Timekeeping Enduros

Since 1972

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

Next up on the TWMC Schedule:
Lazy Turkey Enduro!

Hosted by the Bishop Family
Date: November 16th & 17th

Location: Searles Station Road
35.4856937, -117.6229173

Potluck Theme: Gobble Gobble
The Bishops are providing the meat and gravy,
You bring a side or dessert!

Want to help with the Christmas events?
Christmas Planning Committee meeting at the Eberhardt’s trailer with Jeanne Saturday at 10 AM.

Outlaw Results HERE

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at
TWMCSecretary@gmail.com

“Them Outlaws stole my day!!”

Outlaw. The word alone can stir up images of dusty saloons, horse chases, and bandanas pulled tight across sunburned faces. Maybe you picture Billy the Kid grinning over his ill-gotten gains or Robin Hood divvying up loot for the poor. But no matter which way you slice it, when it comes to outlaws, someone’s losing something.

Enter the Training Wheels Outlaws. A peculiar breed of scoundrel. These guys? They don’t take your wallet at high noon. Oh no, they fire up the grill and hand you a burger and a hot dog on Saturday with a friendly grin, then come Sunday, they snatch seconds off your race time like a bandit in the night. What kind of twisted outlaw is that?

Take poor old Hayden Bishop. This guy was having the ride of his life. A career day, folks! Something he could tell his grandkids about while sitting on a quad. By the third check of the fourth loop (yeah, the fourth loop!), he was perfect. Not a single second off. He was the only Expert to get a perfect score at the bottom of that long, gnarly, sliding downhill rut without a hitch. While everyone else had to listen to Trail Boss Maurice Dorris off to the side, cackling like some wild-eyed villain in a spaghetti western, watching riders lose precious time left and right, not so with Hayden. Oh no, he was sailing through, seemingly destined for greatness.

And then, as if scripted by some cruel joke, Trail Boss Rick Samuelson poached a precious 9 seconds off Hayden in the wash after the rocky hills. Nine! Still, Hayden had to be feeling pretty good. What’s 9 seconds when you’re that close to glory?  The win was still surely in his grasp, but then came the final check—up the hill, no trail, straight into a jagged mess of granite boulders that looked like the place motorcycles go to die. Hayden dropped his bike twice, sparks flying, and you could see his beautiful day vaporizing into thin air. The dream was gone. Just like that.

A couple of old enduro guys who kept the Outlaw hands out of their pockets were the Moore boys.  The GOAT Tim Moore kept the thieving to a minimum and took the Senior Expert class and Thomas Moore only let the Outlaws take 15 seconds from him.  Meanwhile, in the Amateur class, Jake Hoskins was out there with his shiny new birthday present, riding it straight to a win. In the Novice class, Brian R showed up his dad by taking the top spot, and Dick Cressy? Well, he cruised off into the sunset in the Super Senior class, probably tipping his hat to the Outlaws as he rode past.

Sunday was a wild ride, with seconds, minutes, and dignity stolen left and right, but you almost forgot about the carnage when you remembered the spread these Outlaws put out on Saturday. The smell of burgers and hot dogs still lingered in the air as we were reminded, through all the banditry, that these guys love their club. They just have a funny way of showing it—usually by making us cry.

And to top it all off, we raised a glass to the club’s patriarch, Ned Jones, as he hit the big 9-0. Happy Birthday, Ned! Here’s to many more years of outrunning the Outlaws.

Route Sheets and Roll Charts for the Outlaw are below!

Route Sheet
Roll Chart
Roll Chart Without Speed

The 12th Annual Outlaw Enduro is here!

Date: October 19-20

Location: Randsburg Wash / Navy Road
35.6017898, -117.4679979

Turn east off Trona road at Randsburg Wash Road, about 3 miles and camp will be on the left.

Potluck: 6:00 PM Outlaw Crew is grilling Burgers and Dogs. You bring the “SPOOKY” sides!

After the 6:30 General Meeting, TRICK OR TREATING!
Bring a costume and lots of candy!

Wheelie Good Stories

By Dieter Dirtflinger

October 2024

Why I Stink at Riding Enduros

So, I’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time wondering why I stink at riding enduros. I mean, don’t get me wrong—I’m not bad at riding. In fact, after putting in countless hours of seat time and chasing faster riders who practically live on two wheels, I’m better than most of the knuckleheads I ride with.  Lots of practice, lots of sweat, and the occasional blood—makes you better, or so they say.

