Harvey Whitaker's Big Hill-Bear Mountain Race Report (2006)

Race Report: Kentucky Off Road Hare Scrambles Series (KORHS) - Round 10
Rider: Harvey Whitaker - Bike 5th Place Overall, First Light A
Bike: Pre-Production Christini All-Wheel Drive Honda 250X

Saturday morning comes and I still haven't cleaned my race bike from last weekend. Until today I wasn't sure if I was going to feel up to racing. Last weekend I was in a big hurry to make up for a bad start and while passing a rider in my class, he decided to change his line and redirect me into a tree. NO FUN. I know what you're thinking; the riders in my class are older and more respectful of their classmates. That a bunch of CRAP! They are old and irritable and would just as soon use your body for traction or run you head first into a tree, if that puts them in front of you at the trophy line! OK back to Saturday, all my racing friends are getting ready to go to Big Hill. I could stay home and rest or I could go to the race and find out for sure just how bad I was hurt. "Made sense to me at the time." If you ride or race you will understand my logic, if you don't race, then you can't.

After washing my bike, I find it will need a new front rotor. I could stop by my Friendly KTM dealer BLUEGRASS CYCLE CORRAL and pick one up. Or I could try out the new All-wheel-drive bike that just happens to be sitting on a stand in my shop.

Sunday around noon I find myself on the start line of the Light-A row. The first row just pulled out and now it our turn. As the flag drops I kick the lever and push the start button at the same time, Two wheels pull me up the off camber first turn in front. For the first mile I can hear a two-stroke bike on my rear fender, then all is quite. The trail is AWESOME, tight fast trails, open fields, rocks and roots, single tack trails, creek crossings, up-hills, and did I say MUD? The first lap was spent feeling out the bike and learning the track.

Just into the 2nd lap I can hear a four-stroke bike up ahead. I'm trying to think who was on a four-stroke bike that started in front of me. UNOWHO. For those of you who don't know David McWilliams. He is big and loud and fast, now he has a bike just like him. I can see him up front, I don't want to get to close just now, too fast and muddy to get in the roost of his RMZ450. I wait until the tight single track section to close in. For the next couple of miles he throws rocks the size of basketballs, and enough topsoil to cover a football field at me with great accuracy. We make it to the hills and I get by him without swapping any plastic. Now its time to get away! Through the score tent I go and no David in hearing distance. Down the trail I go and into the first tight section and their is the other half of the famous Racing McWilliams Team, Julie is getting her bike unstuck from one of the many grapevines. The last time I stopped buy her in a race, was to ask her a question about a new line that had developed during the race, She lied to me and kicked me over. So this time I waited until she was up and going. After following her through the next tight section David had caught me. When Mrs. McWilliams threw her share of mud on me, she let us go. Soon after I made a bad line choose to get around a lapper and Mr. Big and Loud passed us both. For the next lap it was just more of the same, mud and rocks and his aim was getting better. He was having so much fun using me for target practice the he forgot to get by a lapper. Thank you whoever you are!

The All-wheel-drive bike with the Rekluse clutch allowed me to make passes in places I wouldn't have tried otherwise and with two wheels pulling I could get out of trouble where other bikes were getting hung up.
The race ended with no more pain and I had a good time. Through out the year I got to race four new tracks, sleep in my own bed the night before the races, get home before dark after each race, and see a lot of old friends and meet many new ones. I raced three different classes and won one overall. Not too bad for an old Man.

For those who would like to know more about the All-wheel-drive bike, they can find out more on line at http://www.christini.com/

Thanks to all that have been involved with putting this year together, not just two that we all know, but their family and friends for helping them through it all!

Thanks to my sponsors: KTM, Bluegrass Cycle Corral, Maxxis Tires, Johnny's Signs, Moose Racing, M2R Helmets, Scott, Thumper Racing, Big Gun Exhausts, Rekluse Clutches, ATEK Racing, IMS, CTi2, Maier Mfg.