50ccMoM
05-16-2008, 09:33 AM
This year the RiderDown Foundation has been very fortunate to have a booth set up at every GNCC race. We have Racer Productions to thank for this! Without there support the Passion Tour would not be possible. Our wonderful volunteer Doug B. has been at every GNCC spreading the word,taking donations and selling our wares. Thank you Doug !
I have been looking forward to attending my first GNCC ever since I attended the GNCC banquet back in November. My plan was to leave early Friday morning and arrive in Millfield, OH Friday afternoon. Of course, that didn't happen. I didn't actually get to leave until Friday around 5pm. I drove late into the night and had to stop in West Virginia. Now, my map-quest directions led me to believe I would be there in just over six hours. It was almost midnight and I had around 200 miles to go ! :roll: It was raining and foggy. My Suburban had already burned $200 in gas driving up and down all those darn mountains ! :shock:
Saturday morning comes and after I satisfy my craving for French toast with strawberries, I'm on the road! I'm feeling good,im excited and I can't wait to meet Doug ! Wait a minute, what ? We have a blue light special in the rear view ! I pull over and manage to drive away with a warning ! Phew ! I haven't had a ticket in over ten years ! Finally, I'm in Ohio. Just over 100 miles to go !
I see the sign for my "budget" motel. It reads 3.5 miles. I decide to check in before I head to the track. I can still make the start of the afternoon Quad race! Uh Oh ! Whats this ? POPO again ? I know he's not pulling me over ! Yes, he is pulling me over ! Darn it ! I just know he's going to find out about my warning back in WV. :cry: After taking my information I sit and wait and wait and wait! The POPO comes back to my vehicle and hands me a warning for speeding and a fine for an expired drivers license. :shock: Ooops! This is becoming a very expensive road trip. I check into my motel and head to the track. So far my directions haven't failed me. Single lane dirt roads, cliffs on both sides and 45 minutes later I'm stuck in a trailer/camper jam!!! :yikes Tensions are high and people are out of their vehicles. Everyone is trying to see who will squeeze by or go over a cliff. There is a woman approaching ,I'm hoping she has some good news and she has beer ! Nope, she is just a local trying to get home. She has called the Sheriff and she is not happy about having to carry her beer up hill both ways. Well, I'm not sleeping in this darn truck. Somehow ,I have to get out of here. I have missed the Afternoon race by this time. I throw it in reverse ! I signal for all men,women,children and dogs to get the heck out of my way ! After what seems like forever I get turned around in the right direction. I guess I will try again tomorrow.
Sunday morning brings rain,thunder,lightening and WIND ! I get to the track and Doug has gone home. They left Saturday after the Quads were finished. Sorry Doug ! The youth class finishes. The announcer tells anyone that can leave to do so. The weather is only going to get worse. A warning to take down easy ups goes out.
The morning race begins. Together,with my new friend Robin,im helping pit for one of our RiderDown team riders,Eddie. Remember, this is all new to me. The wind turns our umbrellas inside out and the mud swallows my boots up to my knees ! Here comes the HALE ! Hale the size of dimes is falling from the sky. Waiting,waiting... waiting for our rider.... is that him? We can't tell, there is so much mud. Here he comes ! Ok, now what ? :shock: He pulls off the track,no goggles and only one bark buster. Eddie is in 4th place. He is yelling for my shirt.... what ? Im not giving you my shirt ! Are you crazy ? I see someone coming out of the corner of my eye. A stranger,he hands me a towel,some water and a brush. I'm suppose to clean Eddies grips. Now, I get it ! :oops: A fresh pair of gloves and he is off. Eddie finishes in 3rd and is now 2nd in the points in his class.:cool I forgot to add that my first attempt at pitting for Eddie I did indeed jump onto the track and stop the wrong rider. :shock: I apologized but, I was still given an angry roost in return.
The pro's wrapped things up for the day.David Knight was quoted saying ,it was the worst conditions he has ever raced in. I haven't decided if these men and women are just super tough or totally crazy. I guess you would have to be ALOT of both.
