Virgil City Race Report from the 700's

[gcat7]

Great weather, great track. A lot of effort went into this one before, during & after the race. Thanks Todd & the gang for a grand weekend.

On to the report from the 700 club...

Well the weather sure was nicer than my start. Bike didn't fire & off went the whole 700 club. After a few choice expletives, got it fired & dead last into the woods. I wasted no time keeping the throttle pinned and laid down a good lap one crossing in a surprising second place. Chased Ryan Walker for a few laps and finally caught him lap 3 when he turned to see who was behind him... fortunately for me Ryan stopped to make a quick mud angel at that moment & into the 1 spot I went.

Thinking to myself...man feeling pretty good going dead last to 1 and held the position thru lap 6. I can't tell you the dismay of not seeing the checker flag waving @ the end of lap 5 but we had 5 more minutes. (I felt like Forrest Gump when he got tired of running and went home.) Anyway I was in cruise mode and pretty beat. I went upside down turtle in a mud hole and while starring at the sky for a few seconds, I thought better get up. Now riding in slow motion, low & behold here comes John Gordon. I can't lie, I was beat but he passed me on a my bobble & the race was back on. Tire to tire thru the Rockville then @ the high speed mud pit, John went around wide, I hammered straight mud hole "Pinned" for the pass. Ha, ha Back in 1st until the A-B hill. we both went B...I went low, John when high and he got 1 spot. I was on his tire again some 600 guy (you know who you are) decided to make a race between us 3 and got in between us--- almost sending me into an oak re-entering the small section of trees...that was not cool at all and it affected a very close race. Blasted up the start hill, I had to fight to catch John in the last section of trees before the finish but did so finishing 1 second behind him for the 2 spot.

Great spirited race had a good time. Thank you all for the event.

[orangecrush]

Wow Greg, you have come along way. I didn't think you could be a continder this early in the season. I'm keeping an eye on you. Congratulations on a hard fought second place finish.

I don't know for sure when I will return, maybe towards end of season or next year.

[gcat7]

Thanks Eric had fun. The short fat kid had a little game but there were some fast guys - Shane 500's now, Phil, Ryan, Eric L and a few others including yourself not racing that day so I'm sure the outcome may have been different if all in, who knows. Now if I could just get a decent start

Looks like you added a digit to your plate Eric? what's up?

Got give a shout out to Scott Spears who put together the 270 kit for me. Great guy who really knows his stuff if you need any bike work done. Thanks Scott. His Dakar stories & pics are fantastic too.

[orangecrush]

Your the first to notice the extra digit. Well since the point chase rules has been in effect. I thought about going back to the vet 40 class just race for trophy, not points. Besides there is one guy in that class I want to race against again. Jim Presley and I are training partners. I thought I could give him a little push to help him be faster and in return Jim could help me be faster in tight woods.

I don't plan on updating my engine size. I have thought about a 420 kit. If I was going for a 450 kit, I just go ahead and do a 480 instead. That would require a full overhaul.

[jgordo]

I'm hurt G-Cat...I didn't make your list of fast guys in the 700 class . But you now have at least 2 races without me!! I had a great time Sunday. When I caught Phillip I was pressuring him pretty hard and he had a bad get off. I decided after that when I caught up to you and Ryan I would just hold back some. The last thing I want to do is cause someone to get hurt. I was kind of wondering were you were going when you took a sharp left downhill on the B line! For a minute I was afraid you knew a faster line! It's always fun racing with friends, especially when we are all still pushing hard after two hours and fifteen minutes! After that 600 rider almost ate it in front of 200 feet from the checkers...whew! I thought we were all going to pile up right there!! You had a great race and I fully expect to see you win a couple this year!

[gcat7]

John you are a fast guy but you were there so kinda figured you knew that. Ha ha. Last lap I had no jam until you went by, that was fun and gave a burst of energy at the end for sure. A big rock kicked me down lower in the B-line than I wanted to go and another kicked me even lower in the hole- that cost me a bit but that 600 dude is who decided to go bar-to-bar into the trees with me set me off our pace quite a bit. If I didn't back off, it would have been death via oak.

It's all fun, long race for sure & I was whipped. Had to tell Todd no sweep for me Race 2

[Spooner]

My race didn't go so awesome

I did get a good start-4th into the first turn and picked one more off going into the woods. Lost a couple spots on the first lap and stacked it up once pretty good but didn't get too banged up. Rode pretty good the first two laps and stayed in 5th. On the third lap I pretty much blew myself up on one of the long technical climbs as I got stuck for a second and had to push part of the way up. My skinny wimpy arms are not up to that task so I was hurtin! I kinda got back in the groove but on the 4th lap I was just done. I let anyone that came up on me by and just worked to get to the finish line. I stopped after that lap which was about 15 minutes early but I just had nothing left. I don't know what it is about virgil but I can never finish there but I never pull off early anywhere else. Its just brutally rough and the long climbs take it out of you. I also apparently bottomed the shock pretty good as the preload collar skipped a bunch of teeth so I was riding a lowrider by the end I guess the plastic ones that come stock on the KTM's are known to do this so I have an aluminum one on the way.

All I can say is I'm looking forward to Big Springs now. Much less rock and it flows so well.

[orangecrush]

Spooner you just need to come down to Walters Ranch and do some play riding with friends. It could help you out a lot. I know it's a long drive for you. Bring a buddy or two. I just want to see you finish top three sometimes.

Good luck next race.

[Spooner]

You and me both!

I really just have so little free time so I prefer to race instead of play ride. My wife finishes her undergrad in a few weeks and starts her masters right after but the course load will go down so that might help me a little.