December 2003, 2 Hour Hare and Hounds, Grassington, North Yorkshire, UK
Blue Smoke does a Hare and Hounds event in the wilds of North Yorkshire!
As with the last meeting in October, plenty of preparation was undertaken (not!!) which included a good wash and fresh fuel! However, one big mistake was not replacing the rear tyre with an ultra grippy new one for a circuit that turned out to be very technical and extremely slippery. With a tired back tyre and a clogged up front, grip was not forthcoming!
The lap was around 8-9 minutes in length and took in jumps, whoops, open meadow, a duck pond (with a dry chicken route thank heavens!) and some very serious climbs and descents. In fact, one particular climb was so acute that it was closed half way through the event. I failed to make it on two occasions and binned the IT in a spectacular fashion three times on one attempt! Poor old thing, I dented the exhaust which then rattled around so much it cracked! I took a couple of other falls including one on the first lap! One spill resulted in a very bent gear lever that needed trackside bodging to make operational again! I pitted for fuel and to try and sort out the rattling pipe (cable ties - Gods gift to Enduro riders!) and gear lever and then had to pit again on the next lap to tighten the front brake lever that took the brunt of the hill climb tumbles.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable event despite the muddy conditions, the organisers having put on an excellent meeting. The emphasis was on fun and it was certainly enjoyed by all. Next time however, I will have some lovely new mud pattern motocross tyres!
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