D36 / AMA - 2008 Phantom Hare Scramble

Round 6 of 13 AMA/District 36 Cross Country Series

Perfect early morning conditions at Hollister's Upper Ranch Grand Prix MX track

Hollister's Ghostrider M/C club, who were hosting their 10th annual "Phantom" Hare Scramble couldn't have bought better conditions for a day of Racing. With rain earlier in the week and a strong wind the day of, Sunday's blue-bird morning conditions was what everyone was hoping for. The 9 mile course layout was the classic mix of what Hollister OHV park has to offer - a killer groomed GP MX track, super tight single track that wind through the trees, steep silty hills - both up and down and fast fireroads.

Steve Varni (31a - center photo) had a safe mid-pack start headed into turn 1

The start was pretty simple - no hands on the head or run to the bike... it was listen for the gun, get started and do what you can to get in front. The first 4 turns after the starting row were huge sweeping banked 4th gear corners mixed with long tabletop jumps which made for a fun and safe way to head into the hills. Steve Varni #31A - was lined up on the B-vet line and was able to get into about 7th or 8th before leaving the track section and working on the 22-25 min laps. The White flag "final" lap would come after 2 hours of racing.

The "AA" pro class leader destroying a soft berm on the start

As for me...Unfortunately I have to sit out the rest of the this year Spring schedule due to injury. A few weekends back, I was free riding with friends and had a slight mishap off a awkward tabletop style jump and wrecked better than I have in years - harder than I can ever remember. It ended up causing a hair-line fracture in my L4 (lower back) vertebrae. I was very sore for about a week but things are now getting better because most of the swelling is gone. So a few weeks of down time then back to the gym to get going to where I left off. One of the benefits was being able to see the "AA" Pro race (which I usually race with and never get to watch first hand the speed and style of these great riders).

Varni (31a) charges off the steep drop into the "Gravity Cavity" which exits into a good sized table top

Despite being held up because of a few minor bottle necks, Varni finished very well. Out of 24 B-vet racers he finished 10th and 104 out of 200+ overall racers. His lap times were in the 22-23 min range except for the 1st lap which was 31 mins because of bottle necks... so, getting past that part, he rode a great 2 and a half hour race. Because of the 2 hour+ race format he did have to pit for fuel on lap 3 - we need to convince him to get that little bike a bigger IMS tank!

The C race madness @ starting the line - talk about a growing sport.

Chris Bridgman #183a was out again this weekend and still pushing with all his might to get out of the dreaded C class mayhem. I am proud to announce that because of an awesome "on the box" 3rd place finish he is OUT and into the B-vet class. He was carrying about 25 point before this race so we figured he needed only about a top 10 finish but if you can get 3rd... why not!

Chris Bridgman (183a) in tow as the top 5 from the C-vet line hit turn 2 off the start line

The C-classes are so crowed with people that the starting lines are not even large enough for everyone in the class especially the Vet row. Chris had to line up in a makeshift row behind the "real" row and hope that the guy in front of him got a good jump off the line, because if not...60 other riders would already be rallying while he was trying to get around that guy in front of him. Luckily, the plan worked... his guy got a good jump and Chris was not only able to get by him, but he got by 95% of the 1st row too.

Bridgman heading out of the home checkpoint and back around the track

After his first lap out on the course he came into the check area in 6th place, but the 3rd through 5th place riders were only about 40-60 seconds in front of him. After 1.5 hours of racing on what looked to be a very dusty, afternoon deteriorating track Chris moved from lap to lap from 6th to 5th to 4th to finally 3rd at the checkered flag.

Savoring the feeling that this is the last huge sweeper as a C-class rider

Now its time to hit up RidePG.com and get those UGLY yellow colored plates and do all you can not to get left in the dust! Good Racing!


Thanks to all the 2008 sponsors:

• DH Cycles (Modesto's KTM dealer)
• Durban Racing
• IMS Racing
• FMF
• RED BULL
  
• Utopia Optics
• Cycra Racing
  
• Power Sport Graphix
  
• Cruz Tools
• Fringe
  
• Sierra Utility Sales
• Garvey
• and My lovely wife, KELLY!!!
  

Cheers' and really looking forward to getting back on the course!

TONY PALANDRANI #75v