And timekeeping? Not a problem. I hit most of the checks dead-on, scrubbing through stakes like I’m Dick Burleson, balancing on my pegs like I’m walking a tightrope over a pit of rabid gators. And as for bike maintenance? Obsessive doesn’t even cover it—my bike’s so tuned up, I should be winning trophies just for how well it runs.

But, when the scores roll in, I'm somewhere between last place and “maybe you should try knitting.” How? I have no idea, but I’ve got a permanent reservation near the bottom of the results sheet. It’s like a curse, or maybe the universe is telling me to stick to riding in circles. However, at the last Keg Run Enduro, I gained a little insight into why I sometimes suck, at least one of the many reasons I find myself at the bottom of the results.  

Now, the Keg Run Enduro is my Superbowl, the one I look forward to all year.  There’s something about bouncing over and between those moon rocks that makes me feel like a superhero. 

I roll up to the start line, I’m pumped; I have butterflies in my stomach.  The bike is running sweet, I’m feeling strong and I’m thinking, “Today’s the day, baby.” The countdown to zero, and I’m off! First section? Tight, rocky boulders. I’m zipping through them like a madman, threading the needle between jagged chunks of granite with a crazed smile. Hit a tricky step-up where a few riders are flopping around like fish on the beach. Not me—I pop right up and over like I do this for a living.

Down a wash, right turn, up a hill—fast and smooth. I hit the 2.9-mile mark, the end of the free time, with four minutes to spare. I’m thinking, "Man, I’m fast today." Take a breather, glance at the roll chart, and see the next section looks like a walk in the park. Gotta slow it down.

Off I go again, right on target. First check, nail it like a pro. After the check is the free section, two miles of open terrain, no checks, and I let ‘er rip! Flying up a rocky hill, passing stuck riders like they are standing still. Wheelie all the way down the other side—front wheel barely kissing the dirt. I’m railing corners like Eli Tomac, thinking, "Man, someone should be snapping pictures of this for a magazine!"

I’m feeling like a bonafide dirt bike superstar, right up until I rip around a big rock, and nearly stuff myself right into the next check. I hit the front brake so hard I almost face-plant but, I yank it out and think: “What the hell are they doing here?” Then I glance at the computer and realize I’m an entire minute early! On the first, easy loop, no less. I was having so much fun, I blew through my free time like it was going out of style and burned right into the next check.

After that little reality check (pun intended), I give myself a stern talking-to.  “Slow it down, man. Take it easy. Focus.” But it was another free section - two miles to go before another possible check.  So, I twist the throttle again!

I would say I paid better attention this time, that the talk with myself helped, that I aced every check after that, but dammit, I was just having too much fun.  I burned the next check by about the same amount of time.  After burning two checks on the first loop, I laughed my way through the event, not worrying about the results.

When I finished the enduro and rolled into camp, the guys were already roasting me.  “What happened? You riding with your eyes closed?”  How could I explain to anyone that the reason I tanked was because I was having way too much fun? 

Double Dog Dare Results Here

So, there I was, sitting on top of a tall, gnarly, rocky mountain. No trail in sight, just pure desert enduro heaven. As I sat there admiring the view and wondering how the heck I was gonna get down, this crusty old enduro racer appeared out of nowhere. Seriously, like a mirage of dust and two-stroke smoke.

Without me even asking, the old coot looks at me and grumbles, "You wanna know how to spell ‘ENDURO’? Simple: Sand, whoops, single track, and rocks. Lots of rocks." I figured he had more to say, but when he offered no more, I asked his name. He scratched his grizzled chin and said, "Rick. And you spell that: Grit, Dust, Crust, and Beer." Then, like a ghost from Enduros Past, he kicked his bike to life, gave me a nod, and rode off down the hill, bouncing through the rocks like they weren’t even there.

Now, I’ll be honest—he wasn’t exactly a Rhodes Scholar. I mean, spelling like that? Come on. But the old guy had a point. After battling through the Double Dog Dare Enduro, I’m starting to think the Beckers might’ve had a run-in with this same sage of the single track. 'Cause if that enduro wasn’t sand, whoops, rocks, and more than a dash of dust, I don’t know what is!

