Marty Michels' Georgetown Race Report (2006)

Here is a little race follow-up for those of you who recently attended the 5th Round of the Kentucky Hare Scramble Series this past weekend. Try to keep up because it is not very often I have people ask me for race reports!

Well you could not ask for better weather or track conditions and for being someone that has never ridden at the Georgetown facility before I was very impressed with the diversity of terrain and overall layout of the course. These guys did a very good job laying out the course, my hat is off to everyone that was involved.

Since they want a more first person report I'll get right to it. Things for me started out well since I only live about an hour from Georgetown I got the comfort of sleeping in my own bed on a Saturday night (which is very rare this time of the year). I really enjoy and look forward to coming to these type of races because this a very low pressure situation for me and a chance to kind of get out and race and really enjoy riding my motorcycle amongst good friends and some good competition. As the race start drew near I went through my normal routine, which will take to long to go through and I am sure you all don't really want to read about it either. So, I got my stuff together and heading for the start line where I was greeted by a lot more people that I originally expected to see! I took my normal starting position on the far outside and as looked down the line I noticed quite a few really fast riders, most notably my neighbor Paul Whibley, as well as Jeff Cregg, Billy Cooper, and Nathan Alering. So I knew that I definitely had my work cut out for me.

As the starter dropped the flag I realized that I had gotten a really good jump thanks to my quick trigger finger on my electric start because the only racers I saw were Jeff and Paul. I was really excited and content to just stay behind these guys and let them show me the way around until I lost some ground when I washed the front end about half around the first lap in the woods (due to my late breaking into a blind corner that was quite slick along with the rest of the course on the first lap).

After my first lap brain fade, and losing touch with the leaders, I tried to settle into a good fast pace and not make any dumb mistakes. I was still trying to learn the course throughout the rest of the lap as well as the second lap until I made a very big mistake at the end of the second lap out in the grass track about a mile from the finish. While coming around a fairly fast sweeping turn (about third gear) and I drifted a little wide into the high grass and hit a rock and the next thing I know I'm doing somersaults across the track (I highly recommend staying out of the high grass). I picked myself up and made sure all of my limbs were still attached and got going again only to realize that I was missing my goggles and my SRC drink system. Needless to say I rode the next three laps without any goggles or water, not fun!! I made the best of the situation and forged on even though I had to be a little more careful passing people because of the roost and no goggles.

I rode the remainder of the race with a focus on being consistent and smart and trying to not be much of a pain for the lappers. I thank every one of you who graciously moved over at the most opportune time. I am always the guy that says “Thanks” because it was not that long ago when I was the person getting passed by guys and being run off the track.
With all of my rambling about my near death experience and fun time I would like to take this time do say that the soil conditions and overall fun of the race was unreal. I wish every race was that ideal! The most fun for me was the tight woods and the water hole jumps. There were always people there cheering for you, and of course you want to entertain them, that's why they came. I hope everyone that attended had as much fun as I did and I cannot wait until I get the opportunity to attend another KORHS Event. I wish every track had dirt that awesome because yesterday I think I was in heaven! For those of you who have not attended an event yet, I highly recommend it!

Marty Michels

Thanks to my sponsors: Maxxis, Rex's Cycle Shop, House of Horsepower, Clarke, SRC, Suomy, Scott, Answer, Berik, Dirtricks, Rampage Racing, DP Brakes, Tag Metals, Badger Racing Products, Decal Works, SDG, All-finish Concrete, Caywood's Lawn and Landscaping, Six Six One, Team Hawg Racing, and KTM Country