GLEN HELEN RECAP

THURSDAY

Whew what a blast!
The Opening Round of the Outdoor Nationals never fails to impress with the treacherous course serpentining over the steep Glen Helen terrain.

Jeff’s ripped a wheel off his trailer a few weeks prior. This was his hangout…



I signed up to race the 50+ Intermediates on Thursday and had no idea how I would do as I haven’t ridden there in about eight years.

They ran the 50 Experts and 50 Intermediates off the same gate, so you really didn’t know who you were battling with.
First moto I lined up in the middle part of the gate to be next to my bud Jeff. As lined up I noticed Chuck Sun right next to me on the Service KX500. I asked Jeff if he would mind if I moved over to the other side…. lol

So I went to the far inside and got four pretty good starts in all four motos. Never outside the top five. Right after the fast Tallegeda First Turn they shot you right up a steep incline leading to a blind downhill talk about an adrenaline pumper!



After five fast laps on the challenging technical track the checkered flag flew as I was just about to pass Phil Alderton on a YZ250. I had no idea how I did until I looked at the results. “I FREAKEN WON THE MOTO?” lol



Guess the locals wanted no part of an Out-of-Towner winning the next one and I ended up with second O/A. It was good to pass this member of the "Wrecking Crew".





CT and Jan Thursday night. Who needs the comforts of a $500,000 motorhome when you have the Hotel Chevy, a jet-ski trailer and a tarp. that’s how we roll baaaaby—OLD SCHOOL.




What would happen later that night after some brewski’s…. I was talked into racing the 40 + Intermediates on Friday as well….

FRIDAY

Our race was Moto 11 (40 Int) and by the time I lined up the track was beat up BAD. So I get a great start and on the massively cobbed out downhill right after the start the leader swapped fully side to side nearly taking out the pack and blowing through the tight right hander. It was then that I knew for sure things were going be a bit different today. lol

Dicing with the kids in the 40 Intermediate class…



I was starting to wonder if I had made the right decision, the kickers on the downhills and ruts were massive in the corners, the track could come out and grab you at any moment. My goal was to get through the day unscathed so I could enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Ended up getting waxed with two 15th place finish’s out of 25. Some of those youngsters in the 40 class are nuts! lol I might have fared better on the local smooth AZ tracks but today was survival mode.





CT and Cindy.
As I was driving out I called CT and asked him how he was doing—“not so good, I’m in the hospital getting stitch’s as I speak.” Turns out while loading bikes he took a dive and split his shin open—OUCH!

I’ve often said “loading you’re motorcycle can be very dangerous….. “ lol



Three Amigo’s



Jeff’s “NO-TURN Jalapeño roasted CHICKEN” was killer. CT took a bite out of a Jalapeño and he ran off like a lil school girl….



After taking a bad dirt digger a few weeks ago Doc could not race the 2-smoker race. He came by Cass Morgan’s pit to pick up the “Danger Dave, Moto-Drivel Factory Sponsored KX” for Ret Vet.



SATURDAY

Glen Helen is nothing short of spectacular.



Alessi was very impressive and pulled two good holeshots as is his forte’. The second moto he was gapping the field by the second lap Not sure but I think it was right after this hill leading into a BIG drop off with a tight left hander that he had his problem in the first moto. He will win one before the series is over—no doubt.



Some good dicing throughout the pack



Villapoto looks like he’s ready to take over the role the Goat left as being a great Racer Indoors and Out. Even when he was out of shape his right hand was WFO.



Shorty was solid the 1st moto—not sure what happened in moto two.



Jeff and I take our racing very seriously….



BRAP!!!!!





RetVet approaching a drop off.



Donny and CT sampling the goods….



Donny got a little unsuspecting hit from the yard sale….



Cindy, CT, Jeff, David (German exchange student) and Donny.


Jeff made the most of his MIA trailer.



It’s really unbelievable when Jeff and I look at each other and say “Can you believe we’ve been doing this together for 35 FREAKEN YRS!”



The ToyHauler in the aftermath. I think it’s going to take more than AJAX to clean this baby up.



When you start seeing bushes with needles and Saguaro Cacti I know I’m getting close to home sweet home….



That’s all for now, I need another vacation—I’m beat!!!!!!

So when is the next one? heheheh