RollinHusky
Husqvarna
AA Class
Even though the winter months where not too cold up here in Canada, me and my girlfriend decided to take a little trip to the southern states. Having never ridden down there, we opted to haul down my fairly new TC449. So we got a bike rack to fit on the back of the SUV, new chain and sprocket as well as a new tire. I posted on Café Husky in regards to places that I could ride my machine. Luckily, a few members of this forum filled us in on some great places. So March 4th, mid morning, we hit the road.
The first day, it was snowing off and on in New York state and the rims which where right in line with the tires on the SUV quickly filled up with slush and the bike looked quite sad for a time.
A stop at a car wash somewhere in Alabama or Mississippi fixed all that and everything was A-OK. Our riding destinations suggested to us where in Florida, but we chose to take a detour and visit New Orleans. The bike would have to wait.
We made it out alive from New Orleans on March 9th and made our way to the Daytona Supercross. Having calculated the costs of participating in the amateur races of Sunday, I opted to be a spectator instead. However that didn't stop us from taking the TC out in the infield and ride around a bit. One wire connected to the clutch lever's safety switch had broken off during our 4000km trip to Daytona, so I spliced the 2 wires together and by-passed the safety switch. We had brought our cameras and a few lenses, so we were just as happy taking pictures of the events that where unfolding around us. The weather was crap. Cold, rainy, and windy. Since nobody else was leaving, we weren't gonna leave either and we didn't miss one minute of the action. The racing was pretty good, even though we didn't see any Husqvarnas anywhere. Alot of people were actually stopping by and checking the TC out claiming they didn't even know they existed or that they had only seen them in pictures. We left the infield at around 1h30am and heading to Okeechobee Fla.
Monday came around and we followed the tip from one the forum members and made our way to River Ranch to see what a GNCC race was all about. Good thing about the internet is to be able to check the dates of these events. For some reason, I thought it was held on the Wednesday. We showed up right around 12h30pm. Some fellow Canadian Husky riders (Guy Giroux and team 801) spotted us and asked if I was racing. I had no intention of racing, but I did have the bike with me.. My girlfriend got in line for me, so my father (who let us stay at his place while in Florida) and I walked the pits and discussed what the heck I should do. Finally I agreed to race, got my transponder, my membership number and met up with my girlfriend in line to sign up for the race.
Of course this was the first race of the season so things where a little slow at sign-up. It took us about 1.5hrs to get to the front of the line, all the while getting impatient and almost leaving. My dad and girlfriend insisted I should stay so I did. The Trailrider class was the only class that I felt comfortable racing in so that's where I went. Having never raced an enduro, and only having a dirt bike since last August, I wasn't going anywhere else. Practice went on without a hitch until I decided to take 1 extra lap. I told my "pit crew" I was done, but things were starting to feel good so away I went. Bad idea. The bike stalled at the furthermost end of the practice loop and that was that. The battery was not having a good day. I ended up pushing this dozer of a machine through the bush and up to the road. Felt like I pushed the bike longer than I rode it. I hung my head and walked back to the pits, where my folks were wondering how 1 final lap could take so long. We got a booster pack, jumped the machine and of to the beer we went.
Being on holidays and visiting family down in Okeechobee, we had no choice but to enjoy a good supper and chug down a few beers. Probably not the best pre-race day idea, but that's what we did. Next morning we headed out to get a fresh battery for the TC449 and showed up at River Ranch a good half hour before the 10h00AM start. I got ready and was wondering why nobody was at the starting line, even though the race was in 10 minutes. Nobody had told me, nor did I think of asking, but the start line was not where the practice start was, but rather at the opposite end of the pits!! I slowly made my way just in time for the anthem and the prayer. Being on the last line, I still had a bit of time. Enduro events start with a dead engine, and that's how my start played out. The flag dropped, the motors roared, the race started for everybody...but me. I was in gear, and the new battey couldn't turn the engine. It fired up before the others made out of the 1st turn, but still, out of 300 or so riders...I started dead last!!
The first lap was uneventful. I got by some riders and was happy that I was still in the race. Last turn before my pit area, I dumped it entering the little mud section where the start went by. No big deal other than the fact that the motor would not turn at all. Thinking it was the battery, I ran a few hundred feet to the pits, got my battery pack and ran back to boost it. Still nothing. Then I noticed that the connector that was holding the safety wire that I had spliced in Daytona didn't have anything connected to it. While my girlfriend (who was knee deep in the mud) ran to get some pliers, I opted to skin the wires with my teeth and twist them together. HURRAY!! it fired up and away I went to the pits. There we gassed her up, got some tape on the wires, had a drink of water (I don't have a water pack to carry with me) and back to the race I went.
