What happened at Southwick (Stimilon)

Dowd

Also posted at rec.motorcycles.dirt:

Subject: Sandbagger

You only need to forget one thing during race prep to really throw a wrench into your overall preparedness. Me, I forgot to tighten the rim locks.

So I went out in practice and quickly ripped the valve stem right out of the rear tube. It probably happened before turn one, and to tell you the truth I just thought the bike was handling spooky for the whole ten minute practice. The sands of Southwick can really jerk your bike around if you don't float on top of it, so I was just rethinking my love for the surface. It wasn't until I left the track and felt the telltale sideways crab that I knew I had a flat. Racing was about to start and I was to be in the fourth moto (Decrepit 45). I had no spare tube and I had given virtually all my cash to my daughter on the way to the race. This will teach me to remind myself that she's 21 now. It was beginning to rain.

I had the wheel off and the old tube out in, uh, no time flat. But, all the money in the world wouldn't have found me an 18" tube. But after Adam and Sean had both toured the pits for me, another rider in our pits allowed that he had a 19" tube I could use. Billy Kimmel saved my race day. It was pouring rain hard now - a deluge.

I scrambled to get the tire back on and aired. Billy leaned on the tire for me to ease that part. All the tools are wet now and sand is sticking to everything. My axle bolt and nut are somehow laying smooshed into the sand. It's not going to be the sanitary installation I had done in my driveway, but I keep it as clean as I can without missing my gate. Adam gets back in from his moto and says it's quickly turning to snot out there, and gave Billy some lines to watch out for. I couldn't really pay attention to the line advice as I was focused on the wrenches. With the bike together and my gear going back on, Adam told me I really won't need the goggles long unless I had tear offs. My tear offs were not installed so I went to the line commando with a plan to ride to protect my eyes. The rain was unfuckingbelievable as the gate dropped.

To say that the track was a mess is an understatement. The ruts were rivers and the low spots all had active gullies crossing the track. It was simply survival out there. Now the massive S12 was hooking up better than when it was spinning on the rim and using itself as a clutch. I chugged through the moto, got a few passes, and hoped a few girlie-men might pull out. On the last big uphill before the finish line, I bobbled and stalled it six impossible inches from the top of the hill. I lost a few positions restarting the bike. The sleepy finish flagger was holding only checkers, low but in full display. RMD results for moto 1: Dean, Sean, Scotty. Back at the pits, one of the EZ-Ups was a tangled heap of scrap metal.

The next race didn't finish before they shut the track down for an hour so they could re-assess the situation as the weather moves on. There was lightning now. Everybody is soaked to the bone.

The fine folks at Southwick really wanted us to have our event, so they decided that we'd save the day by running a shortened track. We'd get an easy sight lap before the gate. It was a little more than half the track - groomed but snotty. I rolled down to the gate early, waiting for my Headlight moto 1. Somebody tapped me on the shoulder and then kicked my flat rear tire. My head would have exploded, but luckily it was contained in my super-fine SHIFT Riot helmet.

I muttered some negative self-talk on my crab back up the hill to the pits, but then the angel on the other shoulder said something about it being a slow leak. I aired the tire up and shot back to the gate, hoping it would hold for four laps. Turns out it held all day. There was a lot of Orange on the line in Headlight class, and a couple sweet looking Husqvarnas. With only ten bikes racing headlight class, they double-gated us with the ladies teeing off first. I crashed hard once in this moto, a lowside slam, but I didn't lose too much time and took the checkers feeling OK about the whole thing.

Now I had to wait out 15 motos before my Decrepit moto2. Sean had hurt his wrist in his 2nd moto and decided to save energy for Sunday's open riding in better conditions. When the 2nd half of the program started, they had about 85% of the track open. I was riding fine if I could keep myself on the outside high lines. But, at the two-trees-turns I got forced to the inside line at the top tree right-hander, missed the exit, went over the inside berm and did a Bruce Lee/Fred Astaire get-off, running down the hill and slowing to a strike pose. Scrape sent me a cool Husaberg promo with electric start two-strokes. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0FzSAgEEVM&feature=player_embedded > One of those would have been good about now, as I couldn't start my bike easily on the track there. Failing that I tried to bump start it down the hill but the sand was not helpful there. I pulled it off the track down by the bottom tree and kicked some more, but I was really just too tired to do it right. Frustrated and now worn out from kicking, I told myself I had nothing to prove and watched the race. What I forgot was that I actually *did* have something to prove. RMD results moto2: Scotty, Dean (DNF), Sean (DNS). Scotty beat me overall with 8th out of 19 riders in Decrepit 45. I was 10th out of 19. Electric start could have prevented this tragedy. Scotty did not beat me with speed, but with physical conditioning.

