Harvey Whitakers' Clay City (MPOR) Race Report (2006)

Race Report: Kentucky Off Road Hare Scrambles Series (KORHS) - Round 8
Rider: Harvey Whitaker- Bike 2nd Place Overall, First Vet A
Bike: 07 KTM 400 XC-W

The week started out like most of my weeks, up at 5am and off to work, The day goes by in a blur, the two most exciting things that happen during the day is quitting time and going to the office to see what the UPS driver left me. Its always like Christmas when you have parts ordered "you never sure if its what you wanted or even the same thing you asked for." OK, its time to go home, cut the grass, clean the bike from last weekend's big adventure. Make a mental note of what else I messed up. The rest of the week goes by the same, go work, come home, stay out of the house, "Someone may ask me to do something horrible like housework, or taking out the trash. I'd rather clean dirty air filters." I also had to change oil, tires, and install stiffer springs," they don't make good springs these day, I can remember when a set of .38 fork springs were just right, now it takes a set of .46s to hold me up." Finally, I go inside around 10:30, help the little one with her homework "funny how kindergarten homework seems harder these days, any way we didn't even have to ask for help." Next year she will have to get someone else to help her. Finally a shower and sleep. What seems like two and a half minutes later the rooster crows. This goes on for five more days.

Yes, its the weekend, My weekend starts at 3pm on Saturday. everything is done with the bike, all that is left to do is pack the gear and load the trailer. The rest of the evening is spent entertaining Brooklynn, and waiting on the Best Day of the week.....SUNDAY!!!!!!

Sunday morning comes and it looks like a great day to ride. The short drive to MPOR is over and it's time to unload the chairs, coolers, pit bike, John Deere Gator." I know i put my bike in here somewhere, There it is!" Looks like the signup line is short, so that gives me time to walk about a mile of the track, I don't know why I walk more than a few turns, can't ever remember past the first two turns anyway!

Time to go to the line. I line up on the fourth row. I can see the front row from where I start at, I use to be up there, but not anymore. I'm in the last A row now. Just in front of all the fast B-riders who are thinking how much in the way these old guys are going to be.

We were lucky enough to get to go on a parade lap, so I spent the time before Moto two adjusting the suspension on my new KTM and hanging out with all of my backstabbing, sandbagging friends.

The race went great, the track is perfect. After a few laps I see that I'm not going to catch Michels, Not too long ago he was just in my way, now the table has turned. OK, the adjusting I did before the race is working good, I didn't fall off my bike or hit one of the many trees that seem to have less and less bark on them as the race goes on. The checkered flag came out way too early. The race is over and I'm not sure how I did, but I had fun! And this whole week will start all over again in the morning at 5am.

Thanks for the great races so far this season.

Harvey Whitaker

Thanks to my sponsors: Bluegrass Cycle Coral, KTM, Maxxis Tires, Johnny's Signs, Moose Racing, Thumper Racing, ATEK Racing, IMS, Big Gun Exhausts, Maier Mfg., Enduro Engineering, Rekluse Z-Start clutches, CTI Knee Braces, M2R Helmets, Scott USA, Steahly Offroad.