The rest of the 2 hour ordeal was quite fun, even if a few trees did scratch my knuckles (no handguards installed, although I had some in the truck). For those who have raced enduros before, you know how crazy it gets and I had no idea who was who on the track. I did know who the fast guys where, they just blazed by without stopping to say hi! On the last lap, at about 2 or 3 minutes from the checkered, one such rider passed me and someone else who was about 100 feet ahead of me. The rider who was getting passed flagged the faster rider to go ahead, and thinking that I was following him, flagged me as well. Then he noticed the sticker on my helmet. He gunned his machine, roosted me and was off. I realized then that this guy was in my class. Also coming to mind was that last drink I shouldn't have had the night before. I pushed myself, went a little faster, but was not going to make a move to pass, I was spent. Luckily for me, that rider went down in the sand about a half mile from the end. Pretty sure there where 2 machines involved in that one. I was able to wizz by without hitting anybody, made it to the end and won with only 2 seconds to spare. Of course I only realized this when I saw the postings a few minutes after the races.
All in all, I loved it. Next time I'll come better prepared. Handguards installed, suspension adjusted more for enduro (mine was set for motocross), and maybe a waterpack. And definitively no beer prior to the event. We where really glad to see that we where not the only folks with Husqvarna shirts and bikes. Some other riders from Canada where there and even made the podium in their respected classes. Guy Giroux got a 1st in the VET+30A class, Samuel Rousseau got a 1st in the 4 stroke B Lites class, and Alexandre Leblanc got a 2nd in the 4 stroke C Lites. Other Canadian Husky riders held their own and did us proud.
During the rest of our holidays we headed to ThunderMX park in Florida as well as L Extreme also in Florida and did a bit of riding there. ThunderMX was very sandy and it took awhile to get used to. Had a good "get off" but was happy with the riding there. L Extreme was also very sandy and I sure had a hard time keeping her up on 2 wheels. The maintenance wasn't top notch, but I was riding, so I didn't really care. The day ended with a flat front tire, so that was that for my riding time.
Can't wait 'til next year. We are planning on doing the same run, but this time with a few more riders in tow. Everybody was friendly everywhere we went down south and made our trip, one of the most memorable. It's great to be back home, but I miss the south already.
'til next year...
The first day, it was snowing off and on in New York state and the rims which where right in line with the tires on the SUV quickly filled up with slush and the bike looked quite sad for a time.
A stop at a car wash somewhere in Alabama or Mississippi fixed all that and everything was A-OK. Our riding destinations suggested to us where in Florida, but we chose to take a detour and visit New Orleans. The bike would have to wait.
We made it out alive from New Orleans on March 9th and made our way to the Daytona Supercross. Having calculated the costs of participating in the amateur races of Sunday, I opted to be a spectator instead. However that didn't stop us from taking the TC out in the infield and ride around a bit. One wire connected to the clutch lever's safety switch had broken off during our 4000km trip to Daytona, so I spliced the 2 wires together and by-passed the safety switch. We had brought our cameras and a few lenses, so we were just as happy taking pictures of the events that where unfolding around us. The weather was crap. Cold, rainy, and windy. Since nobody else was leaving, we weren't gonna leave either and we didn't miss one minute of the action. The racing was pretty good, even though we didn't see any Husqvarnas anywhere. Alot of people were actually stopping by and checking the TC out claiming they didn't even know they existed or that they had only seen them in pictures. We left the infield at around 1h30am and heading to Okeechobee Fla.
Monday came around and we followed the tip from one the forum members and made our way to River Ranch to see what a GNCC race was all about. Good thing about the internet is to be able to check the dates of these events. For some reason, I thought it was held on the Wednesday. We showed up right around 12h30pm. Some fellow Canadian Husky riders (Guy Giroux and team 801) spotted us and asked if I was racing. I had no intention of racing, but I did have the bike with me.. My girlfriend got in line for me, so my father (who let us stay at his place while in Florida) and I walked the pits and discussed what the heck I should do. Finally I agreed to race, got my transponder, my membership number and met up with my girlfriend in line to sign up for the race.
