Southridge 17 Annual Challenge 11/22-23

Time to start planning!!!! So, who is in the running for the overall year end jerseys???? I managed to earn the DH overall and have a shot at the XC title as well!!




Southridge 17 Annual Challenge
DH & XC
Fontana, CA

Info

RSVP Here

 

No chance of a jersey here.. But I do see a chance for a good time

Their web site shows this as 11/23 not the 17th

 

My bad, date corrected!!!

 

I was just relieved to see that it was incorrect. The 17 would have been around the same time as the 12 hours of TMAC and I am contemplating that one... But now I can do both:drunk:

 

I need to start training again

 

Yup!

 

No 4x???

BTW, I did ask Donny about 4x for this race but he mentioned something about not enough daylight. I will ask him again just to make sure.

 

Hmmm...I could come out and do XC...I think I have a chance at a jersey there (but only b/c my main competitor moved up )

DH...not much chance at this point.

 

Daylight is a valid concern considering the order and operation of events:

1) Rider's meeting called to be "IN 5 MINUTES!!!" anywhere between 12 and 1:45 (not scheduled).

2) Riders meeting, roll call, and issue number plates (some times, but not always) takes 30 minutes. Go to the hill to start racing immediately (we're told).

3) 45 minutes later, [rei]ssue number plates - 30 minutes

4) Figure out how the races/motos will be run for the day (always different) - 5-30 minutes - races to run immediately afterward.

5) 30 minutes later, reissue number plates (no kidding, this has happened!)

6) Wait while SRC sets up the starting rubber band (no legitimate gate) - 15 minutes

7) Staging, 5 minutes

8 ) Begin racing! about 1 hour

9) Wait 30 minutes for awards

10) Wait another 15 minutes while they make corrections

11) Distribute the awards - 30 minutes

This makes for a long day, and we could run out of light, so again, with the way SRC runs the evens, it may not work well (even though we ran races in January, which was about 3 weeks after the shortest day of the year - Dec 21).

 

Hey Lee, tell us how you really feel!! :lol:

Yep, local racing at it's best......Oh well, at least we have local racing.

Hey, you should volunteer to be in charge of the 4x racing!!!! Would you like me to pass on your suggestions to Donny, or would you be willing to do it yourself. I know he would appreaciate some positive feedback and suggestions!!!:bang:

 

Is there going to be Super-D?

 

The website only lists XC and DH. You can email them and ask!!! [email protected]

 

Most of that commentary was a bit of tongue in cheek (although based on factual events).

The end results are that the event works. The operations are a bit questionable, but that is what gives it the local feel - albeit for an amateur operation.

I've spoken with Donny before. Although I did not offer any suggestions or criticisms at the time, I have an understanding where he's coming from - he's a typical local promoter. And having spent a number of years working with local promoters (while working as the competition director for an international racing sanctioning body), I understand his challenges and shortcomings - it's not an easy business, and you rarely receive much love. But that's a two-way street.

I'd consider running the 4X races, but I already know that it wouldn't work as I'd like. It's Donny's show, and I would never get the support needed to run it right (from Donny or the necessary staff that already exists), and I'm not even talking about the gate. I've also heard Donny talk about other people's comments/suggestions, and he does some rather stand-offish, which is also why I'm a bit reluctant to offer help. I thought the Houseman's were going to run the 4X events for SRC. Was there ever truth in that? If so, what happened?

If I were to offer only one piece of advice to Donny, it would be to have an all-hands staff meeting the morning of each day of the event to make sure everyone is on the same page. Even if it is generally understood what each person should be doing, the staff can never communicate too much. I'm curious if Donny has a written event plan, or if the entire event is run from the hip.

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say "from the hip"!!

 

Lee dont forget they did allow a whole lot of time for practice, considering that you could run the top section all day prior to practice.

I have been two events the one at Fontana was chaotic as hell the staff didn't even know they had 4x when I tried to sign up. The last DH event seemed smoother but then they only had one event to worry about. They seem to waste a lot of time, seems like they need to make a hard schedule, stick to it. I wonder if they have a lack of staff to make that work or what.


I do plan on trying my hand at DH and if they 4x I can redeem myself

 

Ill be racing DH, if my boss gives me the day off.

 

ill be there for the downhill if i can get it off of work.

 

I'll be there to watch and cheer! :bang:

 

no chance for a jersey here... my only debate now is if I should go to expert. :-k

 

this would be the race, then you can see how you fend before the points start over and count..