AHRMA VINTAGE TRIALS CASPER DAY 3



 

One to go !

 Monday morning and another 0900 start for our last day of fun in the mud at Casper, and for me the last
trial of the year and 2009! When I think back it seems strange as when I was a kid our trials season
didn't start until September and went through until April unless you were lucky enough to be riding in
Scotland.

 

Danny Messmore's 250 Hodaka in a KT frame

 Today just 10 sections mainly up the hill to the north and I haven't seen any of them so no idea what the
planners have in store. Now that I can see yesterday's results there are some clear winners in some
divisions and some needle matches in others. Len Sims is pressing on for his Rigid Title and birthday
boy, John Dowson, turned 40 yesterday with his 6th win in MC Nov. Mike Bucholz is still smarting after
missing a section and losing a sure fired win by one point in MC Experts. Bob and Bill are trading
places in the highly contested MC Int class and nobody is giving in! Let's see what today brings...........

 Section 1 down in the brook has us wandering around looking for the "hazard" but there isn't one, I
think the Trialsmasters let this one go and its no more than a ride across the creek.

 Up through the meadow and into the woods for 2 and 3 in a clearing with jumbles of rocks in amongst
the trees. 2 starts off on the grass and has a left turn in a soggy bottomed ditch then between some
logs up to another left hander in the muddy ditch to cross a small fallen tree before 2 lines through the
solid embedded rocks to the finish. Find a good line for the second clean of the day. This one could cut
up and get slippery.

 No 3 is certainly going to be a mark grabber with a whole series of turns and twists and a very difficult
exit up and over some rocks. Some tight turns after the start then the usual "Casper Choice", you find it,
you ride it, and as always I'm not sure whether to follow the obvious line or be more ambitious and
shoot up some rocks. I see Ron Pocher use the rock line and get into trouble so elect the other route
and end up with a very beginner 3 for my effort. Rocks next time!




 

Ron Pocher in a spot of trouble where I want to go on 3



 

Trialsmaster Bob Strohman tries the 2 line wiggle........ not good either!

 The next section is out in the following clearing and doesn't seem to be a problem and I quickly get into
this and find I have either not thought it through or given it enough respect. I remember it from 4 years
ago when I was out on the Yam and had the pilot jet block and the bike coughed to a stop for a 5 on
what was an easy day. Today in and over a springy tree with a kicker, drop into the creek for a 45
crossing, up the mini bank and turn right behind the tree and back through the water, one more mini log
and out. Maybe I'm stiff but I don't seem well positioned on the bike and I'm slow to react when the back
wheel slips coming up the mini bank and a shambolic three goes in the book. As I exit the section I see
Mike Bucholz  take a 5 as his bike slips out underneath him and the back fender gets crushed.......
more respect for this one!

 Two cleans, two 3's, not a great start to the morning. Section 5 starts around the corner and has a
traverse over some big smooth rocks before a very tight 135 left downhill turn with a no escape drop
off if you go too wide. With confidence somewhat dented another shambles in the turn for a dab and a
then another to save things and now the score is on 8.

 Time to get the act in gear and after a talking to the "inner child" he says OK. Section 6 drops off some
concrete into a delightful mud hole and finishes with a straight climb up some slippery rocks on the
bank. Well I like these, and after watching a fine ride from Ed I give the Cub its head and finally get back
on track with a good clean.


 

Ed drops back in the mud for a fine clean on 6

 Section 7 has been used before and starts with an uphill and then traverse over a log before a steepish
drop down into a tight left to jump through yet another of the Casper "V" trees at footrest width. Out of this
and turn right to drop 15" into the concrete ditch or old foundation and run out to the exit. Through the
trees and park the bike for section 8.

 8 is another old tried and true section and doesn't get easier with the passing of time. Cross the river
and beware the rocks, turn right and then a left around a bush before coming back to two fallen trees
with a big rock pile right beside them. Its possible to get around the first tree but then we have to get
over the second which is right on the limits for the old bikes but the Cub makes it.

 Two sections left so back down the meadow to find 9. Drop down to the start in the river and stay left by
the bank for a controlled squirt up a waterfall onto the adverse bank and then a left, right uphill on an ever
steepening bank. Loved it! ......my kind of section.

 Section 10 starts in yesterday's 2 but goes the other way down the creek with two options of where to
get out of the water and get up on the bank before dropping back in for more of the same taking us
down to the muddy left hander and the exit. The first option looks tight between the trees but gives a
good recovery zone on the bank while option 2 is easier to get out of the river but goes straight into the
drop down turn. I go for option 2 and it works for me so 7 cleans and 3 very poor efforts on the others
for a loop total of 8.



 

Marty rumbles the Rigid Goldstar down the river in 10





Trialsmaster Fred trundles the Cub down the PI line of 10





Trialsmaster Dan having wrapped up his Championship tries the 2 line
on the Honda






Man, I love these mud river sections


 Insult to the intelligence ride through on 1 and back up to 2 which predictably has cut up on the turns.
Through the mud and set up for the next hazard when the back wheel slides in the grass? Well that
caught me off guard for a dumb dab!

 This time at 3 I'm going straight up, so in here and it wheelies  taking a dab to get under control but a
lot better ride than last time. Re-walk 4 to see why I made such a "Horlicks" or it last time but put it
down to tiredness and an early dose of stiffness. A bit quick up the bank and another stupid dab for no
reason. Don't much care for Section 5 so decide on a planned dab for the turn and accept the loss.



 

Concentration from John on the 3 line

 6 has got deeper in the mud but blast through and no changes on 7 so good here as well. 8 however,
is a brand new section as a giant rock has appeared from nowhere and has completely blocked the
line around the first fallen tree. 3's and PI's can go directly over the rocks but 1's and 2's have no choice
but to take on the "double". Some clanging 5's on the 3 line and some nasty 5's from the 2 men until Bill
Brokaw clears the double making it look very simple. I follow suit but I'm late on the power and ground
out for a dab on the first and arrive badly at the second for another dab. That being said there were a lot
of 5's here so the 2 will do.

 9 & 10 are very much to my liking so I'm on 6 for this loop and 14 total. At the start scores are already
being posted and it seems my less than brilliant efforts are better than I would have thought as others
are racking up some big scores.



 

Bill drops back in the river early and goes around the rock




Same line from Mike Bucholz





My line is later down the bank and to the left of the rock




Setting up for the exit of 10

 Out on the last loop and through 1 and up to 2 where after a re-walk another nice clean. 3 I know where
I want to go and it works save for a dab right at the exit but judging from the checker's response it was a
good ride. Finally get 4 sorted and wonder how I managed to lose 4 points on what I would consider a
"gimmee" section. 5 I have no intention of trying to clean so accept the planned dab again. Nice cleans
on 6 & 7 so lets see what has happened at 8. Seems someone has rotovated that boulder again and
now its possible to get round and only have the one log to cross. All looks good and I'm up with weight
going forward but the bike doesn't and sits on the engine while I push with all my might to wiggle it
forward for the back wheel to bite. Eventually it does and I escape for the dab. Super rides on 9 and 10
round out the event and a grand total 3 for the loop and 17 for the day.



An "up & down" the leader board weekend for Wolfy




Turning tight for the exit from Jimmy




Slower and higher from Hugh




2 fine wins from Mike and "that" second for a 136 point season and the
MC Expert Championship




The last turn of the last section in the last trial of 2009.  9 rides, 9 wins and
a Trialsmaster duty for 200 points.


TONY DOWN