RideForum.NET

Hey,

My daughter thinks she wants to ride in a hare scramble so we are going to go to the Walters Ranch, MO HS on 5/25 (memorial day). http://www.fmhsc.com/ Is anyone else planning on going? We are probably going to camp out Sunday night. We will see when we get there if she actually rides the race. She isn't scared of anything and will probably be on my 450exc. I'm the one who's hesitant and don't know if I should let her. If Anyone else is going to be there it would be nice to visit/watch/race with ya!

Mike

Hey, Slim!

I plan to pack my tent and bag on the Vstrom (650) and head out Fri eve to return Monday late afternoon. My loose plan is to head towards Mountain View, AR, and I have a route designed that should be fantastic. I'd love to make meeting you at Walters Ranch on Monday part of my adventure, but I'm not sure I can make it work with the miles and schedule because I'd hoped to be near Cass, AR on Sun night to hang out with Kyle who will be riding the Mill Creek trail system with his wife and a friend's family. (Polaris Ranger side-by-sides).

For me to get from Cass to Walter's Ranch going the fun route I would want to take may be 7+ hours. By that time, she'd be done racing probably...and I'd still have to ride home. I'll see how it goes. If I decide to or need to skip seeing Kyle on Sun night, then I could head further N before camping Sun night.

Hope she has a safe and fun race.

Mike, Walters is reeeeal rocky in some sections, and it's top gear pinned in others. Not that your daughter would ride WFO, but as a 1st hare scramble for a newer rider, that's a pretty aggressive track choice. The Jeeps Massacre, Milford, upcoming Quenemo, even Carbondale would be good 1st timers. Even the Thunderhill BOK race later this year. Not to mention, there are some national caliber racers in the Missouri series that will no doubt be at this race and they don't ride for the fun of it, (impatient and not afraid to "park you" if you are in their way). I would highly encourage you or someone to ride "escort" with her for a couple races, (like Joe H' did with his son) before throwing her to the dogs all alone. Not trying to discourage you/her. Just hope the first experience is a good one. If you go, run your tire pressure a bit high to avoid pinch flats in the rocks and get as much protective gear on her you can.
Good luck

-Harvey

Thanks for the info TF. I will try to get her to ride her first someplace else. Do they allow riding there for fun? I see they will allow campers all weekend so I thought maybe they have a riding area. I'll try to talk her into just going someplace to practice first.

Mike, usually they don't allow riding on the course the day or two before the race because they are out on the course setting up the track. You could confirm this on the FMHS site. The Thunderhill "Best of Kansas" race later this year might be a good choice for her. Each rider must race the HS course, the MX course and the big flat-track course. The HS race I believe only lasts 45 minutes and the course is not too long or difficult. The MX race is between 3 to 7 laps depending on class, and the flat-track/TT is about the same. You take a break between the different races. It's much less demanding than a 2 hr HS. Also, the classes are smaller and run seperately, thus, she wouldn't be out on the course with 175 other riders at the same time. She could experience three different race diciplines all in one day in what would probably be a safer format for a newer rider. My daughter is now 25 y/o and I taught her how to ride on my RXC400. She enjoyed riding on the street but never really cared to go in the woods, (probably a good thing). I applaud your daughter for wanting to try a race and you for supporting her.
Take care.

-Harvey

when is the thill bok race? sounds fun

Thunderhill Best of Kansas race is November 1. The next Harescramble is June 7 at carbondale. That is a fairly easy track unless it's muddy. It would be a good first race. Sedalia, MO is june 27.
The best and most fun spectator races is Drexel, MO on July 4th.
To learn more go to www.fmhsc.com. All information and directions at that site.

Slim, so did you go or not? I am betting from this conversation and the miserable drizzle all day Sun & Mon that you did not make the trip.

I put 950 miles on the Vstrom and although it rained on me for 2 days solid, I really enjoyed myself.

We did not go. We did pick up an 06 Husky te-250 near KC on Sunday. We drove to school creek orv and camped that night and rode most of the next day. That te-250 is a great little bike! We got rain on the way to School creek but none while we were there. Glad to hear you got a good ride in on the v-strom.