2008 Fall Classic XC Race - Bend OR Report

[kurtw]

So, I get the PM last week...


Ooohhhh. Hang on a sec. I need to go put some more Vaseline on my nipples.

[kurtw]

That's better.


So MrSunshine PM'd me last week. "Dirt Race on 11/15 and 11/16" in Bend. The 2008 Fall Classic Crosscountry race was going on this weekend out at China Hat/East Fort Rock in the desert just outside of Bend.

Chris and his buddy Max showed up in Bend on Friday night and we met up for coffee early Saturday morning before heading out to EFR. For the Saturday team race, I shot photos and Chris and Max raced. I spent the first half of the race riding around with camera gear trying to find a decent spot on the course to shoot.  That ended up being much harder than I thought it would be.

Max on Chris' bike (Max's CRF250 had a spark arestor issue. Luckily the team format allowed two riders to use one bike).



I finally found Chris on the course when he came coasting up to me shaking his head.
Front flat.

[kurtw]

The team race was fun to watch. There were riders at all possible paces.

Fast




Less Fast, but out there giving it a good run none-the-less




Most of the race was in the trees both days. Great conditions with minimal dust on the trail thanks to recent rains. The great thing about EFR is is that the trails are so much fun. Much of it winds through sparse pines with great bermed corners flowing one into the next. When you see that berm you know you can get on the gas without worring about traction while you look ahead for the next one.



Next: Sunday's XC race

[kurtw]

I've never actually raced offroad before this weekend. I registered for Sportsman class for the crosscountry race. I had no idea where I would be in the field and what my endurance level would be at a race pace. Sportsman ride one 40 mile loop, the points classes do two loops totally about 75 miles.

There was frost on the ground in the morning so I geared up with a thermal layer under my armor. By the time we were lined up for the start I was warm already and stripped that base layer off. For future reference: Armor against bare skin = nipple rash after 40 miles of racing.

Anyway, I rode at what for me was a fast but comfortable pace the whole race. I passed a whole bunch of people in the first 5 miles or so. After that, the whole course flowed really good for me and people were spaced out nicely with courteous passing pretty easily accomplished most of the time.

It was a blast. I'll definitely do some more in the future.

Second place, Sportsman class




Chris back in the pits:

[Mr Sunshine]

Now THAT was a great time!

The area is so much fun to ride in.  It flows really well and you can really push it if you want to.  I'm really going to try to get this on my schedule next year and hope for the same great weather!

That Trail 50 you got a photo of is great!  I never saw it on the trail...he prolly was in front of me pulling away.

[DogBoy]

Second place, Sportsman class

I can't see this pic for some reason. Did you get second place Kurt?

Oh, and sorry to hear about your...uh...injury.

[sagerat]

Way to go, kurtw.  

And I can say I knew and rode with him before he chucked his computer career to become a dominant off road racer.  

[TheGoose]

Looks like a complete gas!  

[Mr Sunshine]

Looks like a complete gas!  

You coming next year?    I'll provide transportation there.

[TheGoose]

Would love to, but who knows, I can barely plan for next week.

[Mr Sunshine]

Would love to, but who knows, I can barely plan for next week.

True or what you are doing later today.  

[kurtw]

I can't see this pic for some reason. Did you get second place Kurt?

Ooops I had flagged some of the photos hidden in smugmug and didn't realize they wouldn't be linkable.

Just some dork and his trophy

[sagerat]

Glad to see that wasn't you or Chris in the paper as Air Life hauled an entrant out of the woods and over to St. Charles Hospital.

[DogBoy]

Ooops I had flagged some of the photos hidden in smugmug and didn't realize they wouldn't be linkable.

Just some dork and his trophy

Absolutely awesome! Great job Kurt.  

[Mr Sunshine]

Glad to see that wasn't you or Chris in the paper as Air Life hauled an entrant out of the woods and over to St. Charles Hospital.

Yeah I didn't hear about that until Sunday morning.  That dude was standing around with the rest of us at the rider's meeting. He barely could get his arm up a little bit to indicate it was him.  I wonder if he tried to ride on Sunday.  

[kurtw]

Wow, I chatted and scouted a little on Saturday with a pro photog, Dave. I just found some of his photos from the weekend.   AWESOME. Check it out. Totally inspiring.

http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=714677
http://web.mac.com/davidvschelske/iWeb/Site%2014/Fall%20Classic.html

[Mr Sunshine]

Ah..I like that last one you posted. Totally shows how to get er done on the starting trail.