I started my long drive back to Pennsylvania but, not before I managed to get my Suburban stuck. After a few not so mannerly offers of help, I found my way to solid ground. All by myself !!! (It's a woman thing)
Ten long hours later I was finally back in my own bed. I can't wait until my next GNCC. Maybe next time I will even make it in time to meet Doug. :cool
I have been looking forward to attending my first GNCC ever since I attended the GNCC banquet back in November. My plan was to leave early Friday morning and arrive in Millfield, OH Friday afternoon. Of course, that didn't happen. I didn't actually get to leave until Friday around 5pm. I drove late into the night and had to stop in West Virginia. Now, my map-quest directions led me to believe I would be there in just over six hours. It was almost midnight and I had around 200 miles to go ! :roll: It was raining and foggy. My Suburban had already burned $200 in gas driving up and down all those darn mountains ! :shock:
Saturday morning comes and after I satisfy my craving for French toast with strawberries, I'm on the road! I'm feeling good,im excited and I can't wait to meet Doug ! Wait a minute, what ? We have a blue light special in the rear view ! I pull over and manage to drive away with a warning ! Phew ! I haven't had a ticket in over ten years ! Finally, I'm in Ohio. Just over 100 miles to go !
I see the sign for my "budget" motel. It reads 3.5 miles. I decide to check in before I head to the track. I can still make the start of the afternoon Quad race! Uh Oh ! Whats this ? POPO again ? I know he's not pulling me over ! Yes, he is pulling me over ! Darn it ! I just know he's going to find out about my warning back in WV. :cry: After taking my information I sit and wait and wait and wait! The POPO comes back to my vehicle and hands me a warning for speeding and a fine for an expired drivers license. :shock: Ooops! This is becoming a very expensive road trip. I check into my motel and head to the track. So far my directions haven't failed me. Single lane dirt roads, cliffs on both sides and 45 minutes later I'm stuck in a trailer/camper jam!!! :yikes Tensions are high and people are out of their vehicles. Everyone is trying to see who will squeeze by or go over a cliff. There is a woman approaching ,I'm hoping she has some good news and she has beer ! Nope, she is just a local trying to get home. She has called the Sheriff and she is not happy about having to carry her beer up hill both ways. Well, I'm not sleeping in this darn truck. Somehow ,I have to get out of here. I have missed the Afternoon race by this time. I throw it in reverse ! I signal for all men,women,children and dogs to get the heck out of my way ! After what seems like forever I get turned around in the right direction. I guess I will try again tomorrow.
Sunday morning brings rain,thunder,lightening and WIND ! I get to the track and Doug has gone home. They left Saturday after the Quads were finished. Sorry Doug ! The youth class finishes. The announcer tells anyone that can leave to do so. The weather is only going to get worse. A warning to take down easy ups goes out.
The morning race begins. Together,with my new friend Robin,im helping pit for one of our RiderDown team riders,Eddie. Remember, this is all new to me. The wind turns our umbrellas inside out and the mud swallows my boots up to my knees ! Here comes the HALE ! Hale the size of dimes is falling from the sky. Waiting,waiting... waiting for our rider.... is that him? We can't tell, there is so much mud. Here he comes ! Ok, now what ? :shock: He pulls off the track,no goggles and only one bark buster. Eddie is in 4th place. He is yelling for my shirt.... what ? Im not giving you my shirt ! Are you crazy ? I see someone coming out of the corner of my eye. A stranger,he hands me a towel,some water and a brush. I'm suppose to clean Eddies grips. Now, I get it ! :oops: A fresh pair of gloves and he is off. Eddie finishes in 3rd and is now 2nd in the points in his class.:cool I forgot to add that my first attempt at pitting for Eddie I did indeed jump onto the track and stop the wrong rider. :shock: I apologized but, I was still given an angry roost in return.
The pro's wrapped things up for the day.David Knight was quoted saying ,it was the worst conditions he has ever raced in. I haven't decided if these men and women are just super tough or totally crazy. I guess you would have to be ALOT of both.
I started my long drive back to Pennsylvania but, not before I managed to get my Suburban stuck. After a few not so mannerly offers of help, I found my way to solid ground. All by myself !!! (It's a woman thing)
Ten long hours later I was finally back in my own bed. I can't wait until my next GNCC. Maybe next time I will even make it in time to meet Doug. :cool