would not get away from me. Every once in a while I would see a bush bass by right next to me and so I would move over. I knew that if I caught a bush with one tire at that speed I would be in alot of trouble. As we hit the open spot where you had to jog to the right around an obstacle. This was the part where having already done this section 3 times on the bike helped me out. I kept on the gas and went by him at full speed. I was worried because I don't think he knew I was back there and if he moved over into me it would be a big crash. I went to his right, as I was going around him he moved to the right and I had to go through a few bushes. I kept it pinned because I knew where the turn was and how it was marked. As I came to the turn, I slammed on the rear brakes and slid the back end around and pointed it at the trail and dumped the clutch. POOF, it was like hitting a wall of baby powder. There was a decent trail through the powder by now and you just had to keep on the gas to get through it. When we got to snake alley I caught two more bikes and passed them through the bushes but I could see one that had been slowly moving up on me. I was seriously thinking about not pitting but I was not sure if I could do two laps on one tank. I set out on this race with the sole mission of finishing but as soon as the flag dropped I was back in competition mode. I pulled in and told Konrad to make it quick because there was someone on my tail and I needed to move out. The other bike went by me while I was in the pits and I watched him motor through without stopping. I took off and my legs said to me "What do you think you are doing? Were done." For the entire next lap I had trouble standing up, every time I would stand up my legs could not hold me and I would sit right back down. At this point my back was really starting to hurt.  It was a good thing that bike I was on had the nerf bars with nets. I could stretch out my legs and rest them like I was riding a big road bike. For all the rough sections of the course it was first gear because I could not muster up the energy to ride through it like I did the first lap. The flat section and Snake alley I was on the gas trying not to loose any more time than I already had. I finally finished the lap and the score board said I was in 7th. I was happy with that, but tired. After catching my breath I pulled my glove off to find that another blister had formed under the one that had already popped. It was a great ride and I was glad I did it.

Over the entire weekend I did about 170 miles on the two bikes with 140 of them at race speed. Thanks to team Denco for loaning me the Bike, Thanks to Don for making it rideable, Thanks to all the Quad riders for the great time, Thanks to my Wife for letting me race them both. Keith

Socorro 100 October 16th 2005

Well so far this season the craptor has held up good and had no mechanical problems and this race is no exception, once again I caused all the damage. The course was good and I really liked it, I'm glad the quads went second since when I opened my last pair of contacts up one of them was torn down the middle forcing me to do something I have never done before, ride with glasses. I tried it with goggles over them but they fogged up like a mirror in a steam bath and that was with the anti fog stuff on them. So I had to ride with just my prescription sun glasses on, thank God for the rain keeping the dust down or I would have more to complain about. Well the first lap started really well I loosened up and was starting to get a good groove on then I got to the first downhill section of whoops before the first arroyo so I stood up and leaned forward but when I sat back down I felt a tug at my chest protector and knew that the bite valve from my camel pack had caught on my brake lever or something. No big deal this happens a lot, so I finally get to the arroyo and start to lean off my seat to hold down my stupid stock axel no turning suspension and almost slide right off my quad, that's when I realize my bite valve must be completely gone and my gatorade is bleeding out all aver my seat and tank and legs. So I quickly grab for the hose to get whatever is left but get a nice refreshing mouthful of air for my effort. Well this sucks, in my own stupidity I only had a cup of coffee for breakfast and washed it down with a Bud Light around 8 AM due to boredom and having nothing else to drink but my precious gatorade in my camel pack which I knew I would need for the race so I was saving that. So now I pick up the pace slightly cause I am mad now so the race is going better for now. Most of the amatures have passed me by now which is usual since I am #50 and the first off the line but not the fastest, but 3 of them haven't which is unusual so I kept looking behind me and thinking how well I am doing that they have not caught up yet. Just as I got to the  arroyo before the first road crossing I caught a glimpse of someone so I kicked it up a bit to try and gain ground before all the turns ( remember the stupid stock axel no turning suspension). Well they caught me just at the end of the arroyo so I let them pass, and slap me with a squirrel and call me sally it was a novice rider, it was #100 Cody Longley. I couldn't have a novice pass me this early while I am obviously doing so good compared to my norm so I gassed on it and was determined to pass him back up before we got out of the next arroyo which I saw him go into. After the second turn I think he turned on his cloaking device cause I never saw him again ( I wish I was 14 again, or least had that stamina still. Great riding Cody good job). So I was back to looking behind me to see who would be next. It was not long of a wait but for a change I decide to try and hold them off, and it actually worked they didn't get close enough to be in my I'll get out of your way now zone so I kept in it all the way through the whoops ( which I finally learned how to ride)and I actually made quite a bit of ground there. Then went through the fence and the second road crossing with still no one in sight so I hammered down and managed to keep it in 5th flat out along the fence line then again just after that. Well going into the pits and back out still no one behind me, so I keep pushing it through the first arroyo and the ridge line and still no one, then when I got to all the G out's I finally saw Him again gaining on me fast so I picked it up some more to no use every time I looked back he was closer, then passed me right after the G out's and here comes another but the good side was my team mate #131 Danny was right behind him closing in. So I gassed on it again and was in 4th gear toped out headed for the small down hill just before the second arroyo when I found that shark fin shaped boulder sticking foot and half out of ground next to the trail. I launched off of it and went way off to the side and pulled all kinds of acrobatics trying to stay on the Craptor, and providing good entertainment for #68 Don Green who I'm sure was laughing very hard at my antics. After I somehow managed to use the force to gain control I b-lined it back to the course to try and hold my position which meant running over those poor defenseless bushes, several of them I was later told by Danny who missed the good part and was trying to figure out what I was doing way off on the side of the trail. After all that mess I decided to ride more sensibly and stop ignoring the cramps I was getting for lack of gatorade, and I slowed down and got passed sooner than I thought I should have. But I still was doing ok, that is until the pits were in sight and my cotton mouth told my brain to quit now you fool, but my brain was thankfully not paying attention to my mouth it was listening to my back and arms complaining about how my pants and the Craptor got all the gatorade instead of them. So I missed the exit and wound up on the 3rd lap by mistake, and since people get all mad about riding backwards on the course I had no choice but to go ahead and finish it, so I sat down and rode the hell out of 2nd and 3rd gear for then hour and 4 minutes. Needless to say I had last place locked in good and was not going to let anyone take it from me!! After the race I found that the shark fin had broken my a arm in 3 places and bent the shock, I was very surprised that it did not completely come apart, I guess I will have to retire the Title of CRAPTOR since it looked after me that time. And so ends a successful season for me since I wont be able to get it back the way I want before Las Cruces, I really hate to miss out on a new race but sometimes my budget dictates what I do. See you at the banquet, and good luck to all for the last race.
Dustin Walters
 

