Sunday Oct 21, 2012 Classic Ironman setting in Crawfordsville Indiana. For flat land it offers some of the most challenging terrain you'll find…especially if it dumps buckets on Friday night and the ATV's tear it up on Saturday. The trip was uneventful but certainly a long way from Pennsylvania. On Sunday the parking/pit area was a total slop hole; we parked in the first spot where we could find any terra-firma. Getting ready to head to the line...It was a struggle just to get thru the pits! The start row rotation put Andy's line dead last…and with the ruts and mud to come; line selection and lappers would be what it was all about. After the recent hole-shots it was a surprise to see him almost last off the line; did not fire first shot. With 24 bikes on the line this was not a good start to the day. Although after two turns he went into the woods in 8th place. 11 1/2 mile track and 3 hours… First and second laps thru he was sitting right behind the leader, first lap down by 13 seconds and by 24 after the second lap…right where he needed to be. But then a 3 minute fight with an uphill rut…stuck solid without a lot of help. At this point I believe the physical and mental edge went away…not good stuff. He certainly needed to show more fortitude both physically and mentally to endure and stay up front. Next lap thru he was in 4th… It turned into a survival run; he did work his way back into 3rd, but a long way off the pace. The bike kept hammering away though…had to weigh 30 pounds more than normal. At one point I just happened to be in the right place at the right time…He stuck the TXC in a rut he was not going to get out by himself. It took me on the bike, standing it up and fanning the clutch while two others yanked on the rear tow strap…things got ugly. Link to lap times... http://www.racer-results.net/results/gncc/2012/laptimes.asp?e=91&c=68&s=5&r=12 Currently he sits 4th in class points with one more round to go at Loretta's. With a good run he should be able to move up… Link to Class Standing... http://www.racer-results.net/results/gncc/2012/seriespoints.asp?s=5&c=68 Digitaloffroads video link... http://www.digitaloffroad.com/2012/10/25/ironman-gncc-racertv-video/ Thanks to the sponsors! Toy Tech Cycles, Husqvarna NA, FAR, FLY Racing, Wiseco, Cycra, RK Excel, Pro Circuit and MAXXIS Tires Stopped by the AMA Museum on the way home…classic stuff.
Great job A.P.. Lets hope he can pull off another great ride at LL, like last year, and move up in the points.
Great riding and good luck on the next race for 3rd place overall ... Those mud holes and that giant uphill looked very intimidating ..
