Sand Blast Rally 2010 - Who's in?

[Rut Row]

this matrix is normalize on raw scores and without stages 6 & 7. Stage 6 was at dusk and 7 at night. This gives a much better indication of how we actually were doing.

click on the matrix for a larger image

[code]

so technically speaking, you were doing pretty good til the last 2 due to the dark. Class wise, how do they break that down for season? Or do the classes really mean anything?

[Rut Row]

so technically speaking, you were doing pretty good til the last 2 due to the dark.

I was. In SS3 I did pretty good but I gotta tell you, in the middle of the stage I was thinking I had bitten off too much!

Class wise, how do they break that down for season? Or do the classes really mean anything?

if you look at the scores, the classes don't really mean much.

here's an interesting chart.

[Bucho]

I'll put up some pictures tomorrow and give a little more of a story.
But looking at the site, I was 33 overall instead of 31. (So, I suck just a little bit more.)

Overall, it was pretty cool. However, we were all pretty suprised at how rough and nasty the stages were. At the end of the first stage even the fast guys who had been there before, we saying how rough it was.
And as Ken mentioned the last stage turned into a night stage. Ken and I weren't really prepared for that. As we were waiting in the control for the last stage as the daylight was fading to black. The other guys around me started pulling out helmet mounted lights, and also they all had little lights or glow sticks that they attached to the front and back of their jackets. They told me, the front and back mounted lights was incase they have a bad wreck and are still lying in the trail when the next guy comes along at a race pace. W/ the lights, the other racer will be able to see them and stop in time. W/out any extra lights, I was ready to get run over if I wrecked out.

[code]

so glow sticks aren't just for ravers and kids treat-or-treating it does make sense though. have a bunch of them here, dont ask why. You guys move up in your standings just for going down there in the mist of a bad snow storm.

all the pics that ken got, and a majority of them are of Jonah Street... me thinkin' he has "a thing" for him

[Rut Row]

Wow - how to start. Because of the snow, I almost didn't go. My wife was very nervous about the snow and had heard we could get 30" (how prophetic - we did). I researched the weather and it was consistently showing upwards of 20", reminded her we had a backup generator, the fridge was stocked, and the neighbors were all ready and willing to help her if needed. She said I should go but reminded me the last time I left town 9/11 happened, and the time before that we had an ice storm and a tree fell on the house. I think she forgot a few trips but I got the message.

Bucho and I decided to take my old 4x4 instead of his truck. We figured sacrificing some MPG (good story about that on the return) was worth the extra assurance of being better equipped to get back home. So the drive down was uneventful, 7 hours roughly door to door.

Question for you kids... on the way down, we stopped at a gas station to empty onboard tanks and refill gas, and while standing in the stall reading the graffiti on the condom machine, I notice that one selection offered colored and FLAVORED condoms... WTF - flavored? never mind...

So the hotel, Inn Cheraw, is your usual $45/night fleabag. Quite adequate by DAMN standards but wouldn't take the missus there. The fact that it was a fleabag made us feel better about working on the bikes in the room. Yup, it rained all day Friday so we wheeled 'em in and did maintenance there as well as dried them off enough to put on the stickers.

Hey, I'm not a poser anymore!



and I wore my DAMN colors proudly! Code - looks DAMN good, eh



Friday started with the NCO (new competitors orientation). Anders did a great job and but the part about how to compute your control check-in times seemed straight forward but in practice, NOT! Moral of that story is trust your fellow competitors - everyone helps each other out and short of getting lost, there is no reason for time penalties.

After NCO, we took the bikes to the local auto dealer for scrutineering. Both bikes breezed through. Bucho, being the honest guy he is, confessed to switching carbs and got bumped into medium modified (MM). MM versus stock is a long story and best left for another thread.

Since it was raining, we skipped the shakedown run. Probably a wise move on my part - if I had experience how hard riding in deep wet sand really was, I may have withdrawn!

Saturday... race day. Time for the

(to be continued)

[Rut Row]

Saturday... race day. Time to

Keep in mind that (a) I have never raced, (b) I am not comfortable riding in deep sand and (c) I'm probably the oldest racer there! All I could think of was "am I really going to do this?"

So Bucho and I wander down to Mary's place for breakfast (a very fine DAMN diner - wouldn't take the missus there but I enjoyed it - cheap too), chow down and then suit up. Because of all the rain, we both put trash bags over our socks for a little extra water proofing - which turned out to be DAMN smart. Bucho wore his 'stich suit (smart move) and I ditched the MX pants for my AST Ranger overpants (another smart move). The forecast for the day was cloudy with occasional drizzle - and it drizzled a lot!

We had stashed some gas with Jack Splash in his car at the service area so all we did was top off the tanks. Then we rode down to Park Expose and joined the crowds. It was a cool feeling being able to ride past the LEOs and through the barricades to park the bikes.







it would have been pretty cool to experience as a spectator

So 0830 comes. Nerves are wound tight. Self doubt shifts into overdrive...

The race starts with a 12 mile transit to the first control point. Let me tell you every one of the transits were cold!

I eventually got out my winter gloves but I digress.

Bucho and I had agreed to do the first transit together. So my time comes around, they give me the score card and I'm off!

