The Firestone DH race is on!

[Zark]

OK, I just got off the phone with Mike Hecker of RideSB and he has gotten the green light to hold the DH race again. This almost did not happen due to liability concerns after the TBB/Snow Summit fiasco. So we are VERY lucky to have it coming back.

Firestone Walker AMBC MTB Weekend, April 22-24, 2005
Mark your calenders!

I have some requests though:
1. Do NOT poach the course! Riding it ANY time other than the sanctioned race or practice time is a liability and will endanger this race's future.
2. We need help staffing the race, I need volunteers for course marshalling and driving the shuttle vehicles. If yourself or someone you know will be attending and not racing please contact me or Mike Hecker about volunteering.

I will be updating you on the course description and condition as soon as I can. Hope to see you out there!

Vivá la Race!
Noah

http://www.ridesb.com/

[dexterq20]

Sweet! Thanks for the info Noah. You know I'll be there!

[merrrrjig]

SICK but where is this place?

[sleepinggiant]

Good to hear it. How do you think the SX would be for that course?

[Helius]

This event is in Santa Barbara right?

[konabiker]

Good to hear it. How do you think the SX would be for that course?
Perfect. A short travel mountain cross bike would have ruled that course last year.
I'm really stoked to see that the race is back on again. Last year it was the most fun track I raced. Zark, will people be allowed to help with building and such this year? I know last year a lot of guys were up there on the weekends helping out. Thanks a lot for helping getting it going again.

[Zark]

Its in Santa Barbara County, near Los Olivos in the wine country, directions are in the link I posted.

Eric, your SX will kick ass there, no worries.

Help with construction? Well I'm working on that detail konabiker. I'll pm you when I know more, but I don't expect we'll be doing much on it until the weeks right before the race.

[bikeninja]

Yea. That course was a lot of fun. really short but still a blast the whole way down. I'm stoked.

[hecktone]

Hey everyone –

It’s that time again the 6th Annual Firestone Walker MTB Weekend is only 2 and a half months away! The event Date is April 23rd & 24th.

This year we will have four events:

1. The Firestone Walker AMBC/CA State Series Cross Country on Sunday the 24th.
2. The Ridesb.com Short Track XC Saturday Morning the 23rd.
3. The Coastal Tree CA State Series Endurance XC Sunday the 24th.
4. The Chamberlin Ranch AMBC Downhill on Saturday the 23rd.

The info and entry forms are in the process of being uploaded to www.ridesb.com.

I have good news for all the great Downhiller’s out there. After first hearing of the situation at Snow Summit our gracious property owners and title sponsor told me that we needed to avoid doing the Chamberlin Ranch DH. But after negotiating with the powers that be yesterday I was able to convince them that we should do the DH on April 23rd.

But there are some requirements and guidelines that the race organization needs to meet:

1. That there be no riding of the DH course prior to the race. Riding the XC is fine because there would not be any shuttle truck dusting up the Firestone's house.
2. We only "fix" the downhill course the weekend (Sea Otter) and week prior to the event. With such a short period of time to work with that week we will need a lot of volunteers to help. (I'm going to try to get us in earlier than that)
3. That we have enough EMT's on the course to aid with injuries. (We already have Dr. Dave … we need 3 more!)
4. That all the metal posts are removed so that there is no possibility that racers will hit one. We can use the typical wooden stakes and course tape to line the course.
5. That we use the DH course for the XC on Sunday as well. (With wide course ribboning the less technical XC of riders will be allowed to go around the jumps and such.)
6. That we get a trail built that leads from the access road to the top of the DH via a parallel route along Foxen Canyon Road. (We can work on this now.)
7. Both property owners wish to underscore the fact that this event is held 100% on private land and wish to see a minimal amount of riding activity prior to the race.

So here ya go everyone, we need people who want to see the DH event happen to step up before, during, and after the event as course repair and trail builders, volunteers on race day, and to aid with clean up after the race.

We also need Volunteers for all the other activities over the weekend.

To volunteer just call me at (805) 563-0198 or email hecktone@cox.net, we have plenty of jobs available, and I will be furnishing a list shortly.

Please participate in the largest competitive bicycling event in Santa Barbara County for 5 years running!

Enjoy the ride,

Mike Hecker – Owner & Event Director

SG Production / www.ridesb.com

Organizer of fine cycling events on the Central Coast since 1998

PS: If you have not signed the online petition to build a Velodrome here in the SB area get with it and click here http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?CCVM1. As of today there are 1207 signatures!

[W4S]

How much practice time will we get? Man, those are some pretty strict limitations, do we have to wear bubble wrap over body armor and not exceed 15 mph to race, too? :D

I know you guys are working hard to put this event on, but these limitations still suck!

[hecktone]

Practice time will be all day Friday as it was last year and two hours in the morning on Saturday. Bubble rap is optional :eek:

Its all on private property, not forest service, so the owners don't want a lot of activity prior to the event or after. I think it is totally understandable, and am greatful that they decided to even let us do it all, and in a time when other promoters are getting out of the DH biz ....