This race is has been my nemesis since I crashed here last year and broke myself. I have not been looking forward to it, but at the same time I have bee wanting to do the race to hopefully get past this mental block that has been plaguing me. Saturday pre-ride went well and I found the course to be rough but fun. The big deep leg killing section was gone. After the pre-ride we did the kids race which was alot of fun watching the future of our sport out there giving it there best. Sunday morning woke to a layer of fog. At the riders meeting we were told the race was going to be delayed because of the fog. I went back and did my normal routine of pulling the choke, twisting the throttle twice and kicking my bike. It fired right up and was warming up as I finished getting dressed. As I walked around CrazyYammi walked by and decided to twist the throttle, The bike died and would not restart. I was asked if I needed a new plug, but with the desert tank on the tank needs to be pulled to change the plug. I pulled the three wheeler over and Konrad went through the pits trying to start the bike. All the way up and down and it would not start. At that point, I decided to pull the tank. Konrad and I went to work, even Matt my competition joined in to help. DJ from Denco stopped over and told me that there was an  extra bike and to go grab it if I wanted to. As much as I appreciated it, I said "RIDE A YAMAHA!". We got the plug changed and it fired right up. By that time, everybody had lined up. I did my normal of sitting away from everybody on the line. Since I could see the starting line from the pits I just stayed there. When the bikes started moving I waited a while and then headed over. Just as I got there, my class was just starting to leave. This is already better because last year I was so late that I left with a class that was a few classes behind me. I left off the line and soon had caught Tim Dugan, I know Tim usually starts slow but comes on strong in the later laps so that would not be the last time I see him. I passed him and then caught Ben Martin (Possum) by the on the uphill before the left hander that went down the woop trail. We made the turn and headed down the woop covered hill. I was going to pass him on the right but he squeezed me off so I moved over to the left and as I started to go around him he pushed me off into the bushes where I almost went over the bars. I know he was not doing it on purpose since he was bouncing down the trail trying to go as fast as he could. After all the trail is only about 40ft wide and his bike (and butt) are about 3ft wide. I was hoping he would only use half but that is the way racing goes. I managed to get by him in the same place I always pass Possum, When he misses a corner. Off I went up the arroyo passing a few more people along the way. After getting back out of the arroyo and moving across the top I found Matt Sceiford either getting on or off his bike I could not tell which. That was a surprise that left me with only one other rider in my class ahead of me. When we got back in the was I got passed by someone that was not in my class. Steve Ledoux was standing in the wash pointing up the hill where we were supposed to go. I pulled over with him to give him some Tootsie Pops and the guy that had just passed me looked over wondering if he had missed a turn or something. I got back on the trail and was doing pretty good. As we crossed the road and headed towards the other arroyo I knew there was another bike behind me. When we got in the arroyo I went wide on a turn to allow him by and it was Gary Wise who was in the class behind me but always catches me. We headed down the long straights in that arroyo when I decided it a bad decision to let him by as my face was getting pelted by rocks. I had to let him go. By the end of that arroyo two more guys that were not in my class had gotten my me. We all got out of the arroyo and hit the long straight woop section. I caught both of them and passed them in the woops. As I was passing them we hit the fog and my goggles fogged over on the outside so that I could barely see the ground. Since was passing them I had to keep up the illusion that I knew what I was doing and had to keep on the gas. I could not make out the woops good through the fog and was getting hammered every time I hit one. We made it to the next check point where Mark was waiting to mark my helmet. I told him I could not see but it was alot of fun and off I went. Soon after while going up the arroyo I did one of my signature push through the berm and fall over in a corner moves. I picked up my bike and both of the guys I had passed went by me hitting my bike in the process just to let me know that they were getting by me again. Two lappers! Off I went, I caught Gary again and did not want to continue getting pelted by rocks so when we hit the pipeline road when we climbed out the arroyo I kept it pinned until I got by him. We dropped back into a ravine and we were back in the fog where visibility was very poor. I kept wiping my goggles with my glove which by the was is not designed to wipe goggles clean. The rest of the lap I had poor visibility and went slow. I made it to the pits and I still could not see. The whole lap I kept waiting for Matt to come by since I know he is faster than me. As I left the pits I could hear a four stoke on my tail and as he passed me soon after the pits my visibility was poor but I could tell by his size, shape and riding style it was Tim Dugan passing me back. He must have had clear goggles because he was flying. The last time you get out of the arroyo on the north side there is an off camber rock hill climb that curves to the left. There had been a novice bike that had passed me a few minutes earlier. He was on the uphill bouncing off to the side and I thought to myself "That's what you get for passing me, watch me motor on by!". It turned out to be Andy, a good friend to has recently returned to racing. Soon after that I found Tim Dugan moving across a rocky top road. He was moving slow so I slowed down and he sped up to catch me. He told me to tell his dad he need a front tire, I said OK and twisted the throttle. I then realize he was my competition who had already passed me. I lifted my had in the air and flipped him off. I knew he would get a kick out of that and spend the rest of the lap wondering if I would tell his dad who is also his pit crew. In the big arroyo I came across DR and Mike who were riding sweep. There was another rider there with them and I could see it was a female face and she was hurt. I asked if everything was alright and they said yes. After the race DR told me that the rider had hurt her wrist. They had used a flat rock and some rope they were going to splint it with but decided to wait for me since they knew I had a splint and a wrap in my Camelback. After they waived me on they realized "Crap, that is who we were waiting for." I knew Denise was still ahead of me but could not tell if that was her who was standing with them. I did not let my mind start to wonder if I was now leading. When my mind starts to wonder I start making mistakes. Earlier it felt like I had a flat but I would not let myself look and take my mind off the race. When I got in the pits I took on fuel. Since occasionally it felt like I had a rear flat and Konrad is a NASCAR fan, after he was done fueling my bike I told him I needed half a pound of air in my rear tire. He did not believe me and told me just to leave. I headed back out and was feeling good when I was going to fast to make a corner and dumped it in the sand again. That was an ego killer. I was getting pretty tired by this time and I felt like I was moving slow so I kept telling myself to pick up the pace. As I came around the tree to the off camber rock uphill I saw Denise laying her bike down half way up the hill. I could tell she was not hurt so I kept going. Now I knew I was in the lead and had to keep myself calm and riding hard. I thought I was doing OK when in the long down hill arroyo I heard a bike catch up to me. In one turn I saw a front tire but would not allow myself to look back to see who it was. I once again twisted the throttle and I was off. The bike disappeared. On the long straight woop section I was tired and moving slow looking for the smoothest way through. At the end when it drops in the arroyo I messed up the turn like I had done every other lap and that two stroke went by me. It was Matt, I gassed it and we came into the check point one after another. We left with both of our bikes moving at top speed. He looked back and saw that I was with him, he gave me the thumbs us and it was on. I knew I had to get him back. I was trying so hard that I started making mistakes. I decided to back off and make it through without falling. When we were climbing out I saw him look to his right to see if I was still there but I was on his left. We hit the pipeline road at full speed and I was trying to stay quiet and on the same rev's as him so he would not know I was there. I realized he had left off the line ahead of me and all I had to do to beat him was to stay on his bumper and I would beat his time. As the road curved to the right and begins descending back down into a ravine there is an erosion on the right side of the road and a narrow trail on the left. My competitive side took over and I kept it pinned and went through the erosion and blew by him. I kept it pinned for the rest of the way, through the woops and down the flat road. I did not allow myself to look back. I was going to give it everything I had and the best man would win. I hit the last section of woops and my legs were screaming, I told them (Yes I talk to myself) to just hold on for a little longer. I came in and finished. I turned and waited but Matt was nowhere to be seen. I was afraid I had made him crash when I passed him. It turns out he tried to do two laps on a stock tank and ran out of gas while chasing me down. The race was success, I had won my first race all year, but even more importantly I was not scared out there and I felt like my old self again. Thanks to Konrad for the work on my bike before the race and the pits. Thanks DJ for the offer of the bike, and Thanks to Matt for helping me with my bike and then giving me a great race where I had to work hard until it was over. NMDRC people are great. Keith

Carlsbad 100 Sept. 25th 2005

I found out I was in about as good of shape as one of Richard Simmons
fat ladies sweating to the oldies!! This race kicked my lazy butt!! The
only reason I didn't crash was I was to tired to go fast enough to 
loose
control, I think I was passed by everybody at least once. Then I 
started
the second lap, which was better I only got passed once (they must have
broke down on the first lap) I was still tired and since I was so far
behind I was able ride with no goggles which were full of dust and
useless anyway. I think I started losing air in the left front 
somewhere
in the middle of this lap cause I felt it get a little squirrely a few
times. On the third lap I got my second wind and was feeling good and
actually catching up to #75 who I made a feeble attempt to hold off on
lap 2, I started closing in very slowly when I realized my left thumb
and arm were hurting a lot and I was pulling to that side real hard.
Well that did me in, I was to wiped to fight a flat for the 15 or so
miles I had left so I just cruised it in on my sore and tired butt. Oh
well, at least I had fun and got to see everybody else in my class and
most of the Novice class race and observe their style for a few seconds
through the dust in front of me. #50 Dustin Walters

Keith Clark

We did not leave Edgewood until 5:00 on Saturday evening but all was well. My 10yr old's football team had won their first game in 2 years. We made it to the race at 9:30pm after spending $130 on gas in Moriarty and another $100 in Artesia. Team Denco was set up on a nice flat area and there was ample room for me to just pull in and park. My bike was already there waiting for me thanks to Jimmie. I must say that the splash of red in the middle of all those blue bikes sure brought a bit of class to the joint. Sunday morning I got up early and headed over to the sign up table but was told it was already taken care of by Konrad. I went and got my helmet card from him and I was ready to go. I was told it was only an 18mi course so I knew my three weeks of training last week should be able to cover me. At the starting line we were all laughing and having a good time like always. There were only three bikes in my class so I knew I would get at least a top ten spot. I took off from the line and was moving pretty good over the sand woops. I caught a few people and made a few passes. I knew I could do better but I just could not make myself twist that throttle any more. I fell once in the silt corner after the first check point and the next guy that came by while I was still picking up my bike yelled to me to see if I was alright. Thanks. Since I had not pre-ridden the course I did not know where the end was. About 30mi into that first lap I was thinking that they told me it was only 18mi. It was only another 10mi to the finish. The second lap went much quicker. As I started my second lap I saw Bryan walking along side the track so I stopped to make sure he was alright. He was so I pulled out onto the track behind a bike that was going by. A couple of seconds later Konrad came whizzing by. He had started about 30sec behind me. I jumped in behind him and tried to stick with him. In the woops I was on his back tire and was having fun pulling up close. when we would hit some technical turns he would pull away but then we hit some more woops and I would be right back on his rear tire. After getting a few mouth full's of sand from him we hit the silt/dust section where I could not see more than 10ft in front of me. I had to let him go because I could not see any more. On the third lap I rode alone for most of the trip. I blew a few corners because I was not following someone who showed me where the turns were. I fell once more in the silt. It had gotten about a foot deep that buried the ruts underneath. I caught a rut that threw me down. By the end of the third lap my legs were screaming and every time I tried to stand they would put me right back on the seat. I got lapped by Robbie a few miles out from the end but I just could not go any more. I finished 2min behind Konrad and 5min behind the leader in my class (Sandbagger). The other guy dropped out for some reason, so I took home second place. That was one rough track. 40mi of rough stuff packed into 18mi. I can't wait to do it again next year. Keith

