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my Own Race Randy Hawkins When asked if he had any falls or get-offs during the race, Randy replied, "' had a faU like you would not believe! , looped out backwards in third gear." Hawkins was approaching a water-crossing near mile-marker 28, and anticipating deeper water he twisted his throttle hard to wheelie across. To his surprise, the water was only a couple of inches deep with great traction below. This resulted in a cartwheeling Yamaha, and bent handlebars and a broken rear fender. Hawkins got the 'bars changed out at the fl/'St gas, but he finished the ride minus a rear fender. Mike Lafferty Lafferty didn't have his luckiest day, as he missed the flip of the cards on check six and encountered heavy traffic on the slimy hills. He said he was not "working it that hard" and, considering the conditions, that was probably the smart way to ride. Robbie Jenks Local favorite, Jenks, who lives just 20 minutes from the enduro's staging area, described the race as "slick and tough." Jenks said he had some problems in the morning, dropping four points to the leaders' ones. When comparing the enduros to the ONCCs, where Jenks is leading the series points race, Jenks said that the trails are tighter here, but you do get an occasional rest. At the ONCCs, he said the pace is frantic with three straight hours of going all-out. At the end of the second section, Jenks posted the fastest time at check nine with a nine-point loss. Barry Hawk Hawk had a great ride all day· until one small mistake in the last section, which led to an even bigger loss of time. "It was a really steep downhill and you made a right at the bottom," Hawk said. "I missed the berm and my front end washed out, and there was this tree there. I tried to get below the tree and then my rear tire slid down the hill. I couldn't get back up to the trail, so I went across this ridge. Then there was a small valley to cross, and when I wheelied to cross it, the back end fell down into it, so then , had to push my bike up and out of there.· David Lykke Discussing his ride, Lykke said, "' just don't do well down here. I didn't even ride fast enough to really get tired. "m looking forward to Colorado [the next round of the series] where the conditions won't be as slippery with all the clay brush you have here." Lykke slipped from second to third in the series points standings and, to top it off, the Colorado round was canceled (see Briefly... ). The buzz in the pits on Saturday was tire choice, as the riders were anticipating soft and wet trail condi- Fred Hoe. . emerged from the dense woods with a 42-polnt card, giving him fifth overall. tions. Three inches of rain fell earlier in the week, saturating the ground. Local riders were referring to these sloppy conditions as "lard on concrete." This year's running of the 28th "Randy Simmons Memorial" Little Raccoon Classic caught ·many riders by surprise, as they were tested right off the bat, having little time to warm up. A short 3.6-mile test, which included dozens of tight S-turns leading into a snotty woods section, took points from everyone. Hawkins and Lafferty had the best scores through there, each dropping just one point in the early wake-up test. Next up, a straight 24-mph' speed average was put into place, taking participants through side streets and local two-track trails. After four checks and at the first gas, Lafferty, the defending champ, led the field with just one point dropped. The second section of the enduro was 46 miles long, which had some minute, in what was now a very tight points battle. With 20 miles left to go, riders went through their first and only "check-in" of the day, just a couple lOths out of the last gas. Hare scrambles-style racing ensued, as racers wiggled, twisted and turned their way through the gnarliest trails of the enduro. Three more checks followed, as nearvirgin trail pounded riders, taking even more points from everyone. At day's end, Yamaha riders Robbie Jenks and Barry Hawk took third UtIle IIIICCOlla Ctessic Wellstlla. Ohio Results: Jane I, 2002 lBoaRd 4 of 71 sumption. Tighter trees and more AA: 1. Rondy Howklns (Yom. 32 pts.); 2. MIke Lolferty (KTM. 34); 3. Robbie Jenks (Yom, 36); 4. Borry Howk (Yom, 38); 5. Fred Hoess (Hus, 42); 6. Cloy Borelng (46); 7. Dovld Lykke (46); 8. Tim Tobor (51); 9. Richord Lofferty (53); 10. Terry Cunnlnghom (69); 11. Rodney Judson (79). 200 A: 1. Russell Epley (74); 2. John Burgord (87); 3. Ryon Moss (92); 4. Russ Cherry (96); 5. Andy HI1I (142). 250 A: 1. Shown Summers (51); 2. Kris Nees (70); 3. Joson Moody (78); 4. Brion Nlchous (84); 5. Joshuo Goilten (102). OPEN A: I. Micheol Grizzle (70); 2. George Vl1lonyl (102); 3. Dovld Ross (104); 4. Scott Hoffmon (122); 5. Brion Zlegentholer (182). 4·STRK A: 1. Motthew Joochim (76); 2. Kevin Possmore (102); 3. Rondy Mostin (123); 4. Jomes Stahler (148); 5. Thomo. Goilen (102). SR A: 1. Jim Robson (71); 2. Kevin Brown (83); 3. Jeff Kirchner (84): 4. Poul Cline (95); 5. Dwight Rudder (101). climbs and large water holes took points from everyone. To make matters worse, a bottleneck formed on a steep ascent a few miles before the second gas, which caused problems for many riders, including Lafferty. Bikes and riders littered the hillside, making climbing it extremely difficult. At the end of the second section, Hawkins took over the lead by one rider Brad Sells makes his way across one of the many wet sections of the ride. and fourth overall, respectively, with scores of 36 and 38. Lafferty, on his factory-backed, Michelin-shod KTM, scored a 34 to take second for the day. But the champion of the event, using all of his vast enduro experience, was none other than Hawkins. This was Hawkins' first National Enduro win of the season. eN riders concerned about fuel contechnical terrain with greasy hill Top District 11 A BRIEFLY••• Six-time National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins said he thought that this year's Uttle Raccoon Classic was an excellent event. "Overall, I think the guys in Ohio did a great job this year,' Hawkins said. "I hate to see a club get some heat from riders saying it was too tough or too hard. When you come to run a Pro National Enduro, It's supposed to be tough! This is what a National Enduro is supposed to be like. At the beginning of the day, they made it a little easier for the Band C guys, and then cut them off and pounded us. They (the Appalachian Dirt Riders] did a really good job today. " A few days after the Ohio enduro. it was announced that the next round in Rand. Colorado, July 14, had been canceled. The Front Race Traii Riders felt that en light of the unusually dry conditions and all of the wildfires that are buming in the state, it was best to call off this year's event. "I had to make a though call and that was to call the Routt/Medicine Bow National forest and tell them that I wanted to cancel the event." club president Mike Troast said. 'The Forest service did not come to me and ask me to cancel the enduro. I felt that with current fire danger In Colorado and the fact that the Forest Service is spread pretty thin trying to put out the many fires in the state, that it was the responsible thing to do.' It appears that the enduro will not be rescheduled. cucle n _ _. • JUNE 26, 2002 49