The limitations are for good reasons like safety and respecting of the land we're on :drool:

The reson we want to build a new trail up to the top of the DH course is becuase over the last year since the race Mr. Chamberlin has cought several people dropping the course, and then driving on his property via secret access that only locals know of. The thought is that if there is a trail to the top, perhaps riders who are tresspassing will leave their cars or trucks parked on the side of the road, and then ride or push to the top, thus limiting liability. After all if a short travel bike is best on that course then those riders might be able to ride the access trail to the top :nopity:

I hope that makes sence, and I really hope to see everyone return to the fastest little DH in these parts ...

hecktone :blah:

[Zark]

Hey Hecky, I found last year's course map and am using that for "experimentation" for the little map project wee discussed. I call ya later about it.

Ohh yeah. Big props to Mike for having the patience, preserverance and balls to keep this thing going. Race promoting is tough stuff, thanks man!

[ito]

Should have 2 guys at least coming down from Santa Clara for it. I'll see if I can pick up a few more by broadcasting at the races. That enduro race looks killer, what is the profile on the Short Track? Is there an SS division or will I be suffering with the gearies?

All I can say is, it'll be nice to have a dry course for once this year. Everything up here is all wet.

The Ito

[hecktone]

The Ito - Thanks for broadcasting the event at the races! We need all the help we can get to have a great race.

The DH course is a blast!

As for the profile of the Short Track, it is 100% flat, and about a half a mile long, it's like a road crit. Was a ton of fun last year.

Hecky
www.ridesb.com
:D

[Li'l Dave]

I'm down to work again, just let me know when again.

[mbfanatic]

This is by far one of the best races of the season. Thanks for fighting for it Mike. I'll be up for some shovel work as well, so let us know when we can help out. I know that a bunch of the groms that hang out at Ellwood are going to race, so I hope the junior category will be awesome this year even though I have to move up to seniors. I'll be racing w/ Zark and Dave this year! It's on! It'll be good to see you again Dave.

-Steve

[Zark]

I'll be racing w/ Zark and Dave this year! It's on! It'll be good to see you again Dave.

-Steve

Ohh crap, guess I'm screwed :p
You're too fast for sport man ;)

[hecktone]

[QUOTE=mbfanatic]This is by far one of the best races of the season. Thanks for fighting for it Mike.

Thanks! :thumb:

mh

[Bicyclist]

I'll be on my SX! Noah, I'm pretty sure I can help with the course. Will the whole Bicycles of Ojai team help like last year?

[Zark]

The XC course map is up, made by yours truly. Enjoy Mofo's!
The DH is the downhill portion of the sport/expert section of the XC course.

http://www.ridesb.com/firestone.htm

p.s. I know the relief looks like crap. I need 10m data to make good relief at that scale. ;)

[bikenweed]

Sweet! $200 Cash for the winner of pro DH! NORBA must follow this good example... I'll definitely be down there racin' it up, and hopefully not all hung over.

[hecktone]

Ok everyone,

Our first Chamberlin Ranch DH work day is Saturday March 19th. Everyone who can help is encouraged to try to make it.

Hopefully I'll have been able to mow the tall grass on the top portion of the race course by then.

Here are the details:
1. Meet at 9 AM at the top of the DH course on Foxen Canyon Road.
2. Please bring any dirt or trail tools you may have, like shovels and McClouds.
3. If someone can bring a wheel barrow that would help as well.
4. As per agreement with the property owner and for liability, there can be no riding of the DH Course until the week of the race (for final tunning). So no bikes please, just leave them at home.
5. Bring a lunch, sunscreen, and water.
6. If it rains we'll postpone to the next day Sunday the 20th. If it raiins all weekend, then we'll postpone until the 26th.

You can get a map at http://www.ridesb.com/firestone.htm.

In order to make the second edition of the Rockgardn Chmaberlin Ranch DH a success we really need all the local DH racers on the Central Coast and concerned mtb'ers to step up and help us in a responsible manner fix a years worth of cattle and weather damage to our course.

WE CAN NOT HAVE THIS EVENT WITHOUT YOUR HELP!

So please come out in mass for the next month when you can.

Thanks for your support, :help:

Mike Hecker - The Promoter :oink:
Firestone Walker MTB Weekend - April 22-24, 2005

[Zark]

Schedule change! Sunday March 20th!

[Zark]

I'm bumping this, we need folks out there this weekend! The course won't build itself ya know ;)

Bring a shovel, some water, sunscreen and food. Leave the bike at home.

[hecktone]

OK, zark, Li'l Dave, mtnbiker, hucker13, & mbfanatic, this Sunday RAIN OR SHINE the first Chamberlin Ranch DH Trail Work Day is on! It's off of Foxen Canyon Road, outside of Los Olivos. For a complete trail work schedule go here http://www.ridesb.com/firestone_trailschedule.htm.

It's this Sunday, not Saturday, and we meet at 9 AM at the top of the DH. Park on the the side of the road in the turnout.

Just shovels this Sunday and a weed trimmer, no tractor. If you have a flat nose shovel bring that as it would work best. I will have a bunch of Mc Clouds from the SBMTV as well. All we're doing is starting at the top and working our way down week by week. We have to "brush" a 16 inch wide path from the start ramp to about half way down on Sunday. I mowed the top portion of the trail this week, but we need to remove the roots of the weeds to create a trail bed.

