Scottsdale NCS Race Report/Sunday

We were up early Sunday for the Expert and Semi-Pro XC races. Ara went first, followed by Vanessa. The course had a total of negative fifty feet of climbing, and Ara's constant training in the high peaks behind Burbank did him no good. It probably does not help when his whole team makes him drink beer from a boot prior to racing, but that's how we roll!The Fuzz's first real Expert race started bad, and that's about where it ended. Luckily enough for the Fuzziest, he looks smashing in his jersey regardless of any crappy ribbon he may get at the races. The Hairy One was rolling the loaner Titus Racer-X courtesy of E.Juice at Titus, and hopes to keep it for the season.
As I sat in the open desert watching Ara disappear into the cacti, Vanessa powered by with the likes of Joy Deurksens and a field of scary fast Expert girls. By the second lap, Joy had split off with two othr ladies, gapping Vanessa (in 4th) and the rest of the pack. Vanessa attacked and closed to about thirty seconds of Joy on lap two, and looked like she may even take and pass her for what ws no third place. The two wheelsuckers Joy was dragging around the course had attacked and left her sitting on the final podium spot, Vanessa nipping at her heels until the rugged and rocky course began to take it's toll. For the second time in as many days, a rear tire went bye-bye. Pinch flatting and blowing up the Stan's wheel, Vanessa's attack was over with a lap to go.
Bert started at 10:30 a.m. in Semi-Pro. He and Papo (ex-teammate) were flying through the course together on lap one about mid-pack. This was the largest Semi-Pro field I have ever seen, and they appeared on the horizon like Vision Questing Navajo's halucination of the snake god. Fast and tightly packed, they rolled across the desert with dusty abandon. By the second lap, Bert was fading and Papo had made his move to the front. With a lap and a half to go on a 40 mile race, Bert began to attack late as he so often does. Riders began falling in behind him two at a time as he crept up the ranks. OH! YOU WERE PLANNING ON MOVING UP? WELL WE HERE AT USA CYCLING HAVE DECIDED TO PULL ALL REMAINING RIDERS FROM THE COURSE BECAUSE WE WANT TO START THE PRO WOMEN NOW. Sorry, hope you didn't have a race strategy revolving around the predetermined race length we all ageed to give you! Hope you wrote a hot check, so you won't feel AS SCREWED as you probably do right now! Once more we see them trying to F**K the few remaining riders they have left paying NORBA dues and actually attending mountain bike races. Nice job..jerk offs.

We all headed for home after the race, and James stayed late to help Jim W. tear down. He also stayed late because he told the young lady he had met at the bar that he would drive her home..and that he was MUCH younger than he really is. Gotta love guys, eh? Anyhow, Pat from Titus rolled out to the race that day to inspect the masses of Titus bikes that were racing that day, and they had great luck on the course over the week's racing. Thanks to all who attended, supported, and came to enjoy the seson opener with the Backboners! Vegas Bob was out sick for the race, just in case anyone was asking...

da Cap'n