Burn 24 Hour Report

The Burn 24 Hour race is probably the biggest local MTB race in my opinion. Last year I got to pit for Ross, Matt and Darrell all as solo's. Ross and Matt finished 3rd and 4th respectively and Darrell learned what 24 hour racing is like for the first time. At the end of last years race Darrell said that he would be back and when he got his Goat he started thinking about racing it solo and started training for that. Ross came back for more and talked his buddy David into trying his first Solo. Since Matt has retired from lap racing he decided to help pit and see what it was like to be at a 24hr race and not be on the bike the whole time.
Saturday morning found Sean, Matt, Savannah and Me there to help our three buddies out with there task of kicking butt. The rain came in the night stopped at 9:30 A.M. and started sunning us all up. Ross got off to a great start and was well on course for 30+ laps when at lap 10 he came in and couldn't push his pedals anymore due to severe foot pain which also struck him bad last year late in the race. We installed a set of flats on his bike and after a little break he went back out to no avail. On coming back to the pits after the lap he said that didn't help and that he was calling it quits. David learned how bad the heat can get to you and that the longer you sit in the pits, the harder it is to motivate yourself to leave.
We preached and preached to Darrell about pacing himself and that is indeed what he did. Every lap was within 15 minutes of each other except for one really bad night lap. The day temps were in the 80's and then at night we were slapped with temps in the 40's. The race ended up very well and Darrell did a great job. I dont know exactly where he finished but he was very happy with his race.
Darrell getting on the bike after the Le Mans start with Mountain Goat banner in the background

Finishing a lap

Showing off the Ti Goat

Sean and Matt at night

Darrell enjoying some hot green tea on a break at night

Waiting on Darrell each lap was hard at night with the temp drop, fortunately Darrell had a ton of blankets in the grocery store van...thanks Harmony Galaxy. I wont tell you what idiot named Wes forgot to bring pants for night and froze

making D get out on another cold night lap

my Route 29 in the stand

Darrell in the morning

close up of the Ti

Duff man

Dirty Goat

Darrell trying to keep interested in going on with a hurting knee

Pony showed his support

the Cicada's were out in full force making noise for all to hear

leaving the race Savannah took this pic to show the field, I would say that about half the people had left by this time


Not the best report but I am tired and dont care;)