Afterwards, I mentioned to Scotty about that whole sandbagging in never-ever thing. He replied "you've seen me ride". I replied something like "yeah, you just kicked my ass so stfu". Rather than harp on the sandbagger thing (did I mention sandbagger?) I'll say that Scotty might be the wise man who knows we all live inside a system, and the key is to find the boundaries of the system even if you don't need to walk right up to that line. I'll call it that instead of, you know, sandbagger.

I was humbled by my D45 moto2, with the DNF and just sloppy slow riding overall. I considered that I wasn't fit to ride. I've been suffering this terrible sleep deprivation lately and there's creeping zombie in me. But the beauty of the bike and the love of my sponsors gave me new energy and I rose for Headlight moto 2. I wish I had the full results but they disappeared before I could document them. I only know my overall in Headlight was 6th out of 10 riders. I was beaten by three KTMs and two Husqvarnas (1st and 3rd). Scotty got some video of this race and that should be, um, an interesting first for me.

We ate, partied, watched moto movies on the SHIFT cinema screen. I slept for the first time in weeks - that was odd but mighty refreshing. The track was much nicer yesterday for the open riding day. Sean had probably done a smart thing saving energy for day two. Two short motos was enough for me yesterday. And I had another electric start dream out there...

The 420 machine was a real crowd pleaser, I'll say. I'll link some photos when I can. She wasn't idling nicely though and the float seems to be sticking a bit now and then. There's sand everywhere on the bike and it needs some love between now and arnettfest. I crashed hard three times and had two other get-offs. My last time out I stuffed it hard in turn two and tested my SHIFT Riot helmet in man-dart fashion. I finished two more laps after that, but the whole time I was wondering if I just used up the helmet. Even after two laps, there was a big wad of sand stuck to the helmet when I pitted. It was a hard hit. And even though it didn't hurt, I took it as a sign that I should stop now.

There's more - much more. But it's all a little foggy. I'm out of coffee and tea just doesn't seem to do the trick.

Mad props to the sandbagger - really. That was a fine performance. I'd be proud.

Thanks to Dave Olcott for his genius.
Thanks to Brian Horton and SHIFT for their great support this season. I love those folks.
Thanks to Adam Mozzer (team 420 MVP) for the pizza.
Thanks to Billy for the tube - I owe you one
Thanks to Sean for making me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe.
Most of all thanks to Ralph for letting us play hard at MX338

We had racers come from as far as Texas and Florida. It's worth a trip from anywhere.
Be there next year. Aloha.

-Dean
2001 GasGas xc300 #420

Dean, Glad you were happy with the day at the Wick.. Hope to see you soon!!

Hahaha, are you kidding me, must not get out much huh? It SUCKED!!!!! I had to ride the 50cc peewee track after paying $120 for 2 classes, AWESOME!!! And all they did was save face so they did not have to refund the $25 per person that they charged at the gate. WHAT!?! Sure didn't see a $25 gate fee listed on the event flier, but hey they already had my entry fee, wtf. I rode great until i packed it in due to being aggrivated with things.

So it's their fault it rained? And then instead of them just cancelling the day they get the track together as best they can so you can ride and they give you the money back?

Sounds like a good deal to me. I have been at the wick during rain of biblical proportions and if they kept it open for you then I would be happy to run half a track.

My son and I went up to watch because we knew all the fast guys would be going after the money.

Talked with Ralph from 338 a little bit and they were bummed out at the weather forcing changes but did the best they could to help Dave keep the event going.