Within the first five miles, the Beckers put in two pitiless hills, designed by the devil himself, which caused carnage all day.  The first loop had the compound problem of the sun, making it nearly impossible to see the rocks before bouncing off them and into the soft side of the trail where you had no hope of getting going again.  The unrelenting single track and rocks meant little time to relax or makeup lost time.  No breaks, no mercy.  Add in the heat and it was survival mode. The results pretty much told the story—only a handful of riders outside the Master Class managed to hit all the checks within their minutes. The rest? Well, let’s just say they had a long day.

One rider not having a long day was the overall winner, Thomas Moore.  Dropping only a single second, he had a brush with a perfect day.  In the Expert Class, Alexis Eberhardt rode like she was channeling that old enduro wizard from the mountaintop. She dropped a measly three seconds in the first two loops, and even the punishing downhill at the end only tacked on a few more seconds. Talk about a Master Class performance! Jake Hoskins likewise was the only Amateur to stay within his minute.  Hats off to you both—stellar rides!

Now, the Novice Class? That was a showdown. Brian Ribeneck had a fantastic run, dropping only six seconds, while Logan Roe couldn’t quite hang on, losing 39 seconds in the same stretch.  And then, we’ve got Tim Moore. What can I say? The guy’s the GOAT in the Senior-Expert Class for a reason. He was cooking all day but hit a wall—literally and figuratively—dropping a minute on his final check. Still, even a slowed-down Tim is faster than most of us on a good day. Dick Cressy snagged the win in the Senior Expert class, and newcomer Scott Dewindt nailed his first Novice-X victory. Well done, Scott—first of many, I’d bet!

Saturday saw its own version of Battle Royale in the brutal heat. Jack R muscled his way to the Beginner Class win, while Mikayla Reiter tore it up in the highly competitive Sport Class.

In all, I’m not sure what’s tougher—facing those hills and rocks or racing in a furnace, but all our riders did both and came out grinning... or maybe grimacing. Either way, solid rides all around.

See you all at the Outlaw Enduro, October 19-20!

Next Event

Double Dog Dare Enduro

Hosted by the Becker Family

Roll Charts and Route Sheets Below:

Route Sheet
Roll Chart
Roll Chart W/O Speed

Date: September 28 and 29

Key Time: Note the Key Time change to 8:00 AM to beat the heat!

Location: Stephen’s Mine Road and Pipeline Road, Spangler Hills OHV

Potluck Theme: Just in from the Trail Boss! Potluck theme is “regular ol’ potluck”

Location: Stephen’s Mine Road and Pipeline Road
35.534369, -117.559715

Wheelie Good Stories

By Dieter Dirtflinger

September 2024

The Art of Pre-Season Banter: Mastering the Dirt Bike Talk

So, you’ve followed my preseason guide from last month, huh? Good for you! By now, you should have your bike and body well on the way to race-ready shape. Maybe you've even managed to jog a bit, even if it was just a quick sprint to the fridge for another cold one. And who knows, perhaps you finally gave your bike the bath it deserved and swapped out that year-old oil. Nice work! Your bike and bod should be in better shape than that leftover pizza in your fridge.

But let me ask you this: What about your mouth? Yeah, that’s right. Your mouth. See, racing isn’t just about twisting the throttle and eating dirt; it’s about surviving the Saturday morning chatter before you even hit the trail. After a summer away, the moment you roll into camp, your buddies will swarm you like flies on a fresh cow pie, eager to talk your ear off. But here’s the kicker—you’ve probably spent the summer grunting at your significant other while glued to the couch in your tighty-whities, perfecting the fine art of nonverbal communication. Now, how in the heck are you gonna handle this social minefield? What do you say? What do you talk about?

The most obvious way to get the mouth revved up: Find the guy with the new bike. You know the one—his machine so shiny, fresh off the showroom floor, and there’s probably already a horde of your pals drooling all over it. When you arrive, slap on that “I know what I’m talking about” face and start dishing out bike wisdom like you’re the second coming of Steve McQueen. Sure, you’ve never actually ridden the thing, but who needs firsthand experience when you’ve got the Internet and YouTube? You’ve watched at least one video on it, so that practically makes you an expert. Start rambling about the engine type, the handling quirks, and the best way to tune it for the upcoming enduro. The new owner is dying to know everything you think you know, and it’s your solemn duty to share it all.

