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AMA National Championship Hare Scrambles Series Round 7: Saluki Natio'l8l Woodford rides like an Egyptian By early in the race and set a good pace. Blackwell found new hope on the dusty trails, while Andrews closed in on the points lead. With the temperature at 105 degrees, the 164 racers kicked up quite a dust cloud during the threehour race, and most figured that a holeshot would go a long way toward a strong result. Such was the case for Woodford, who was the first to leave the start and the first to finish, but he admits to a few bumps and bruises along the way. "My Michelin tires hooked up really well and got me off to a good start, but I'made a little mistake on the first lap and allowed Brian Garrahan to pass me," he said. "After that, I was swallowing his dust and was worrying about how I was going to get the lead back." Woodford tried several times to pass but had no success for most of the first 12-mile lap. "I couldn't believe how dusty it was!" the Ohio resident said. "Toward the end of the lap, there was a new section with more leaves on it and not so much dust. I just put my head down, and I passed him." From that point on, Woodford was in the lead. "I was trying to find a comfortable speed, and 1 put myself DEBBIE ALLEN PHOTOS BY LANCE MARTIN CRAB ORCHARD, IL, AUG. 4 huck Woodford made the National Hare Scrambles Series a bit more interesting by pulling off a win at the Little Egypt round. The Kawasaki Team Green racer was riding hot (figuratively and literally) on the Saluki trail and won in spite of the sweltering conditions. This is his second win of the series, so the coveted podium positions are more than just a mirage for him. Completing the podium were Doug Blackwell and Fred Andrews. The top three riders gained their positions C Doug Blackwell had his best ride of the year, taking his CR250 to second overall. 48 AUGUST 28. 2002' cue I e n • .., s on the ground a couple of times in the process. After that, I set a good pace, and everything worked out." RER Motorcity's Blackwell manhandled his Honda CR250 with a whole new outlook. He was fast and smooth and gained momentum for most of the remaining four laps. After a midpack start, he began his podium quest and reached Woodford and Garrahan by the end of the first lap. "Chucky passed Brian in a thick wood section," Blackwell said. "Then I passed him [Garrahan] at the beginning of the second lap." Blackwell made his move for second place when Garrahan overshot a turn, and he finished the race in second overall. Shortly after Blackwell's quest for second was accomplished, the third position changed when Andrews came on the scene. After a shortlived second-place start, Andrews quickly recovered a dead-last position. "I managed to fall down," he said. "Brian and I got together, and I fell. From there, I was dead-last. I don't think I passed anyone from the dust. After the first lap, I was still in BRIEFLY••• little Egypt's oH-road motorcycle club did a good job at creating its first National course. but Mother Nature did not cooperate. • A little mOIsture would have been good.' Fred Andrews understated. The 12·mtle course consisted of long. grass straightaways. tight woods and a quad track. Earlier this year. Doug Blackwell won little Egypt's sixth round of the Mid-South Championship Winter Hare Scrambles Saries at this venue. He mastered the mud during the December weather and said that. without a doubt. the course was a little drier today. Blackwell was mainly racing in Illinois to stay in shape during the summer ONCC break. Spectators were transported to sections of the trail via a hay wagon pulled by the club' s tractor. The club honored Tony Hendon. 1988 National Hare Scrambles Champion. whom they presented with a plaque to honor his offroad racing career. Hendon was seen with his family on the c1ub's Kawasaki Mule. spectating In the woods. The club also presented a plaque to the family of Jesse Thomas and the West Kentucky Trail Riders for their years of promoting events. Many of Little Egypt's members started racing at events promoted by Thomas. While looking at the new section of trail on Saturday. Fred Andrews and Chuck Woodford discovered the massive tick population the area has. Andrews had so many tiny ticks on his legs that he shaved them from the knees down. while Woodford sprayed his with contact cleaner (not recommended). Local rider Brandon Ragain claimed the overall in Saturday's Youth race and then finished 15th overall in the Sunday-morning C race on his Honda 80. The lop two overall finishers in the Crace were women riders: Amanda Mastin on a KTM and Kawasaki's Heather Wilson. Mastin is scheduled to compete in this year's ISDE (as are three other riders who were in attendance - Tim Tabor. Randy Mastin and Curt Wilcoxl. Mexican rider Homero Diaz finished 14th overall and is scheduled to represent his coun· try in the ISDE.