Also, this is very important. There can be no riding of the DH course until the week of the race. Last year we had our run of the place and this pissed off the Firestone's who live just below the course. We had to many trucks up and down the dirt access road and too many riders out there in the months leading up to the race. No pushing either. Just leave the bikes at home, please. Not listening or stubburness will only lead to the event's possible cancelation, and none of us want that! (Kurt & John!) :nono:

So in order to even have this event, which is 100% on private land, I needed to agree with the property owners terms. :mumble:

What I'm doing for riders who work at least two days on trail work, is I'm letting them have their own private course "tuning" day the Thursday before the race, that is the 21st of April. This will be their day to have fun and chance to get to know the course. :thumb:

I hope you can still help, please bring some freinds, but leave the bikes at home for now.

If you need to reach me cal me at 896-0673.

Thanks, :D

Mike

[mbfanatic]

Sounds good! I'll do my best to come out there. Right now I've got 3 friends coming. I'll see you all there! Peace.

[hecktone]

Fyi, tomorrows Chamberlin Ranch DH trail work is on rain or shine. :help:

If in SB we’re meeting at 8 AM at the Java Station.
If in the SYV we’re meeting at the top of Foxen Canyon Road at the gate where the DH riders exit the shuttle trucks at 9 AM.

WE NEED YOU! :help:
You can get a complete list of trail work days at http://www.ridesb.com/firestone_trailschedule.htm. :nopity:

We will be starting at the top of the DH scraping the year’s worth of weeds off a 15 inch wide trail bed. I just mowed it down this week so it should go rather fast with a good group of people.

Please leave your bikes at home. :nuts:

Thanks and see you tomorrow, make sure to bring gloves, boots, a flat head shovel, a rain coat, food, water, and yourself! :blah:

Hecky

[hecktone]

Yesterday, was an outstanding first day of trail work up at the Rockgardn Chamberlin Ranch DH course. (Firestone Walker Weekend)

We had 16 people show up to help us with creating trail bed, rebuilding jumps, weeding the rockgardn jump, building a beginner re-route of the rockgardn, and adding a bermed "s" turn just after the railroad tie drop. :thumb:

We made it about a third of the way down the course! This is great progress for day 1!

Zark, will be posting shome photos later today, so stay tuned.

The next trail work day is next Sundaythe 27th, you can get the the complete trail work schedule at http://www.ridesb.com/firestone_trailschedule.htm.

You can get info on the largest competitive mountain bike race on the Central Coast at http://www.ridesb.com/firestone.htm.

Thanks to all that showed up yesterday, your work will not go unrewarded, if those same 15 people show up a second time to do another 6 hour day of trail work (9-3) then $10 per person will be donated to the SBMTV!

If you want to help build your local race course (We might be using it more often!) and help SBMTV then just volunteer at either two FWMTBW trail work days or one FWMTBW trail day and at the race in April, and $10 will be donated to the SBMTV! :thumb:

Again thanks and see you next Sunday! :D

Hecky - The Promoter

[Bicyclist]

The rockgarden was already rollable. Why add a beginner line?

[Zark]

The rockgarden was already rollable. Why add a beginner line?

Because some people were so intimidated that they walked it! :rolleyes:

The beginner line is a "time penalty" line for being a wuss and perfectly acceptable if you ask me.

Also the XC guys and gals will need to ride this on Sunday after the DH race and will need all the cheater lines they can get to keep the pucker factor down. ;)

There are new turns going in on the top, new jumps, the top will be a lot more interesting than last time.

Photos will be up tomorrow. I forgot to take them off the camera last night.

Noah "gimme the McCleoud!" Crary :D

[mbfanatic]

Awesome day yesterday! I'm looking forward to hitting that new zig zag line. Noah, even lazy with the pics eh? I'd throw a dirt clod at you if I could. :)
-Steve

[Zark]

Awesome day yesterday! I'm looking forward to hitting that new zig zag line. Noah, even lazy with the pics eh? I'd throw a dirt clod at you if I could. :)
-Steve

The zig zag will be awesome, especially with that off camber ending. Folks are gonna get sucked off the trail!

Yeah I fell asleep at like 6pm after that. I was running on 3 hours of sleep out there, yikes!

Next week:
ROTOTILLER ACTION! Die roots die! :evil:
This will provide us with so much dirt for jumps and berms too, its gonna rock!

[hecktone]

Hey Zark, do you think that we could utilize all the hill top before "Dr. Dave's Corner" somehow without scrubing too much speed? Like where we stopped just below the "Spungy Jump" scraping the trail, could we add another zig zag that uses the terrain to keep the speed up the, comes back to "Dr. Dave's Corner?" There is a natural bowl there, but I don't want to abandon any of the existing trail.

hecky

[Zark]

I think we could better utilize the hill between "sponge jump" and Dr. Dave's corner. It don't think zig-zags or s turns are necessarily the call there. But having the trail "undulations" the IMBA crew brought up. Curve up that spot up the hill so its not such a straight shot to the corner. As a bonus at the crest where it rises a small kicker could be placed.

Lets a have a "Manegerial trail design meeting" prior to digging next week and flag it out.

Noah

[mkspecialsauce]

It was definitley alot of fun out their diggin last Sunday. The course is going to be sick this year!!!!!!! :)

[ito]

Digging was fun. I can't wait to hit up the course during the XC race :)

More turns are better, use the terrain as much as possible I say, I like the idea of running it up that natural bowl.

The Ito

[hecktone]

[QUOTE=Zark] Lets a have a "Manegerial trail design meeting" prior to digging next week and flag it out.

