First, my little 310 has about 90 hard hours on her (and new plastics courtesy of Husky Bucks). I couldn't sleep the night before the race because it rained off and on all night - and I had installed a new Pirelli trials tire for the race. So I got up a little early and put a used knobby on the bike in the back of the truck. (that Estonian tire changing tool works great). Drove an hour north-east of Tucson to the race. It had snowed down to about 4500' but the race was at about 3500'. Registaration and Tech took a total of 15 minutes. When I got back to my truck I found some guys (Dad and Son) from Minnesota had parked next to me - and they had Huskies. I think the son ended up 2nd in the 30+ A's and Dad was 3rd in my 60+ class (Dad's 2009 TC250 was running poorly.) As we lined up for the 12 noon start it was turning out to be one of those "epic" days. "Epic" is word that's used too often - but this was one of those magic days. It had rained off and on for the previous day and a half so the dirt was as wet as it could be without turning to mud. The air temp was a little chilly around 45 degrees with a slight breeze. Huge snow clouds were hugging the mountains and it was partly sunny. About 200 big bikes showed up to race. The race start is next to the high school in San Manuel and a lot of local people have turned out to watch. All of us 60+ guys park next to the start line instead of lining up 16 rows back and paddling uphill to the start. We get a chance to check out the flaggers timing and watch the pro's and experts start. Fun stuff. As our row arrives it takes a bit of convincing to get the row behind us to understand that all of us 60+ guys need to slide in a row in front of them - but with the last minute help of the organizers we're ready. I select 3rd gear to e-start my bike in since I have a Rekluse - and make sure the clutch is pretty warmed up by idling in gear a lot. It's a left hand on helmet start which is perfect for me and the Husky starts willingly and I get the holeshot. It's a fun start with one quick little right followed by a long straight in front of the pit area - then a 70 degree left and we're off into the desert. I look back after a few turns (and an unexpected 6' drop off) to find that I have 100 yards on the next guy so I settle in for over 2 hours of perfect single track. Within a quarter mile I hear a 4 stroke ripping up behind me - WTH? - so I put my head down but he's still closing. At the first chance I pull to the left and let him go - it's my friend and fast 60+ guy Allen! So the chase is on and we start catching rows in front of us. (The fun part of starting last is learning how to pass) In a top gear sand wash Allen takes the left and I take the right and we both zoom-zoom past Kelsey who is 6'4" 270# and the biggest, baddest, strongest dirt bike rider I've ever seen - but he's not real fast. We catch a couple more and then get hung up behind a rider in a twisty banked turn section (quads can be useful). As we catch a 200 yard long narrow straight sand section we pass that rider and I'm about 30 yards back when Allen makes a move to pass another rider on the left. They clip bars and go down so quickly and stop so quickly it's unreal. Problem is I'm tapped out in 4th or 5th and have no time to stop and no place to go. The 2 riders and 1 bike are on the left so I pick the bike on the right and jump it. (I got compliments after the race from the rider we had just passed). I stopped and looked back. Allen was up and looking fine - the other guy was on the ground holding his belly or his chest and in pain. The next riders coming were stopping (they had no way around) so I decided to ride to the next course worker and let them know. 2 minutes up the trail I found one and let him know a rider was down hard - I heard later he had a broken rib - I spent 20 seconds explaining and then Allen came ripping by (on his KTM 350) so I set out in chase. We were going to race two 27 mile laps at just over an hour per lap. I chased Allen for the next 10 miles until he tipped over. Then he chased me for the next 8 miles til I tipped over. Then I chased him to end lap 1 about 10 seconds back after fiddling with my drink tube. We passed and passed and passed guys. It's amazing how hard some of them fight instead of letting faster riders from a different class go - and fun watching them take each other out sometimes. Lot's of little "racing" moments and lots of perfect dirt and a perfect course on a perfect day. And 1 dead skunk in a wash who was in the wrong place at the wrong time - boy did that area stink! I let Allen pull a little gap on the second lap - I could always just see him no more than about 30 seconds ahead. I wanted to save myself and save gas for a push at the end. I was faster than Allen the last few miles of the 1st lap so I planned to push there. But about 10 miles from the finish Allen ran out of gas. I stopped and we slapped each other on the back - but the most excellent and fun race within the race was done. I slowed things down another notch and rode to the finish for 1st in class - but really thinking that Allen had my number that day. It was the most fun I've ever had racing. I've only been riding for 6 years and racing for 5 - but I'm sure Allen will tell you the same thing - and he's been racing for 45 years. I'm still trying to get some video uploaded - will update when I do. The 310 was a great bike - for the first time I felt like I gave up just the littlest bit in the deep, wet 70 mph sand washes. It might have been the half worn Pirelli on the back though because it felt like the bike was revving just not gripping. If I can get the video up you can hear Allen revving the KTM350 like it's a 250 while my 310 sounds a little more like a 450. Maybe that's why he ran out of gas!
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj1weBAGMUM 1st 43 minutes - some action at 7 minutes - guy at 17 minutes I should have stopped for - he had broken right arm and fingers on left hand.
Some where some one asked about gas mileage (fuel mileage) - I used 1.8 gallons for 55 race miles = 30mpg.
