Smithy1 > Smithy1's Blog Posts > Vegas to Reno - race day (part 1)

August 26, 2008 04:52

2:30 am the alarm goes off. Who’s idea was this anyway? We get dressed, pack up our things and head down to the lobby. A short line to check out and then we head out to the truck for our 2 hour ride to the start in Beatty, NV. Really long lonely road heading north out of Las Vegas. I am driving and my crew quiet (not fully awake yet). This drive allows me lots of time to reflect on all the anticipation for this race. It even crosses my mind that I may be a bit over my head on this adventure. But yet I am really excited to get on the bike. Finally we arrive at the off load area just north of Beatty.

The scene here feels a bit more familiar, not unlike an enduro race. Only bikes and quads have a 6 am staging time. The rest of the field (trucks/buggies) has a 10:30 am staging time. While unloading the bike and gearing up a few other ADV inmates stop by and introduce themselves, all very friendly.

The sun is just barely trying to illuminate the valley. The temperature is a pleasant 65-70 deg. A big contrast to the 85 deg temp. in Vegas at 3 am. By 6 am I am fully geared up and the bike is ready. I now must ride away from my crew to the staging area about a half mile away. They wish me luck and plan to meet me again at pit #3.

In the staging line I am feeling much more at ease. The bikes are lined up by class and I am in the back with all the other Ironman Amateurs. We talk to each other, swap stories and look over each other’s bikes. A lot of Honda’s, a few KTM’s, a Yamaha. Even a couple of 2-strokes. One notable competitor is this guy on a circa 1980 XR with lots of mis-matched parts! Later in the day I find myself riding with this guy a lot. After what seems like an hour in the staging line it is my “minute” to pull up to the starting line. Cassey Folks (V2R organizer/promoter) puts his arm across my shoulders and tells me to ride safe and he will see me at the finish line. Cassey does this for all 300+ competitors. Green light appears on the tree and I am off. First time I have ever layed a tire tread west of the Mississippi!

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