Photo by: Steve Hampton HH MultiMedia.
Rain, Rain, Rain, oh and MUD! It seems the Goneriding series races can not get a break from the Rain. After racing GSC#2 in Winder in mud, muck and rain, we were hoping for blue skies on Sunday. However as most of you who tried to sleep through the night of storms and weather alarms citing flash flooding and thunderstorms now know that it was a wet day. In fact some potential Angry Monkey Racers even turned around in the storms and headed back home Sunday morning. As I was driving though Atlanta on my way to Conyers, I too thought that maybe this was not a good idea. Some of the hardest rain you can possibly drive though on I-20, I started to weigh in the risks of being out in the weather. Thankfully I am stubborn and continued to the race course. I arrived a bit later than I wanted due to the rain. The 9:30 Yellow wave racers had already started. I hoped to see Murphy Davis, Chase Moore, and Mark Gilliam start earlier that morning. I stood around in the rain thankful for my leaking umbrella and Cabelas duck boots. The race course was a muddy mess. The original design had racers crossing under the road through the drainage tunnel to get to the granite climbs that Conyers was famous for in the 96 Olympics. Due to the rain, the creek had risen and the tunnel was un-rideable. I did get a video of Mark Gilliam coming through after his first lap. It is posted on our Facebook page. Mark was covered in mud and muck, talking to the race organizer about shortening the race. Murphy Davis was not planning on coming to the race the single speed race due to being sick. However he had made the late minute decision to get out there in the rain and race. After one lap, he was done. It was good to see him out there trying, but I am glad he knew when to stop. He is a fantastic racer for our Single Speed division, who we want to see some more podium visits. Chase Moore also competed in the Jrs division and won. Chase is an area racer who has some amazing talent. We look forward to seeing some more amazing things from him. Mark Gilliam came off with a great win in the GM1 Category. Mark giving me a bit of beta on the course said that it was mucky and to pick a low gear and spin through it. It was good advice, I did not know what I was getting into. Arturo Quintanilla finally showed up to the races, sporting his freeflite kit, he went ahead of me in the White wave. I would not see him again, and his kit would not be white by the end of the day. My race XC3 (30-39) had a fast start. It is amazing to see how fast these guys take off. The guy to my left broke his chain on the start, felt bad for him. After the first long strip I was sitting in about 4th place. Due to the acceleration at the start, I could not breathe. We started to hit the slick stuff, I tried to keep up with the leading 3 but took a turn too sharp in the mud and went down. A few guys passed me at the opportunity. I got back up and started again, trying to find my sea legs, sliding all over the place in the mud. The first big climb was bad due to slick conditions and guys walking ahead. I jumped off the bike and started running/walking/dying. The power line climb was much better due to the grass. I was able to just spin up the climb and pass back 1 of those who had overtaken me at the crash. 2nd lap was much better for me, but still could not make up the rankings. I ended up pushing the last half mile to the redline because I thought I was about to be caught by another rider. I ended up 7th in the group. I saw Mark, now clean, and Arturo, a muddy mess, at the finish. We chatted about the course and results. I rolled the bike down to the would be tunnel where the course originally ran. I stood where we would have been racing in the now rushing river about knee height. Cleaned the bike and washed the mud off my body. At the finish line I watched Arturo step up to the 3rd place podium spot for his division. After all that was done, it was a really fun race. My legs were done and yes the bike needs an overhaul. Photos from the race by Steve Hampton are online, support him and check them out. Looking forward to next weeks race at Dauset Trails in Jackson, Georgia. Hopefully according to Hincapie the Kits were shipped today. So hopefully, fingers crossed, they can get through customs and get here by Friday. If they are here for the race in Jackson I will bring a camera and get some shots too. Side note: Congrats to my wife and AMR Racer Laura Andrews in her first XC1 Race in Wisconsin apart of the famous WORS series, she ended up 10th competing against pro women racers. 2nd in her Age category. -AMR Member/President Brandon Andrews |
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April 2019
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