MORE OF THAT AHRMA MEDICINE SANDIA 2005
Posted by Tony Down at 11/7/2007 8:30 AM 
Categories: Rocky Mountain Trials, AHRMA, RV'ing, Vintage Trials, Trials
Categories: Rocky Mountain Trials, AHRMA, RV'ing, Vintage Trials, Trials
MORE OF THAT AHRMA MEDICINE SANDIA 2005
THE RETURN TO ALBUQUERQUE
THE RETURN TO ALBUQUERQUE
One day in early September, for no reason other than curiosity, the fickle finger of fate hits the
E-Bay Motors button and up comes a RV page, and lo here is a super deal at Earnhardt’s! Too
good to resist we go and look at same and despite eager salesman’s desire to sell us a brand
new one we insist on looking at the 2001 Beaver Marquis. Well in all honesty there was NO
comparison!
All the new ones we looked at were ok but nothing that really stood out and said “buy me”. The
Beaver, however, was another story. Open the door and it’s an instant WOW factor. Everything
is just beautiful, the engineering, the woodwork, the lighting and the attention to the smallest
detail. Like the ad says “if I have to explain you wouldn’t understand” Seldom in life can two
people be smitten by an inanimate object, but brother we were smitten!
E-Bay Motors button and up comes a RV page, and lo here is a super deal at Earnhardt’s! Too
good to resist we go and look at same and despite eager salesman’s desire to sell us a brand
new one we insist on looking at the 2001 Beaver Marquis. Well in all honesty there was NO
comparison!
All the new ones we looked at were ok but nothing that really stood out and said “buy me”. The
Beaver, however, was another story. Open the door and it’s an instant WOW factor. Everything
is just beautiful, the engineering, the woodwork, the lighting and the attention to the smallest
detail. Like the ad says “if I have to explain you wouldn’t understand” Seldom in life can two
people be smitten by an inanimate object, but brother we were smitten!
So the Beaver now becomes the transporter and her maiden voyage will be Ahrma Albuquerque.
She is duly prepped and all the goodies purchased for the upcoming weekend. No problems with
the trailer wiring, but the RV does seem a little bouncy on the highway, and there is a high pitched
whine which is a bit annoying. We load up and are on our way with Brenda experimenting with all
the new gadgets. For entertainment we have constant Sat TV, regular TV, DVD or tape and music
from XM radio all with surround sound and of course sat navigation which we haven’t got to yet.
She is duly prepped and all the goodies purchased for the upcoming weekend. No problems with
the trailer wiring, but the RV does seem a little bouncy on the highway, and there is a high pitched
whine which is a bit annoying. We load up and are on our way with Brenda experimenting with all
the new gadgets. For entertainment we have constant Sat TV, regular TV, DVD or tape and music
from XM radio all with surround sound and of course sat navigation which we haven’t got to yet.
En-route, Brenda collects up all 13 hand controllers for gadgets various and stows them in this
beautiful roll top compartment in the center console that also houses the navigation system. With
the bus still bouncing and sports bras required for front seat occupants we hit some road works
on I40. Bump! It says but it subsequently turns out to be more like the continental divide where
two of the Earth’s plates have ridden up over one and other.
When we land there is an almighty CRASH and after eyeballs had been replaced in sockets we
discover the hand controllers have been airborne in the roll top and we now have a log jam!
beautiful roll top compartment in the center console that also houses the navigation system. With
the bus still bouncing and sports bras required for front seat occupants we hit some road works
on I40. Bump! It says but it subsequently turns out to be more like the continental divide where
two of the Earth’s plates have ridden up over one and other.
When we land there is an almighty CRASH and after eyeballs had been replaced in sockets we
discover the hand controllers have been airborne in the roll top and we now have a log jam!
Eventually arrive at the venue, food, beer and bed.
It’s Friday and the place is filling up with flat trackers, motor crossers, and road racers, as well as
a sprinkling of trials and enduro bikes. Meet with a lot of guys from the Casper event and Sheldon
as well who is the photographer for the weekend. Wonder where the trial can be as this place is
as flat as a pancake?
a sprinkling of trials and enduro bikes. Meet with a lot of guys from the Casper event and Sheldon
as well who is the photographer for the weekend. Wonder where the trial can be as this place is
as flat as a pancake?
All is revealed and loop 1 starts with a little switchback in and out of some holes in loose dirt.
The next two sections are on a sandy bank with a few tufts of grass and desert vegetation. A
right turn followed by an uphill left, then a wide right hander into a deep loose sand gully to the
uphill exit. Lots of time deciding on the gear to use and eventually go for first and a lot of blipping
throttle. This works quite well with a dab on the wide right hander and another just 2 feet from
the card. Section 3 starts downhill and then has some tricky turns in the soft sand to the uphill
exit. It goes better than expected with only 3 dabs but we can do better here!