Ok, I can get away anytime during the week. If we are going to do it early on Sunday, we need to get the diggers started and keep the "Manegerial trail design meeting" to as few chieftens as possible. :p

That means we send the blond guy and his pal with the pink hat to the bottom of the course, with their cooler of beer, where they can do their own! :stupid:

Turns man we need more turns! :thumb:

And we're doing the dog leg this year too! :cool:

Who is The Ito? :monkey:

Hecky

[hecktone]

It was definitley alot of fun out their diggin last Sunday. The course is going to be sick this year!!!!!!! :)

hey specialsaucer - try to recruit some local santa maria mtb'rs to come with you ... did you get a flyer with the other dates on it? :mumble:

mh

[hecktone]

Hey lets keep posting ideas on theis thread, everyone it keeps it high on the Message Board and more people see it!

Hecky

[ito]

Who is The Ito? :monkey:

Hecky

I was(am) Ryan, the guy with funny tanlines and who's name you couldn't remember :)

The Ito

[hecktone]

10/4

Now I've got it in my head! Ito+tan lines+Ryan = Ito

Hecky

[skatetokil]

Hey fellas, any beta on this course would be much appreciated because I'm thinking about making it my first DH race ever. Pics of jumps and/or hairy sections in particular would be appreciated so I can decide how many collarbones I must be willing to invest in this decision. On a scale of 1 being groomed fire road and 10 being rock-strewn ridegline from hell, how would you rate the difficulty of the course? Should I wait for an easier event, or just sack up and ride it?

[sleepinggiant]

It'll be my first DH race and I'm doing it on an enduro sx.

[skatetokil]

I'll be rocking the AC2 with Super T. Might even take off the third chainring. . .

[Zark]

Ok, I can get away anytime during the week. If we are going to do it early on Sunday, we need to get the diggers started and keep the "Manegerial trail design meeting" to as few chieftens as possible. :p

I don't think I can take off to get up there during this week, things are busy at work and I have some OT to do. But...we should walk the course first thing on Sunday. Flag the turns, mow the spot and get Curt grinding it out with the Rototiller. He can leave the beers with me ;) I'll upload the photos at lunch today and do some crude drawings of what I was thinking of :D

NC

[mkspecialsauce]

hey specialsaucer - try to recruit some local santa maria mtb'rs to come with you ... did you get a flyer with the other dates on it? :mumble:

mh

I got the flier with course work dates on it and it is posted at the shop and I am going to post it on out website as well. If you bring me some fliers next weekend I can drop them off at the other bike shops as well.

[Zark]

Hecky,

Here's a photo of the area of interest. We could run the trail up the hill and back into the corner in a big sweeping turn. Sounds a whole lot better than a straight shot to the corner :D

[Zark]

Here is the sketch of my idea for it.

[Orvan]

moguls would be cool.

[Alloy]

Last year's course was awesome this one looks like it's going to even better.

The coolest thing about last year's course I thought was that there was really only two sections you had to brake, the fastest guys may not have braked at all. who knows. But because of that you could take practice runs all day and just cruise the course with out using a whole lot of effort. This year it will be a nice change from the brake to accelerate repetitions at a Fontana course.

A few other things that made last year's course rock.

The speed, I remember one section where you could pedal full blast down a steep shoot than at the bottom when you couldn't pedal any faster, you could get a pump in and accelerate to close to 40 mph.

The jumps were awesome, there was good mix of doubles, drops and hips, they all flowed really well, you didn't have to slow down for any of them… Very good job.

The burms were built superb, again almost no braking going into them, that's a very good thing... slowing down sucks.

There really wasn't anything about last year's course I didn't like. If you guys could come up with a course again this year with zero brake sections that would be focking rad... like a bobsled course with jumps.

Anyways, here a few other ideas.

Drops going into burms.

A whoop section would be cool. Not like a team big bear whoop section, more like bmx track whoops, big and wide that with speed you can double up all the way through.

A turn going downhill made out of railroad tie stairs.

A burmed switch back section. (It looks like you guys allread have that covered.)

A wall ride where you have the option of riding the wall to jump over some rocks or cutting a turn or some kind of benefit.

A steep railroad tie stair section.

Lots of random rollers to pump off of.

A huge finish line jump!

Anyways if you think any of those ideas were good use them, If they suck don’t. I'm just throwing stuff out there. Either way I’m sure the course this year will be awesome again.

[bikenweed]

I think we need more elements to seperate the fast riders from the slow riders. Last year the differences in times were miniscule. I vote for making the course more difficult. That would include more flat corners, more rythms with bigger jumps, some generally sketchier stuff, etc... So I think we need more places to make people want to brake and more places for people to crash.

[Zark]

I think we need more elements to seperate the fast riders from the slow riders. Last year the differences in times were miniscule. I vote for making the course more difficult....

We are working on making it longer and tougher. Flat corners and more tricky spots are going to be incorporated. We can't go crazy with jumps due to the fact that we can't make a seperate expert sections and everyone needs to be able to get down the hill, not to say that there won't be more and trickier jumps ;)

The times will most likely still be really close though. The course is really short and we don't have a lot of natural features to utilize.

I like the idea of whoops and rollers and I'll try to get them incorporated. Keep the ideas coming and more iportantly come out and help if you can! We need people out there to make it happen. The next dig day is this coming Sunday, 3/27.

[bikenweed]

Unfortunately, I'm still in a cast as I broke my foot a couple weeks ago, so I can't really do too much physical labour. More ideas include: jumps into and out of berms, rollers before and after jumps, spraying a section down with a hose to make it muddy, adding nails or marbles, etc...

