Thats a wrap of Season 2007 folks
Kona 2007 eh, how about that one. Its been a long weekend as I type this, of course longer for some than others, but Kona has served as a bookend this weekend, for the 2007 Enduro season for Felt Racing, and also for myself and Jason who are stepping aside for the young guns come 2008.
This years 24 hour has moved itself to Forrest, for those of you that haven't been reading this blog, and we chose to attend the event as a 6 man team. In a not so sneaky move, that was the only way that we could convince Gerald to get out from behind the spanners and join us on the course, and I'm sure that after a few days of recovery, he'll be able to look back on it with a wry grin. To say it was a tough course would be an understatement, it was relentless day and night, and I'm sure there was some cusswords uttered around the course by the teams riders, and many more by the solo sickos.
But thats all part of the charm I guess, and without further ado, we're away!!
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With Jack tearing off around the oval chasing the lead moto, through a corner that must be noted was exceptionally dangerous and they were lucky to get everyone though unscathed. As the prologue wound up, it was a sprint between 2 other riders for the cash, which was left in the hand of the race commentator as the winner elected not to grab it.
Out on course for the first of many laps, Jack suffered the ill effects of his excellent start, and came back in after an hour plus, looking not quite as happy as we've seen him... And that began the procession of riders, with Paul, Jason, Mark, Gerald and myself all getting in a lap on the first day course, with Paul holding the fastest lap time as we headed into the night laps.
Temperatures plummeted and with it came the dew, wetting everything including the course, almost like it had been groomed for a BMX race. The laps continued to crank out throughout the night, the 6 man team paying dividends by allowing some sleep for those who desired it, whilst some of the others elected to stay up and social in their last race, really enjoying the experience and the amusement of nameless people doing hilarious things in the middle of the night (guess you had to be there)
Dawn came around as it always did, the equipment all dried out and we headed around to clock up some more laps. The racing part of the event suffered a little through the unfortunate circumstance when the course changes over, possibly due to a first event teething problem, but it saw Gerald doing some very long laps out there, and subsequently we shifted our focus to having fun out on course and enjoying the last round of the season in the sunshine.
As the clock ticked down to the final hours, Jason and I formed a silly pact that we would ride the last 2 laps together, and get a congo line going for the very last lap. Convinced to join for the last lap of both Jason's and my 'career' with Felt Racing, was soloist (think about that!) Andy Bell, Ben Randall, Sam Bach, Jack, Mark, Paul, and big George dropped past for a visit. So we had a great time out on course, bombing the downhills, cheering on the punters that all seemed to ride past us, and generally being very happy about most things. And it was a very enjoyable way to wrap up the Kona 2007 24 hour champs, and on that note, I'm wrapped up and outa here. More during the week as we find it, and get photos.
Results
Packing up as usual, Felt Racing only requires the bare essentials to get them through... Its just that it takes an entire van to fit in the aforementioned essentials!
How's this, Jason holding Pauls bike with his own hardtail.. Thats some long legs that Paul has!
Gez getting ready to head out on course for the first time in anger. For a reasonably shy understated guy, he endured repeated exposure to the microphone with aplomb, so thanks Rich for the plugs, and Gez for putting up with all the rubbish!
Gez heading out on his first lap during the afternoon.
Shrek before the start, which he followed up with a savage start.
This years 24 hour has moved itself to Forrest, for those of you that haven't been reading this blog, and we chose to attend the event as a 6 man team. In a not so sneaky move, that was the only way that we could convince Gerald to get out from behind the spanners and join us on the course, and I'm sure that after a few days of recovery, he'll be able to look back on it with a wry grin. To say it was a tough course would be an understatement, it was relentless day and night, and I'm sure there was some cusswords uttered around the course by the teams riders, and many more by the solo sickos.
But thats all part of the charm I guess, and without further ado, we're away!!
|
\/
With Jack tearing off around the oval chasing the lead moto, through a corner that must be noted was exceptionally dangerous and they were lucky to get everyone though unscathed. As the prologue wound up, it was a sprint between 2 other riders for the cash, which was left in the hand of the race commentator as the winner elected not to grab it.
Out on course for the first of many laps, Jack suffered the ill effects of his excellent start, and came back in after an hour plus, looking not quite as happy as we've seen him... And that began the procession of riders, with Paul, Jason, Mark, Gerald and myself all getting in a lap on the first day course, with Paul holding the fastest lap time as we headed into the night laps.
Temperatures plummeted and with it came the dew, wetting everything including the course, almost like it had been groomed for a BMX race. The laps continued to crank out throughout the night, the 6 man team paying dividends by allowing some sleep for those who desired it, whilst some of the others elected to stay up and social in their last race, really enjoying the experience and the amusement of nameless people doing hilarious things in the middle of the night (guess you had to be there)
Dawn came around as it always did, the equipment all dried out and we headed around to clock up some more laps. The racing part of the event suffered a little through the unfortunate circumstance when the course changes over, possibly due to a first event teething problem, but it saw Gerald doing some very long laps out there, and subsequently we shifted our focus to having fun out on course and enjoying the last round of the season in the sunshine.
As the clock ticked down to the final hours, Jason and I formed a silly pact that we would ride the last 2 laps together, and get a congo line going for the very last lap. Convinced to join for the last lap of both Jason's and my 'career' with Felt Racing, was soloist (think about that!) Andy Bell, Ben Randall, Sam Bach, Jack, Mark, Paul, and big George dropped past for a visit. So we had a great time out on course, bombing the downhills, cheering on the punters that all seemed to ride past us, and generally being very happy about most things. And it was a very enjoyable way to wrap up the Kona 2007 24 hour champs, and on that note, I'm wrapped up and outa here. More during the week as we find it, and get photos.
Results
Packing up as usual, Felt Racing only requires the bare essentials to get them through... Its just that it takes an entire van to fit in the aforementioned essentials!
How's this, Jason holding Pauls bike with his own hardtail.. Thats some long legs that Paul has!
Gez getting ready to head out on course for the first time in anger. For a reasonably shy understated guy, he endured repeated exposure to the microphone with aplomb, so thanks Rich for the plugs, and Gez for putting up with all the rubbish!
Gez heading out on his first lap during the afternoon.
Shrek before the start, which he followed up with a savage start.
posted by Ash Thomas at 8:26 pm
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