Rattle Snake 100 June 26th 2005

JIMMIE CRAWFORD #205

Dustin Walters #50

Almost a clean race, it was close enough to be called that. This was a good weekend and I had lots of fun, after last minute adjustments to my military spec cargo trailer/camper and a trip to Wal-Mart for some extra camping gear we left Abq around 8:30 and arrived at the pits about 10:30. It wasn't hard to find, all you had to do was follow the glow of the bonfire burning in the quad camp and if that didn't work just listen for the loud generator!! Saturday was good the rest of the team that was not on the injured list showed up about noon and we all got ready and signed in then took off for the pre ride. This was a great course, would have loved to run the full length of the big arroyo instead of turning up the hill but it was a blat none the less. The storm was fun Saturday night, the first wave had me trying to hold the camp table, Coleman stove with the coffee pot going, and the shade tent down. I got soaked during that little blast, and my girlfriend had time to find all the leaks in our trailer tarp. After that one stopped I had time to dry off and clean up the camp, then put another tarp under the trailer tarp. When the 2 AM rain hit we were high and dry. Sunday was perfect, I got the quad all checked over and ready to go(almost). The start was good I managed a good hole shot and in 3rd at the first corner I was keeping a good pace and had 5th opened up through the first arroyo and was feeling good until I started to flip on the first curve and had to go bush to save it, after I got it pointed straight and saw the other 2 riders go by I promised myself to put a wider axle at the top of my wish list, stock geometry sucks! I tried my best to keep up but blew 2 more turns before the rocky uphill section. I hit that really hard and was making up distance and closing the gap but my down time started to catch up and I was getting tired already, so I started searching for my second wind as the gap opened back up. Saw 2 other riders with mechanical failure but they gave thumbs up so I kept going with no one in sight to the last check point before the pits. About 1 mile after that a yellow quad got up my but somehow so I let him pass since I was still tired. I trailed him for a little ways then looked over my shoulder to see another quad from the novice class closing on me, that's when I found my second wind. I started looking for a good place to pass the yellow quad when I realized it was my own team mate (Juaquin Ortega)catching me so that really made me move I didn't want to slow him down more. I finally passed the yellow quad and hammered down to the pits and was in the arroyo again with 4th pegged and holding the line barely, looked behind and saw nothing I knew Juaquin had to pit so I wanted to open the gap, I looked again and poof someone appeared, DANG!! As they closed the gap I came to realize it was the arroyo master Chris, he is faster than any of us in any arroyo, and has proven it time and again. so I had to keep it pinned and make no mistakes or he would pass me. I should have let him considering he had made up 2 min. on me already but that would mean slowing down and I just could not bring myself to do it. I also felt he would slow down on the rocks and I would catch him and he would not let me pass so I kept in it and held him off to the uphill. I never looked back until the first check point and could not see him so I guess it payed off. but now I was hearing a strange metal on metal sound and realized "Hey I didn't ever change my rear brake pads". Oh well don't want to slow down any way. I checked behind me a few times and saw nobody until the fence line when I took a bad line and hung on a stump(it's hard to steer when the front tires are locked up, I wish I would have changed those rear pads!) that's when #117 passed me out of nowhere and I knew Chris would not be far behind. I pushed it hard to try and pass him back and stayed right on his butt waiting for an opportunity, then he braked hard in the little v shaped ditch before the cattle guard and I almost nailed him and jammed the rear brake which locked hard and stalled me out I looked back to roll down the hill and saw Chris coming so tried to roll out of the way with little success but he found a different line and made it past with out much delay. I got it restarted and had a slow uneventful lat lap until #68 Don Green crept up on me, I tried to open a gap with small boosts of energy but he just didn't get tired and kept coming. After I roosted him at the fence on the last arroyo I got my gap but lost it by blowing the first turn there too, so he passed me and I could not catch up but tried until I rolled over in the spot where I stalled on the 2nd lap. So after all was done I bent up my front brake lever and broke my rear bumper again, but all in all I had a great race and if my craptor keeps running I'll get new brake pads and levers and bumpers and try to wear them out before September so I wont get so tired next time. See Ya at the next one,
#50 Dustin Walters.

 

#362 Keith Clark

6/28/05 Since it is summer and the kids are out of school we got to go out early and make a camping trip out of the weekend. We got out on Thursday about noon and set up camp. Jimmie came in later and told us that Mark from Ohio was on his way down. That it is another story which Mark said he would write up himself. Jimmie, Mark, Tim Dugan and I went out on Friday at 8:20 am because Mark and Jimmie had to be in Albuquerque at 11:00 so we went for a quick loop. The course had not been marked yet but we had an idea where it was going to go so we took off up the arroyo. Tim was leading and flying up the arroyo as I had a hard time keeping up. Quite far up the arroyo he was looking for a turn that was supposed to be there but we could not find so I went by him and continued up the arroyo ahead of him. I blew a turn and Mark got by me so I was on the gas trying to stay with him. In the arroyo I brushed up against a tree at speed that turned out to have a rather stiff something in it. I felt it hit my arm then the pain. I looked down to see that what ever it was pulled my sleeve up to my elbow and left two parallel scraped on my forearm about 8in long. I was still trying to keep up with Mark so I did not stop to pull my sleeve back down. Mark finally blew a corner so I got by him and now had to work hard to stay ahead of him. We came to the end of the arroyo where it turned to single track up the hill. We were all moving along at a good pace even though none of us had ever ridden this trail. All of the sudden I came over a small edge where I saw a short down hill with a quick right hander. I locked up the brakes but still blew the corner anyway. On the other side of the corner there was a small V type drain with a bush on the other side of that. I went through the V which put me up on the bars and when I hit the bush I went the rest of the way over the bars with my bike falling over to the right landing on me. So now me and my bike are upside down in a bush, perpendicular to the slope of the hill. When the other saw me lock up the brakes they were able to stop in time to get a good laugh at me. They though I had been hurt in the crash because my arm was now bleeding but I let them know that that injury had happened earlier. I got out from under my bike and up righted it in the bush and rode it out and off we went. We followed most of the track except for the section after the last check point and made it back to camp in time for Jimmie and Mark to leave on time.

 On Saturday Konrad, Aaron (crazy yammi) and I went out for the pre-ride. That went well, I got to see the parts of the track I had missed the day before and did not end up in a bush. This time the bush was pretty flat so I know others had also found this bush. There was another race Saturday night but I will write that one in the journal.

 On Sunday morning I lined up on the line to find that there were 7 of us in our class. I did not get a very good start but ended up about 4^th after the fist turn. I was following somebody on a 450 and was being pelted with sand the whole way up. We got up into the single track and I just was not feeling it and was not riding very good. I finally missed a turn and somebody else got by me. The rear end of my bike started to feel different and I guessed I had a rear flat tire. I was staying with the group fairly well as we got back into the arroyo. When we got out of the arroyo back on the single track the rear end would not hold a line. As we got out of the single track we found Tim picking up his bike out of the sand. I got to the first check point and pulled off to check the rear tire which turned out to be completely flat. This slowed me for the rest of the lap especially on the hard pack. At the second check point as I gave Steve his Tootsie pops that I was done because of the flat. I was bummed because the track was so fun and was in great shape and I was not going to get to ride it anymore. When I got to the pits, DR and Rex told me to pull off to the side where they had tools and a new tube waiting. I told them not to worry about it but they insisted on fixing it. After they got the tire off of the rim and about a cup full of rocks and sand came out of the tire, Rex stuck his fingers through it and said it was no good unless we had a new tire. I figured they had done a lot of work so I walked next door and asked Cindy if they had a tire. We went in the Denco trailer and pulled out a brand new tire. Rex and I finished putting it on when DR went to go help Robbie replace his broken handle bars. I said thank, turned my music back on and headed out. Back in the second section of single track I caught a rider just past the tree sitting on his bike. I stopped about 50yrd up and came back. It was Kyle Sparks who said he had broken his collar bone, had tried to ride to the next check point but was unable to. We parked his bike against a tree, he jumped on the back of my bike and we did a slow roll through the rest of the single track and up to the first check point. I left him there and enjoyed the next rest of the race. At that point I knew I was out of the race so I relaxed and enjoyed the ride which made me go faster then when I had started. The track was awesome and so was the race. I can’t wait till the next one. Keith