[Orvan]

90 deg turns into a drop.
uphill landings
lonnnnnnnng pedalling sections -on flat

[Bicyclist]

I think there should be a big table top near the finish so slow people will slow down to roll it and fast people will just jump it. It could be at the very end after the last berm and drop. Just an idea.

[Zark]

Sunday, Sunday Sunday! Screw the Easter eggs and dig some trail!!

See ya out there

[Bicyclist]

I'll be there!

[Gambo]

Zark did u get thr GU I left you on your truck? Me and matty road out the on sunday on are roady bikes. Did u see the life flight chopper? It landed right down the road from you guys.

[hecktone]

Zark did u get thr GU I left you on your truck? Me and matty road out the on sunday on are roady bikes. Did u see the life flight chopper? It landed right down the road from you guys.

Gambo!

You better bring the fam to this years race! Free kids races, food, music, beer ... I spent a few minutes talking to Bush at the Track World Saturday night .... man include me on those reunion rides! Hope it's all well, and lets see you at Firestone!

Hecky :D

[Zark]

Zark did u get thr GU I left you on your truck? Me and matty road out the on sunday on are roady bikes. Did u see the life flight chopper? It landed right down the road from you guys.

Tony,
Yeah, I did. & I saw the medivac chopper too.
Do you know what happened?

One word for Easter digging: Rototillers.... They kick ass, they do the work of 15 people and don't even ask for beer or practice runs :D

There is a new section of course now called the dog leg. Mike will post some pics later. This will add 10-15 seconds onto the run hopefully.

Noah

[hecktone]

This is a test ... Here is a pic from the DH trail work yesterday. I hope this works as I'm not really a computer savey guy, unless it's an easy attachment ... 100_0262_0001.jpg

[hecktone]

Well that didn't work.

[hecktone]

ok so my computer is jacked i think ... so i emailed the photos to noah and aked him to post them

[Zark]

I don't have time now, but I'll post 'em at lunch

[Zark]

OK, here are the photos. Amazing day, got a lot done with a few folks.

[sleepinggiant]

Hey Noah, when is the next dig day. I'll try to get my SLO riding buddies to come down and work.

[hecktone]

The next build days are this Saturday and Sunday. If coming from SLO we'll be meeting at the top of the DH course at 9 AM.

If coming from SB we'll be meeting at the Java Station at 8 AM.

There is a complete list of Firestone Trail Work Days as well as directions on the event web page, www.ridesb.com/firestone.htm.

Thanks, and hppe to see you out there!

Mike :D

[Bacardi]

The work schedule is more, like located here:
http://www.ridesb.com/firestone_trailschedule.htm

[Zark]

OK, lets finish this trail off this weekend! Its close, but we need a crew out there to polish it off. So you wanna help? get out there!

The lower section needs some love. the berm needs attention as does the last few jumps and the rollers after the tabletop (new feature)

[Bacardi]

I'll come out and help...see you out there.

[hecktone]

OK everyone, please bring your own flat hed shovels, rakes and such as I have a limited ammount of SBMTV tools this weekend.

Also bring your lunch, water, and sunscreen!

Thanks, :nuts:

Hecky

[sleepinggiant]

Is the time still 9am at the top of the course?

[hecktone]

Yes it is still 9 AM.

[Zark]

All right, if y'all didn't go to S.O. we got one more weekend to get the DH dialed in, so come on out and help. otherwise it'll just be me.....and that would suck.

[Bicyclist]

I would come but I have other obligations. Sorry, man! It's gonna seem SLOW without Curt's tiller ;)

[sleepinggiant]

Hey Noah, how'd it turn out? I tried to make it each time, but couldn't find a ride :mumble: and I have two midterms on tuesday :eek: but I should be out next weekend to race :thumb: see you there.

[Zark]

Hey Noah, how'd it turn out? I tried to make it each time, but couldn't find a ride :mumble: and I have two midterms on tuesday :eek: but I should be out next weekend to race :thumb: see you there.

The course is looking and riding pretty nice. We had great turnout this weekend and fixed up some things that were lacking.

Practice begins officially on Friday :thumb:

Things to hope for:
1, its not windy next week
2, its not 100 degrees next week
3, cows are scared of Shimano tape and little red flags :mumble: :D

[sleepinggiant]

Sweet!!! If I don't want to pay the $5 shuttle fee, how bad is the ride to the top?

[Zark]

Sweet!!! If I don't want to pay the $5 shuttle fee, how bad is the ride to the top?

There is a built trail to the top of the DH. Steep, but bearable. Don't try climbing the DH course, too steep and you'll probably get run over.

don't wanna pay $5? You cheap-ass college kids! ;)

EVERYONE: DRIVE SLOW AS HELL ON THE DIRT ROAD! 10 mph max, leave the rally driving at home. The Firestone's don't want dirt clouds wafting over their house ok?!

[wydopen]

hey noah did u have pics of last year..i remember u were snapping some shots of cmoney and i on that drop thing..i saw them on an old post but i cant find em now..if u got em mabye u could post them Andrew

[Zark]

hey noah did u have pics of last year..i remember u were snapping some shots of cmoney and i on that drop thing..i saw them on an old post but i cant find em now..if u got em mabye u could post them Andrew


Sorry I lost most of those due to some 'puter problems, the course is so much better this year. I do have a shot of you gettin into it.

