On Sunday the 10th of Jan.  I had a harescramble at Perry Mountain in Alabama.. This is a triple sanctioned event. Three different series are invited to the one race..MS, Mid-South series, SERA, Southern enduro riders association and SETRA, Southern enduro and trail riders association..  I race the SETRA series. So my main focus is to finish ahead of the other Setra riders in my class. There were nine riders entered in 45+C. Only one other Setra rider, Greg Wallace, he is second in the points behind me in the series, He has finished ahead of me in the last two races..

We had a 10.00am start. Condition are a little different over here right now. At 10.00am it was 20f deg. Thats 12F below freezing. This will be my first attempt to complete a race since I damaged my hand-wrist 6 weeks ago.Laps for this race are 11 miles per lap.  Bike started on the second kick. got to the first turn in about 5th. shut the door on Greg, so had him behind me The start area is in a paddock, with several left right turns until a small creek crossing. then into the tree's. First half a mile is off camber, rocky and big pine roots across the trail. If you find mud, it is frozen mud. All puddles are iced over. Some are broken through with sharp ice edges...  After about a mile, Greg slips by me. I latch onto his back wheel and stick to him like glue. This mountain side has a variety of terrain, black loam, red clay, sand and rocks. It was very slick in spots and had great traction in some other area's. I stayed with Greg for several miles, we passed many other riders. We were in the groove..  Then we come across a bottle neck of riders. It was in tight single track, off camber, left uphill and right down.  Then there is a left uphill offcamber 90 deg turn. Four or five bikes stopped waiting for three other bikes, which were laying across the trail. The trail split into two at the corner giving you two line choices. Greg went to the right line, I picked the left one. Which only had one Suzuki waiting for the trail to clear.  As soon as one of the riders had picked up his bike, I started yelling at the fella in front of me to GO, GO. He started off into a small gap. But just as he got going, he stalled it . Then he fell over.  I could see bikes off to my right going through the tree's trying to get around the traffic jam. This is where having an Auto-clutch is magic. No stalling. I eventually see a slight gap in the trail, although I did have to stand on the Suzuki's front wheel to get by him. Sorry mate.. It was straight up a washed out gully about fifty feet.. Back into the groove again. I am following a Honda now. I dont know where Greg got to I think I here a four stroke ahead of me.. Now I have to really push hard to catch up...  I get to the timing tent. The timing equipment they use here is a Barcode sticker on your helmet. You stop and they scan the barcode. Light goes green and your off for another lap.
The second lap was more predictable. I raced mainly alone for that lap, caught a couple of the kids and passed them.. Third lap and I'm starting to feel good, my right hand is a little sore but pretty much numb. I came across an uphill rut in a sandy area, it had wallowed out pretty good. The top of the rut was level with the seat There were two bikes stuck in it with riders and helpers trying to lift the bikes out of the rut.. I looked to the left and there were tire marks just heading uphill into the tree's. So I turn left and trail blaze my way towards the top. Just before the top, my front wheels starts to lift. I cant back off, its very steep. So I pull full throttle and jump off. I land on my feet and the bike makes it over the top. I pick up the bike, Ahh Auto-clutch its still running. Then head off along the ridge to pick up the race trail again.
A while later I catch up to a Kawasaki, I recognise him, He is a MS rider I was on the start line next to him. Not knowing where Greg is, I think at least I can try and beat this Kawa rider. I slip by him and I think he recognises me. I hear his bike get louder and he is trying harder than when I caught him. I get caught up behind a kid who falls and blocks the trail for a few seconds. That Kawa is on my back wheel, revving it up and shouting to get past. I'm like "no way Jose"(hose A) As soon as I got past the kid I'm full throttle on the next few hillclimbs. I must have looked wild, cause it felt pretty hairy. Third gear at the top of the power band, back wheel is dancing left and right over roots and rocks. A huge roost of rocks and dirt behind me. I was too scared to back off in case it threw me off. After a couple of hillclimbs like that, then I dont hear the Kawa any more. .  Finish the third and last lap.. Head back to the trailer. Greg is parked next to me. His bike is not there yet..

I ended up 4th in class. 35 seconds back from 3rd and 20 seconds ahead of 5th,(Kawa). Greg ended up 6th. I had beaten Greg by six minutes. I had gotten through the first traffic jam before him. I was pushing to catch him and he was behind me

So that will give me 1st place point in my series, another race in two weeks..
hope the weather warms up a little.

Cheers Stewart