Pney Hills Classic, Ruston, LA
(10/22-10/23/2005)

"The Best Hole-shot"
Jack G.

The weather this weekend was a great big present from mother nature for all the heat we’ve suffered through this summer, it was PERFECT.

Larry, Rob, and I rolled in to Ruston around noon on Saturday, and the park was humming with the fever of pre-race energy. Those piney woods are a thing of beauty. We hit a lap of pre-ride and were excited to see that the trails were in even better shape than last year. There was a LOT of work put in to them and it showed. It was a bit dusty, but there was fill dirt in the rootier sections, and some of the corners had nice berms added for some fast rollercoaster style cornering. The bat cave still sucked, and Tomac Hill was toned down a bit. Overall, it’s one of the best courses in the TMBRA Series, it’s a shame there weren’t more BSP/GCCA peeps there to enjoy it.

We set up the team tent and chilled for a while on Saturday, laughing and joking with Cynthia, Vicki, and the team smack crowd that always gravitates to our tent. As we’re sitting there enjoying the weather, and trying not to think to hard about the race the next day, Cynthia pops the news that she’s CATed up to expert. Everyone was psyched for her.

The three guys decide it’s time to grab a bite to eat and check in to the hotel, so we roll on over to the econo-budget-not-quite-as-nice-as-the-Ramada-but-not-nearly-as-bad-as-the-New Road-Inn. Then we head to the bustling metropolis of down town Ruston to eat at the Italian place that Garth took us to last year (on Larry’s request). Man, Italian food and a glass of nice red wine would be nice wouldn’t it? Well, they don’t serve wine there, seems we’re real close to the buckle on the bible belt up there in north Louisiana. We decide that’s it’s not a deal breaker and order dinner. Chicken lasagna with cheese and spinach sounds good doesn’t it? Well, they managed to make it cold and tasteless. Jack and Larry have no problem overeating that night.

After deciding the only thing good about that place is the cute girls that were coming in the front door, we bail and call it a lost cause.

Time for some sports! We bounce back and forth between the LSU-Auburn game, the OU-Baylor game, and the Astros-Sox game. All three were nail biters, with the college games going in to OT and doulble OT respectively, with wins in both, and well, we all know how the ‘stros didn’t.

At 5 am Sunday morning some local Rustonites decided to getting in to a shouting match outside our door. We lay there expecting to hear Gat fire, but they finally moved on. At 6 am Larry delcares that 8 am is too damn early for a race, and that Jack should CAT up to expert so we can all sleep in. I considered it, then considered the idea of three laps, and got up and got ready to race. Larry and Rob weren’t happy, but got up too.

 We get to the team tent area and our girls all all up and geting their game faces on. I tried to warm up on the trainer but the cold made it tough. Finally I broke a sweat and spun easy until it was time to race.

Lined up and tried to focus on the start. Our buddy Nelson Morales who races for NW lines up next to me, wishes me luck, and points out that the two Fred’s that held us up at Lake Bryan are top ten finishers and staged in front of us (I guess all you have to do is show up to get top tens this fall). I set it in my mind right then and there that I wasn’t getting caught behind those punks again this race.

Jurgen starts the count down at 30 seconds, and I mentally count down with him, I’m right with him at 10 seconds, muscles tense, I’m with him at 5 seconds, fingers off the brake levers, GO! I go the best hole-shot of my racing career and nailed the start. I shot past the Freds that were staged top 10, and as we hit the first turn Fred number one tries to come over on me. I had over a bike length on him and his bar jabs me in the side of my butt. Well, knowing it was him, and having a big butt, I gave him a shove and sent him careening off in to Fred number two. I stay on the gas and hit the woods in second place. Wow, it’s been a while since I started so far up front that I know exactly what place I’m in, and don’t have to slam on the brakes in the first turn because the clowns are still trying to figure out how to turn in dirt. A guy from Mad Duck passes me after the trail goes from twisty to open and it’s clear that this dude is like a late 70’s muscle car, all horsepower, no cornering ability. I buzz his back wheel through all the twisties, trying to force him to ride beyond his limited steering capabilities, and I’m partially successful. When we hit the next long climb, he down shifts and I swear I heard the roar of a four barrell carb. He just ran away from me. A Bikelane guy and I chased that dude for the rest of that lap, and half of the second. With about 6 miles to go, I decided to try to drop the Bikelane guy, and started really pushing it. I did get out of his site for a while, but with about 3 miles to go I began to fade. I bet I would have had more in the tank if I had eaten a good meal last night.... Bikelane reels me in, and asks to pass. I let him by and wish him luck. I maintain a pretty good pace for the last 2 miles, but not enough to catch the leaders. Rolled across the line in 4^th.

Overall, I’m happy with the race. I checked my time from last year and I was 6 minutes faster this year, so I guess that’s a good thing.

Other results (from memory so I hope I don’t mess it up):

Rob - 17^th, had plenty of power in his legs, but couldn’t spin the pedals at the pace he wanted.

Larry - had a solid race dropped some guys that normally stay with him, finished 6^th.

Vicki - raced a borrowed hardtail and got the snot rattled out of her, had to call it quits after one lap. Vowed to have a double boinger by her next race.

Desmond - Mr. consistent, finished in fine form, placement doesn’t matter.

Chris - looked super strong in the xpert 30-39, didn’t see where he finished but it was way up there.

And the best for last, Cynthia goes out and WINS her first xpert race!