This hit this year is much improved:wider runway, straighter angle to the drop. It should be a little 'safer' ;) But you can stilll go freakin huge on it!

The lip is now just to the right of the photographer

[wydopen]

thanks for the pic noah..i cant make it this year cause im stuck up at school but i sent a few friends from up here down to race, good luck we should hook up 4 a ride when i get home around may 20th..we should ride some backcountry stuff cause all i have is an enduro sx while im waiting for my new cortina

[Gambo]

Ill be there! Im raceing Xc on my reign. Weeeeee!!!!

[sleepinggiant]

Ahhhhhhhhhh, can't race. Crashed today and put a nice big hole in my knee. Stitches and everything :eek: So pissed :mumble: . But I should be there to watch and maybe take pics.

[ito]

Woohoo! I'll be driving down tonight and racing XC tomorrow and Sunday! I'm hoping it isn't too hot and that the Singlespeed class is large.

The Ito

[Gambo]

Its going to rain. http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USCA1072?from=search_city

[ito]

Its going to rain. http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USCA1072?from=search_city


Ya, I just noticed that after I posted. It looks like it will be the first Firestone with a wet course. So much for dehydrating during the XC, I think I should pick up some glasses for mud protection. Leaving in less than two hours! Should be a blast.

The Ito

[sleepinggiant]

Things to hope for:
1, its not windy next week
2, its not 100 degrees next week
3, cows are scared of Shimano tape and little red flags

Shouldn'y have to worry bout #2. :thumb:

[konabiker]

Race was fun! Wind died down for race runs and it went smooth(for me atleast).
Friday practice was really sketchy, people getting blown all over the place by the wind, though.

[ito]

Race kicked ass! I got to race short track "with" the pros and then took 3rd in singlespeed XC.

The dh was awesome to watch, Kirkaldie kicked butt in DH and XC.

Sunburnt and still smiling, props to Hecker for hosting a sweet event. Too bad they carded at the kegs, I was hoping for a post-race firestone.

The Ito

[sleepinggiant]

Not having a car is really a bummer. I called everyone I know with a car, but no one wanted to go/let me use their car.

Where are the pics?

[Zark]

The dh was awesome to watch, Kavorik kicked butt in DH and XC.

No Kovarik there, that was John Kirkaldie. He had a 1:19 on the first run, goddamn thats quick!
:D

[MVRIDER]

:thumb: Fun race!! Thanks to Mike and all at the Firestone ranch for putting it on. Thanks to Noah and all the others who worked to bring us a killer run, I dont know if you guys post on this website, but thanks, it was a blast! (this is Chris the guy on the red Uzzi SLX from the bay area, we b.s.'d on the shuttle, in line..etc) Does anyone know when official results will be posted on ridesb.com? I had to take off before they were up.

[Zark]

:thumb: Fun race!! Thanks to Mike and all at the Firestone ranch for putting it on. Thanks to Noah and all the others who worked to bring us a killer run, I dont know if you guys post on this website, but thanks, it was a blast! (this is Chris the guy on the red Uzzi SLX from the bay area, we b.s.'d on the shuttle, in line..etc) Does anyone know when official results will be posted on ridesb.com? I had to take off before they were up.

Hey Chris! :thumb: Glad you had fun. I don't know my results either, just keep checking Ridesb.com I'm sure Mike will have them up soon.

Noah

[ito]

No Kovarik there, that was John Kirkaldie. He had a 1:19 on the first run, goddamn thats quick!
:D


sh*t...I'm dumb. Kirkaldie, kirkaldie, kirkaldie......doh.

He was fast as hell on his second run, I don't think I've ever seen anyone move quite like that.

The Ito

[punkassean]

Hey Chris! :thumb: Glad you had fun. I don't know my results either, just keep checking Ridesb.com I'm sure Mike will have them up soon.

Noah

Firestone was definitely a blast. It was my first race so that was sort of interesting and all but totally fun. I took some pictures of the results and some of them came out legible. Unfortunately the pic I took of the pro/semi results didn't come out clear but the expert and sport DH (1-10) results are as follows,

EX 19-29
1- Erik Eriksen (Bikeninja) 1:23.945/1:26.092
2- Peter Carty (Bacardi) 1:27.200/1:25.705
3- Aaron Rubenstein (911) 1:26.640/1:26.673
4- Howe Jenkins 1:26.579/1:26.750
5- Austin Donner 1:26.534/1:30.989
6- Mike Shaupp 1:29.090/1:31.199
7- Ryan Cleek 1:31.053/1:30.070
8- Stephen Thomson (MBFanatic) 1:30.353/1:31.316
9- Bryan Quinn 1:32.299/1:29.755
10- James Farina 1:33.322/1:35.236

SPT 19-29
1- Byron Bushatz 1:33.067/1:32.025
2- Omar Cardenas 1:34.806/1:34.695
3- John Obraza 1:37.316/1:35:544
4- Sean Estes (punkassean) 1:38.690/1:36.334
5- Noah Crary (Zark) 1:40.144/1:36.542
6- Octavio Ortiz 1:39.307/1:38.545
7- Adam Durazo 1:46.404/1:44.684
8- Anthony Sinyard 2:04.053/1:59.407
999- Graham Mattingly 1:41.654/DNF
999- Ben Kemkes DNF/DNF