OH MY GOD JUNE 5TH 2005

Still don't have a clean race!! This one started off bad but ended ok, I had to work Saturday so I missed the pre-ride and would be racing blind. I left for Cuba Saturday around 4 and made it to Zia before I had to turn around to go back to Albuquerque to get my contacts, so I didn't get back until 10:30 that night. By the way the directions were perfect I got there on the first try in the dark so thanks for that whoever was responsible. I'm glad the Quads went last it is nice to have time to get ready and relax and check everything over( which I thought I did). Once we got ready to go I lined up and was ready to go, but after my team mate took himself out during the pre-ride and hearing stories of bike swallowing ditches and holes and the invisible corners that everyone was blowing, I was a bit gun shy to hit it hard. We took off and I had the hole shot on #52 and could have pulled him to the corner and got in front easy but I had no idea what was coming so I backed off and let him go first thinking I would just follow him for the first lap. It was working as planned for about 10 seconds until the dust changed that plan! I will just follow his dust trail instead. I didn't blow any corners and was having a fast easy ride until the arroyo. The first little turn before it opened up I didn't see the small bump and launched awkward and stalled it out when I landed, that's when I lost power. It would not do anything, I remembered back to this same problem at the rattlesnake last year and took the seat off and checked the battery connections they looked good and felt tight, so I moved on and kept looking and found nothing. I tried to start it again and it buzzed and stopped, so I knew the connection had to be loose. In the mean time the whole class passed me, so I took off my gloves and tried to turn the bolt on the positive cable and it was loose, I pulled out my key and tightened as best as I could( I left my tools in the truck instead of my camel pack). After 118 passed me I got it started and took off and tried to catch up and was doing good for still having no idea what was coming up. I was going slow expecting to blow a turn or fall in a ditch, neither of which happened. I finally started making ground after I looked back and caught a glimpse of a yellow jersey in the distance, which meant Chris was closing in on me so I picked up the pace a little. I was catching up when I finally blew a turn and stalled out again, so I started messing with the cable again and could not get it tightened and could hear that banshee with Chris on it coming up the trail. I tried to just hold the cable down and start it but I needed to hit the gas too so it would start, so I put it in neutral and had to stand behind it to keep from rolling that's when Chris passed me followed by #117. After some cussing and hollering I got it fired up and played catchup all the way to the pits, I decided to pit and tighten the cable, which did not work because the backing nut was gone so my pit crew ran back to the truck and got a zip tie. That's when Josh passed me, as I was putting it together, I slammed the seat back down and took off I started catching up to Josh in the arroyo but he was holding me off. Once we got back into the trees I was all over him so he let me pass but got hung up on my bumper and stayed there for the next 4 or 5 miles. He must have found that wire I was teasing him about and wired his throttle open cause he was on me like glue. I opened it up on the dam crossing and locked it up just in time to slide the corner and pin it in 3rd on the way out. Josh blew that turn and I didn't see him after that, but I knew he was not far behind (only about 2 min at the finish) so I stayed in it hard until the end. This was a great race and the blisters on my hands are fond reminders of it!! See you in Espanola
Dustin Walters #50
 

It was a great weekend of racing. I really don't care for the high speed roads but racing and riding is racing and riding. The pre ride went well. All of us Denco riders took off and kind of stayed together. I was going to beat the bandit following a ways behind Matt in the big wash when I came up on him getting up off the ground. His bike was still buried in the sand. There was a fence post with barb wire in it just barely sticking out of the ground and Matt hit it with his front tire which set up his back tire to hit it so as to make a real good endow into the sand . We pull up two old wooden fence poles and about 30' of wire and got rid of it. Away we went. The rest of our team was waiting about 2 miles up the road. We made it in the rest of the way without any more mishaps. Race day, nerves big time. We took off and I got ahead of Ron (surprised me). I lead through the first set of trees to were the first big right hand turn was. I over shoot the corner and away went Ron to be never seen again. About have ways through the first Lap #195 Lee came up behind me. We battled it seems like for ever and he got around me. The second lap I chased him all the way through trying to get around. Pitted real fast and took off real fast when I saw Rick at the check point (I forgot there was a check there) He told me SLOW DONE COWBOY! All I wanted to do was catch Lee. At this time #338 Josh was battling with us. I finally got around Lee and figured I would tire him out in the third Lap and beat him. I was chasing Josh and riding right on his tail. The kid is an awesome young rider. He is actually a little faster then me so I keyed off him to ride faster. About half ways or so I finally passed him on a dirt road ( I think he was getting a drink of water) and we headed back up in the tress. After about a mile he had enough of my dust and past me in a corner. I never new a 125 could throw so much dirt. I followed Josh the rest of the way in. In all this time I kept looking back in all the turns and there was that Dam red Honda with # 195 on it. We pulled into the pits and finished the race. It was hard but riding with Lee is a job in it's own and riding (chasing Josh) was a blast. When it was all done and said Lee came in a head of me in time and My hat is off to the man. I am totally impressed every time I ride with him because I'm 46 and think I should throw the towel in and then to see this man out riding like this puts a new spark in my heart. Cograts Lee, Looking forward to always riding and racing with you. I hope every one had a blast and will see all off you at the Rattle Snake. DBR180. DJ

Keith Clark #362

Every thing was going well until it was time to suit up and go riding. Konrad and went out earlier than normal for the pre-ride because my two boys were racing in the mini classes and I need to be back early to get them ready to go. We took off at a good pace and I was soon blowing corners left and right. No matter what I did I just could not seem to get on the pace. Konrad used to be a very fast racer until he hurt himself in the Tarantula 100 many years ago. After that he slowed down quite a bit. This day he looked like the Konrad of old and would let me go by him just to so he could pass me again. When we raced this course four years ago it had rained heavily Saturday afternoon and was a slippery mud fest during the pre-ride. Being a person who does not have good balance or riding skills I hit the ground quite often. During that ride I broke my radiator shroud when I slid into a tree. I was so disgusted that I was ready to quit and go home. The sun came out Sunday morning and the quads rode first so the mud was gone and the track was in great shape. This year it was a rather large dust bowl. As I was riding along in the dust unable to see the ground in front of me I was really wishing I had not missed that class in Ninja school where they were teaching us to see while blind folded.  The pre-ride ended without me hitting the ground so I was OK with that but I knew that no matter what I did I just could not get my speed up to where it needed to be. Sunday morning after the riders meeting I went to go line up with my class. There were five of us in my class, Three of us were pitting together in the same camp, Tim was up the road and there was one person I did not know. We all had a good time kidding with each other waiting for the race to start. Since there were five of us I started behind the other four. I lined up with Pablo Sanchez. Pablo is in the over 40 class and is my bench mark because he always finishes just ahead of me. Pablo rides a CRF450 where I am riding a CR250, I weigh twice as much as him if not more, so guess who got the hole shot. In the first tree section there was an uphill with a right hand turn on the back side of the hill. As we came around there was a guy in the trees past the turn trying to collect his marbles. He said he was OK so I kept going. I followed Pablo until we got into the big arroyo. We caught another rider (the new guy in my class) and as I was going by him Pablo got caught up on something and almost went over the bars. I got by him and soon caught a guy on a KTM with a Colorado license plate. I got by him on one of the straights. When I got to the end of the arroyo I messed up the uphill exit and had to circle to hit it again. Pablo went by when I was making my circle Pablo went by me. I got out of the arroyo and followed Pablo into the next check point. Just before that check point there was a winding road with a right handed sweeper followed by a large semi circular left hander. I was pushing hard to keep up with Pablo and almost crashed on the left hander because I was going to fast to make the turn. After the check point Pablo started to pull away and I never saw him again. After some more tree riding we hit a long straight where there used to be a cow on a stick. Yes I said a cow on a stick. Four years ago some sick individual put a dead cow carcass on a fence post alongside the track. From a distance it looked like a cow was standing along side the track and would not move as you got closer. This was worrisome because you did not want him to dart in front of you at the last minute. After slowing down to pass by him you realized he was a cow on a stick. This year he was not there so it was a fast pass down the straight road. At the end of this road there was a flat 90 degree right hander. The next road had some pretty deep ruts. Yesterday on pre-ride I had caught the edge of the rut with my front tire and it pulled my front end out and my back tire stayed in which made for a scary sideways ride. On the first lap I had the same thing happen again and I though I was going to die but I managed to save it. Through the trees the guy on the KTM caught me and went on by. The rest of the lap was fairly uneventful. I came into the pits and as DR and my wife were fueling my bike I told them that I was getting my butt whooped. DR said "Naw, you're doing alright.", My wife said "Oh yea, you're getting your butt kicked." Thanks for the encouragement honey.  Back in the big arroyo the sand had become choppy  on the big straights. I once again caught the guy on the KTM and I was catching him, when I was about 20yrds behind him the rear end of his bike did some swapping, he did the big tank slap and hit the ground. I dropped my bike and went to check on him. Another rider was also pulling up and stopping to help. The down rider was laying on the ground groaning. I looked him over real quick and did not see any thing sticking out or bleeding so we were off to a good start. After a minute or so I got him to sit up. I told the other guy that we would be alright and he could go. After the hurt guy got up and moved off the track I picked up his bike and moved it off the track also. He said he would be OK so I got ready to leave. He still looked like he was hurting so I asked him again if he was going to be OK, He once again said yes so I left. When I got to the end of the arroyo were I had previously messed up the turn I saw the sign to get out and immediately turned left and went straight up the bank to get out. That worked much better so I used that trick on the third lap also. As I was approaching the first check point I did not want to crash so I changed my approach and went to the right and just railed around the edge of the turn. This also worked much better so I used that on the third lap also. On the straight road where I almost wiped out twice before I tried the upper rut. That did not work any better. I caught the edge of the rut with the right side of my tire when I was a t full speed, the front end came out and the bike started hopping sideways along the rut. I once again managed to save it somehow. When I was stopped in the arroyo Pat (the new guy in my class) got by me. I caught him again in the bowl. It was pretty dusty so I followed him until I had a good opportunity to pass. When I was going on his left he crossed over into my line (not on purpose) and sent me into a large grass clump at the bottom of a small erosion. When I hit it I almost went over the bars. I collected myself and got by him shortly after that. By the third lap the arroyo had become very choppy. The turns were forming some big breaking bumps with large acceleration holes in the exit. In the small arroyo where you crossed the sand bars the acceleration holes got very deep that required you to jump over them. This lap I did not have any trouble with the rutted road. Towards the end of the lap I caught a guy on a yellow bike. After I passed him and he saw my number was higher than his it must have given him some spirit because he turned it up and caught me. He worked hard but finally passed me and took off. As I approached the finish line he was coming back and gave me a thumbs up. When you are out riding by yourself for three hours you have plenty of time to think. I was thinking to myself. I am having a great weekend camping with my family, I get my bike on a three hour ride with over 100 of my closest friends. Life is great! I bet that guy who just won the Power ball wishes his life was this good. Keith