Now, if luck is really on your side, you’ll stumble upon someone working on their bike. He’ll be knee-deep in greasy parts, cursing a blue streak.  This is your time to shine!  But don’t go offering to help—no, no, no! What this poor soul truly needs is your expert supervision. Stand there, hands on hips, and tell him exactly how he’s doing it wrong. You might not have a clue what he’s fixing, but that’s beside the point. Your job is to critique his technique, point out his inefficiencies, and generally make him question his ability to work on his own bike. Guys at Training Wheels eat this stuff up. Trust me.

But let’s not get too carried away. Before you dive headfirst into the sea of small talk, let me give you a quick rundown of a few topics to steer clear of. Number one: Religion. And by religion, I mean brand faithfulness. Whether you are a disciple of one of the Far Eastern cults, perhaps a Hondaist or Kawasaki-yana, or you worship at the altar of the Orange, White, and Red KTM Trinity, remember, Training Wheels is a place where all creeds are welcome. Even the oddball Beta riders—yeah, those guys—deserve a little respect, even if we all know they should probably camp a bit farther from the group.

And for the love of all things knobby, don’t even think about bringing up Identity Politics. We live in a world where people can identify however they please, and who are we to judge? If someone decides they’re a “racer” despite spending most of their life as a humble “trail rider,” well, that’s their call. We’ve got to respect everyone’s chosen identity, even if we can’t help but chuckle a bit when they declare their pronouns.

So there you have it—a survival guide to preseason banter. Now get out there, flap those gums, and remember: It’s not just about riding; it’s about talking like you know what you’re doing. See you in the desert!

Wheelie Good Stories

By Dieter Dirtflinger

August 2024

How to Survive Preseason: A Guide for the Faint of Heart and Sore of Muscle

Ah, preseason—also known as the "awkward reunion" phase, where both you and your dirt bike get reacquainted after a blissful summer of neglect. It’s that special time when you realize just how out of shape you’ve gotten and how out of tune your bike is. So, how does one approach this daunting period and emerge ready to dominate the desert? Buckle up (or rather, gear up), because we're diving into the wild world of preseason prep.

Step 1: Wake Up Your Body

You know that feeling when you try to jump out of bed, but instead, you sort of roll and groan your way to the floor? That’s your body’s way of saying, "Hey, remember me? We haven’t done anything remotely athletic since last season." Time to remind those muscles what they're supposed to do. Start with some light cardio—jogging, cycling, or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, chasing your dog around the yard.  Lift some weights.  No, your gut doesn’t count.  Stretching is also crucial. Aim for the kind of flexibility that would make a yoga instructor proud, or at least less likely to pull a hammy while swinging your leg over the bike.

Step 2: Taming the Beast (a.k.a. Your Dirt Bike)

Your trusty steed has been hibernating in the garage, collecting dust and possibly providing a new home for the neighborhood spiders. It’s time for a thorough once-over. Check the oil, the brakes, the chain, and every bolt you can find. There’s nothing quite like the sound of a bolt rattling off mid-race to make you appreciate preseason maintenance. Also, make sure your tires still have enough knobbies on them to get that extra bit of summer flub up and down the hills.

Step 3: Gear Up and Look Good

Let’s be honest—part of the fun of racing is looking the part. Dust off that helmet, and make sure your gear still fits. There’s no shame in realizing your pants have become mysteriously snug. Blame it on the dryer or a summer of too many beers. Whatever you do, just make sure everything is in good shape and provides the protection you need. Safety first, style second—but not a distant second.

Step 4: Embrace the Routine

Getting back into the routine of racing is like trying to fit into your old high school jeans—awkward and slightly painful, but doable with persistence. Start with some light practice rides to ease back into the groove. Remember, you’re not aiming for Jarvis style Erzberg runs; just focus on regaining that smooth, confident ride. And if you find yourself tipping over before you get out of camp, just laugh it off. It’s all part of the preseason charm.

Step 5: The Final Touches

Now that both you and your bike are somewhat ready, it’s time for the final preseason ritual: convincing your significant other that all this time spent in the garage and out in the desert is absolutely necessary for your well-being. Good luck with that one.

So, there you have it—a foolproof (or at least fool-resistant) guide to getting through the enduro preseason. Remember, the goal is to have fun, stay safe, and maybe, just maybe, come out of it without too many new aches and pains. Happy riding, and see you at the Double-Dog Enduro!

 

Next up on the TWMC Calendar:

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Enduro

Hosted by the Surmon, Kompier, and Hoskins Families

No Saturday Events! All classes ride the main loop Sunday!

