Fox Valley report

July 21, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well we made another trip to Fox Valley Offroad Park for round 6 of the District 16 series.  As I mountain biked the course on Saturday the trail was alot slower than the previous round and a little more technical too. The dust was going to be a factor so a good start would be ideal. Sunday morning came around and the sun was shinning they were calling for low 80's, but I think it was closer to 90  by the time we were on the line. 

Fox Valley Off Road's website sums it up well (quoted from trackman 7/21/13 http://midwest-racing.com/2013/FVOR/7-21/7-21hs.htm): 

"So now over 150 riders have raced either an hour, or an hour and a half and it’s noon.  Ready for the afternoon AA , A and B classes to hammer a much more difficult course.  ALL the ex section is ready, and a much tougher version of Rock Creek is now changed up to be included in their race.  1 hour, 45 minutes of fast paced, Log clearing, tree banging, excavator tire jumping action is to be had.  64 riders are lined up, its’ 12:30pm 11 of the 64 AA class which is the highest class in HS racing is set.  JD Friebel (17), Alec Perry (99), Austin Wells (65), Shane Klimek (14), Kyleer Vance (97 returning after almost 2 years), Robert Kau (54), Pete Laubmier (28) Chris Hoffman (30) Travis Ward (51) and Matte Herrington (98) from both D16 and D17 ready to race. Missing today was Matt Dissell and Ryan Moss, both would have made this race even more interesting. Off the start, Kyleer showed he remembered how good he was getting holeshots, and Austin Wells equally as good was right in there. Alec Perry and Travis Ward were fighting for position into the corner with Perry edging Ward out in the first sections.  This course today had 4 separate types of single track sections.  Three of which were ravines that dropped from the top side of the property to the bottom which is about 150’ or more in height.  Kyleer held the lead on the first partial lap as Travis got past Austin and Alec to hound Kyleer for the lead.  On lap two Travis took the lead, while Alec, Austin, and Kyleer battled in the early laps. Austin went down and dropped to 6^th while starting in last District 16’s Husky mounted JD Friebel was slicing through the pack trying to get to the leaders and make a charge. Quietly Shane Klimek was also making is way to the front.  At the hour mark Travis had a about a minute lead, but this would soon go away as he folds his front end over and goes tumbling across the timber floor.  Getting up and losing a good 60 seconds tightened up the race positions considerably. The last four laps were amazing.  JD gets into the fray, that 4 stroke Husky echoing through the timber as he rides it hard and on the rev limiter.  Everyone could see him reeling in the leaders and as he gets into 2^nd place it’s only a matter of time before Ward would be the next victim. All the while, Austin, Alec and Shane are battling for every inch of real estate. JD on the white flag lap closed to with in sight of Travis and they both looked at each other in the EX section of the track. This meant the next lap and a half was going to come down to lappers moving nicely to the side and no mistakes. BOTH riders fastest lap times of the day were the last two laps.  Think about this for a minute. JD being really close or 30 years old, Travis 17, Alec 19, Austin 19, Shane a bit older and their fastest lap times are the END of the race. JD pulled some of the fastest laps of the day at 9:31, he did that twice on the third to last lap and the last lap. Travis had consistent with 9:40’s pulled 9:38, 9:35; and the fastest of the day with JD hot on his heals a 9:27.  Less then 12 seconds separated 1^st and 2^nd place after that long of a race is pretty interesting. Alec, Austin, and Shane more then once was side by side on the logs in the ex section jumping the tires at the end scrambling for the lines in the corner.  Alec held on for 3^rd, with Austin 3 seconds behind him! Shane dropped off on the later laps, about a minute behind with Kyleer’s “first” race back 2 seconds behind Shane in 6^th. Travis Ward got his “first” overall win in AA class after only a ½ of season in the class." 
 
Remember to keep it between the trees!

Dusty Stone Lake.

July 7, 2013

Don't mess with me.

 

 

Little target shooting on Saturday.

Ready for the action!

Taking the checkers for the WIN!!

This was our first trip out to Stonelake for the year and we were looking forward to it. I talked to Phil and asked if we could use the pistol range and do some shooting on Saturday and he said that would be OK. We were able to do a little shooting, fishing, and racing; what else could you ask for in a weekend? The temps were pretty warm all weekend. Sunday rolled around and we were ready for the warm weather and riding hard. There were 13 AA riders on the line all ready to get the race rolling. I didn't get the best start, but everyone went wide in the first turn and I came out in third. I was where I wanted to be, up front with the faster riders. But that came to a quick end as they watered the track heavily and made it slippery. I came into the last big burm corner before we left the moto track and headed into the woods and washed the front end and tipped over. I got right back up and took off only loosing two spots. I was able to pass the one guy rather quickly but then the dust started to play a big factor on the roads we were racing down and I couldn't see a thing when I was behind someone. By lap three I was up to third again and slowly catching the guys in front of me. As I started lap four I was coming around the corner near the start and saw the leader, Nate, in the pits as if something was wrong (he ended up getting a flat front tire and came back to change it). When I saw him I knew I was now in second and really had to put my head down and try to gap him and to catch Dylan who was in the lead. I knew if I pushed really hard I could catch him. By lap five I was right behind him and just waited for an opportunity to pass. We pushed really hard moving through lappers and on the final lap about two miles or so from the end I was able to sneak by him on a rocky corner and took over the lead. I was super excited to be able to take the win because I really pushed myself in the heat to catch and to pass Dylan. I would like to thank all my sponsors for everything they do and also my family for helping each week to get ready for the races and helping at the races, Thanks again.

Remember keep it between the trees!!

CMJ RACEWAY

June 30, 2013

AA Line

Taking the lead

We are back in action after a weekend off in Hixton WI. We arrived at CMJ Raceway Friday night. Saturday morning I set out and walked the course. Chris asked me to check the course out and make sure everything was marked and ready for Sunday. Since the trail was drying out a touch we decided to add a little more trail for the afternoon race. The trail was still pretty slippery Saturday but with the wind it was soaking it up slowly. By Sunday the trail was looking like it was going to be awesome and it was great on Sunday. There were eight AA riders for the afternoon race. Riders came from Minnesota and Illinois as well as our normal local riders and this made a very competitive class. When the gun fired I got a little anxious and touched the throttle to quick and snubbed my bike. I hit the electric start button and it fired right away, but I was sixth going into the woods. I tried to make my way to the front as quickly as I could and tried to relax and ride hard. By the third lap I got around Pete and took the lead. Was goal was to ride hard and smooth and not make any big mistakes. Nate was right behind me and we just started to pull away from the rest of the field. We pushed each other pretty hard if we race each other and that usually results in some fast lap times. Lap eight I had to stop for gas and Nate got around me. I knew he still had to stop too but I didn't know when. Nate ended up stopping the next lap and I was able to close right back up on his rear tire. I knew it would be a dog fight to the end if we didn't make any mistakes. But my day got cut short when we caught a lapper next to the interstate. Nate was able to get by clean and as I was wheeling a ditch the lapper pulled back in the trail without looking back and I ran right into his tire and that sent me ping ponging through the trees. I was able to get back up fairly quick but it was to much of a gap to recover from. I was happy with my ride up until that point but that is racing; lappers can hurt you or help you. I came across the finish line in second place. I would like to thank my family for all the help they do and especially all my sponsors you guys are what keep me going week after week. Thanks for all your help!!

Remember keep it between the trees!