For the first time, I got the holeshot Saturday at our race in North Florida. My tether cord kill switch somewhow popped out right after that and killed the engine! In the blink of an eye, I was able to get it back in and go. Now I am in 3rd.
I push, push, push, the Kawi that is in front of me until I was able to get around him. Now I am in 2nd.
1st place guy is Phillip Albright, who races dang near every GNCC race, was out in front of me. After about a mile I see him up the trail riding slow and looking back. I thought " this guy is going to toy with me or he is waiting for the badass in our whole club, Willis Pledger, to catch up so they can run together." However, he was having mechanical failure ( don't I know how that is!) and yielded.
Now I am 1st place! Take my picture because here comes Pledger to pass. There is nothing I can do except block. Maybe at the finish line, but with another 1-1/2 hours to go, I had to yield. I tried so hard just to keep up with him on his YFZ. No way.
Now I am in 2nd. I am alone the rest of the 9 mile lap. I go through the scoring tent and am in 2nd! I am really pumped because the trophies this race are a coiled up Rattle snake on a plaque base. I wanted one so bad!
So I am riding as hard as I can. I am drinking from my Camelback and taking in mouthfulls of water and tipping my head back letting all the water run down my chest. It really does wonders when you are really overheated.
So I am trucking along, and hear comes the Senior train. They are a group of 4-5 older guys that train hard and always pass. I found a tiny spot to yield and wound up getting hung up where I had to dismount and use reverse. (Thanks for dropping the ball on this one BRP)
Pushing, pulling, and lifting that 500 lb machine with all the gear on, tired and excited, is enough to get the best of this 150 lb guy.
I finally get it back on the trail and go, but I am REALLY winded. I keep going as hard as I can and here comes 3rd place guy.
He is one of 3 of my friends that I rode up with. He is on a stock 400ex that has been neglected so bad. He doesn't even take his machine out of the trailer between races to clean it or check for wear and tear or damage. He could do a testimonial for Honda!
He ends up crashing into my rearend when I hit a tree and flipped over the handlebars.
He puts his in reverse! and backs up to go around me and of course yells AH HA!
Now I am in 3rd.
I push, pull, and lift that frigging beast again to get back on the trail. Why these heavy machines don't have reverse is beyond even asking.
So I am going and about to puke when there are B riders stuck in the trail. I pick a line through the trees around them but chose poorly and got stuck in some tight trees where I had to again dismount and push, pull, and lift. I managed to get the machine around the B riders and half way back on to the trail when I got hung up on a berm. I had to again dismount and just doing that I thought I was going to puke. I decided I was spent and I will at least help this B rider get unstuck. Instead he says no and helps me get back on the trail. I get back on and say I will help him and he says,--No, GO! So I take off but am so hating life. I begin to question what the hell I am doing out there in the first place and how I will never do this again and on and on...
Then I am pressured by 4th place rider (one of the other guys I rode with) in my class and it wasn't long before he got by me.
That's how I finished. 4th place out of 7.
I tried so hard. My machine ran so good. I wanted that trophy so bad.
I was glad at least, that my buddy Mike got the 2nd place trophy. His brother Mark came in 3rd. Me 4th, and the other guy with us, 5th. So we all finshed together.
It was the best race of my life! I just wish it ended a little differently.
I am going to start training by just pushing my quad around the yard!
Next race is in 2 weeks. I'll be there!

 

Congratulations! Sounds like one hell of a race. Your play-by-play was pretty cool to read, now you just need to get a helmet cam! hahahah I've heard that racing is 80% rider and 20% machine. Now that your 20% machine is working perfectly it will allow you to work on the 80%. Though it sounds as if your placement was due more to the number of times you got stuck than being slow or or the other guys being particularly fast.

Concerning how much weight was a factor for you, perhaps if you have extra cash it is time to invest in some of the lighter weight gear as well since this helps if you have to move it and especially allowing your machine to put more power to the ground if you lighten the rotating mass. Lighten the rotating weight, lighten the machine itself and combine that with your 150 lbs you should have a pretty lethal package.

Just a thought - you mentioned getting hung up a couple of times, are you running the 23/22 inch tires on your DS? That could help you get over more junk. Your signature doesn't mention skid plates but I would have to assume you have them, right? My skids have helped me over a lot of junk.

Anyhow good luck and congratulations to you & I bet you'll be damn sure the kill switch doesn't get pulled next race!

 

Man! I was pulling for throught the whole read! That was FUN! Felt like I was there! I can just picture you in my minds eye huffing and puffing get'in that quad back on track! I feel your pain, I hate trail riding for stuff like that!!! Thanks for the post it was great!
I would have to agree with the skid plate suggestion. Worth looking into.

 

Glad you had fun at your race, great story man!

GNCC Ironman Classic the end of this month, I'll be there, you should come up for the last race in the series man! I know I know, much too far and too little time.

I feel for you lugging the DS around...but I can't believe a 150 pound rider chose this machine for GNCC!! If I wasn't 6'-8" tall I'd be on a Suzuki!! Last year at the Ironman, out of 800 quads only two were DS's, mine included. They aint made for gncc, which is why they really don't need reverse, but for some of us its the only choice to be made. I admire your determination on the machine, that's for sure!

 

Get me a drink of water damn Im pooped!!!!!!!!!

 

mudnuri

I read your post with a lot of anticipation and I too wish it ended differently. I am sure that gave you a jist of what is to come for the next race. At least you didn't finish last and you FINISHED! It did sound grueling. Good luck to you on the next race. I hope you take home a trophy.

 

Great job on the race ! And that is not a bad idea pushing your quad around to get into shape, I'm sure it will help in future races. I love the DS for the dunes, open trails and hills, but not for GNCC.

 

Hey mud, Sounds like you had a good time. Donny could not make it due to work. I'll be sure to let him know how you did. I think he is going to the QS race up in madison. Good luck with your next race.

 

Thanks Fellers!
I am posting a picture before the race.
Just a note, this was an FTR race and not GNCC. I wish I had the money to join in at the Ironman, even if just to watch.
I will use a piece of electrical tape to ensure no accidental shut down from the kill switch tether.
I just spit shined the DS and find that my hiem ends are a little worn.
I also wanted to tell you guys I took those tubes out of the frame from the carb and positioned them down with a little piece of pantyhose over the ends. Never had an opportunity to really test it as I did what some you said I needed to do by getting out front early.
One other thing is a guy wants to give me a water temp guage kit to do a review over. I am writing an article in our monthly rag and he wants me to talk about it. I guess he makes the kit. I only hope it works as I will tell the truth!
If any of you want to read my first article let me know. There are some good things coming out of Florida for Quadders, thanks to our club.
Bone- Donny will have to bring his lunch for the first ever "Quad only" hare scramble! He will have fun. It is now open to peewees and kids under 16.

 

Great post Mudnuri,i know how it is to lug the beast around.At 160 im not much bigger than you.
Congrats on the 4th place.