The Sand Hills Lap 1
The next two sections are on a sandy bank with a few tufts of grass and desert vegetation. A
right turn followed by an uphill left, then a wide right hander into a deep loose sand gully to the
uphill exit. Lots of time deciding on the gear to use and eventually go for first and a lot of blipping
throttle. This works quite well with a dab on the wide right hander and another just 2 feet from
the card. Section 3 starts downhill and then has some tricky turns in the soft sand to the uphill
exit. It goes better than expected with only 3 dabs but we can do better here!
The Sand Hills Lap 1
On we go to the next group. Number 4 is a wiggle around a tree and a couple of tight turns
finishing on a ridge. Good clean here and that’s followed by a nice ride on 5 for another clean.
6 looks tricky and I lose a dab when I don’t turn tight enough and the front wheel is getting
dangerously close to the tape. Well 2 left and they are back at the start and don’t cause any
problems. So, 6 lost on lap 1 but as most people had been struggling in the soft sand I’m feeling
reasonable confident.
finishing on a ridge. Good clean here and that’s followed by a nice ride on 5 for another clean.
6 looks tricky and I lose a dab when I don’t turn tight enough and the front wheel is getting
dangerously close to the tape. Well 2 left and they are back at the start and don’t cause any
problems. So, 6 lost on lap 1 but as most people had been struggling in the soft sand I’m feeling
reasonable confident.
Loop 2 starts on a different section as my class had actually started on Section 2. Having just
cleaned the opener I’m straight in again, but go a little too slowly across the adverse camber and
the front wheel breaks away in the soft dirt losing a real stupid 2! The next isn’t much better as
I lose another 1 by going too fast. The student gets a sharp reminder to get something other than
the transmission in GEAR!!
The "Gorgeous Dab" on the Sandhills
cleaned the opener I’m straight in again, but go a little too slowly across the adverse camber and
the front wheel breaks away in the soft dirt losing a real stupid 2! The next isn’t much better as
I lose another 1 by going too fast. The student gets a sharp reminder to get something other than
the transmission in GEAR!!
The "Gorgeous Dab" on the Sandhills
Back to the sand hills which I had had a pretty good effort on last time. Same line, the sand is
softer and deeper but I stick to the plan and amazingly get some grip and sail through for a
gorgeous dab. I see my nemesis, the Rich Palmer sitting down? Different but the technique
doesn’t work and he gets a 5. The next one is another unlucky 3 single dabs. Well, so far this lap
I’ve lost seven, but then I’ve just seen Rich lose 8. Clean the rest so must be in with a chance
despite those silly mistakes.
softer and deeper but I stick to the plan and amazingly get some grip and sail through for a
gorgeous dab. I see my nemesis, the Rich Palmer sitting down? Different but the technique
doesn’t work and he gets a 5. The next one is another unlucky 3 single dabs. Well, so far this lap
I’ve lost seven, but then I’ve just seen Rich lose 8. Clean the rest so must be in with a chance
despite those silly mistakes.
Loop 3, no problems with 1 & 2 and on to the sand hills for the last time. By now it’s a real mess
and despite a valiant effort I can’t get close and lose a three. The next section has cost me 3 on
each previous attempt and now its difficult to even get into the start. Somehow I get it all together
and whiz through for the only 2 of the day. I’m well pleased and by now I’ve worked out that Rich
has lost 20 on these 2 sections to my 14 and allowing for my dumb mistakes I should be 2 ahead
minimum. The next one has that tight turn on the bank and once again I make the same mistake
turning too late and lose another dab. Oh well, that’s 19 but the rest should be OK. Wrong, exiting
the easiest section I ride the back wheel over a little root stump and it flicks the wheel sideways
for yet another dab. So I finish on 20 and so does Rich and of course he takes it on the tie break
with the greatest number of cleans.
and despite a valiant effort I can’t get close and lose a three. The next section has cost me 3 on
each previous attempt and now its difficult to even get into the start. Somehow I get it all together
and whiz through for the only 2 of the day. I’m well pleased and by now I’ve worked out that Rich
has lost 20 on these 2 sections to my 14 and allowing for my dumb mistakes I should be 2 ahead
minimum. The next one has that tight turn on the bank and once again I make the same mistake
turning too late and lose another dab. Oh well, that’s 19 but the rest should be OK. Wrong, exiting
the easiest section I ride the back wheel over a little root stump and it flicks the wheel sideways
for yet another dab. So I finish on 20 and so does Rich and of course he takes it on the tie break
with the greatest number of cleans.
The evening is spent entertaining in the new bus and on Saturday we are en-route to Cozy Comfort,
our RV park in Colorado. If you have 2 RV’s you might as well have somewhere to park them!
our RV park in Colorado. If you have 2 RV’s you might as well have somewhere to park them!
Well that wraps up the 2005 AHRMA season for me as the remaining events are all too far away.
So I finish with 3 wins, two seconds and that dreadful fourth in Texas. Overall it earns me 3rd place
in the National Championship and the desire to do much better in 2006.
Tony Down with RV Specialist and Photographer Brenda
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