I received a free entry from Thumper Talk for the 2008 Four Aces Burro Enduro held at Johnson Valley 11/16/08. I want to thank Thumper Talk, Four Aces, and all who put on the event. Here is a quick report and then you can read the “book” I wrote down below if you have the time.
I raced the Vet C class (LWT) since this was my first ever desert race and I usually race novice at the SRA GP’s and local MX races. I rode my stock ’08 YZ250 2-stroke that only had 14 hrs on it. It got hammered.
The course was tough, and I was only running a wristwatch and a poorly calibrated trail tech odometer. I dropped 6pts on the first loop, while feeling out the course and getting used to the check points. I went over the bars at about 60 mph before the sand hill and re-mounted to zero the last check of loop 1 by some miracle.
We re-fueled and went out for loop 2 which I knew would be harder, but I didn’t expect the two nasty, rock down hills. I got a flat tire about 15 miles into loop 2 and decided to ride with it. I dropped 7 seconds on the impossible section before the first rocky downhill, with the flat tire. It stayed on so I finished out the race with it flat.
With the reset and some fast riding I was able to get back on my minute and even waited at the bottom of the hill to make sure I didn’t come in early, before going up and over to the finish. I waited a little too long because I dropped 1pt on the last check of loop 2.
I finished with no permanent injuries and dropped only 23 pts over both loops. Not bad for a first try?
Here is the long version:
The story begins with a friend from work talking me into trying out an enduro race. I grew up riding a lot of single track and free riding at Ballenger Canyon, Beaumont, Gilman Springs, some motocross at De Anza, Saddleback, Perris, Competition Park, Elsinore....I always thought I would do well at an off-road race so I decided to give it a shot.
I probably over prepared, but I like to know exactly what I'm getting into before I start. I read all of the "how to’s", the scoring and timing rules, strategies, type of roll charts, computers. I put an mx glide plate on my bike and figured that would be good enough...I would just be careful, lol. I decided to ride my 2-stroke because I thought it would be best for a tight course. So I mounted my roll chart holder, and trail tech endurance computer on my 2008 YZ250 that only has 15 hrs on it. I put on a Pro Circuit spark arrestor silencer to my new works pipe, some GYTR folding levers, put 16 psi in my tires and loaded up my bike for the event. Note: Everyone told me I was going to destroy my bike, and I knew they were right but had to go for it.
We decided to drive up to Johnson Valley from Laguna Hills on the morning of the event leaving at 4:15 am. I couldn't drive up on Saturday because I had to drop $50 on a charity poker tournament. I got home from that around 11 pm Saturday night. This being my first enduro, I was up until 1 am getting stuff packed up and making sure I didn't forget anything.
Running on about 3 hours sleep we drove up the pass to Bear Valley Road headed down the highway and arrived at the event around 6:40 am with plenty of time to get registered, sound checked, pay for the AMA membership and the District 37 membership. Everything went smoothly and I was happy to meet friendly people at every step of the process. The 2-stroke passed the sound check easily at 89 dBA.
I went back to the truck to pack the camel back with tools, tube, tire irons, water and a bottle of fuel. I rolled up my chart into the new holder and got a rundown on how to read it and what to do at the resets. I tried a few times to calibrate my odometer to my friend's bike, but it never worked out so the best I could get it was off 0.5 to 1 tenth every mile...a little frustrating, but I would just have to compensate for that when I check my progress on the roll chart.
We roll up to the start and notice the dead engine start. It was interesting that everyone just cruises of the start in groups of four at a mellow pace. The first few checks are relatively easy. I cruise the first few checks just to see how they work. I dropped 2 pts on the first check, and 3 on the second check. That is when my buddy waved me on because he could see I wanted to go faster. From there on out I zeroed 2 of the last 3 checks.