EX 30-39
1- James Mcneill 1:26.888/1:26.929
2- Shajjan Rajraivshi 1:32.994/1:27.853
3- Tad Lent 1:30.375/1:31.404
4- Darren Cox 1:31.344/1:31.292
5- Bruce Custer 1:32.432/1:30.391
6- Duane Robinson 1:32.004/1:31.138
7- Buba Thomas 1:32.004/1:31.138
8- Mike Molinari 1:36.169/1:28.346
9- Brad Lawrence 1:34.260/1:31.140
10- Stephen Zivorsky 1:34.107/1:32.203

SPT 30-39
1- Lucien Gamache 1:32.10/1:29.535
2- Marshall Wilcox 1:34.304/1:32.675
3- Peter Green 1:34.959/1:33.535
4- Justin Decker 1:37:459/1:33.563
5- Michael Schuetta 1:37.729/1:35.848
6- Barry Hirst 1:37.297/1:36.780
7- Bob Burns 1:40.399/1:35.799
8- Scott Smith 1:46.491/1:35.959
9- Mike Fachar 1:45.804/1:40.821
10- Curt Fisher 1:49.559/1:38.281

[MVRIDER]

Firestone was definitely a blast. It was my first race so that was sort of interesting and all but totally fun. I took some pictures of the results and some of them came out legible. Unfortunately the pic I took of the pro/semi results didn't come out clear but the expert and sport DH (1-10) results are as follows,

EX 19-29
1- Erik Eriksen (Bikeninja) 1:23.945/1:26.092
2- Peter Carty (Bacardi) 1:27.200/1:25.705
3- Aaron Rubenstein (911) 1:26.640/1:26.673
4- Howe Jenkins 1:26.579/1:26.750
5- Austin Donner 1:26.534/1:30.989
6- Mike Shaupp 1:29.090/1:31.199
7- Ryan Cleek 1:31.053/1:30.070
8- Stephen Thomson (MBFanatic) 1:30.353/1:31.316
9- Bryan Quinn 1:32.299/1:29.755
10- James Farina 1:33.322/1:35.236

SPT 19-29
1- Byron Bushatz 1:33.067/1:32.025
2- Omar Cardenas 1:34.806/1:34.695
3- John Obraza 1:37.316/1:35:544
4- Sean Estes (punkassean) 1:38.690/1:36.334
5- Noah Crary (Zark) 1:40.144/1:36.542
6- Octavio Ortiz 1:39.307/1:38.545
7- Adam Durazo 1:46.404/1:44.684
8- Anthony Sinyard 2:04.053/1:59.407
999- Graham Mattingly 1:41.654/DNF
999- Ben Kemkes DNF/DNF

EX 30-39
1- James Mcneill 1:26.888/1:26.929
2- Shajjan Rajraivshi 1:32.994/1:27.853
3- Tad Lent 1:30.375/1:31.404
4- Darren Cox 1:31.344/1:31.292
5- Bruce Custer 1:32.432/1:30.391
6- Duane Robinson 1:32.004/1:31.138
7- Buba Thomas 1:32.004/1:31.138
8- Mike Molinari 1:36.169/1:28.346
9- Brad Lawrence 1:34.260/1:31.140
10- Stephen Zivorsky 1:34.107/1:32.203

SPT 30-39
1- Lucien Gamache 1:32.10/1:29.535
2- Marshall Wilcox 1:34.304/1:32.675
3- Peter Green 1:34.959/1:33.535
4- Justin Decker 1:37:459/1:33.563
5- Michael Schuetta 1:37.729/1:35.848
6- Barry Hirst 1:37.297/1:36.780
7- Bob Burns 1:40.399/1:35.799
8- Scott Smith 1:46.491/1:35.959
9- Mike Fachar 1:45.804/1:40.821
10- Curt Fisher 1:49.559/1:38.281

Bummer..no top 10 for me. Still a great Saturday though! Thanks for posting the results!

[Zark]

Thanks for posting the results Sean, I was curious what my time first run was. Would have been better if homeboy didn't ragdoll in front of me before my sprint ;)

[punkassean]

Thanks for posting the results Sean, I was curious what my time first run was. Would have been better if homeboy didn't ragdoll in front of me before my sprint ;)

Then we would have been neck-and-neck! :cool:

EDIT: we were only ~1.5 apart as is so it would have been REALLY close if that hadn't happenned! :eek:

[Zark]

Then we would have been neck-and-neck! :cool:

EDIT: we were only ~1.5 apart as is so it would have been REALLY close if that hadn't happenned! :eek:

Holy smokes! We were freakin close. Yeah, that dude cost me seconds for sure. I had to dig into the brakes and yell "Get da f**k out da way!" :p

[sleepinggiant]

Where the pics at :monkey:'s ?

[punkassean]

Where the pics at :monkey:'s ?

My GF only took a few pics of me and they aren't that great so I'll spare you guys and not post them. :)

[konabiker]

Here's a pic of me. Quality is kinda bad because I had to compress a lot.

What were your times, guys?

[punkassean]

Okay well since Konbiker posted a pic I guess I'll post one too. It's not that great but whatever...

HERE (http://trailslesstraveled.com/media/forums/enduro/sean_misty.jpg) it is. ;)

[konabiker]

Okay well since Konbiker posted a pic I guess I'll post one too. It's not that great but whatever...

