The course surface was powder and I couldn't even get into 6th gear on my faster bike. My streetbike ran 14mph slower than last time so I would say it was super challenging. The launch was good but 1/3 track it just went to powder and there was no traction to be had (for me). The headwinds were also there, blowing the balloons on the course markers all the way over to the dirt, 12-16mph on most of my runs.
It's hard to figure out how to run in those conditions and it's easy to say "oh well, we didn't do it because of the conditions". But Ralph Hudson figured it out - he put 3mph on the 1000cc APS-G record. I had just finished a run when I heard his bike coming down track. It sounded like a banshee from hell on Monster energy drink and mini-thins. It was a pleasure to watch.
We drove 1500 miles-ish round trip and I only slept about 3 hours in 3 days but I got four runs in total, 2 on each bike. Even in those conditions and with all the effort it took to get there and running as slow as we did, it was totally worth it
It always is. We could have had more runs but I decided to call it early and get a headstart on the drive home. Well, my wife drove and I slept
On one of my runs, I was watching the tack flick back and forth from 9,000-12,000 like a metronome as the tire alternately spun and hooked and the bike would walk and pitch all over the place while leaned into the cross wind. Where else do you get to live life like that?!?!!!
I love El Mirage!
