National Enduro Race report

The kid and I headed up to Wedgefield S.C. this weekend for the Sumter National Enduro, the first round of the National series. This was Jr’s first Nat. on a big bike and he was excited and more than a little nervous. There were over 600 pre entries but due to the winter storm (which luckily went north of the events location) only 420 made it to the starting line.






The Champs bike is a beautiful example of Austrian engineering and old world craftsmanship. Unfortunately due to my kid being on the 83 row and a camera malfunction this is the only pics I got of Bobbitts bike.



Yes it’s a 2 smoke and when you hear Mr. Bobbitt charging through the woods it reminds you of SX in the early 90’s.



Mike Lafferty has moved to Husaberg this year in search of his 9th National title.




The kid checking out Lafferty’s lines.




Charlie Mullins is back on Team Yamaha this year for the GNCC series but he may want to consider changing to the National Enduro series after the day he had.
Right out of the box Mullins had the throttle set to kill and he road like this for 72 miles and 5 hours.




Brad Bakken KTM’s newest team member had a bit of an off day (for him) and rode to 10th overall.


Big Nick Fahringer who would just as soon go through a tree instead of around it had a good start to the series and finished 5th right behind teammate Lafferty.



Jordan Brandt cruised his Beemer to 40th overall, not bad for BMW’s first National.



Jr. started on row 83 which meant he would have to deal with about 400 other bikes ahead of him sand whoops. He was looking good at the end of the first test.




A little off road styling for the fans.



Seeing lots of new Huskies this year. Those Italians (now owned by Germans) sure do build a sexy scooter.



Cody Fennel, remember that name. He just got off of mini’s this year and is destroying the C class. Look for him to jump right to the A class and then the pros.



Here is the young man that rode on the same row as my son, they have been riding together for a year now and really push each other. I am really pleased with the friends that Jr. has been making in the off road community. Lots of good folks out there and they really look after one another.



The kid got a bad case of whiskey throttle trying to make up some time in the second section and wasted his front fender. He told me that fender saved his life though. Threw itself right in front of the tree.The carnage continued and by the end of the event he needed a new number plate and hand guard.


Steward Baylor made a great Pro debut for KTM. He has signed to ride XC2 this year at the GNCC’s but charged to an impressive 8th today.



Wally Palmer is the Magoo of the off road world. He pins the throttle and has more fun than anyone.




This is the beginning of the last section for Jr, a grueling 16 mile run of whooped sand trail through tight Carolina Pines. Makes me think of that Nirvana song from their un plugged “ In the Pines In the Pines”.



Young Cory Buttrick who will be riding for KTM in the XC1 class at the GNCC’s rode strong all day as well.
For fans of the ISDE this kid is one of the future US stars and represented us well in 2009 in his rookie debut of that event.



The final standings were Mullins First Buttrick 2nd Bobbitt 3rd Lafferty 4th and Fahringer 5th.
With Mullins and Buttrick moving on the GNCC it looks like another hammer and tong battle between Bobbitt and Lafferty this year.
Jr finished 9th out of 20 in his class. He was really bummed until I pointed out that the top 3 in his class had better scores than all of the 200 B riders and all but 3 of the 200 A riders. On top of that it was a National and anytime you go top ten in a Nat you should hold your head up high.
We had a great ride home laughing about his whiskey throttle and listening to Led Zep tunes.