Tarantula 100 2005

Dustin Walters #50

Not sure how to tell this story because for the first time there is not much to tell! Thank God! This was the first successful race I have had since I started racing last year, no mechanical problems or crashes. My right grip kept sliding it's way off and I had to pit on lap 4 to take my knee guards off cause they were slipping around behind my knee, but all in all that didn't really slow me down much I maybe lost 1 min fixing both problems. Nope I sucked all by myself this time I cant blame the bike my 9th place finish is all on me. I started out to slow and timid and by the time I decided to kick up it was too late, my last lap was almost a full min faster than my first. All my excitement happened before the race starting Friday night. We showed up late Friday night to stake a claim on a pit area and during that process I managed to drop a sledge hammer on my left big toe. On the way home my team mate got pulled over for having his brights on and had to go through the whole DWI drill before they sent him on his way. By the time I got up Saturday morning my toe was killing me with the pressure, so I got out the trusty old craftsman cordless and the smallest drill bit I could find and performed some surgery on the blackened nail, after a few seconds and a gush like an oil well the pressure was gone and all I needed was some neosporin and a band-aid and I was ready to pre ride. Then the small crack hiding on my oil tank started to gush during the pre ride so I had to scramble to fix that, but thanks to #68 Don Green I threw on a spare tank that night. While changing that out I decided to check my plug, and found that the plug cap had come apart, but I found the little spring and resistor laying on the floor and averted disaster and possible aneurism for race day.
Oh well I liked the course after the rain and the transponder thing is the way to go, my hats off to everyone involved in setting up this race this is the first race I have been to that had the laps set up right. Each class should ride a different number of laps, so great job on that, and on the order of how we raced. I hope the other clubs follow that example. My 2 cents #50 Wide Open Racing
 

Keith Clark #362

My race weekend did not go as planned. Friday night I got sick and I knew I would be unable to race. Saturday after the kid’s soccer games we headed out to the race. We got there about 1:30 and could easily find the place by the dust cloud. The pits were packed so we just pulled up out of the way and found Konrad. He got ready and went out. My eight year old was racing this weekend so I got him ready and set him out on the mini track. When Konrad came back he said it was a bit dusty out there. I checked in and got my transponder since I had already pre entered. After the pre ride the pits emptied out and we moved into a good camping spot so we could watch the racers go across the woops in front of pit row. Sunday morning I was awoken by the sound of thunder. I looked out to see the pits covered in mud. It was cold, windy, and raining outside. After sitting and watching the novice class go through, it was more than I could handle. I ate a few pieces of bread to keep from getting nauseated and decided to race. The thing I forgot in Alamogordo was my contact lenses. When I was racing a quad I kept hitting things all the time so I decided to try wearing contacts and I quit hitting things and damaging the bike. Race day is the only time I wear my contacts so I put them on, got my gear on and headed to the line. I got to the line and Tim Dugan was laughing at me because I had told him I was not racing but showed up anyway. When the gate dropped I waited for everyone to leave before I left since I had not pre ridden on Saturday and did not want to get in anyone’s way especially the on the motocross section. That did not work so well since all the turns in the motocross section were slick mud and when some one fell in the first turn everybody hit the brakes just to go sliding into each other. By the time we got out of the motocross track people were side by side. It looked like a big train with all the racers lined up going through the various corners and straights. I tried to make a pass on Pablo Sanchez but over shot the turn and he got by me again. Pablo is someone that I try to beat every race. He is in a different class but he always finishes just ahead of me time wise. I finally got by him as the train started to separate. The rain had made for a beautiful track out in the desert but slick in the motocross corners. I have only ridden once since our last race so I was in my normal race shape and like always my arms went away and I could not hold on for the first couple of laps. I finally got into my rhythm and was doing OK when almost at the end of my third lap I heard another four stroke come up behind me. I held my line so he could go by me thinking another expert had already caught me. Number 371 went by me. Hey, wait a minute, he is in my class. As we left for As I chased him down for the next lap. He would pull away in the straights but I could get close in the corners and technical sections. Robbie caught me on during this lap in the motocross section and I slowed to let him by (He could not have gotten me if I had not slowed) at the end of my fourth lap we were in the woop section in front of the pits when I caught him. I pulled along side of him and got by him on the last jump. I pulled into the check point behind Konrad, kicked his tire and told him to get out of the way. Stacy was laughing because he knows how much fun Konrad and I have riding together. As we were going over the step up table top leaving the motocross section I could hear a four stroke behind me and knew it was #371 again. Nope, it was Robbie who had apparently made a stop in the pits. As he flew right past my ear I got a good look at the under side of his bike. Shortly after that, I caught Konrad and was pushing him in the corners. I kept going on different sides and he looked back a few times to see who was messing with him. Finally he stayed close to the edge to wave me on by. Hooting and hollering on both of our parts, I went by and tried to keep up the pace. With this race and all of the sharp turns you could see who was following you. I noticed the familiar white helmet of Pablo chasing me down. I tried everything I could to stay in front of him but that big 450 could pull me on the straights. He finally got by me and I finished only a couple of seconds behind him. I knew going into this race that I was in no condition to try and win anything. That’s ok because we are out there for the good friends and good competition. Both of these were accomplished so it was a great weekend. Monday morning I woke up and I could not see. clearly and my eyes hurt. Oh yea, I had forgotten to take out my contact lenses.  Keith

Dustin Walters #50

Well Alamogordo seems to be my nemesis, I blew the motor last year after finishing only 1 lap and this year was only slightly better!! The pre ride went well, my girlfriend got a Raptor 350 the Thursday before so she did the pre ride too and we went slow since it was the first time she rode. I never really got into it to hard but it seemed to be running ok. So I topped off my tank Sunday morning and warmed it up, and checked it over and found no problems. As we lined up I was in the third row of quads so I had time to practice my dead engine start and it was starting fast and seemed good. When the flag went up I took off and flooded out after about 20 feet but managed to make to the top of the hill before it just stopped all together, I should have just quit there, but I didn't and finally got it to start and took off. I sputtered and popped for the first two check points but was keeping barley ahead of half of row 4 that took off 2 min after me. Once they had all passed me I got frustrated on the dirt road when I only could get it up to 59 Mph, so I started riding stupid going way faster than I should have trying to catch up, I was having fun cussing my Raptor until I slid to far on a corner and pulled a Dukes of Hazard off a bush on a small hill followed by a half barrel roll with a one tire landing. That acrobatic stunt resulted in a graceful face plant that left me with a bloody nose and stress marks on my helmet. Slightly dazed I got up and surveyed my bike and noticed the six-pack rack was now pointing at the ground, but all else looked ok. I waived at all my team mates as they went past and finished composing my self and stopping the nose bleed. I mounted back up ready to make up the lost time and took off sliding the front around so I looked down to see the right front tire wobbling like a drunk in a fun house, so stopped to check it out and found the u shape tie rod. Well so much for this race, at least I was ok and I managed to hobble back in for one lap and some points. After all was done the a-arm was bent, and the wheel was "tacoed", but got hooked up on the tie rods and fixed the six pack rack at work for free, and a sledge hammer talked the a-arm back into place. Got a new wheel and tires all around and I am real close to getting the jetting right, which is a pain on dual carbs, but that is another story. See you at the next one, Dustin Walters #50 Wide-Open Racing.

