Alan Westerfield's Boiling Springs Race Report (2008)

Race Report: Kentucky Off Road Hare Scrambles Series (KORHS) - Round 3
Rider: Alan Westerfield - Bike 3rd Place
Bike: 08 KTM 250 XC

By: Alan Westerfield

This race report may seem kind of short because I'm really on a mission to melt off some "Love Handles".  I just got off the phone with my buddy Jeff Green and he noticed while I had my shirt off over the weekend that I'm showing signs of a little jiggle.  It was so hot, almost all the guys had to shed the top half, and I just figured that everyone was in the same boat.  I saw big bellies, small bellies, buff bodies, and some that looked like a gorilla suit.  So now I'm a little titty shy I guess you could say… and my competition is staying ahead of me with physical conditioning. Being almost ten years older than the rest of these "kids", I now have to work twice as hard for half the result.  That means that if I want to beat them, it's going to require 200% effort.  
 
On the line we were graced with Matusek and Fiddler; both of Team Greens prodigy children.  Shane O'banion, a top level motocross rider, was also in the mix. Matusek made sure we knew his trainer had told him to let us all go first off the line, that it would be better for him to pass everyone; grab the cash, get the girl; and still make it home in time for a protein shake and personal massage.  Hey, I'll take whatever I can get, so if that's the case let me borrow that spark plug wire too.  

Fiddler was all business with many tricks up his sleeve.  A quick dash to the first turn made me realize my memory of the first turn was wrong.  I turned right like you would go down the hill instead of left to go straight.  O'banion led the crew leaving me in second.  I was content to stay there.  I knew Shane didn't have a hot start on his big thumper so I wasn't too worried about him.  It was only what….like 97 degrees; so you kind of need that.  Before too long Shane overshot a turn and I got into the lead.  Fid was right behind me so we just hammered along.  Shortly after we stopped hearing Shane and Matusek behind us so we just assumed they took a wrong turn at the bottom of fist-city-hill. Ha Ha!

Fid and I carried a safe pace in the leaves and rocks and had a blast cutting up with each other.  Lap two began with us being way out front.  Fid took control of the race and put on a blistering 2nd lap.  I was content to conserve energy and wanted to be sure I didn't get too hot.  I'm not in good enough physical condition to hang with him on such a hot day.  Not to mention the fact that Fid is coming full circle as a racer.  His consistent finishes that hover around the top 20 of every GNCC so far this year; and his finish of like 11th overall at Ohio backs up the notion that this kid is putting the work into it.  I just rode by myself for the remaining few laps of the race.

The only thing that was really hurting was my rear end.  I'm not sure if it's the heat or my seat or lack of riding time on the bike; but I have been getting RAW every time I ride.  I even acquired scabs from this one so something has to change before I race again.  I spent more time standing up that I should have and it probably slowed me down.  If anyone has any experience with different biker shorts or anything; do share but please no pictures.

On the last lap I didn't even stop for fuel; just put her on reserve and tried to finish.  I backed way off the pace because I didn't think anyone was close.  Towards the end Loupie from Light A caught up.  He was riding really well on his four stroke KTM.  I put some time on going into the last grass track but wiped out in a corner and lost it.  Luckily I was able to get up quickly and stay ahead till the finish.  He still beat me straight up on time though.  I think we all had a good time and everyone seemed to be in good spirits after the race.  The heat really took its toll on a lot of us.  You would look at guys you were passing and there was an unspoken mutual agreement that it was just nasty hot and we were all just looking to survive the day without stroking out from the heat.  

A BIG big thanks to Kent Anness and Jesse Smith for all the hard work they put into this course.  These guys cut new trail and spent time with the rattlesnakes to make things more enjoyable for us.  It was a good course…..not too fast but not to slow with a little bit of technical riding thrown in for good measure.  Ok, so I've got to get back to my set ups now.  Until next time.

Alan Westerfield