24 Hours of Old Pueblo 2008

This was my 4th time going down for this even. Raced three times and once I was camp mother helping out the other "real" team Moms Linda and Pat.

Below was taken from Steve Wasmund's Race update.
It all started on Thursday morning... make that Wednesday night, with shoveling the drive twic't so I could move the trailer's back end in to my garage to be loaded up. It actually probably started the week before when the Tucson weather forecasters first suggested that what ever weather system was moving through, would be gone by Thursday and we could expect a beautiful weekend... more on that later.

So two trips with the shovel over my driveway, a couple hours of packing and I was in bed by midnight... and the storm had passed. Up early on Thursday to another 4 inches of beautiful powder. Maybe the storm hadn't passed. Another trip over the driveway, throw last minute stuff in the trailer and I'm off to work. Apparently I can't take a sign because I had to actually use my fingernails, in addition to my studded tires to make it up the sidewalk by my office at the U. The snow laden wind was blowing at what must have 60 miles per hour directly in my face... a sure sign that one shouldn't be going in whatever direction they are currently going. All the same, I finally made it. Work threw a few wrenches in my day and Amy and the kids picked my up at 4pm... about 4 hours later than we had planned on leaving.

A short 16 hour drive and we arrived, bright eyed and bushy tailed in the Ol Pueblo... to snowfall that would make Alta jealous. 31 degrees and GIANT snowflakes. But the forecast said that it would pass by that afternoon and the sun would come out and everything would be beautiful. Fortunately, the CTR compound had a few acres of prime land in what was the equivalent to downtown Manhattan. Thanks mom. We set up the tent, relaxed a bit and watched the forecast say that... ok ok, there would be a bit more precipitation, but it would be through by midnight and things would clear up and be beautiful.

Fellow Cutthroaters arrived en mass... Jim and Dick followed by Heather and then Ryan and Rob. No one fell victim to the Willow Springs Rd death-trap and mud bath. At this point we learn and Beer Gazelle (but not Cutthroat member), Chris, had fallen victim to pneumonia (any word on his status Heather?) but Nick would be able to fill in. Good! We also learn that SinglePhile (but not Cutthroat member), Troy, had fallen victim to reading a calendar from 1980, and would not be arriving until the following week. Finally, we learn that the weather probably won't clear out until closer to morning... but what does it matter anyway... we'd be asleep.

Saturday morning dawns to a nice desert snowfall, clouds about 4 feet off the ground and no sign of the sun. The weather forecast has resigned itself to saying that things would clear up when they clear up... and quit bugging us about it. Tamara and Nick arrive (Beer Gazelles are complete and 100% CTR), Mother and Son Moving Company (Amy and Jacob) is rearing to go and 100% CTR. Ryan is desperately beating the bushes for anyone to fill the fourth hole in the SinglePhile roster. Finally, Fetish Cycles mechanic, Dave, steps up and the SinglePhiles Ride Again...

Even if the forecasters couldn't forecast, at least the weather finally decided to cooperate and things did clear up JUST in time for the start. And heck, if it had actually dried up, I wouldn't have all these permanent mud splashes on my brand new jersey. Amy, Heather and Steve ran the LeMans start. Laps ticked off like clockwork... well maybe a broken clock. The SinglePhiles had a few issues when Steve underestimated the speed of our stand-in, Dave, and arrived late for his second lap, then Steve failed to wake Ryan at the appointed time for his third lap, then Steve arrived a few minutes late to hand Rob the baton for his fourth lap (don't ask).

I think the SinglePhiles would have won if they hadn't spent the whole 24hrs tracking each other down. As it was, their 17 laps was only good enough for 12th in the field of 30. The Beer Gazelles posted impressive times (with Nick earning his stripes on a 48 pound downhill bike) and well oiled transitions to finish 9th in their field of 21. My personal favorite team, Mother and Son Moving Company met their goal of 7 laps with no nightime mishaps (good riding Jacob) to finish 17th in their field of 27.

I didn't hear of too many trailside mishaps. It was COLD Saturday night. Frost on the cholla. I had a flat Sunday morning. One of Jim's lights may have gone out (on his handlebars not in his head). Tamara and Nick were duking it out for 'faster lap' bragging rights. Heather set a personal fastest last lap of 1:19! Jacob set a personal (and team) fastest last lap of 1:55! Steve's mom had a great time but says she had to take home too much food. Amy's dad and step-mom visited Saturday and enjoyed meeting everyone.

My mom and our family stayed Sunday evening and ate well next to a roaring campfire. We left early Monday morning and enjoyed a short 16 hour drive back to the 801. Can't wait to do it again.

Cheers,
sLw