Alan Westerfield's Boiling Springs Race Report (2007)
White Lightin’ gets “Cornholed”

Race Report: Kentucky Off Road Hare Scrambles Series (KORHS) - Round 5
Rider: Alan Westerfield - Bike 3rd Place Overall
Bike: 07 Yamaha YZ250F #4

By: Alan Westerfield

Apparently, a new sport is brewing in the underground of the racing world. It involves tossing bags filled with corn at a platform with a circle cut in it. The objective: to get the “Corn” bag in the hole for a point. It turned out to be a very challenging game, but nothing compared to the rock piles at this event.

Boiling Springs must have put up the community umbrella for this event, because it rained everywhere but the exact spot the needed it most. Broc Sims grabbed the holeshot and took off for an early lead. Loupie Lambruno pursued him and the two commenced to stirring up clouds of dust for the rest of us. I was following Ohio rider Andy Shea who came down to join in on the fun. I have raced with Andy on several occasions, so it was good to have him. The guy has a very quick history. It was only a few years ago that he smoked the 250A class in the GNCC series and was the “next big thing” in the series. He was picked up by Team Kawasaki, thrown into the pro ranks, and expected to get big results. Unfortunately, he didn’t mesh well with green bikes and was plagued by flashes of brilliance that were shadowed by mediocre results. In terms of sponsorship for riders, factory support is about as loyal as mail order bride. (yes, I have a friend who had one, and yes she took his money and ran. But that’s another story). So, even with all of his talent, he moved on and got back on the orange bikes he was most comfortable on. It was a Cinderella story except when she put on the slipper, she fell and broke her hip. But Andy is racing pretty heavy again and seems to be enjoying himself. Oh yeah, back to the race.

So nothing really interesting happened on lap one, except Loupie crashing about 3 times. I think he was angry with his bike and was trying to beat it into submission, but the kid is fast. I crashed on the grass/rock track toward the end but only lost a position. Coming through the score chute, everyone was still pretty close. All of us went on the wrong side of the banners and became confused. I started yelling to the guys to follow me as I went under the banners and rode the whole grass track. Well, I guess I got cornholed, because they found a much better and quicker way to re-enter the track that unknowingly bumped me back to 5th place and out of site of the others. I put on a hard charge and caught back up to Andy and Marty on the following lap. I pulled a stupid move and threw my goggles off when the rain came. Luckily, I was in 2nd by that point and didn’t have to contend with dust. The rock hills became bottlenecked, so on every one, Andy, Marty, and I would be pushing our bikes through riders and trying to hold or gain positions. It was nerve-wrecking but really funny. The cloud of steam and the smell of burned clutches enveloped the whole hill. The three of us had an epic battle that could have went any of three ways. My bike was a little better in the rocks than Andy’s, but he was obviously a little more comfortable in the grass tracks.

On the white flag lap near the end, Andy gave me a shot at second place by messing up on a hill and I took full advantage. Coming out of the woods and onto the grass/rock track, I had build up a slight margin, but he was coming fast. I held him off as we came around the last hay bale. It was roughly an eighth of a mile from the finish line from there. I knew about the rain ruts on the off camber lake dam, and also about the telephone pole and sink holes at the lower end of it. There was no way he had a chance….so I thought. Andy had carried slightly more momentum around the last turn and nailed the throttle. He gave it everything it had and then some, But when I let off because I thought I had it in the bag, he never lifted and passed me on the lower side. It was a crazy but effective move. I was in 5th nearly pinned so I would estimate Andy’s speed to be somewhere around 146 KPH…..(A KTM can’t run MPH- they’re Austrian)

Big Congratulations to “The Breeze” Broc Sims for his first victory. Thanks to KORHS and crew for all the hard work they do.

Till next time!

Alan Westerfield, #4