The First Race @ Glen Helen 6-Hour GP

Fortunately, when it was my turn to ride, Lori had some good tips and information about the course that calmed me down. I jumped on the bike with butterflies in my stomach ready to give it my all. The 250X handled wonderfully. It had ample power and I was impressed its responsiveness to the throttle. It was smooth and easy to control, and very maneuverable. It was very clear this bike had some work done to it and that it would be a great bike to ride for the day.

I made it to through the first section with out a hitch until coming to the endurocross section. I conquered the first log with out any complications, but the second one proved to be a bit more of a challenge. I tipped sideways and scrambled to get the bike up before getting run over. Lucky for me, in this section you could be helped out if you needed it, so Breanna and my brother were there to get me up and over. Almost immediately I noticed something was wrong. The throttle was way too sticky. I figured I could manage, so I just kept going.

My throttle got progressively worse very quickly: it was either all on or all off. By the time I hit the silt hills it took all my strength to twist it in either direction. I even ended up stalling in a silt hill since I was unable to keep my engine revving. Apparently when I fell on the logs I bent the hand guard, which was preventing the throttle from twisting.

Being new to racing, I didn't know you were allowed to leave the course to fix your bike and restart where you left off, so I rode out over seven miles of an eight mile course with a locked throttle. The entire time I couldn't help but think I was letting my team down by going so slow. I pulled into the pits frantic to explain why I was so late and hoping to give my forearms a rest; working that throttle lead to insane arm pump! The throttle was a quick fix and I was off for my second lap. This lap I could focus more on actually racing instead of just getting back to the pits. I quickly realized the scariest part of racing is the faster people passing you. I distinctly remember being passed by Robby Bell and thinking I had no business being on a course with guys like him.

Upon completing my much quicker second lap, Breanna jumped on the bike. She got in three laps in the time I had gotten in my first two. She definitely helped our team make up the lost time from my sticky throttle. Like a true WORCS rider, she would come through the pits, grab a water bottle on the fly, and continue on. With her third lap completed, Lori jumped back on for one more lap. In what seemed like the time it took for me to put on my helmet and gloves, Lori was back to the pits. She had hauled on this one! She decided to only do one lap and let Breanna and I get in the extras. So, once again, she warned me of the rough conditions that lay ahead.

Just as Lori had said, the course was eaten up. The hills were rutty, the silt was deeper, the ridges had tons of squared edges, turns had multiple berms, and the dust was terrible. Fenders, sprockets, and hand guards riddled the course as a true testament to the increased complexity of the course. Apparently, some poor fellow on a Kawasaki was missing a perfectly intact front fender; for the life of me I can figure out how that happened! But, despite the more difficult conditions, my lap times were better. In fact, my final lap of the day was my fastest time.

Eager to get in as many laps as we could, Breanna left the pits one last time. We knew she could definitely get in two laps before the checkered flag, providing nothing went wrong. It would be a race to get in three. But, true to form, she was consistent and got all three laps in. She pulled through the finish line just after the checkers dropped. Our total number of laps for the day was thirteen: Lori completed three, I completed four, and Breanna completed six.

With the race over, we loaded the bikes back into the Honda Sprinter and set off for home. My first race experience was amazing; it was nothing I expected it to be. Instead of being terrified the entire time, I actually had a lot of fun. I managed my stress and held my own on a new bike. My times weren't the best, but they weren't as terrible as I thought I had done. I even got the whole race experience: everything from a tricked out bike to a company van in the pits. Our final standing was second place. Not too bad in my opinion; especially for my first race. So, how about that 12 Hour?