With a course designed with everyone in mind, all riders (except the Juniors/Striders) will ride the main course on Sunday, giving the little ones and beginners a chance to ride with the big guns.

Location: Cougar Buttes — N 34 29.077 W 116 49.6543

Saturday Potluck: Anything goes! 6 P.M.

Key Time: 8 A.M. Sunday morning. NOTE THE EARLY START to beat the heat!

Cinco de Moto Results are in!!!

Click here!

“A Perfect Weekend”

What is a perfect TWMC weekend?  The Zavalas definitively answered the question last Sunday.  We had good food, good racing, and good friendships. The party began Friday evening when John served up a few tacos, a precursor of Saturday’s potluck, to those arriving early.  A few adult beverages under the stars finished off the glorious night. 

Saturday had the usual events – Beginner and Sport – but with a new set of winners.   Mikayla Cressy took the Sport class win and Luke B. took advantage of Jack R. being absent to get in a win. 

The event most people were looking forward to, even more than the Sunday Enduro, was the Cinco de Moto Tacos.  The Zavalas and crew dished up their signature choice of four types of tacos, guacamole, quesadillas, salsa, hot sauce, and everything else to make a perfect taco – or four.  Most people needed bigger plates to haul off all the food.  Winning the overall in the potluck would have been mighty difficult this May!

Leave it to one rider in Sunday’s event, however, to not appreciate the tacos.  Alex Kompier showed he preferred a SANDwich to tacos when he went over the bars on the second loop.  His favorite SANDwich ingredients?  One bike, one man, and two parts dirt.  Thankfully the kid seemed ok and went on to finish the race.

After serving up tacos Saturday evening, John served up a perfect course for a May enduro.  The course began with a couple of treacherous hills – a confused mix of loose rocks, sand, and powdery silt that caused more than a few to go down.  Then the course transitioned into some of the gnarliest, rockiest desert out there.  After the rocks came a fast, open section which allowed riders to cool down some before coming in for the break. 

The top five riders were separated by only 17 seconds.  In what is starting to look like a dominant season, Brett Ribeneck took the overall again in the Master class.  Aaron Baxter nabbed the win in the Expert class.  David Felihkatubbe served notice that we all better learn how to pronounce that last name with his first, and what is certainly not his last, Ammie class win.  With the Felihkatubbe kids as fast as they are, we are going to have lots of practice saying that name for a long time to come!

Even though the temperatures were hot, so was the racing action.  This Cinco de Moto will surely go down as a classic May event in the TWMC pantheon. 

Cinco de Moto Roll Charts and Route Sheets are in!

Click on the links below to get yours:

Route Sheet
Roll Chart with Speeds
Roll Chart without Speeds

They will also be available at signups.

Up next in the TWMC Enduro Series:

Cinco de Moto

Presented by the Z-Team

May 18th and 19th

Sardinia Dry Lake, 35.428906, -117.595406

Saturday Events:

  • Junior Event 1 PM

  • Beginner / Sport 2 PM

  • Mexican Potluck 6 PM — Z-Team is bringing the meat, you bring the sides and deserts!

  • General Meeting after Potluck

Sunday Events

  • Rider’s Meeting 8:30 AM

  • Enduro Key Time 9:00 AM

Want to join us for a great ride OR have any questions,
contact us at TWMCSecretary@gmail.com.

Route Sheets and Roll Charts available Friday here AND at the event.

Here is a great video from one of our riders at the Keg Run, Jeff Helm. Thanks for sharing, Jeff!

Keg Run Results are in!

Results

40 Years of Keg Run

After a windy, cold week, the 40th annual Keg Run Enduro weekend dawned Saturday with beautiful, sunny riding weather.  Take a minute and think about that “40th annual” phrase.  Tim Moore and his sons have been putting on events longer than many of our Sunday finishers have been alive!  40 years means a whole lot of practice and Tim and his family brought all that expertise to lay out what is arguably one of the club’s funnest events of the year.   

The course the Moores laid out for Sunday was a great combination of tight rocks, open desert, and rocky single track.  The speeds they set were higher than anyone could remember for a Keg Run but only a few riders struggled with the higher pace.  Matt Eberhardt rode so fast, he burned two checks!  “I was having so much fun and riding so well, I couldn’t do the simple math of adding the 2 miles for free!  I kept trying to ride 3 for free.” A disappointing 5th place was the result.  Alexis Eberhardt may have been the Burn Queen, but her woes were due to a faulty pickup cable that meant her mileages were all over the place the first loop. 

