Jennifer Roberts' Clay City (MPOR) Race Report (2006)

Race Report: Kentucky Off Road Hare Scrambles Series (KORHS) - Round 8
Rider: Jennifer Roberts - Women's Bike 3rd Place
Bike: 03 CRF-230

Well, let me just say, that it has been a long hard season for me. I really thought coming into this whole "harescramble thing" that I was a fairly decent rider, but I can remember my very first race at Clay City. I don't think I had picked up my bike that many times for the entire time that I had it! It seemed like I crashed every fifteen feet. Believe it or not, I finished with a lap time of 1:59:58, or something close to that anyway. Even though I totally struggled through the entire thing, I knew from that point on I was addicted. After that I have managed to finish only two races due to mechanical shortcomings which were mostly my fault.

Typically I would have a big story to tell about something freakish that happened to me during the race, like at Saddleback when I had hiked 3/4 of the way up that first big rocky hill and (to make a long story short) my helmet somehow managed to roll all the way back down to the bottom, doing 15 flips in the air before crashing to the ground and landing in the weeds, where by the way I almost didn't find it after walking all the way back down to the bottom to fetch it. But I would have to say that this time I really had a good race!

I would love to say that I got the holeshot, or even came close for that matter, but my CRF230 just cannot compete with the power of those 250's. Julie and Lauren left me sitting in their dust cloud. I managed to find my way through and began into the woods section where much to my surprise I found Lauren and Julie mudwrestling. Lauren must have decked her a good one, because Julie's visor was all broken and she was rolling around on the ground. Lauren was getting up quickly, and when I realized all was okay with those two I heard something yelling my name, it said, "Hey this is opportunity here and it's time to haul yourself out of here before the top contenders can get up." So that's just what I did. So I put the hammer down and got out of there, like any smart gal would do! I was truckin along when all of a sudden, I hear Julie coming up behind me. They had caught back up to me, but I was gonna make em' work for it. Unfortunately, they didn't have to work for too long, because I picked a bad line and they both shot on around me and were gone. Oh well, all you can do is keep pushing and try to stay consistent.

Later, on down the trail, who would I run into, but little Lauren Parker at the bottom of a hill. I stopped, because you couldn't see the hill very well and asked if there was a bottleneck. Lauren then proceeded to tell me that there wasn't a bottleneck, but her bike wouldn't start. I gave the only advice I knew to give (in my infinite knowledge of bike breakdowns) and then heard something yelling my name, it said, "Hey Country Girl, this is opportunity again, do I really need to smack you upside that head?!!" So once again I said to myself "Self, it's time to haul it on out of here and finish this race!" So there I go again, and much to my surprise I had put in a lap in what felt like no time flat! Naturally, I was excited when I rolled into the time tent. I was hootin and hollerin and saying, "WooHoo, I'm gonna do another lap!" Then Rick looks at me and says, "We have to restart the race, go take a little break." Of course I argued that he was just giving me a hard time because I was excited, but it turns out that he wasn't. Oh well, I was proud of myself for just getting in a lap.

On the restart, things were pretty much the same for me, Julie and Lauren threw dirt in my face and left me sitting. But then, I arrive at that mudwrestling hole again and I couldn't believe my eyes. Lauren was down again! Opportunity did smack me that time, fortunately it didn't leave a bruise. I knew she was okay, so I went on. Then, once again, I chose another bad line and jammed my clutch lever into my barkbuster. What sorry luck, I was frusterated about it, to say the least. Then low and behold, there comes Lauren and passes me by. By the time I had gotten my clutch to were it would sort of work, there was no way I was catching up to her unless opportunity threw a stick in her spokes for me, and that wasn't happening.

I guess we live and learn. I was happy for Julie taking the win and happy for Lauren that she had such a good race as well. And let's not forget that Von had a good time on the first start as well, even though witnesses say that they spotted her doing backward somersaults down a long hill, giggling as she did so. She must have decided that she was bored and needed to do something to spice up the race a little bit. I had a great time, the course was great and so is KORHS!!! Keep up the good work guys!

Thanks to all!!

Jennifer Roberts

Thanks to My Sponsors: My loving husband (who finished first in Heavy C), my boss (who finds it in his heart to write me a paycheck twice a month), Troy Lee Designs, Spy Goggles, Alpinestar, Moose, and all of my buddies (Julie, Dave, Shawn, Matt, Ethan and the clan) who inspire me to push harder, ride faster and conquer the day.