Two to Tango

Well, ladies and gentlemen, after a weekend off, the CMA Hare Scramble series is back in full swing with three back to back races. The first in the triple header was the OCMC fronted Barrie Round held at RJ’s Motorsports Park. Traditionally the largest race of the year, RJ’s the talent field was as deep and varied as the many ruts that developed in the tight woods.
Things started off good with a light rain; given the high sand content of the soil, a light rain was a welcome sight for many riders, even if it meant a very cold start to the morning. Massive numbers turned out for the Novice A and B classes, with first time riders and local OCMC racers making up a huge part of the non-regulars. The large numbers, especially in the morning class, meant that by the time the big boys in the afternoon took over the track, the ruts were deep and breaking and acceleration bumps were big enough to swallow a rear tire whole! Even so, there were still plenty of fast lines and wide open spaces, so much so that bikes were going through more than the regular amount of gas and more than one rider, including Pro Aaron Wilkins, ran out of gas.
As always, Barrie can be a confusing track, with up to three different sets of trail cut into the woods; riders were instructed to stay on the correct path by following the arrows, and not necessarily just following the tracks. Marshalls and club volunteers were out in droves to make sure that everyone played it honest and kept to the correct path.
With so many riders, the Youth class was split into Mini Junior and Mini Senior. Zachary Morgan, #534, rode four gruelling laps for the top spot in the Mini Junior class, followed by Kaleb Gray and Jordan Fisher who each finished three laps, taking home second and third respectively. Mini Senior saw Connor Brogan, son of 2008’s Vet Champ Wayne Brogan, take home the first place spot. Cody Curran took home second and Tyler Meanz took home third.
Special notice goes out to the Brogan family. Wayne suffered an accident at the Port Colborne round, and lost part of his baby toe, in his first afternoon race, no less! Everyone’s wishing you a fast recovery, Wayne!
Birthday girl Melissa Head took home another victory and the 1st place trophy at her home track. The freshly turned 16 year old doesn’t even have a driver’s licence yet, but that doesn’t seem to stop her from burning her way into the Novice A class! Following in her older sister’s tire tracks was Emily Head, who took home second. Ainsley Farr, the reigning champion, rounded out the podium.
Jesse Grummett is looking to prove himself a one trick pony in the Novice A class, and that trick is winning. He’s two for two in his rookie year in the Novice A, and looking forward to Burnt River to add another notch to his bar pad. Following Grummett was Rob Westenberg in second and Chris Culbert-Castelo took home third.
Guido Kneilling was second fastest rider, period, in the morning program, soundly taking the win for the +40 class, and battling with Super Vet John Nelson. Chasing the #928 bike was Todd Topper, in second, and Brian Zuest in third.
The old guys saw a new challenge moving back into the morning from the afternoon program. Last year, John Nelson rode several rounds in the Vet Expert class. Being old enough, he chose to run the morning class as a Super Vet, taking home the top spot soundly, and becoming the overall fastest rider in the morning program. Lance Matthews finished second behind Nelson, and Bruce Moffat took home the final podium spot in third.
The afternoon program, as per usual, ran a slightly modified version of the course. Track Marshalls and volunteers were also crawling all over the place, making sure riders kept honest and stuck to the correct trails.
Greg Filer kept his #177 KTM up front for four laps, taking home the win in Intermediate for the second time. It looks like Filer plans a repeat of last year, blasting his way through the muck and mud to stay up front in almost every race. Chasing Filer’s roost were Steven Shaw and “Baby” Birker, who finished second and third respectively.
Vet Expert was down two tough competitors this round, with John Nelson opting to ride with the rest of the really old guys, and Wayne Brogan out with an injury, it was Roger Messier on that mean, black KTM who took home the top spot. Paul Andratis took home the runner up trophy and Randy Zuest claimed the last podium position.
The Double Digit boys, Adam Millson, #77, and Michael Jonker, #88, battled it out once again in the Expert class, with Millson taking the win, forcing Jonker to take second. The #104 of Frank Cantin battled hard, but couldn’t break past third place.
And then we have the Pros...
Professionalism and drama aside, these men are here to race, and race they did. Aaron Wilkins shocked the audience by not only not getting the hole shot, but by being one of the last riders off the line. Wojo took the hole shot, but a very hungry Chris van Hove, sick of eating roost, was on his heels. Memories of last year’s #2 finishes are clearly fresh in both riders’ minds, and neither plans to be second best this year. Both riders know what it’s like to win, and both are capable of being a champion. We’re in for a great summer of racing between these two, but back to Barrie.
I’m going to start further back than just the top three, because there are a few people who I think deserve recognition who wouldn’t get it if I only cherry picked the top three. Bryan “Swampy” Marshall, the #9 Honda, had a rough start, but it can be forgiven, after all, he was the only Pro who also raced in the Youth Junior class, on a fifty! Bryan’s oldest son, Curtis, rode his first race with his Daddy behind him the entire way. Way to go, MiniMarshall!
Another rider trying something new was CMRC transplant Trevor Hall. The Pro Motocrosser rode his first hare scramble at Barrie, and after two and a half hours he was banged up, bloodied, disoriented, but more than willing to come back and do it all over again! Hall battled hard with the #3 rider, Tyler Linton, but crashed and stalled just enough to let Linton get some room on him. Linton, no slouch when it comes to moto, was able to hold the MXer off even on the mototrack before pulling away in the tight stuff. The pair ran fourth and fifth for most of the race. Hall finished fifth overall for the day.
Once he past Hall, Linton kept on the gas, his eyes set on the last podium spot. All that stood in front of him and a third place finish was the #7 KTM of Kevin Cockayne. The pair ripped around, but Linton was just too focussed. He passed Kevin and finished just in front of the Mission Cycle KTM rider for the final podium position.
Now, as for those two behemoths, van Hove and Wojnwaoski. They fought hard, back and forth trading for first and second for much of the first lap, until Wojo made a mistake and crashed and van Hove capitalized on Wojo’s bad luck and extended a lead that Brian, no matter how hard he pushed himself, just couldn’t catch.
Just as van Hove came back harder than ever after coming second at Port Colborne, there is no doubt Wojo will come back like a bat out of Hell itself at Burnt River. A man with strict determination, who blames no one but himself, Brian Wojnarowski will come to Round 3 with a point to make.
Burnt River takes place at the Burnt River Off-Road Facility this Sunday, June 14th. Come out and show your support for your favourite riders, because anyone who has been to Burnt River knows the kind of Hellish terrain that can be found in the back woods.
See you there!
As always, photos are available. Please don’t steal them. I will be selling photo CDs, if you’re interested, email me at showie@mail.com or 5thgearphotography@mail.com. Also, 2008 Photobooks will be available soon, pricing to be determined, on a preorder, first come first serve basis. If you’re interested, contact me via email, or find me at the races.
Also, many of you might have noticed that in the afternoon I wasn’t alone. My friend, Angela Poon, took some great shots. Check her stuff out here!
Thanks for all of your support. Cheers!