Bryce Gartman's Saddleback Race Report (2007)
"The Mini Dust Bowl"

Race Report: Kentucky Off Road Hare Scrambles Series (KORHS) - Round 9
Rider: Bryce Gartman - 2nd Super Mini Winner - 1st Overall
Bike: 07 KTM 105SX

By: Bryce Gartman

Race #1- Super mini

DUST!!! That one word was a nightmare this weekend at Big Hill. I have never experienced this much dust and thats coming from a Texan where dust is just about certain every race weekend. I was just glad that I only had 11 riders to work with because this dust was brutal. Enough about the dust. The course layout was awesome and it had everything: logs, downhills, fresh cut singletrack, some straights, and even a short barn section. At the starting line my dad said a prayer to ask the guy upstairs to watch over us. Then Rick gave a short rider's meeting and in about 5 minutes we where ready to start. I was glad I had pulled the start and was able to receive an early lead. I entered the woods with Austin hot on my trail. I walked the track the day before and was doing great with my line selections. As I came across lap two I ran into some lap traffic. So I started to get aggressive and I ended up taking out Garrison Bullock. By the way I didnt wreck but he did. I felt bad for him and I'm glad he didnt get hurt, but its Garrison and he has fallen a lot worse before. Trust me I know this kid. After that little incident the rest of the race was smooth sailing. I led for the rest of the race with a few short battles with the #60 Austin and took the overall for round 9 Big Hill. Austin Schaffner had another great race and gave me a run for my money during the early stages of the race. He took second in the SuperMini class followed by Andy Moore, and Travis Beckner. Another rider that had a tremendous day was Cody Spires which just recently switched to orange. He won the Mini A class and got third overall. Seth Prince took second and got fourth overall. Followed by Alex Osborn getting third, and Justin Spires getting fourth. Garrison Bullock rode a consistent race taking first in mini B and seventh overall. Tanner Spurlock took second in the Mini B class. It was a great day for racing and I had a blast. Can't wait for Knott County. Oh and everyone keep Cody Hardesty in your prayers because he broke his foot in 4 places and is going to make a recovery to race the rest of the season. It felt weird not having you there Cody. Hope you have a fast recovery.

Race #2- Light C

EVEN MORE DUST!!! Thats exactly what I saw for the two laps I did. So i won my class at the 10:00 race but I couldnt get enough. So, I entered the Light C to see if I could hang with big boys. I lined up on the starting line with my buddy Austin Schaffner. We waited for the rows to dissapear in front of us and we took off. I some how pulled the holeshot on the big boys and led for a good 2 miles. Then I came across something that defines 'big track." It was the hill that was covered with a good 15 or so riders. I thought heck I'll take that line right next to that old guy and I should be good to go and heck I might just take the win in the light C class while I'm here. Haha. That was a joke. I got about halfway to the old guy (in which he happened to make it all the way up the hill.) and I fell. I didnt just fall I tumbled and rolled and did a few flips and to top it all off i landed in a thorn bush right next to my good ole' pal, Uncle Robby (Rothel Bullock.) I was a little mad so I got up and picked my bike up and waited about ten minutes to get another chance to attempt this "big track" hill. I finally made it up but i was all the way behind the beginner and women class. So I tried to make a comeback but I wasnt doing any better because I couldnt see what was in front of me. I went ahead and did another lap, but that lap was just as worse than before. So after I came through the check point for the second lap I went to go pit and every person I had just spent a lap to pass got back around me. Then Dave Durkee walks up to me all dressed in his clothes and simply said, "I quit." So i simply said back to him" me too." Thats how my first big track race started and shortly ended. Hopefully I willl do better next time. See everyone at Knott County and maybe, just maybe I will finish a full two hours with the big boys.

Bryce Gartman