Monster Mountain Hare Scramble

Ok, So Andy & I are heading down to Tallassee, Alabama to go run the Hare Scramble.  It seems like it will be perfect for us.  They are running this on the MX track, their vintage MX track and then on their trails.  Good mix of everything they have down there.  I am stoked!  Once we get back, I will post the ride report.

Andy & I loaded up in Priceville, Alabama

8/22/2010: Wow, what a great time!  Yeah it took 3 hours to get there, but Tom Brinkman had the trails done up right!  I would suggest that if you have the time, to head down to Tallassee, Alabama and visit Monster Mountain MX.  Here is a link to their website, click here.

Andy & I met at the Pilot in Priceville, Alabama.  Loaded up Andy’s bike on my truck and headed down.

Andy trying to eat at Taco Bell

We headed down 65 South and got through Birmingham and then stopped at the local Taco Bell.  It was fun to watch Andy try to eat his tacos.  Who would have ever thought he would have problems getting food into that big mouth.  I guess the world is full of wonders.

After that, and after Andy clean himself up, we headed toward Monster Mountain.  Once we got there, we unloaded and got ready.  We ended finding a shaded area to park at and it was a good thing that we found it.  The temperature  was around 99 degrees when we arrived.  This was going to test our fitness for sure.

They held the riders meeting just before 4:00pm and then quickly started the race.  I would estimate there were around 70 riders lined up.  Andy & I ran the Ironman class, which had around 9 riders.  The hare scramble course started in a grassy area and quickly got into the woods.  For me the trails were just about perfect.  Mostly wide enough to get a mule through, with an area of tighter lines.  This allows for the fast riders to go ‘balls to the walls’ and the slower riders, like me, to easily get through the course.  In the wooded section, there were a few ‘man-made’ mud holes, which about 1/2 way through the race turned into a hand full of sections that were filled with tacky mud and a couple of lines through each.  There were a couple of these sections that had a few lines that were at least a foot deep.  These lines stayed at this depth, which allowed the riders to power through and not cause a catch point for riders.  Also at many of these sections, the lead riders quickly cut new routes around these sections, which I used consistently.

After getting through these section, the course headed into an area that was a bit tighter, but still could get a 4 wheeler through.  This area consisted more of pine trees and had some really fun hill climbs that switched back and fourth.  Now these climbs weren’t anything that you would have to hang over your bars to climb, but were perfect to carry a bunch of speed.  These section was mostly a single line, but what surprised me it didn’t become rutted too bad.  There were some breaking bumps starting, but they didn’t get too bad.  This pine section was nice, as it had some dark soil which was a lot of fun to ride in.

Time to clean the bike

The third section of the woods was entered after a long run in an open field.  This was perfect because it allowed the rider to cool off.  Oh and before Andy tells the world, this is the section where he lapped me.  Yes, Swooft lapped me.  That is ok, at least I was out there riding.  Anywho, back to the description…Once leaving that open section, you entered into some tacky mud sections, where were in straight sections.  That was fun.  Power down and through it!  This section when down into a mud hole and then ended up making an off-camber turn to the right and up a hill.  It had a single rut and at the top was a green stump.  If you hit this sucker, you were toast, so you had to go to the left.  I somehow consistently mad this climb without exception.  After that climb, the course got much tighter.  Now it was so tight where is was no fun, but it was very do-able.  These is where I met a young rider on a KTM 85 and had gotten his back tire stuck in a hole.  This hole was in a turn, on a small hill climb, and had a large root that wouldn’t allow his back tire to grip.  Haven’t we all been there.  When I got to him, this young man said in a desperate tone, “Mister, can you PLEASE help me?”  How could I possibly not help this 12 year old kid, so I did.  I knew as soon as I got off my bike and helped him, I would be in the same situation.  I got off the bike, got his bike out of the hole and off he went…I hear him thanking me as he took off.  What a nice young man!  Made my day.  What happened next?  You can guess it.  Yep, I got stuck in the same hole.  Had to then pull my big butt out, which zapped me of any energy I had left and this was only the first lap.  Once I got back on the move, the trail quickly lead the rider out to the motocross track.  This track is wide open, full throttle, and full of sand and jumps.  Under the tunnel you went and then to the check point.  The complete course was around 5.5 miles in total and on the second lap and beyond, the rider ran the entire vintage track and then entered the woods, which is where we entered at the start.

Now the bike is clean

So how did Andy & I do?  Well, as I mentioned before Andy Lapped me.  I norm with me, I was just riding.  My race was my race and really didn’t have to do with any other rider.  Hey I was out there and I just wanted to ride as long and far as I could between stops.  I am 44 years old and have had very few bad ‘get-offs’ on any bike as yet, and would rather not start now.  I ended up completing two laps and then taking about a 15 minute break.  During this break, I never saw Andy.  Andy ended up doing an additional lap before coming in and getting a rest.  I must say, taking a break to get water was no real break.  When not moving is when you really started feeling the heat and OMG, it was freak’n hot!

After that break, I headed out for another two laps.  My first lap I felt good and was picking up the speed a bit.  Somewhere during that lap, I dropped my bike and had to pull it out of the mud.  This slowed my down for my second lap.  This is when Andy flew by me back on that open field section.  He was motoring for sure.  After the second lap, I was done!  I did twice as many laps at Monster Mountain MX as I did last time at CrossBones MX.  I sat at the truck and drank some water and just rested.  Finally after about another 20 minutes, the white flag come out and I was starting to feel better.  I gas upped the bike and got suited up again.  While

Andy resting while we get gas on the way home

I was filling the gas tank, I recall Ricky Allen talking about the “Last Lap syndrome”.  Which that said, I waited till I saw no more bikes heading into the woods and then took off.  I rode quite slowly and saw only four bikes on this last lap.  One bike was on the side, near the entrance of the woods and had been there since the first lap.  Then two bikes passed me, and then I saw one guy sitting on his bike on the side.  He said his bike blew up.  After that I just took a slow ride through the course and finished up.  Once I got back to the truck, Andy was there waiting on me.  I was so tired at this point Andy had to help me off the bike and even put my bike on my bike stand.

We rested and discussed the days ride for about 30 minutes and then loaded up and Andy had to drive until we stopped for dinner.  We stopped at a Loves truck stop, got gas, and some food.  After eating I felt better and was able to drive up to Priceville where we unloaded Andy’s stuff and loaded it back on his truck.  When we pulled in, we ran into Ken Knable.  Ken used to ride with us about two years ago and is a great guy!  Was very nice end to a great day!  Not sure I would change a thing.  Love this sport and even love the people in it more!

I found this video of Stick (aka David Melton, http://alabamateamracing.com/) of him running his last lap.  Notice that last bike he passes is me where I just helped that young man out of the hole.  You notice that I am not moving too quickly.  Matter of fact, I think I might even have my head down on the handle bars, resting.

Here are the results thus far.  http://alabamateamracing.com/Monster_MT_Class.htm.