DaveO always does a great job with Masters of Mini and Stimilon but unfortunately mother nature is a bitch sometimes.
It puts the promotor in a tough spot....cancel and people call you names.....run a shortened track and people call you names.....hell even on a perfect day people call you names.....lol.

Sometimes you just have to make some lemonade out of those lemons and suck it up.
Could have been worse and next year will be better.

I dont know about you but i didnt pay 200 bucks to ride the peewee track. the best part was the announcement hyping up the fact that we were seeing "45 second lap times" and "this should be challenging riding big bikes on the peewee track". lol. well worth my $25 gate fee. life goes on though. i'm not the only one who left early and i also wasnt the only who was shocked by the surprise gate fee. i wont be back thats for sure.

So would you have rather they cancel the day and send you home with nothing?

Maybe they could quickly build a dome over the track?

Nevermind, I forgot 338 has a way to control the weather but they just wanted to screw with you.

LOL Thx for the read Dean. You get out of days like that what you put into them.

i've ridden there for over 20 years. i just call it like i see it (and hear). and yes they did work dilligently on the track, they had no choice. i just prefer to have motos longer than 4 minutes. ill stick to NESC, there's a reason they've been in existence for 50+ years.

You are The Man, Ralph. I really appreciate you letting us have so much fun at your place.

No, I don't get out much, and half of that time is in the woods where they never groom. I'll be in the North Carolina mountains next weekend - Brushy Mountain Motorsports Park. There's rain in the forcast.

I stopped worrying about the money the second I signed up. It's about the party as much as the racing. And the beauty of Stimilon is that if I can't ruin anybody's season by being in the way out there stinking up the track. Trust me, you are glad I'm not clogging the gate at NESC.

I do agree they could handle the gate fee differently next time. There may be good logic for doing it the way they do it, but without better disclosure it feels like double dipping to the uninitiated. That said, I believe they did a great job of salvaging the day. I do not blame Davo or Ralph for the rain. That blame falls squarely on the ambiguously gay weather man. The track came back pretty good, really.

I run a one race season and Stimilon is my race. It's been very dry and the gay weatherman hits me with a month's worth of rain for my race. I did not pack it in. I didn't even get very upset about the weather or the tire fiasco. But I'm old and have suffered much worse things than imperfect recreation. Losing to Scotty... that was a tragedy.

As I said, you get out of it what you put into it. Nice attitude. Stupid weatherman

You have to show the full on Jamaican flag gear he was running for the total effect.

My son and I were cheering that dude on when he was struggling.

Nobody ever takes my picture. I needed one for the dating site too! LOL

Thanks for cheering!

Hmmm... embedding error here...

That's badass! It gave everyone quite a chuckle especially the other dudes running 420

Never say never....

Awesome! Thanks Tom!

I need a new CP - flopping arm guard...

Everything looks pretty clean and dry in that shot.
If that's from practice, I have a flat tire in that shot.

Can't help wondering...

Nice!!

When were you there shooting pics?
Jake and I got there just after the rain.

motogroove, your bike was epic. way to get into the Stimilon spirit.

i've been google searching for any pictures of this past weekend and found this post, had to join just to say:

A $25 gate fee( after entering 3 classses) for a weekend of free red bull, vitaminwater, $1.50 beers , a concert with 3 bands seeing some strange and hilarious costumes roaming around , plus stupid funny karaoke in the Legion bar with the locals, fireworks, potato guns, partying all night and all around moto anarchy, thats all well worth $25 to me.. Even in the pouring rain.
Oh and the buckchilly endurocross course was awesome.
Not many tracks would let all that happen , gotta love ralph and Diane at MX338 for that.

And where else could I cut the track and not get yelled at or protested once. Dont worry I still wasnt in the top 10

Yep, that shot was from practice. I was hoping to shoot most of the day but as soon as the first gate dropped, so did the downpours.

Donn - I hung around for an hour or so hoping the weather would clear up but it just got worse.

I work with Buckley on the local races. He is on vacation right now but he should have around 400 shots from practice up on his site in a few days.

http://www.buckleyphotos.com/

I stand corrected. Sean beat me in D45 moto 1

results here:
http://www.stimilon.com/smc2010/results2010.html


-Dean
also-ran