Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

HARE SCRAMBLE Round 6: Central Vermont HS METRA Hate Scrambles Series (Left) Tom Norton overcame the elements, namely fog, to win the NETRA Central . Vermont Hare Scrambles. (Above) Josh Mclevy was Norton's nearest competitor. He was the early leader but held on to finish second. By Cheri Allx CHELSEA, VT, JUNE 30 he toughest competition that the field of 270 riders would face at the Central Vermont Hare Scrambles was the weather. The fog was so thick you could see it hanging. in front of you. There was just no visibility. This was what greeted the start of the sixth round of the ETRA Hare Scrambles Series, but fog or no fog, it was Tom orton who cut his way through the mist to collect the overall win. The event was almost concealed due to so much rain in the past week, but everything was starting to dry out so the event went on as planned. Unfortunately, as the campers started to roll in on Saturday night, so did the rain. The heavy fog and steady drizzle on Sunday morning forced the dub to cut off three miles of new trail. The remaining 8.5 miles of trail was still passable - no mud . holes, just lots of slimy muck. There were also 10 or so bridges constructed by the dub over the really muddy sections and creeks, the longest overpass being 20 feet with a 6-foot drop on either side. There was one rocky section, but the root-filled ruts and tree stumps were the cause of many flat tires. As the flag dropped - under murky skies - it was Manchester Honda's Josh Mdevy, once again, taking the holeshot, but SCR/Yamaha/Valley Motor Sports' orton and Pub Racing's Todd Levesque were banging bars right behind as they took the first left turn out of the start. The course took an immediate right turn down an embankment and into the dark woods before popping out into a fieta, banking a sharp left and back into the woods. Mclevy held the (Right) Rick Claxton was the High Point A class winner.(Below) Justin Spinney (103) and Kenny Law (1) lead the 200cc A class out of the fog and into the woods. lead going down the hill, but orton had his wheel inside. As the riders, came out of the dark woods, Norton grabbed the outside berm and took of the lead. Mdevy held right behind with Levesque hanging in tight. The front three held tight formation for the first lap with orton leadin.g the way. Mdevy was less than 20 seconds back. Coming around in fourth on a Honda 250 was Wes Clarke, who has been putting in some impressive riding this year, followed by Dave Gunn. Gunn, who has had nothing but bad luck this year, was once again being plagued, this time because of a rear flat tire. He lost six places while changing the tire, but by the end of the second lap, he had moved himself back up to sixth place only seconds behind Chris Chrispin iii fifth. By this point, Norton was putting in a frantic pace with 30-minute lap times. Mclevy was still in second place but down about 40 seconds, Levesque was in third and coming in for gas and goggles dropping him even further off the pace. As the riders went out for their third lap, it started to rain, then pour. Norton came in to pit with 50 seconds on Mdevy, who also stopped to pit. They continued to run 30-minute laps until the fourth lap. The torrential rains were quickly degrading the track. The two major hills were strewn with riders. The off-eamber sections were becoming slick mudslides. One section at the end of a field was as steep as a ski slope. The club had posted a course marshal at the section to slow down riders before they made a suicidal off-camber tum down the hill. Those who ignored his warning ended up in the woods. It was now becoming a survival event. The only way to get around some of the sections was to paddle. Those without non-skid seat covers had to do everything in their power not to slide off the back of the bike. The pace was slowing. It was 40 minutes before Norton came around for the completion of the fourth lap. He stopped for goggles, taking off just seconds before Mclevy rounded the field section before the barrels. The two were hoping for a shortened event but not this time. They were sent out for a fifth and final lap. Levesque came around in third place and pitted for a splash of gas. Clarke, who was still running in fourth also stopped for the final fill-up.

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