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D16 Hare Scrambles - Crandon, WI

5-31-08

Well it was my birthday, the big "41" and I thought it would be a great idea to hit a race to celebrate. The previous weekend, I was invited to the P&G Offroad Team training compound located at a secret location outside Cross Plains, WI. While there, I talked to Parts Unlimited Sales Guy and AA Hare Scrambles rider John Strangefeld about going to Crandon. Also, new enduro guy and HS regular John Buechner also planned to ride along. I was outside at 5:00 to finish loading the trailer and it was a great day. The sun was up and it was already 65 degrees. Looks like the Moose Sahara gear was the choice for the day. John met at my place around 5:30 to load up and pick up John S. After a short stop, we were off.

Just outside Stevens Point, the Vesrah Suzuki Team of Joe Vadeboncoeur and Scott Daubert sailed by in their white van. Guess I should have taken this as an omen for the day! Upon arriving at the Crandon International Raceway, more noted for their truck racing, we signed up and looked for a place to set up the pits. We parked next to Bob "Jerry Stanley" Kau. Bobby Jr. or Princess as he has been nicknamed, was going to race. Duane Eller also made the trip up to the Great White North. Unfortunately, Dewy came down with a strange illness and couldn't stop getting sick. Upon further examination, it appears that Dewy did a little too much carb loading the night before at Ken "SSK" Schuck's retirement party. That coupled with sleeping in the driver's seat of his small pickup truck in Bob's driveway, added to the illness. After careful research and discussion, it was determined that the lines at the bar must have been dirty and needed cleaning. Dewy slept some more and woke up just in time for the start of the afternoon race. He decided to watch the race, but true to Dewy form, I did see him in the woods drinking beer (but he was taking no chances....it was from a can!)

Remember the earlier temps in the mid 60's? Well that was 4 hours to the South. The temp was a chilly 49 degress! Of course all I had was the shorts and the t-shirt I was wearing when we left. Oh well....like I always say CHEESE DON'T FREEZE! 

On to the race. The early reports was that the course was going to be the truck track with a few short woods sections. Thankfully, that was wrong. The club laid out a great course, although I wish they would have used more of the woods. I was riding the A class which was the second line to start. There were 11 guys on the A line. At the drop of the flag, I was 3rd out of the first turn. We rode the LOOONG truck start straight. After a few turns of the truck track, we jumped into the woods. 50 yard into the woods, I washed out and fell in a 180 degree turn, which let a few riders by. Now I was mad. I charged past these riders and saw the leaders up ahead. On a long fast straight, I decided I was going to catch them. I still don't know what I hit, but I swapped (hence the nickname) and got off going really fast. The crash ripped the radiator shroud out of the radiator mount and when I stopped my rag doll dance, both knees were hurt really bad! (Oh yeah...I'm 41 today and I don't bounce like I use to!). 3 minutes into a 2 hour race, and all the race was out of me.

I did keep going and even raced past a few riders in my class, but at 1 hour, I was done. My knees were on fire and my right wrist was alternating between numb and pain. I finished, but I was 2 laps down. I don't think I rode one complete lap without crashing. To say the race was disaster would be an understatement. But I still can't think of a better way to spend my birthday that racing!

Thanks to John S and John B for tagging along. I had a great time. I think John B is even going to the Marquette National Enduro with me. I need to do some training for this event. Going to be hard since I leave for Portland, OR for work and will not return until 2 days before I leave for Michigan.

Here are a few pics from the day. Click on a picture for a larger view:

         A Class Start                                                                               John Strangefeld            JD & John