Of course this was the first race of the season so things where a little slow at sign-up. It took us about 1.5hrs to get to the front of the line, all the while getting impatient and almost leaving. My dad and girlfriend insisted I should stay so I did. The Trailrider class was the only class that I felt comfortable racing in so that's where I went. Having never raced an enduro, and only having a dirt bike since last August, I wasn't going anywhere else. Practice went on without a hitch until I decided to take 1 extra lap. I told my "pit crew" I was done, but things were starting to feel good so away I went. Bad idea. The bike stalled at the furthermost end of the practice loop and that was that. The battery was not having a good day. I ended up pushing this dozer of a machine through the bush and up to the road. Felt like I pushed the bike longer than I rode it. I hung my head and walked back to the pits, where my folks were wondering how 1 final lap could take so long. We got a booster pack, jumped the machine and of to the beer we went.
Being on holidays and visiting family down in Okeechobee, we had no choice but to enjoy a good supper and chug down a few beers. Probably not the best pre-race day idea, but that's what we did. Next morning we headed out to get a fresh battery for the TC449 and showed up at River Ranch a good half hour before the 10h00AM start. I got ready and was wondering why nobody was at the starting line, even though the race was in 10 minutes. Nobody had told me, nor did I think of asking, but the start line was not where the practice start was, but rather at the opposite end of the pits!! I slowly made my way just in time for the anthem and the prayer. Being on the last line, I still had a bit of time. Enduro events start with a dead engine, and that's how my start played out. The flag dropped, the motors roared, the race started for everybody...but me. I was in gear, and the new battey couldn't turn the engine. It fired up before the others made out of the 1st turn, but still, out of 300 or so riders...I started dead last!!
The first lap was uneventful. I got by some riders and was happy that I was still in the race. Last turn before my pit area, I dumped it entering the little mud section where the start went by. No big deal other than the fact that the motor would not turn at all. Thinking it was the battery, I ran a few hundred feet to the pits, got my battery pack and ran back to boost it. Still nothing. Then I noticed that the connector that was holding the safety wire that I had spliced in Daytona didn't have anything connected to it. While my girlfriend (who was knee deep in the mud) ran to get some pliers, I opted to skin the wires with my teeth and twist them together. HURRAY!! it fired up and away I went to the pits. There we gassed her up, got some tape on the wires, had a drink of water (I don't have a water pack to carry with me) and back to the race I went.
The rest of the 2 hour ordeal was quite fun, even if a few trees did scratch my knuckles (no handguards installed, although I had some in the truck). For those who have raced enduros before, you know how crazy it gets and I had no idea who was who on the track. I did know who the fast guys where, they just blazed by without stopping to say hi! On the last lap, at about 2 or 3 minutes from the checkered, one such rider passed me and someone else who was about 100 feet ahead of me. The rider who was getting passed flagged the faster rider to go ahead, and thinking that I was following him, flagged me as well. Then he noticed the sticker on my helmet. He gunned his machine, roosted me and was off. I realized then that this guy was in my class. Also coming to mind was that last drink I shouldn't have had the night before. I pushed myself, went a little faster, but was not going to make a move to pass, I was spent. Luckily for me, that rider went down in the sand about a half mile from the end. Pretty sure there where 2 machines involved in that one. I was able to wizz by without hitting anybody, made it to the end and won with only 2 seconds to spare. Of course I only realized this when I saw the postings a few minutes after the races.
All in all, I loved it. Next time I'll come better prepared. Handguards installed, suspension adjusted more for enduro (mine was set for motocross), and maybe a waterpack. And definitively no beer prior to the event. We where really glad to see that we where not the only folks with Husqvarna shirts and bikes. Some other riders from Canada where there and even made the podium in their respected classes. Guy Giroux got a 1st in the VET+30A class, Samuel Rousseau got a 1st in the 4 stroke B Lites class, and Alexandre Leblanc got a 2nd in the 4 stroke C Lites. Other Canadian Husky riders held their own and did us proud.
During the rest of our holidays we headed to ThunderMX park in Florida as well as L Extreme also in Florida and did a bit of riding there. ThunderMX was very sandy and it took awhile to get used to. Had a good "get off" but was happy with the riding there. L Extreme was also very sandy and I sure had a hard time keeping her up on 2 wheels. The maintenance wasn't top notch, but I was riding, so I didn't really care. The day ended with a flat front tire, so that was that for my riding time.
Can't wait 'til next year. We are planning on doing the same run, but this time with a few more riders in tow. Everybody was friendly everywhere we went down south and made our trip, one of the most memorable. It's great to be back home, but I miss the south already.
'til next year...
