CASPER AHRMA VINTAGE TRIALS 2010 DAY 1


  After a 10 hour drive we pull into Walmart at Casper and join another 12 night stoppers also parked
for some rest. No wonder the RV business has been poor this year as people are free camping where
ever they can.



Pulling in, sun rise Saturday morning


 Saturday morning and away early to complete the last 20 miles or so to the start. Weather perfect and
the track is hard and dry as we bump our way along the trail to the start area. Dan has kindly reserved
our spot and we are soon established and level. Usual questions at sign up and all the "when and
where's" answered time to unload and prep a bike.



Ready for action

 We will start around 0130 when the modern bikes have finished their first portion of the Mosteller Cup.
We have 12 sections today running a clockwise loop down and around the lower river. Section one is
being checked by Colorado star Keith Wineland and is not the "friendliest" opener for an AHRMA event.
Just up from the start about 100 yards into the meadow we get down into the river and have multiple
choices (a common Casper practice) either up the bed with mud rocks and water or swing wider and
take on either a single log or a double to set up for a 3-4 steep root infested bank which is already
covered in mud from the morning riders.



The tough opener of Section 1


 Brenda will be late out as she is smoking a turkey for tonight's pot luck so I sit and watch and take a
few pics. From what I can see the log crossings certainly give you a head on attack at the bank but
staying in the stream looks just as good to me. Marks are being lost big time with a lot of 5's and a
sprinkle of 3's. I see 2 good cleans here from Trialsmaster Fred and his main opposition young 
(relative AHRMA term) John Dowson. Even big Dave's BSA makes it through with a bit of assistance
but some of the modern bikes spin to a stop. I see Eugene spinning and legging the Bult so I need a
3 or better.



Dave crashes the Gold Star up the bank for 2



Modern bike rider spins to a stop on the roots




Hugh gets up the bank but takes a dab by my foot


 My turn comes and I stay in the river and the Cub sails through making little of it. Back in the sunshine
and now up and over the hill to No 2 which is deepish mud but a very simple section and I would be
cross if I lost any here.

 Down the path and on to find Alan Duke at 3. An adverse bank section in loose crumbles then downhill
sharp left to an "S" turn before the exit. One or two silly dabs being lost here and I make a simple
section look difficult but escape for the clean. Alan is a busy man this week riding the modern in both
days of the Mosteller Cup, minding for his daughter Sara for all 5 events this weekend then off with
daughter and the rest of the US teams to act as minder for both the women's and men's teams in
Poland on Friday. Good luck!

 Around the loop to 4 which was a newbie last year. A sort of fallen tree that has regrown lying on it's
side, enter and over the main trunk, 180 tight left turn then through two upright branches, tight right turn
onto grass and soft dirt adverse to the exit. No mistakes this year so on to find 5.

 Section 5 is new this year and has a variety of lines for all classes. On my line I can enter and turn tight
left to go over a smallish log and then full power up the hill and ride along the adverse bank before
turning back downhill around the last tree and meander back to the checker, or take a lower and
perhaps safer line turning lower down on the bank and then being forced to run the slower uphill
adverse to the last tree and make a 180 around that. The lower line looks fraught with potential
problems so I go full bore on the upper line and it rides nicely for the clean.

 Over at 6 I see several big names in trouble with Ed and Dan Straka both having a 5 ! We run in on the
uphill adverse and take a left turn to cross some tree work and then exit in a looping right, down and up,
adverse on soft dirt. The Cub does all that is asked and now half way round with still a clean card.



Ed lost in the tree maze


 At 7, I see someone has picked all the apples! Never mind I'll find some tomorrow. 2 starts here with
3,4 and PI staying up on the bank and 1 and 2 dropping into the river then positioning for a steepish
uphill gulley to get up on the bank to enter a downhill right left around the apple trees. Very easy to drop
a few here, either prodding on the uphill adverse gulley or going too fast prior to the tricky downhill
sweeping exit. All goes well here.

 8 is a series of turns through the trees culminating in a final log crossing and then a full 180 left tight
turn to the exit. It seems the line up on the log crossing is critical....... all goes well.

