ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRIALS MILLIKEN 2007
Posted by Tony Down at 11/5/2007 2:53 PM 
Categories: Rocky Mountain Trials, AHRMA, RV'ing, Vintage Trials, Trials
Categories: Rocky Mountain Trials, AHRMA, RV'ing, Vintage Trials, Trials
MILLIKEN 2007
Rossi gives birth on the bed sometime between 1 and 2 a.m. and Brenda with all her surgical
equipment is woken by the soft mews of newborn all fresh and clean after copious washing from
Mum. Single puppy same color as Dad and as she was due on the trip, she now rejoices as Milliken
or Millie for short.
equipment is woken by the soft mews of newborn all fresh and clean after copious washing from
Mum. Single puppy same color as Dad and as she was due on the trip, she now rejoices as Milliken
or Millie for short.
Thursday arrives and we slip from our former glory and leave one and a half hours late, but at
least we are on the way. Stop at Winslow for RV things and the bus is taking on water at only 2
gallons a minute and that’s not right! Because we are late we slip through Albuquerque after rush
hour so things are relatively pleasant apart from the gale force winds. The winds have been taking
their toll on the Starship and the driver’s deflector shield keeps rotating causing much annoyance
and a lot of stopping for Brenda to adjust. Finally, in a fit of peek a Rothmans packet is jammed in
it and secured by America’s finest tape, looks real good on a $625,000 coach! Very soon it
becomes clear that Trinidad is out of the question and Las Vegas (NM) is looking like the place to
stop. Tired, thirsty and hungry we arrive in LV bouncing off curbs, yes the helmsman has had
enough!
least we are on the way. Stop at Winslow for RV things and the bus is taking on water at only 2
gallons a minute and that’s not right! Because we are late we slip through Albuquerque after rush
hour so things are relatively pleasant apart from the gale force winds. The winds have been taking
their toll on the Starship and the driver’s deflector shield keeps rotating causing much annoyance
and a lot of stopping for Brenda to adjust. Finally, in a fit of peek a Rothmans packet is jammed in
it and secured by America’s finest tape, looks real good on a $625,000 coach! Very soon it
becomes clear that Trinidad is out of the question and Las Vegas (NM) is looking like the place to
stop. Tired, thirsty and hungry we arrive in LV bouncing off curbs, yes the helmsman has had
enough!
Friday back on the road with 375 to go and its all plain sailing and we arrive in good time to get
a first class slot on the upper level. A bit cold and miserable with a chilly wind and the forecast of
rain YIPEE! Brenda spots some bushes and shoots off to get a handful of blooms and bugs for
the bus. Doof the Lab thinks it’s marvelous as she gets some free range running in the pit area.
a first class slot on the upper level. A bit cold and miserable with a chilly wind and the forecast of
rain YIPEE! Brenda spots some bushes and shoots off to get a handful of blooms and bugs for
the bus. Doof the Lab thinks it’s marvelous as she gets some free range running in the pit area.
Meet up with Evelyn and soon after set off to find the section builders. The Steed seems to be
running well and I’ve changed to my favorite Renthalls and gone back to a slow action throttle to
try and prevent these feet up FIVES! However the fork oil seals are leaking and although I have
a spare set elect to leave well alone just in case a simple job turns into a pre trial nightmare.
Have a look at junior Glitzmobile, and as expected the awful noise was main bearings and you
can lift the flywheel up and down about ½ an inch. Something else to fix when we get back.
Find everybody down below the farm laying out in the mudhole which looks and smells nasty!
running well and I’ve changed to my favorite Renthalls and gone back to a slow action throttle to
try and prevent these feet up FIVES! However the fork oil seals are leaking and although I have
a spare set elect to leave well alone just in case a simple job turns into a pre trial nightmare.
Have a look at junior Glitzmobile, and as expected the awful noise was main bearings and you
can lift the flywheel up and down about ½ an inch. Something else to fix when we get back.
Find everybody down below the farm laying out in the mudhole which looks and smells nasty!
Friday night and time for a few beers, diner courtesy of Evelyn and that’s fine by me as its
starting to rain so more stories of yesteryear a film and so to bed. It’s a 3 p.m. start so plenty
of time to do nothing which is fine by me, especially as we are hemmed in by these motor cross
people who seem to swarm like bees!
What do they know that I don't? Section1
starting to rain so more stories of yesteryear a film and so to bed. It’s a 3 p.m. start so plenty
of time to do nothing which is fine by me, especially as we are hemmed in by these motor cross
people who seem to swarm like bees!
What do they know that I don't? Section1
Start time comes and we are starting conventionally at no 1. This has a lazy turn then gently
along a bank before a straight 3 foot drop to a 180 turn and back up the bank, turn again
Wittington, and back down the bank to the exit. It looked like the bank would crumble away with
multiple attacks but it didn’t happen. A 2 on the first go, then a clean, and a very long dab on the
last attempt. No 2 where I had seen the mud on Friday should be a favorite for me. First attempt
results in a dab on the exit, loop 2 takes a 2 with one in the deep mud and another on the exit.
Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud! Section 2
The last lap sees Mike take on the pit of goo before me and he grinds to a stop in the stinky
slime. I gun it through the mud and she responds like a rocket with a wheelie (under control of
course) up the bank, drop back in and really try for the clean, wiggling and powering through,
and exit at high speed landing on observer’s lunch box, but he said he didn’t mind as the clean
was worth watching, and though I say so myself it really was a shit hot ride!!
Hugh on the Box of Pipes Section 3
Fred lines up Section 4
along a bank before a straight 3 foot drop to a 180 turn and back up the bank, turn again
Wittington, and back down the bank to the exit. It looked like the bank would crumble away with
multiple attacks but it didn’t happen. A 2 on the first go, then a clean, and a very long dab on the
last attempt. No 2 where I had seen the mud on Friday should be a favorite for me. First attempt
results in a dab on the exit, loop 2 takes a 2 with one in the deep mud and another on the exit.
Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud! Section 2
The last lap sees Mike take on the pit of goo before me and he grinds to a stop in the stinky
slime. I gun it through the mud and she responds like a rocket with a wheelie (under control of
course) up the bank, drop back in and really try for the clean, wiggling and powering through,
and exit at high speed landing on observer’s lunch box, but he said he didn’t mind as the clean
was worth watching, and though I say so myself it really was a shit hot ride!!
Hugh on the Box of Pipes Section 3
Fred lines up Section 4
No 3 seems to be another of these tight turn box affairs and I can’t get the first turn so 3 dabs
here. 4 is a series of log crossings and I take this in my stride for 3 easy cleans. 5 has us turning
round Christmas trees by the fence then drop down the hill for a tight uphill turn to the exit. Very
consistent with this one and 3 more zeros on the card. No 6 has a few hazards but right speed
and throttle control do the trick for 3 more cleans.
Section 5 and a lot of "BODY ENGLISH"
here. 4 is a series of log crossings and I take this in my stride for 3 easy cleans. 5 has us turning
round Christmas trees by the fence then drop down the hill for a tight uphill turn to the exit. Very
consistent with this one and 3 more zeros on the card. No 6 has a few hazards but right speed
and throttle control do the trick for 3 more cleans.
Section 5 and a lot of "BODY ENGLISH"
But, here it comes, 7 lucky for some, but not for me! A difficult section but one that I should have
done right every time. Up and down a bank, back up and turn into a ditch then a tight right hander,
recover on a narrow path, then an uphill tight left hander and from there simply follow the markers
to the exit. First attempt all is well until entering the ditch, my weight is too far forward and the
front wheel clips a root and goes backwards underneath me as the power comes on and I dive
head first into the ditch with the bike on top of me! Expert? Regaining composure, I then ride the
rest flawlessly, so no problems in the mind for round 2. Second try and with the weight correct I’m
through the ditch but on the uphill right as I move forward I inadvertently apply the back brake
for another excellent 5! Well this becoming a disaster zone. Loop 3 and I take a silly dab but at
least I’m through this horror.
Wolfy getting dizzy on the Slalom of Section 8
done right every time. Up and down a bank, back up and turn into a ditch then a tight right hander,
recover on a narrow path, then an uphill tight left hander and from there simply follow the markers
to the exit. First attempt all is well until entering the ditch, my weight is too far forward and the
front wheel clips a root and goes backwards underneath me as the power comes on and I dive
head first into the ditch with the bike on top of me! Expert? Regaining composure, I then ride the
rest flawlessly, so no problems in the mind for round 2. Second try and with the weight correct I’m
through the ditch but on the uphill right as I move forward I inadvertently apply the back brake
for another excellent 5! Well this becoming a disaster zone. Loop 3 and I take a silly dab but at
least I’m through this horror.
Wolfy getting dizzy on the Slalom of Section 8
Section 8 seems somewhat pointless with a long series of turns up a hill that was little more
than a beginners outing, but after getting dizzy there was a sting in the tail finish turning uphill
in the loose. However 3 more cleans are on the scorecard and it’s on to the last section No 9.
Uphill start, turn downhill under braking then uphill turning on a loose, but grippy adverse. Lose
1 on the first loop but clean thereafter. Overall a memorable trial for the disasters on 7 and the
excellent rides on section 2 and 5. I must lay out some flat box turns which I’m losing points on
every time.
Ed Wins! 6 more to go!
than a beginners outing, but after getting dizzy there was a sting in the tail finish turning uphill
in the loose. However 3 more cleans are on the scorecard and it’s on to the last section No 9.
Uphill start, turn downhill under braking then uphill turning on a loose, but grippy adverse. Lose
1 on the first loop but clean thereafter. Overall a memorable trial for the disasters on 7 and the
excellent rides on section 2 and 5. I must lay out some flat box turns which I’m losing points on
every time.
Ed Wins! 6 more to go!
The long run home goes without incident! New incentive BEAT MIKE!!!
Tony Down
Brenda took those Trials Photos!
Don't Forget ME I'M MILLIKEN or MILLIE to you!.... and I'm Cute
Tony Down
Brenda took those Trials Photos!
Don't Forget ME I'M MILLIKEN or MILLIE to you!.... and I'm Cute
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