O.K. so every once in a while I get a wild hair. More than once in a while depending on who you ask. The latest started a month or so ago. I had an upcoming trip to Kansas for my Lovely Wife's class reunion. One day later my Wife and I were off to Mazatlan for a friends wedding. All of this adds up to two things, 1. No motorcycle riding and 2. large consumption of alcohol. I decided in all my wisdom that upon my arrival home from these trips I would enter a 2 hour Hare Scrambles. I, never wanting to torture only my self, soon recruited two of my riding partners into taking part in this venture. One of my riding partners is well aware of my wild hairs and has in turn participated in several in the past. Please note that racing is usually not in his best interest. He has found a way to break some body part in previous races. The other friend just recently returned to riding after a 23 year lay off and has never participated in any motorcycle race in his life. This would be my first off-road race since a National in 2002.

Upon returning from Mexico I incorporate the help of World Famous Corona drinker Jayson Maynard to walk me through the course and help me pre-run the week-end before the race. The night prior we drink to our hearts content and upon waking decide to travel to Grand Junction. We make our way to Junction and pre-run one lap. This gives me a good feeling of knowing the course but the unfortunate feeling that I am in no shape for a two hour race. I return to Montrose and make no announcement to fellow riders as to the difficulty of what lies ahead. When asked about the course I assure Gene and Heath how fun it is and how much they will like it.

The night before the race all gather in my garage and Gary Younger (past participant in wild hair "13 unpaved passes in one day") volunteers to drive us in his 24' trailer as he is injured and cannot race. Maynard calls while loading and informs me that you can pre-run the morning of the race and that practice begins at 6:45 am. Gene and Heath decide we would have to leave too early to get to practice and decide they need no practice.

Morning comes and we are off to race. The temp is cool and the mood positive. We arrive and get signed up. Gene signs up in the over 45 Amateur and Heath in the under 45 amateur. I make the decision to sign up in the 40 plus expert class.

We watch the beginners and under 16 year-olds run their one hour race and prepare for our race. We head to the staging area and riders meeting. Maynard is in the line ahead of me and my confidence is high but my expectations are low.

The light turns green and the race begins. With the electric start on my 2008 KLX450R I find myself running at the front of my class. Immediately my arms pump and the dust begins to thicken but thanks to the pre run I have a good idea of the course's direction and try to settle into a good pace. I find a pace and begin to look ahead at who I can chase and look behind to see who is chasing. This obviously goes on for hours so enough with the play by play. The real story is the increase in arm pump, the increasing depth of the obstacles and the burning desire to have the race end. I mentally prepare myself to do 4 laps but hope and pray my lap times are slow enough to get lapped and to only have to do 3 laps. No such luck. I pull in after the 3rd lap only to be rewarded with a pat on the back and the opportunity to do 4 laps. With hands bleeding and my ass growing heavier by the minute I am finding it hard to stand any longer but I like to ride and to challenge myself and suck it up and put my head down. As I push along I find riders in the desert stopped and resting. Riders mentally and physically broken. The desert is taking its toll and I am beginning to gain positions. This fuels my tanks and drives me to finish. The finish line is drawing closer and the end is in sight. I cross the finish line and work my way to the trailer. I find my team mates at the trailer. They had the good fortune of 3 laps and both finished well in their classes. Gene 68th overall and Heath 70th overall; good job boys! Mr. Maynard finished 1st in the 40 under expert class and 5th overall. He had a great week-end.

I'm exhausted after 6th in class and 30th overall. Happy to have competed and happy to make it to the end. I hesitate long enough to reflect and then, in a lapse, to ask myself what next? Then I remember I have an appointment with Verle Nelson in January to take a photo in the Utah Desert.

Next wild hair somewhere in Utah, sometime in January!