 Section 9 is back in the river and mud and has been an old favorite over the years. Today we enter on
the flatter side, cross the river including the slippery underwater log then into a tight uphill climbing turn
to the left and the checker. I see several mistakes here including a few 5's on the underwater log by
going too slow. I think I have it sorted ..... but, as I cross the log I think I put the power on too early as the
back wheel spins which I compensate for with a knee out bit of body English. My knee hits the bank
and forward momentum drives me into it !  I'm stuck, I can't get my foot off the peg for the dab as the
forward motion has my leg compressed and I can't lever myself off with my elbow ?  A few expletives
and I resign myself to a dumb feet up 5 as I can go NOWHERE !


 I fume my way back to the start area and find 10 down in the river. Another multiple lines job but
basically enter, cross the river and go around the big rock then either take on a direct attack on more
logs and rocks or pick a path in the river bed to finish on the mud area and set up for the final crossing
and uphill turning exit. Another nice clean to make up for the dumb 5 !



Mike takes on the logs and rocks line




Dan, complete with apehangers on the Ossa comes round the rock




Safely round the last turn

 Out in the sunlight and time to see what "Lego Land" has to offer. Not sure what it is about man made
obstacles, or whether I have had bad memories of this one but whatever the reason I always seem to
get in a muddle here. Maybe just poor planning? Today is a right hand run crossing the steepish table
top just after entry then either out wide and turn back over a high log or turn tighter and take it on directly.
From there wander through the concrete making a mental note of your own tire track and cross a series
of three more logs before the exit. Over the table top and complete the turn but find myself at an awkward
angle for the log and need 2 to get over it. Poor position at the last log and there goes the last prod for a
classic 3. 



Off the table top of Lego Land

 The last section is my favorite from last year riding up the waterfall. Again I'm seeing people getting into
all kinds of a mess with Dan Straka pushing the Ossa (new toy) out followed by Ed doing much the
same. I rocket up it and for little known reasons take a tippee toe dab at the top of the hill............. dumb!



Jim on the 3 line of Waterfall in hunter orange




A good line up the Waterfall

 Loop one over, 9 nice cleans, 9 not so nice marks lost! ..... but it has taken nearly 2 hours to get round
with all the queues. Time to come out of Impulse and set Warp drive! Race round the first 7 sections
punching cleans everywhere. Nothing has changed at 8 but I manage to go too slow over the final log
but find I have nowhere to dab and the whole shooting match ends up on the ground for yet another 5.

 At 9 I make it look easy and I'm still cross with myself for making such a mess of it last time. 10 goes
well again and now rethink Lego Land. Off the table top and turn tighter and over the big log, out and
turn and over the second log but perhaps too fast and I can't make the last turn and I'm forced to take
on the final log with it's branches up against the big concrete block. I make it over with a lot of legwork
for yet another horrid 3.



Too fast over the second logs ending up crossing by the red tape

 Back at the waterfall I do exactly the same as last time and take another non required dab. Same
score as last time 9 cleans, 9 marks lost! Well that only took 30 mins so slow down and try a little
harder.



Mister "tippee toe" at the top of Waterfall


 Last loop at 1 and need a correction just before the root bank so arrive a little slower and pay the price
with a castrating 3 on the bank! Man that hurt, but onward cleaning everything to 7. Forced to take an itty
bit dab on the gulley from an off line approach, but now clean 8 and 9 where I had previously had those
goofy 5's. Clean 10 for the last time and back to Lego Land where I take a dab on the big log and a
safety just before the last one. This section has cost me 8 marks and I should have cleaned it all 3
times with more thought.



Rick Daniel en route to another MC Exp win



Nice safe line through the water




Turning for the exit


 The waterfall for the last time and the checker says its about time I cleaned it so I oblige without the
dumb dab at the top. Well only 6 on this loop with 4 lost on sections I had cleaned twice. Never mind,
apart from the two 5's I would have been reasonably pleased with the ride so after everything I finished
on 24 with Eugene back on 48. The star ride of the day was John Dowson with a CLEAN CARD !!!!!



The "clean" at last !

 Pot Luck time and stories a'plenty, lots of good food and Brenda's smoked turkey is gone in a flash.
Many, many beers later its a well earned bedtime and get the battered and sore body ready to endure
the early start while the modern guys enjoy a lie in until their lunchtime battle begins.



Pot Luck begins........beer, wine and stories flow


TONY DOWN