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Events
SETRA Enduro Series, Round 9
(Left) Franklin Ramey III scored the overall
win at the SETRA-sa!1ctioned Swamp Fox
Enduro, held in the Francis Marion
National Forest in South Carolina.
(Above) Mitch McRee took Senior A
honors in the 5Q.-mile event.
By Kenneth King
FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST, SC, JAN'. 17
as Gas Franklin Ramey III
chalked up another win this
season with the overall at the
Swamp Fox Enduro. Ramey put together consistent scores throughout the race
to best runner-up Allen Gravitt. Ramey
posted a five to Gravitt's six.
"I had a good ride," said Ramey. "I
feel I should have done better, though. I
had a few close calls here and there, and
my bike worked great. ALI in all, it was
pretty uneventful."
~
Gravitt matched Ramey's score in
three of the four sections throughout the
enduro.
"It was a good course," said Gravitt.
"They had some new stuff, plus the old
whooped-out sections. It was a good,
well-run event."
In the number-three spot was Vet A
rider Johnny McCoy. McCoy surprised
quite a few with his exceptional ride,
dropping only six points to tie Gravitt
on minutes, but he fell short in the second department.
"I have to say I was angry and frustrated going into the race - having to do
with some personal problems - and it is
not a good idea to race with that attitude," said McCoy. "It caused me to
ride a bit over my head, and I was just
lucky I didn't get hurt. Aside from that,
this is the type of terrain I grew up riding in, so I felt pretty comfortable."
Randy Hawkins was also on hand,
but the multi-time enduro champ had
his share of problems during the race.
He played catch-up most of the day.
Things were going fine until he burned
the last check by two minutes, ending
any chances he had for a win.
"[ had my usual slow start - something that has plagued me my whole
G
32
career," said Hawkins. "Franklin rode
well. He had two points on' me going
into the last section. I just pinned it and
never looked a t my clock. I came ou t
two minutes early."
This was the 27th annual running of
the Swamp Fox Enduro, sponsored by
the Family Riders out of Charleston,
South Carolina. The event was co-sanctioned by the Florida Trail Riders and
was the only non-Florida race on their
sched ule. Looking at the terrain, however, it was like the race was in the middIe of Florida instead of the Francis
Marion National Forest, some 30 miles
from Charleston. The enduro was close
to 60 milesJong and included all the
stuff that riders have come to expect.
Huge sand whoops, tight woods and
great trails combined with wonderful
weather made the event fun for most
riders.
•
Key time was 9 a.m., with the start
located at the campground trail head in
the ORV park. The first section was 12
miles long and consisted" of trail mainly
used by the local ORV park, and, as
expected, it was whooped out to the
max.
Ramey blazed through the section
with a one-point loss, three seconds shy
of a zero.
"[ rode hard in that first section,"
said Ramey. "My computer was off; I
stopped once to bump up the mileage. I
should ha ve zeroed the check."
Gravitt had the next-best time with a
2.13. McCoy followed with a 2.15.
"I got behind a guy right as we started into the tight stuff," said McCoy. "He
couldn't get out of my way and I
couldn't pass. It wasn't his fault, but it
cost me a point. I feel [ could have
scored a·one."
Hawkins dropped a 3.19.
"I always start off slow," claimed
Hawkins. "My bike was working good,
though. This was completely different
suspension settings than what we have
been running. I had it a bit too oft at
first. [ had to stiffen it up after the fir t
section."
Section two consisted of 9 miles of
good, tough trail, mixed with some new
stuff. Hawkins cranked thing up a
notch to post the lowest score: one
point.
"I knew Franklin had me by two
points and I was trying to make up as
much as I could," said Hawkins. "My
suspension was working better after I
made a few adjustments."
Ramey, Gravitt and McCoy all
dropped two points. Threes and fours
were the norm in the A classes. Because
of some of the whooped-out trails, riders tended to hang close to the edge of
the trail in an attempt to avoid the deepest part of the whoops. This proved to
be quite dangerous, and several riders
ended their race early by hitting stumps
hidden beneath the underbrush. Two
rider~ suffered broken collarbones, and
one rider (Frank Anello) broke his leg
and spent the day at Cooper hospital in
Mount Pleasant. He got some stainlesssteel screws and plates as souvenirs.
The third section was 7 miles long.
Ramey posted the fast time with a 2.04.
"[ hit a stump pretty good going
pretty fast in the third section," said
Ramey. "It threw me into a tree and [
got a limb all tangled in my brakes."
Hawkins followed with a 2;13, and
Gravitt carded a 2:20.
"I had a few close calls in tha t section; I almost took out. a few spectators
in a few of the comers," said Gravitt.
McCoy went 2:35 and Husaberg rider
Michael Grizzle scored a 2:58. Kawasaki
rider Steven Smith sneaked in with a
2;59.
The final points taker of the day
came at 61 miles. A restart took the riders into the last 14 miles of the day.
"I knew I was down on points," said
Hawkins, "and I was hoping the last
trail would be tight enough for me to
make up the time. When I left the
restart, I just pinned it. I never even
'looked at my clock again. When I saw
the check, I was two minutes early."
The final trail was faster than most
thought it would be.
"I kept a good pace - nothing too
fast," said Ramey. "I didn't have any
trouble - just rode good and stayed on
·
time. "
Ramey zeroed the section, as did
Gravitt and McCoy.
"I wish that last section would have
been tougher," said Gravitt. "It was
pretty easy to stay on time. This was a
good effort by the Family Riders."
Although Hawkins did not get the
finish that he wanted, he was still
impressed with the event, as well as
with the other SETRA races that he has
run so far.
"I read a story in Racer X this
month," said Hawkins. "Suzuki's Mike
Webb said enduros were on the decline
and that they didn't get the turnout of
the GNCCs. I think he is on the moon.
He has never been to a SETRA race.
There were 300 to 350 riders at
Charleston. The dub also put on a mini
enduro on Saturday. I was really
impressed with it."
With the win, Ramey moved into the
series points lead.
CI/I
Swamp Fox Enduro
Francis Marion National Forest,
South Carolina
Results: January 17,1999 (Round 9)
O/A: Franklin 'Ramey ITl (G-G).
AA: 1. Allen Gravitt (KTM); 2. jason Chancey
(KTM).
OPEN A: 1. Steve Hiudeman (KTM); 2. CaJlie Ward .
(Yam); 3. Ne;1 Sharphorn (KTM).
250 A: 1. Steven Smith (K.1W); 2. Stephen Edmonson
(K..1W); 3. Steve 5..1undcrs CKaw).
200 A: 1. Travis Hayes (KTM); 2. MichaeJ Sigety
(Suz); 3. Martin PrueH (KTMJ.
4-STRK A: 1. Jeff Harris (Hus); 2. Andy Barkley
(Han).
VET A: 1. Johnny McCoy (Kaw); 2. Johnny Simkins
CKaw); 3. Robert Pearson (KTM).
SR A: 1. Mitch McRee (KTM); 2. Terry Hughes
(Yam); 3. Gary WiJliams (Hon).
S/SR A: 1. Robert eeley (KTM); 2. M.ike Shank
(Kaw).
OPEN B: 1. Chris Doran (KTM); 2. Eddje Royals
(KTM); 3. B.T. Mortez (Yam).
250 B: 1. Kim Watson (KTM); 2. Trey Welborn
O