Sitting around a week ago on Sunday morning doing something I’m very good at…. drinking coffee I realized there was a small race in Ohio at a very famous (to the locals) placed called Vultures Knob. Spinning in my chair to see the clock in the kitchen I then came to the conclusion that I could still drink coffee for another hour before I would need to leave to make the start. “Excellent” I thought!
Not so long ago back in 2001 shortly after purchasing my first bike a few friends persuaded me to try racing. It was a cold day in early March when we packed up and drove to this exact place. It was snowing during our
drive & continued to do so during the race. I still remember having to pedal one full lap and how much it felt like a short sprint. Sure it hurt, I mean I had just started riding but with only 6 miles of racing you simply went red line the entire time leaving nothing in reserve for another lap because it wasn’t needed. I won the beginner race that day and came home with a lovely Pine tree hand dug from the property by Dr. Knob himself. (Dr Knob- gray shirt center)
Moving back to the present….. I usually don’t go back here much due to the features of the course that sometimes cause some pretty bad crashes and bottle necking. Recently I had heard that CAMBA and a few good men have been cutting alternate routes around these to help spread people out and offer a safer trail. My mind was made up I packed the car and off I went. Since the series is new again this year it hasn’t drawn a large crowd but looking at the results it still manages to pull in more than a few of the fastest guys in Ohio depending on the other events happening the same weekends.
I arrived to find a more than I expected including two of my teammates from Area 106 Steve Twining & Whitney Jones both ready to ride. I put the kit on and chose a weapon for a quick pre-ride with Steve. It was my 2006 Rig equipped with the new G2 fork but only a short distance in while trying to follow Steve I realized I had better switch up to the Superfly if I wanted to stay with these guys on the open flats.
Dr. Knob in tradition started the race with a Duck Call and we were off. Positions changed a few times
between 4 of us before we had reached the half lap point. At that time Steve & Whitney had a small gap on me which they maintained for the remainder of the first lap. As we approached the start/finish line I had worked past Whitney & back up with Steve. We rode the next half lap wheel to wheel before I passed him and worked a small gap to hang on to the win.
Its always a good time racing with Steve and even a better time just riding with him. His control of the bike in the tight turns and switchbacks leaves me wishing for the same skills. I notice quickly that I loose ground in the tight stuff but quickly make it up by having a bit more power (only for now because once Steve gets back in shape there’s no hope for me)
Anyway the day was a great time seeing friends & racing. The weather held out and the storms never generated any threat until I was well on my way home.
–stork
