Scottsdale Race Report From Roger

The Scottsdale NMBS race went down this past weekend at McDowell Mountain Park near Fountain Hills, Arizona. Roger, Vanessa, Vegas Bob and Randy all rolled out to race. Many others had to opt out of this one because of work conflicts and the impending week-long slug-fest that is Sea Otter. With that race being a bit higher profile, I understand completely. So, at the Scottsdale course you have a really fast and flowy (but taxing) course that starts out ripping like a roller coaster. Near the end, though in the last few miles of the lap, there are large sections of very sharp and jagged lava rock. This and cactii needles usually mean people running tubeless or tubes w/some type of sealant. Randy would be the only survivor out there this year!


Vegas Bob and Vanessa were doing very well, Vanessa holding a solid third in her expert XC race...until a flat took her out about three miles from the finish. Bob actually double or even TRIPLE flatted according to Roger, and he was holding his own as well. That sucks, but that's racing...and it acn't always go your way, no matter HOW prepared you are. A couple of years ago, James was about a mile from finishing in the top 5 here, and his tubeless set-up in the rear hit a rock and un-beaded his tire. he had to run all the way back in, but lost his fight that day.
Randy fared much better. Probably because he was drunk, or maybe because he got there a week ahead of time and rode his Harley to a big biker festival and looked at tons of boobage...I am not really sure..but he paced 4th in the Super-D on Friday, then took 8th in his XC on Saturday. He managed to make it out of there with a combined overall points score placing him in THIRD OVERALL!!! That is great for Randy, who has been working really hard to lose weight, train hard, eat right..and he has been seeing the podium for the first time in his new class this year! Great job to everyone who managed to sacrifice their time and bodies in Arizona this weekend, and I am sure Jim is thankfull for the help at the KENDA booth.
Tookie should have a race report from the endurance race in Roanoke, and MSC #1 in next weekend! Thanks everyone!

C