Right before the big sand hill where Grumpy was taking photos, there was a long straight-away of sand with not many whoops. I was 5th gear pinned trying to catch up and I noticed much too late that there was a rock in the sand. I hit the rock at close to 60mph and instantly did my best Superma, flying close to 30 yards before slamming to the ground. I rolled around for a minute or two to catch my breath. I did a quick injury assessment and felt good enough to continue. Now I was down a few more minutes, but somehow I hauled up and over the sand hill and zeroed the last check of loop 1. I was thinking maybe I could actually get the hang of these things. So I ended up 6 points down on the 1st loop, according to my score card.
We got back to the truck and looked the bikes over, gassed up, forgot to fill the camel back and took a few minutes rest. I noticed that in the crash I broke the lower strap on my camel back so I cut it off. I lost my roll chart and holder, so I pulled $40 out to buy new ones. There goes my free entry money...
With a big ding in my front tire and better understanding of how the checks work and how sneaky they are, I headed to the line for loop 2. The frustration was building from the inaccurate trail tech odometer. I put it on the day before the event and didn't have time to dial it in properly, so I had to deal with wondering if I was early. Most of the time I would wait until I was an extra 20-30 seconds late before going around any blind hill or wash. I expected a check a couple of times and there was no check for many miles so it was tough on the nerves.
Around mile 15 of loop 2 I heard a familiar flapping sound coming from my rear wheel and looked down to find a flat rear tire. I was glad I gave that rim lock a couple extra cranks to tighten it up on Saturday night. I decided to ride with the flat and finish out loop 2. By the time I finished the race my rear tire was nearly torn off of the rim. The only thing holding it on was the rim lock and it started to tear the tire in half.
The rear flat was a little sketchy in the wash and around faster turns, but it didn't seem to bother me through the rocks. I kept hearing the aluminum rim smack the rocks which was painful to hear on my new bike, but I was committed to making my best effort.
Riding down into check 3 on loop 2 and the downhill at the finish were a little more sketchy with a flat tire. Thanks to the kids directing us before the drop in to check 3, I guess they showed us the easy way down??
I came into that check 3 on loop 2 at 7 minutes down and started to panic that I had gone too slow or stopped to reset my odometer too much. I left the check and immediately tipped over into a rock bed. I ripped the shoulder strap off of my camelback and I couldn’t keep it in place, so I picked up my bike and tied the strap back on, wasting precious minutes. I went for a drink of my camel back and it was empty…oops. I charged on with my flat tire and hauled butt in the wash to catch up. By some miracle, I caught up with the reset and some fast riding and managed to only drop one point on the last check of loop 2, and I think I could have zeroed it if the odometer on my trail tech endurance wasn't off 0.3 for every 4 miles and I kept having to stop and reset my odometer...what a pain in the butt.
If I had an enduro computer on my bike I could have saved a lot of points. I don't know how I made up 7 minutes that I lost on special section with a flat tire, but I was hauling in the wash and everywhere that I could open it up safely.
I could go on for a few more pages because I had a great time and have many stories to tell; which is the best thing about riding motorcycles. Overall, I think the course was fun and challenging. I could have done without the rocks, but that is what made challenging. You had to commit yourself to every downhill and uphill if you wanted to make it. There were only a few sand whoops, so that was cool. I need to remember to slow down sometimes, I scared myself pretty good on the first loop with the 5th gear get off. I finished the event with 25 pts on my scorecard, I guess that's not bad for my first event, with a flat tire for 21 miles, a wristwatch and a trail tech odometer that's out of wack.
I’m definitely hooked. I don’t know if I can wait until January for the next one. Thanks to everyone that helped put on the event. Thanks to Thumper Talk for the free entry. Thanks to Richie for the help at registration.
Gas for drive to BFE $80
One Set of Plastics $250
Two New Rims $300
New Grips $12
Lost Roll Chart $10
Lost Chart Holder $30
Sub-Frame $200
Tires $150
Handlebars $90
Pro Circuit Works Pipe $160
Shoei helmet $400
Surviving the 2008 Four Aces Burro Enduro: PRICELESS
