Whenever you get something new a process starts. First you have to evaluate the new item visually. Usually you decide if it is pleasing to the eye. Second you have to look at all the details and features. You decide if the work into the product meets your expectations. The third step is actually trying the product.

This weekend I had two new things try. First the new SERA trailer arrived for storing, moving and setting up the Hare Scrambles scoring. The other new thing was the location for the 2006 Blazing Saddles Hare Scrambles.

The trailer arrived on Tuesday. Up here in North Alabama the temperature is right at or below freezzzzzing by the time I get home from work this time of year. I had to clean the grim of transportation from the factory in 34 degree weather. Thank goodness I have a hose attachment with soap and brush. Also I was lucky the hose was not clogged with ice! After cleaning the trailer I inspected the inside to decide how to put all the scoring equipment into the trailer. I have to be careful with the loading because we have some delicate electronic equipment. During the week I had to purchase items like flooring covering and lights. All in all the trailer looks like a winner for SERA. The equipment all fits and the quality of the trailer is pretty good. I hope to get some SERA logos for the trailer applied to show our colors.

The Blazing Saddles location is nice and close to the freeway. I knew that water would be an issue when I pulled into the parking area on Saturday evening and there were already BIG ruts from the heavy rigs. No problem for my 1/2 ton truck, I found some club members and located the area next to the scoring tent location for Sunday.

Saturday night was very cold for me. I couldn't get my feet warm! I didn't sleep well as a result. Sounds like I need to get an indoor heating element instead of my small propane heater (which will not run all night and requires the door of the trailer remain open).

The Mississippi High Point group was determined to have a good sign up this year. They did a great job! The sign up area was heated and the crew moved everyone along at a good pace. They also handled the multiple race format well.

I got some club members to help set up the scoring tent and everything looked good from a prep point of view. The kids race was pretty cold for most kids and I hope the didn't get their hands too numb. The 1st adult race had a good number of riders and the start went well. The club tried a 30+ C and 40+ C class. There were several riders in each class. SERA may want to add some more classes if our series keeps growing. Personally I think there should be a Senior B and an Super Senior B class.

I know things were starting too look grim for the club when the riders for the 1st race came around. They were all completely covered by mud. Not just a little splatch here and there, but covered from helmet to boot! The laps times didn't get better but worse. That indicated the course was getting bad. The club members were out re-routing some sections to help the next race. I did get a few videos of the kids race and the 1st race to try on the web site. Stay tuned.

I got the 1st race completed for scoring and got my riding gear ready for my race. The Super Senior class has really grown this year. For a change I got a 1st kick start and was up in the front on the first few corners. About 1/2 mile into my ride everything stopped. There was a big line with many riders stuck before me. After sitting for an eternity (probably only 5 minutes) I decided to go through the VERY thick brush and create a new line. I chopped up my plastic, hands and face; but I got aroung the big bottleneck.

I realized this was going to be like a race in TN or KY in the winter with lots of mud. That ment the line selection was everything. In these types of rides the fastest guys doesn't win, the smartest (and luckiest) line picker wins. There were some trails that looked good, but most of the ride was from one un-passable area to the next. Usually the "creative" line through the sides was best, but sometimes the main line still worked.

I got to several bottlenecks where people were helping other riders. I didn't need help when someone came and helped turn my bike to the best line. I accidently gassed my bike while one nice guy was helping (he had his hands on the tire and I thought he had the back of the bike). He should have whacked me on the back of the helmet, but instead gave me the verbal abuse I deserved! "Sorry about that" was all I could get out as an excuse. Lucky for me he was OK.

After going most of the way on the course my bike had started to steam several times. I heard a horrible sound from the bike every time I moved. It sounded like sand around the piston and I was pretty bummed. I stopped and was able to get the bike back to the pits. It turns out there was a huge stick rattling on the plastic that just sounded bad.

I worked on the scoring after deciding that the mud was going to be too much abuse for my bike. The mud runs like this are really not a race, just a survival trip. There is always the next race to ride with my buddies.

Congratulations to everyone who went the whole way! I heard many stories of riders helping each other. I think that this location would have been great if dry, but we don't need to ride there again in the mud. Too bad it didn't have the rocks of West Point, TN or the sand of Wiggins.

Now I have to clean the bike. I think a pressure washer is going to be required this time. I don't normally use one, but it takes over 1 hour with a hose to clean this volume of mud off the bike. I have to get ready for our 1st Enduro in 2 weeks!

RAD DAD