2/25/05 I was a little nervous this race, it was my first amateur race and I figured that 75 miles was going to be REALLY tough. I never really placed that high in the novice group, but most of my friends race in amateur, and I figured that I might as well get my monies worth by racing 3 laps instead of 2. The start was a little annoying, we were all in a line and I had a little trouble starting my bike (petcock off) so I got excluded from the line. I wish the organizer had done something to fix this because there was a ton of room at the south side of the line!? I didn’t care much though because desert races are usually lost by minutes, not seconds. After the start I settled into a decent pace. I didn’t push too hard, I didn’t want to be wiped out when I was in the fast sections. A little mistake there could really hurt you. Some of the top over 30 guys were starting to pass me by the time I hit the fast parts but I was doing okay. When I got into the fast parts I really started to have some fun, I was running 15:47 gears and I was pulling 450s. Nothing bad happened except for that hump right before the checkpoint before the fence line. Had some crazy air but came out of it okay. Got some really good speed at the fence line, I just made sure to hit the big jumps and whoops so I was going AWAY from the fence. The guys burning the trails need to think about the tall guys a little bit, I sat and ducked and still whacked my head on that bush overhanging the trail. That was it for the first lap except for that big drop off right before the pits. I didn’t set myself up very well and a cracked my huevos when I landed. The second lap was a nasty surprise; the whoops had gotten really nasty since the first lap. Anyone that says that quads tear things up is crazy, the bikes made those whoops a nightmare. This time around I wasn’t so happy about my gear ratio, I had to keep going between 2 and 3 instead of staying in 3rd like I normally would. This tired me out but I was able to get it together once I got through the worst of it. Second lap was pretty straightforward except for when I tried to pass Matthew Scieford when we were on the fence line. He slowed down quite a bit to go through my favorite hedge and I was full on… I slid through the thing sideways (taking extra damage) and almost hit him. The 3rd lap was no fun though, my spark arrestor plugged up and I had about 10 horsepower to go on. I could hardly get going from first gear. Limping along and getting continually passed on your last lap is the pits! Altogether I had a good time and don’t regret moving up to a new class.. I will be ready  next time! Aaron (Crazy Yammi)

Race morning started out good. Since the quads were racing first I took my little pit bike over to watch the mini races. I parked out on the far corner to watch for fallen riders. The 50 minis were out there practicing and it was torture to watch them and not be able to jump on my little pit bike and do a few laps. The day before Greg, myself and another guy had a race on the track with the pit bikes and it was quite fun. After the 60 had done their practice I could not take it any more and jumped on my little bike and did a quick section of the track before the next group came out for practice. After the mini races I headed back to camp to get ready for my race. I could not find my contact lenses. I knew I had put them away but could not figure out where. After I had given up I walked in the bath room and remembered which cabinet I had put them in so I got that covered. While I was looking for my contacts Konrad told me that my front tire was flat. I knew that it had a small leak but had never gone flat. The day before I tried to put slime in it but could not get it in there, I was pretty sure I already had some in there so I was not worried. Since Konrad had his bike there and was not racing he asked me if I wanted him to switch front tires. I decided not to so he just put air in mine. On the line there were 14 bikes in my row, my bike did not fire on the first kick so I was towards the back of the pack for the start. I was in behind Mark from team Denco and we started going by people as the group thinned out. By the first right hander I noticed that I could not track by bike well and was all over the trail. Jeff Spidel got by me after I had previously passed him and now he was between me and Mark. Mark finally got by Denise and took off. Jeff was working on passing Denise on a left hander and fell in the corner before going up the hill. After the first check point I was again in behind Denise when I took the inside line in a corner instead of taking the berm and BAM! I hit the ground. The front end had gone out from under me and I was on the ground with my left wrist hurting pretty bad. That was the point where I figured out that my front tire was flat and that is why I could not keep the bike tracking straight. I took off kind of slow trying to work out the pain. I had been talking to Tim Dugan the day before, he said he has a complete set of extra tires and wheels for his bike and I said if I ever get a flat I would just call it quits since I am only out here for fun anyway. No for the first time I am in that situation and I said to my self that I would just ride out the lap and call it quits. Now riding as safely but as quickly as I could I kept thinking "I should have let Konrad change that tire." I did not like the thought of calling it quits after only one lap because I had the ability to fix the tire so if I did stop I would be a quitter and that I did not want to be. With the front end not tracking well I did not get on the gas in the high speed straights, but the turns were even worse. After the second check points I was cutting in and out of the bushes when BAM! the front end went out again and this time I slammed my head on the ground pretty hard. "OK, that's it, I'm done" I said to my self. After the pain went away I started calling my self a quitter again and decided to let Konrad know that I was going to need the tire and get it changed before my third lap. By the time I reached the end of my first lap I knew I could not do another lap with a flat and I pulled in to talk with my pit crew. I told them what was going on and we decided to swap the tire. I pulled around to our camp where Konrad pulled the tire off his bike, them pulled the tire off my bike, then put his tire on my bike. Yes I did help but he did most of the work. Back out on the track again I knew that I was way behind but at this point I was racing for my self and I had a huge smile on my face as I was enjoying my ride. I was on the gas and was flying down the track. I had been passing bikes here and there that had passed me while I was in the pits. On the back straight I caught a couple of open novice riders. The first one I passed was Carl, I was wide open in 5th gear going over some woops where the track took a dog leg to the right. My rear tire caught a rut and I was now in the air with my rear end coming around to pass the front end. This seem eerily familiar to the move I was making in Socorro when I broke my collar bone. Thanks to my Scotts Damper, when the rear end kicked back the other way it stopped right in line with the front end. The next guy was my camp mate Wade. The track was wooped out but about as wide as a two lane road. I was wide open going to the right of him when he suddenly came over all the way to the right pushing me through a bush. I got back on the track behind him and again got on the gas. This time I passed on the left. Afterwards while making fun of Wade because he tried to kill me he said that when I passed him he looked down at the computer and he was doing 58mph and I went flying by like he was barely moving. By the last sand woop section I had been having so much fun I had worn myself out. The third lap was pretty uneventful except for the fact that I was dog tired. My hands also hurt so I spent lap trying to hold on to my bike with my finger tips. I pulled into the last check point and told them I was tired and asked if I could finish there but I was sent on my way. I finished up the race tired and happy but in one piece. Since this was my first race since my broken collar bone race, this was an accomplishment for me.  Keith

DJ  DencoBlueRider180

I figured it was going to be a stress free race, All I needed was to finish one lap and I would win my class. Piece of cake. Pulled up to the starting area and was as nervous as ever. The first bikes left. Put my goggles on and the strap came off. Panic city, tried to get the strap threaded back in. Remember no stress(right!). I finally got the strap fixed. Still 3 rows to go. Got a good hole shot and got out in front of Lee. Figured I better take it easy through the big sand whoops. About 1/2 way through Joe # 201 past me, about another 200 yards up he was laying in the middle of the track. Had to go between him and his bike. At least I didn't run you over Joe! Away I went, about 2 minutes later Joe passed me again. Guess what he crashed in front of me again. Sure enough about a minute later he passes me again and that was the last I saw of him. By now my teammate Daniel #205 had passed me doing Mach 10 also. About 3/4 of the way around I was sure tired. Hmmm, you mean I still have to finish 3 laps, I was already pooped. Pulled into the pits, got fuel, goggles, water and away I went(It's awesome to have a great pit that gets you in and out in about 15 seconds). Remember all I had to do was finish 1 lap, but oh no, the competitive edge jumped out and said go for it dude. I figured the deep sand would be the killer if any in this race. I just said a prayer and hopped to get through the sand. By this time a Honda was right behind me out of the pits. I thought it was Lee but couldn't read the #. Finally saw it was #21 expert. I waved him on but he didn't go by so we road the #2 lap fender to fender. This helped me to keep going strong. At the pits he must Of pulled in because I didn't see him after that. Here we go one more time through the sand whoops. Actually the 3rd lap seemed to be a little easier for me. Got through the whoops without crashing(yea!). By now my hands were starting to get a couple of blisters. Only had to finish one lap, no pressure, right. My thought process was if I gassed it, the race would be over sooner and I could fall into camp so I stayed on the gas as good as I could. I passed a couple more people and got passed by a couple but finally saw camp. No mater how tired you are when you see camp you have to get on it(people might be watching and you have to show them you still have it), so I stayed on the gas through the last whoops, Boy did my hands hurt now. Any way I finished my last race of the 2004 year and my team mate Jimmie #355 didn't catch me. What a year. Denco Racing finished the year in one piece. Would like to thank the good Lord for getting all of us threw this still alive. Denco Racing had a very good year. Pat #12 started the year with a broken shoulder but came back in the middle of the year and finished 5th. Daniel #205 finished first(first Jacket). DJ #180 finished 1st. Jimmie # 355 finished 1st(first jacket). Matt # 255 finished 2nd. Conner # 575 finished 2nd. Marty #60 mini finished 3rd. Ryan #53 mini quad finished 9th. Great season guys. We all will be back next year in some class. Myself I'm trying to get in micro mini's. See you all there. DJ

Jimmie Crawford (Dencoblue355)

CrazyYammi

This race report will be short. I finished both laps... I did great in the whoops but the rocky stuff
turned my hands into hamburger meat. I need to get a steering stabilizer. I also need heavier front
springs, they are stock and I weigh 200#.
See ya'll (we were pretty close to texas werent we?)next year.
 

Bill Gauthier 9/27

9/21/04 CrazyYami

This race i decide to try to go 'crashless'. Pretty much every race i crash 4 or 5 times during the beginning 20 minutes or so, which is pretty stupid cause my second lap is always 4 or 5 minutes longer than my first. It would make sense to ride a little more conservatively on my first lap and have a better second lap. If I don't crash that is a bonus.