HERE (http://trailslesstraveled.com/media/forums/enduro/sean_misty.jpg) it is. ;)
Hahah. Where there any event photographers there?

[cayuga]

I took a few pictures of an unknown class... I was just in the area tooling around and remembered there was a race. I've been riding with a few of you, but work has got me down this year.

Anyway, most are boring shots from where I sat on the side of the hill...

Photos here (http://www.michaelgrundmann.com/photos/firestone05)

Hope some of you find yourselves in there.

[Discodncr]

Nice pics... blended slide show :thumb:

[damnit jim]

FRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Nice pics... blended slide show :thumb:

[Zark]

I took a few pictures of an unknown class... I was just in the area tooling around and remembered there was a race. I've been riding with a few of you, but work has got me down this year.

Anyway, most are boring shots from where I sat on the side of the hill...

Photos here (http://www.michaelgrundmann.com/photos/firestone05)

Hope some of you find yourselves in there.

Nice shots man!

Page 2, photo #23, RM's own punkassean!

[punkassean]

Yeah, nice pics! :)

[mbfanatic]

That was a killer race for sure. I was a bit bummed about my derail. breaking, but Dave from sinister hooked me up w/ the new splinter MX. Super cool bike other than the manitou that was topping out up front. Darn manitous. :angry: The frame was super solid and tracked beautifully. Cool pics Michael. Didn't see myself, but I did see a few friends. I hope to see you local guys at the Ellings race coming up! Peace.

[punkassean]

Stephen, you ripped it man! Especially on a last-minute borrowed bike! I think I'll be coming down for Elings, should be fun!

[ito]

That was a killer race for sure. I was a bit bummed about my derail. breaking, but Dave from sinister hooked me up w/ the new splinter MX. Super cool bike other than the manitou that was topping out up front. Darn manitous. :angry: The frame was super solid and tracked beautifully. Cool pics Michael. Didn't see myself, but I did see a few friends. I hope to see you local guys at the Ellings race coming up! Peace.

You sure where ripping on the XC course too :p. It was good seeing you man, I think we should pick up some mudpie after the next race we do.

The Ito

[punkassean]

I forgot Steve was racing XC too. How did that go?...

[ito]

I forgot Steve was racing XC too. How did that go?...

Well, I was racing SS and started a good while behind him and managed to pass him somewhere in the second lap. He did sing me John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt though while I passed him, so I think he was doing pretty well. :D I think he should stick to downhill though.

The Ito

[clysdale]

That was a killer race for sure. I was a bit bummed about my derail. breaking, but Dave from sinister hooked me up w/ the new splinter MX. Super cool bike other than the manitou that was topping out up front. Darn manitous. :angry: The frame was super solid and tracked beautifully. Cool pics Michael. Didn't see myself, but I did see a few friends. I hope to see you local guys at the Ellings race coming up! Peace.


glad i could help bud! and i must say...you tore course up when i saw you come down on that first run.....after being on the bike for lets say 11 seconds! Nice work! Hope to see all of you again at the ellings race, come by the boooooth and say hello. Great work everyone it was a great intro to the race scene here.....great course, great people, great time.

[Zark]

more photos from the event here:

http://www.uinaction.com/cycling.htm

[ghostrider]

more photos from the event here:

http://www.uinaction.com/cycling.htm

Yo Zark, any notion on when they will be posting results? I'm still waiting to learn if I was DFL.

[Zark]

Yo Zark, any notion on when they will be posting results? I'm still waiting to learn if I was DFL.

Yo Mike, good seeing you and the family out there.
The ridesb website says "soon", they are working on it.

What did you race? expert XC?

[ghostrider]

Yo Mike, good seeing you and the family out there.
The ridesb website says "soon", they are working on it.

What did you race? expert XC?

I did the 70 miler, just so I could have five runs on the DH course. Thanks again for that one switchback on the way up.

[Zark]

I did the 70 miler, just so I could have five runs on the DH course. Thanks again for that one switchback on the way up.

Hah! 1/2 the xc'er I know weren't too stoked on that gnar little switchback
:p Glad somebody liked it!

Wow, 70 miler. Damn dude! :cool:

[mbfanatic]

I forgot Steve was racing XC too. How did that go?...I have no idea why I did XC! Haha. I just about killed myself. I could smell the BBQ from the other side of the course on my last lap I was so out of it. ;) I am definietly not sport material. I think I got last in at least two categories. :rolleyes: I was just stoked to put on a good show for the peoples. (wheelies galore!)

[Helius]

Where and when is the Ellings race?

[ito]

I did the 70 miler, just so I could have five runs on the DH course. Thanks again for that one switchback on the way up.

Man, you are tough. I thought about doing the 70 miler, but the idea of 5 laps with all that bbq and beer being served just killed any desire. Those switch backs were sweet, I attempted them on a singlespeed and failed, but I saw a few ss'ers clean them.

The Ito

[Zark]

Results are up on ridesb.com

[DH SB RIDER]

i was the one that got dqed for cheating.......i was the onely idiot that finisheed the xc the opisite side of the starting thing.....lol, my frined ratted me out to that weired norba guy....lame

[bomberboy11]

You're a dumbass.

[Pat...]

Next year, would a hardtail class be too much?

I was the one on a bright green gary fisher level betty (cracked shockmount, so I was scared to hit anything too hard). I had a red/ khaki thor jersey.