All I could think of was don't biff at the starting line!

I ride around the first corner and pull over to wait for Bucho. As I pull over, I notice a competitor riding back towards the start. When he sees me, he turns around. I pull over, Bucho catches up and we head off together. As we pull out, the guy is riding back towards us - obviously unsure about reading roll charts. I was incredibly thankful that we had done a few DS rides and learned how to read the charts! So the lost guy falls in behind us and we all get to the control point, huddle up and wait for our time to check-in.

The first special stage (SS) was the longest.

(to be continued)

[Rut Row]

check out this video guys

http://Baldy.smugmug.com/gallery/111638 ... wsPsC-A-LB

and if you want to know why I bailed on stage 7, look at this



I'll let Bucho tell you how hard riding in wet sand is, at night, and with inadequate lighting!

[Rut Row]

all the pics that ken got, and a majority of them are of Jonah Street... me thinkin' he has "a thing" for him

[Rut Row]

As I said, the first special stage (SS) was the longest - 14+ miles. The sand at the start of the stage wasn't too deep and as far as I could see it looked reasonably easy to ride. I'm thinking maybe I can do this after all. I nudge the Scotts damper up another turn.

My time comes up...

five...

four...

three...

two...

sphincter muscle tightens...

one...

wrist twists...

brain yells WHAT THE f_ck ARE YOU DOING!

and all I can see is the road, the sand getting deeper and more chewed up (35 riders do a lot of damage!). Brain says you idiot, now that you are here, keep the power up and I shift into 4th.

[Note: it really is easier to ride in the sand if you go faster.]

So I'm riding along, barely in control, thinking I may withdraw after the stage finishes (assuming I make it) and about what seems like 2 miles into the stage, Bucho passes me like a bullet. Shortly after that I pass a guy on a F650GS and now I'm thinking I can do this after all.

We hit a short straight and the sand is a little less deep and I shift into 5th. Now keep in mind that I've never been out of 2nd in sand, so here I am, riding in the deepest, wettest sand I've ever seen... and I shifted into 5th...

A bit later we come to our first puddles. I forgot to look for tracks to see where everyone went and move to the right edge. I got too far right, the berm catches the front tire and tucks it. Yup, down I go and 2 guys pass me in the puddle. Did I say I was glad I put plastic bags over my socks, wore my new Blaise waterproof jacket and waterproof pants?

Time stops... I ride and learn to trust the bike more and eventually get to the yellow control warning sign, then the flying finish and the stage was over. Mother f*cker! I DID IT! SS1 time was 26:28 or about 32MPH. For comparison, Bucho averaged 37.6 MPH and Jonah did ... I can't believe it either... 60 MPH!!!

SS2 was much of the same except I didn't biff. Bucho blasts past me but it seemed like it took longer for him to catch me. I passed the GS rider. One other guy passes me. Now I know I can finish the event and we transit to the service area. We both top the tanks, grab a sandwich and get ready for SS3.

SS3... dayum... deepest sand I saw all day... deep ruts... sphincter muscle was so tight it was cramping... and the first moment I could release the bars I cranked the damper all the way up!

I wanted to slow down so bad I couldn't stand it but I knew if I did the front would tuck so I kept the power up. Eventually I pass the GS rider, Bucho passes me and oddly, no one else passes me. Must be getting faster. I actually made a respectable time (for a n00bie) in that stage so fear does wonder for stage times!

In SS3, I averaged 32.5, Bucho averaged 37.3 and Jonah (he is definitely a lesser known god) averaged 60.5!!!!

Unfortunately someone got hurt in SS3, but because of that they waived all penalties. DAMN good thing too because they did a reroute (changed stage 4) and we got lost getting to the control. There was about 15 riders bunched up hunting for the stage start

SS4 almost seemed easy and Bucho and I both actually caught Jonah! Okay, okay... like I said, somebody got hurt in SS3 and they regrouped the riders prior to SS4. So when SS4 starts, we get to see the leaders take off. My gawd, they took off like friggin' drag racers! Like I said, SS4 felt good after the horror of SS3.

SS5 was a blur. All I can remember is I had not fallen since SS1 and I'm thinking I can survive.

Back to the service area. We get some hot rice and chicken soup from the vendors, and top off the tanks again. Transit to SS6 and I'm watching the light get dimmer and dimmer. Dusk was upon us at the start of SS6. btw, they reseeded us at SS6 - Bucho moved up and I moved back in start order.

In SS6 I learned that when it is dark and you can't see the sand, you have to ride by feel. And I wasn't feelin' it! The guy in front of goes down and I pass him. I slow down and am really fighting to stay in control - I need more speed but am riding way, way beyond my capabilities and all I can feel is raw terror. I lost count of the number of guys that passed me and finally the control warning sign and then the flying finish signs appear.

I barely made it through the stage and was in marginal control the whole time. Stage 7 was obviously going to be in the dark. No way in hell was I going to try to ride in heavy, deep wet sand in pitch black. So during the transit to SS7 we pass the service area and I pull in and DNF on SS7.

DAMN... what a race! And yes... I will go back next year!

BRING ON THE SAND!