One of the things that brought this on was a really bad crash i had last Sunday when I was in the 'boot camp' at Montessa, i got squirrly in the whoops and the bike smashed my foot so hard that it crushed the back metal plate on my tech 8s. It hurt so bad I thought for a minute that i re-mangled my titanium ankle, but i got off easy with just some bruising in my foot. Anyway all week long i have been having visions about breaking my neck and having fatherless kids, so I decided to turn it down a notch. With this in mind i started off the race kinda on the wrong foot. I decided to just follow the guy that I was starting with and let myself warm up. I didnt realize that he was slower than me, so I was up his @ss and ate sand for a long time. Finally we got to the nasty whoops, and discovered that the rain had turned them into a nightmare. At least when they were dry the ruts in them werent so deep, but after the rain they were criss-crossed with everyones screwups. I think my starting partner messed up pretty early in the whoops so it was pretty easy to get around him. I almost got off once but made it through without incident. The first arroyo was pretty fun. The breaking bumps werent so bad and I made pretty good time. I was able to get a good rythm going and pass a few guys, there were nice berms and the turning was easy. The rocky road went okay too, alot of the rocks had been churned out of the ground and it didn't seem as rough as practice. I limped over that little cattle guard thing.. not much experience jumping those.  The rest of the race went without incident, one of those rock jumbles in the fast sand wash almost ripped the handlebars out of my hands, this reminded me that I was going to have to get a steering damper for next year. My favorite part was the sandy section at the end of the course, I can ride that stuff all day... I was disappointed that they took that big whoop section out.. stay safe and see you all at Las Vegas.

 

9/20/04 On the Thursday before the race I took my bike out to test it and my knee out. I crashed going through the woops doing a face plant in the face of another whoop giving myself a black eye. What I did not realize was that the collar for my steering stabilizer had come loose. On race day I went to the riders meeting and then headed back to the truck to get ready. When I made it back to the line the 600's were starting already (I am number 362) so I jumped in with them for the start. I was looking the other direction when Rick waved his hat so my partner took off first. I managed to get past him before the turn up the hill. I started working my way past people until I tried to pass somebody through a bush and got stuck and fell over. I got going again and passed a few more guy in the small arroyo. I saw a big group on top of a hill that turned out to be the right hander before the long straight whoop section. My competitive edge took over and I wanted to pass that group of people. I was up on the rear of somebody who was all over the  track and when I went to pass him he crossed in front of me and I did not want to hit him so I hit the binders and stalled it. The next time I came up behind him (I think it was him) I laid on the gas and blew by him at top speed. I think it was shortly after that my rear end started swapping and I vaguely remember flying off to the left of the track. The next thing I can remember is being next to the bike and telling somebody that was there with me that I would be alright. The next thing I remember is arriving at the check point and I think I talked to Chad Dutton and Jeff Porter but I do know that I told who ever was there that I did not know where I was at. Jeff said he would take me back and we took off down a road. I saw my brother coming in the truck, He said I stopped and talked to him but I don't remember. The next thing I remember was talking to the ambulance crew then arriving at my camp. From what I am told, the area that I crashed was about a mile and a half from the check point. I don't know how I rode through that deep sand section with a broken collar bone but maybe that is why I don't remember riding. I will now be out of work for 4 to 6 weeks. It is a good thing that I got AFLAC insurance because that will definitely make things easier. To all those that helped, Thank you.  My brother packed up my trailer and got my truck out. The Neiswenders watched my kids. And the guy who was stopped out there with me, I don't know how long I held you up but thank you. Keith.

Dustin Walters #198

I would like to start by thanking Ben Martin and his friends and Denco for hooking me up with Rivets and a rivet gun, also the people at the corner near the finish line for lending me the cordless drill and bit. This was a great course, it's only the second race for me so far but I really liked it. I only did one lap at the Alamogordo race and toasted my cam because the drain plug fell out somewhere. I have been rebuilding my Raptor since then, and have had a few problems along the way but finally got it ready for this race the weekend before. We showed up for the pre ride and started getting ready, had to use my spare key because I left the regular one at home along with my Trail Tech computer. Once under way didn't make it far and had to make adjustments to my spark arrestor so I could run it hard and it would still breathe. this was a fun ride the whole team(Wide Open Racing, #193, 131,199,170,198,90) was there and just playing around having a blast while checking out the course, the only bad part was the "Star Wars Arroyo" the tight section the sucks on Quads because you have to go so slow.After that we went to watch the mini race and our newest member #90 TJ, he came in 4th, his bike is under powered for his size. When we started up to go back to camp mine only whined and no starter engagement! I rolled it back and tried again with success, the one way bearing is obviously going out, please just hold together for the race. Once back to camp I notice the rivets holding the end cap and spark arrestor to the can are wallowing out and barely holding everything together, this will never make it the first lap without shooting out the back somewhere along the trail. So I started the hunt for parts and equipment to fix which I finally did( thanks again). The day of the race the starter is worse it sounds like it is gonna fall apart, but it still works so I get lined up and ready, I take the hole shot and make it around the first few turns and my contacts start drying out and having trouble seeing real clear and over shoot a turn, I look back to see 3 of my team members right there, and know in this state I have to take one for the team and dont try to get back on track until they pass, which didnt take long. I am glad I did cause then I got to see Jason #193 do the sickest endo I have seen without something getting broken or crashed, somehow he pulled it out and never missed a lick. After a few minutes the sweat started rolling into my eyes and I could see clearly again, so off I went to catch up. I saw two riders already out to the side enjoying the show and cussing there luck I passed two people not sure who they were they moved when they saw me(thanks) then I saw #123 in the distance and caught up fast and he would not move but it was a rough section and I was tired so no big deal I just sat back until we hit the first set of arroyos and passed him with no problems. Got past one more Yellow quad then got to the tight section and thought I had it made about a 1/4 of the way through this section I caught up to Chris #199, bad thing he is going slow and his a-arms are+3 so he is taking it easy. I have pilots that are way to rich so cant be real easy on the throttle or it will stall and with the starter acting up I dont want to do that so I hang back as much as possible but still manage to gain on him, then he crashed into a wall just alittle and by the time he got going I was right on his butt. Then we toped a small hill with a turn and I had to let off to keep from hiting him and I stalled, of course when I tried to start it, nothing happened at all, no spin of the starter. I was dead in the water and right in the way. after a few minutes of cussing I could hear other riders coming so I moved my bike as far over as I could to let them pass, but this was a sharp uphill turn with a small ledge the first one there got stuck and I helped pull them straight and off they went then #123 took the ledge and got stuck so I grabbed his A-arm and pulled him over and off he went the next 2 had no problems. I tried rolling down the other side to start it but no luck and once again I was in the way so I pushed it up next to the wall in the shade with the help of the guy On the blue Lakota(thanks) who was behind 2 other riders, women I think, who were all waiting on me to get my Broke A$$ out the way. so I took off all my gear and started cooling off, and thought maybe once the bike cooled down it might start, so after about 10 min I tried again,and still nothing. So I thought if I hit the starter while starting it might work, so I took off the seat to get at it and saw the cable from the relay to the starter had vibrated off and was not making contact. I was hot now!! I finger tightened it and put all my gear on and took off again, I caught up to one of the women on the rocky up hill section and the guy on the Lakota in the arroyo just before the pits. I stopped to re-fuel and prayed it would start and it did, so off I went to catch up as mush as I could. I was far behind, didnt see anybody until after the tight section which I stalled out in several times and fought the starter some more. I passed two more and thought that would be it but kept riding hard anyway for time, but right around the second to last turn I saw a hint of a dust trail so I got enough energy to keep it held down hard and go fast. I finally caught sight of #123 making the last left corner and I was gaining on him very fast. I caught him on the last little set of whoops and he noticed me then and sped up and tried to edge me out, so I thought fine with me lets make it fun, and down shifted to 3rd nailed it all the way down and out powered past him with only one set of tires on the trail. I sent people running at the finish, they have no idea of my abilities so I apologize for making a scene and scaring you, but after all that I was not going to get beat, I only wish I had caught up to #123 a little sooner, but that was the first I saw of him since he passed me back while I was broke down. After all the effort wtih the rivets, the thing was about to fall off again. So on tuesday morning I took it to work and welded it together, problem solved! Now all I got to do is get new pilot jets and fix the starter before august or september which ever race is next, cant wait.......Dustin Walters #198

