Arguably the biggest mudfest of the region, the 2012 Danford Lake Mud Run did not dissapoint. Each year, trucks, atvs, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, side by sides and other mud running machines show up to partake in this most prestigious event. As usual, theQuad Expert mud running team showed up on cue, with 2 Brute Forces in their arsenal. The day started a little slow for everyone with the event being a victim of it’s own success, having double the expected machines show up for the competition. Over thirty 4X4 atvs were registered to run the 200 foot mud hole, and over 40 people signed up for the Open class were any machine would be allowed to run. Other classes included 2X4 atv, trucks, side X sides and many, many more.
The Quad Expert Team would concentrate on the 4X4 class and the Open class.Captain Mark Schroeder would ride in both classes, while also managing the crew for the day. Mechanic and long time dirt bike rider Cédric Campagna, would also run both classes, sharing the famous Quad Expert Brute Force with Mark. Lee Bower, a veteran Quad Expert rider and former atv motocross star of the early ’90′s, was also present, with his own Brute Force, one similar to the official Quad Expert one. The rules were read and the racing started.
Each rider got 2 runs at the mud hole. Overall average time was 18 to 20 seconds to complete the run. The boys came in 1st (Cedric), 2nd (Mark) and 3rd (Lee) in the 4X4 class, with their average time set at 6 to 7 seconds to run the 200′ hole! The crowd was ecstatic as they ran the hole without much hassle, although, the Side X Sides sure made the hole a whole lot harder to maneuver as the day went on.
When the Open class time came around, the mood got a little more serious. Out of the woodwork comes some guy on a CR500!! “No bid deal we thought. Until we saw him go through the mud, faster than our 4X4 class times.” recalls the Captain. Seeing this machine run before they were up for their run, the team had to make some changes…quickly. “The simplest and fastest thing to do was flip the rear tires on the machines" explains an exhausted Mr. Bower, finishing the change seconds before he was set to do his run. Maybe it was the sweat that was lost during the tire change, maybe it was the conditions of the hole late in the afternoon, or maybe it actually was the tire change, but either way, the crew was able to knock a whole second off their run time, completing the 200′ run just under 6 seconds. Of course the lighter, younger and better looking Cedric ran the best time and pulled a 1st. A close second was awarded to the old captain, although not without dispute because of the general aerodynamical roundness of his physique. (The dispute was later dismissed, coming from Mr. Bower, who did not want to go through the “tale of the tape” resolve.) In third place, and only few fractions of a second behind Cedric and Mark was indeed the yet unidentified rider of the CR500. This guy knew how to handle his machine. Mr. Lee Bower was close behind in 4th on his Brute Force.
All jokes aside, the Danford Lake event is truly a benchmark that all mud runs could gauge themselves with. A great team of organizers, a beautiful location and an huge crowd of fans make this event one we look forward to each year. If you have machine, a most excellent time awaits you. Come join us next time
Next weekend, we pack up the ol’ motorhome and head out to the http://www.festivalhorsroute.ca/ were more classes and more mud awaits us!
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Edited by TheQuadExpert, 05 August 2012 - 12:35 PM.