Konrad Clark 7/16/04

Ok, I have to say that I ride a lot (2 words - the ONLY thing I remember from High School english) - there is Saturday pre ride and the Sunday race, I put in a lot of miles! Anyway, the Espanola race has always been my favorite race, probably because it is the first desert race that I ever did. Here is a quick story of how I got involved in this damn addicting "FUN" thing we do. My brother called me up I think on a Wednesday to tell  me that I had to go (I lived in Las Cruces at the time) to Espanola on Saturday to do a desert race that he would be working at as a paramedic, in which I had NO, let me emphasize - NO interest in doing! I had never done any racing but use to ride every weekend at the local motocross track because I just loved to ride my bike, so much fun. I have always respected my brother as he is the "logical" one of the family, not to mention the best and most caring person I have EVER known, so after some "why, I don’t want to do some desert race, it sounds boring!" - Oh how little I knew. Anyhoo, he talked me into it, but, I raced in Levi's, a jersey, old helmet, chest protector, no gloves and sunglasses because I did not own goggles and I managed to finish 3rd I think, I'm old, memory's gone but that's what brother has told me so I will go with it. But, the finish was only the start, Keith had to catch me and hold me up so that I could eventually flop off the bike into the back of my truck where I laid for half an hour because I could not move, even if I had been on fire, but I finished!!! As soon as I had feeling back in my body, I'm pretty sure it was 3 weeks later, I was "Jonseing" for that pain again! I was hooked and could not wait to do it again. Back to the race, I was bummed because Keith was not going to make the race but I had already pre entered so I figured I would go. The pre ride was fun even though I rode by myself, which I hate to do, but came back to help my nephew Gabriel do the mini race - let me say here and now, ALL of those kids who get out there and go for it are my hero's - Kids remind you what life is all about. Then after the race going back to my camper, low and behold who was in our camp, my brother - I can have fun after all. Sunday's race - yea, we took the wrong exit but were finally here. Keith and I have a thing we always do before we start - we smack knuckles before we start and he was slow to get to the line after his "meditating" he always does, I was worried but he made it for us to do or ritual before we start. It is very funny how you say you are NOT superstitious as a rider but have to do certain thing before you feel ok. I did get my knuckle punch so all was good. Being that I had put in so much riding time, (the last race) since the last race, my plan was to ride middle pack of my class until I felt comfortable. Unfortunately I was 3rd into the first corner - Ben, Keith and me, in just a few corners Keith passed Ben, I was thinking "what the #%^%$@! is Keith doing? I pre rode and he didn’t, you have no clue where your going but I'm still not wanting to be in front and I was thinking - your nuts". I was ready to pass Ben when we hit the first corner out of the wash so I decided to wait, Ben went down in that corner, so I kinda waited for him to fall to pick my line, I was in second - not where I wanted to be just yet, damn. Within a minute or two, I came around a corner before coming down a hill and Keith was looking at me and waving "Howdy". Crap. not where I want to be, now I have to try. Through this whole thing, I could hear a thumper getting closer -cool. Just before the 1st check, Tim caught me and worked his way to the left where we raced to a left hand corner, cool - I let him get there first so I could follow for a while like I wanted to. Passed the check and just after, Tim was picking up his bike, Damn I can't give it away. I made a BIG mistake in the first wash by missing the corner-track and took the long way around where Tim passed me again along with someone else, Ok just calm down and have fun. I did that until Keith blew by me in the sand whoops crossing the arroyo - damn I suck! Rode ok for a while and when I could hear someone pressing me I would let them go by, Yea I saw it was you Jimmie after I heard you say "Please", I have two objectives when I race - now that I think about it, maybe three. 1st and foremost, have FUN and don't get hurt, if this happens I won. 2nd, beat Keith. There is nothing worst than having your brother who was a former land boat racer beat you - hence "Team Bench Racer" you don't necessarily have to be good, you just have to talk a good story about how good you are or used to be for us old guys. 3rd, be a filler so that the good guys can beat 10 racers instead of 9, the story is always better that way when you tell your friends. The second lap I started to Kick in, riding good, Passing people that had passed me and feeling good. I came through the pits at the end of lap 2 and leaving the pits I see Keith, game on! For a long time I stayed the same distance he had in the pits behind him no matter how hard I pushed, damn. I wore myself out trying to pass him and I couldn’t even catch him, oh well I let off. When I did that, I was right on him - wait, that ain't right. I was flying up behind him after the shot up dryer just before the slow arroyo that just about killed me, Keith hit the binders, as I was about to go by on the left side of him with Keith taking up the left, center and right lane all at once. I locked up the back brakes and had front applied but not too much and went into a supermoto slide, my front tire was on the left side of his bike with my rear tire passing him on the right. The right side of the bike was slamming the back tire of Keith’s bike at probably 40mph - I could hear metal grinding and I was thinking about what I would tell him while we rode in the ambulance together. Made the pass and not long after took a major header into a ravine (you know the one I'm talking about Jimmy) and after I could see again, took off and finally finished (thanks Keith for stopping to see if I was OK). Man that was fun. Oh yea for those of you that waited for trophies, you missed a Great Parade!

Joe Chacon 7/15/04

            Espanola is normally a good race for me being that I grew up in that area but this year has been rough for me moving to amateurs. Anyhow the start was not bad I think I got out in 3^rd behind Joe Marquez and I think One of the Denco boy's. I felt pretty good until about the 4th or fifth turn (hard right into small wash) and I stalled the bike and all of you who ride thumper know how hard it is to start one in gear. After everyone in my

class passed I started again I got passed a couple of guy's don't who they were then I came up on #214  Charles sorry for your DNF. The rest of the race pretty much went the same a few more falls and stalls. The tight section was rough because the night before the pre-ride I re-geared my bike to taller gears and it made real hard to keep any kind of momentum. All in all I had a good time as always rough weekend of racing is always

better than your best day at work......Joe #210

Jimmie Crawford 7/14/04

For as long as I have been racing, when it is time to line up at the start I always go park off to the side by myself for a little psych my self up time, just before my class starts I pull up with the guys and girl and get ready to go. This weekend I pulled up on the hill and sat for a while before I figured out I forgot something back at the trailer. I hurried back to the trailer and made it back in time for my row to start. I lined up with my brother Konrad on my left and Ben on my right. Ron and Jimmie were down on the right side of the line with Tim in the middle. I told Konrad that it looked like it would be a good race for 3rd. As the heaviest guy in the class hole shots are not very likely. I got a good start but Ben beat me to the first corner. By the second corner I was ready to make the pass but got pinched off. I finally made the pass in about the 4th or 5th corner then said to myself "Now what dumb a**, your don't know where you are going". I showed up late Saturday and did not pre ride so I did not know the course. After the right turn out of the arroyo I went up the hill around a few trees, past the open area, back into the trees. Coming around one tree I did not know how sharp the turn was and wound up sliding out and doing a 180. I got up and picked up my bike as quick as I could knowing the rest of my class was going to be coming around the blind corner where I was in the middle of the track. As they came around they found me standing beside my bike, facing them and waving them on. After they all passed I got back on the bike and left. I was on Ben's rear tire at the next arroyo and when he missed the right hander I hit him then made the turn (sorry Ben). Soon after the arroyo I passed Tim then caught Konrad. I passed Konrad just before the arroyo that your crossed that had the deep woops that were not spaced evenly. I had to use some speed to get passed Konrad so I came into those woops too fast and they almost had my lunch. I could see Jimmie and Ron just ahead of me (at least I am going to continue to believe it was them) and was following behind in the arroyo until I missed a turn and was out the front end. I got into the deep tight enduro section and the bikes were stacking up. I was glad to know that they were not stacked up because of me. Down in next arroyo I laid on the gas and passed a few guys. I did the ridge back ok and then made my way to the last arroyo. Jimmie told me it was wide open and I could do it with my eyes closed. I am not sure which trail he rode in pre ride but the one I came down was like riding on a washboard. On my second lap I fell a few more times in the deep sand but had successfully made it to the enduro section again. In the process I had passed Dakota Moore. In the ridge back section I kept hearing this four stoke on my rear tire, thinking I was holding up some fast guy who had caught me I wasn't concentrating and went off the side of the ridge back. We all know how fun that could be. It turned out to be Dakota that had been behind me and I had to push my bike back up the hill. Now out of energy but back on the bike I was off again. On the rocky uphill I was moving along at a good clip when my rear tire hit a rock tossing it to the left where it landed in a rut and spun me around. I hit the bars with my knee and then hit the ground. Out of breath and energy I waved a couple of bike on, one of whom stopped again at the top of the hill to look back on me to make sure I was alright. Thanks to who ever you are. While trying to remount the bike it fell over again and I just could not muster enough energy to pick it up. After a few tries I finally managed  to get it picked up. Since it was facing down hill I coasted to a flat spot off the side of the trail and stopped for a minute to catch my breath. The rest of the lap went ok except for the long wash where I was following someone in the dust I hit one of those land mine rocks that almost tossed me off my bike at full speed. On the last lap as I was getting out of the second arroyo on the left hander I saw Konrad coming up behind me. I got on the gas (or so I thought) and got after it. the left hand turn before the stretch  leading to the enduro section I heard a bike coming up behind me and next thing I know the guy is ramming me from behind. It turns out Konrad had caught me and couldn't stop before I changed lines in front of him. As we got out of the arroyo before the ridgeback I fond Konrad sitting of the side of the course in a deep erosion trying to catch his breath. He waved me on so I finished the lap falling only one more time at the end of the big arroyo. As I got out of the arroyo I decided to gas it across the tops of the woops that lead out of the arroyo and to the check. Between being tired and missed timing my rear end kicked and I was on my front tire staring at the ground. This in it's self is not bad but with all the people including those at the check point watching it was not my best finish. I was glad to be back and in one piece. That's my story, how about yours! Keith