Sunday’s overall ended in predictable fashion with Brett Ribeneck and Brent Betker battling it out for first.  Brett was in the lead after the first loop but a combination of very small mistakes plagued him all day and he ended up 8 seconds down to Brent at the finish.  Even the Master/Expert split, a tricky, long stretch of rocky up and down hills, was not enough to separate the two as they both 30d the special. 

In the Amateur class, Robbie Butze was the only rider not to drop out of his minute all day.  Timekeeping minute one on his own, Robbie seems well positioned to eventually move up to the Expert class.  Dave Barrar made his return to racing in the Senior Expert class by edging out the consistent Rick Samuelson by 8 seconds.  Rick was leading Dave by a wide margin until the last check where he dropped out of his minute and gained 66 seconds of penalty.  Whether it was the tricky hill the Masters and Experts had to ride all day or the quicker speeds towards the end, the result was Dave beat Rick to the last check by 46 seconds!

Brian Ribeneck won some glory for the Ribeneck family by taking the Novice victory and Dick Cressy had enough sense to not follow his Master, Matt Eberhardt, into all his burned checks for the Super Senior class win.  For our one loop classes, Danielle Becker took the Novice X win and Legend Jay Betker topped Rod McInnis.

The highlight of the weekend had to be Saturday’s Beginner event.  With 18 total riders on Saturday, all of which were wanting some of the ice cream Jeannie was dishing up, the club had to go in search of more ice cream!  Thanks to all who helped put on the Saturday event.  The future looks bright!

Keg Run Route Sheets and Roll Charts are available here:

Roll Chart
Roll Chart W/O Speed
Route Sheet

Route Sheets and Roll Charts are available at signups.

40th Keg Run

Location:

Charlie’s Place, Wagon Wheel
35.572904, -117.550442

Potluck:

5:30 PM — Appetizer Theme
General Meeting after Potluck

Bring your little ones!

The Easter bunny will be in front of the Moore’s rig Saturday at 11 and there will be an Easter Egg hunt at 11:30

Burgers and Hot Dogs After the Event!

Roll Charts and Route Sheets available at Signups

Saturday: 10-12
Sunday: 7-8:30

Eberzberg Results are in!

Click on the link below:

Results

Brent Betker coming over the boulders!

“Now, that was an Enduro!” — Maurice D

The Training Wheels MC Eberzberg Rodeo kicked off with absolutely beautiful weather and conditions Saturday.  The Beginner and Sport event, laid out by Marc DeShane, featured a tamer course than the Sunday course, perfect for the beginners and sport riders.   Jackson R extended his 2024 win count to two victories.  Only 10 seconds separated Warren W. and Nathaniel O. who rounded out the podium with 2nd and 3rd places respectively. Steph Surmon snatched victory from Karen Patt in the Sport class by a margin of 9 seconds.  Very close action, indeed!

Sunday’s course served up several special tests and challenged riders with difficult terrain and speeds.  Riders dropped time all day as they struggled in the sand, rocks, and ridges that made up the course. Most of the time dropped came in the second half of the course where sandy hills and washes were the dominant terrain and the speeds were higher. 

Quite a few riders also struggled with the special test right off the start of the second loop.  Many riders stopped in the special test check-in to tell the check workers that they were easily visible from a long way off.  Several thought it was funny they had seen the check until the checkers pointed out they were losing time in a 21 mph section through the gullies! Little did they know, the check was meant to keep riders from running hot on their time-keeping and shortening the test. Seeing it was part of the trap!

In a twist of the finish, Amateur riders rode the furthest and were expected to keep time on their own in the last 4 miles after the Masters and Experts split off for their final special test. Despite a 2 minute burn at the last check, Robbie Butze took home the overall victory ahead of John Hallman and Hannah Ribeneck. In the Senior Expert class, Rick Samuelson, Dean Bishop, and Jeff Schulte took advantage of the absent Tim Moore to sit atop the podium.  At the finish, Samuelson, winner of the class, could only get out a, “Damnnnn!” through his grin. 

Stephan Butze and Brian Ribeneck claimed the  Super Senior and Novice wins at the end.  The Novice X class was very competitive this month with Danielle Becker snatching the class win by 5 seconds over Allen Roe.  Jay Betker dominated the other Legends as he was the only one-loop rider to finish in his minute.

The Master class was a nail biter at the end.  In the final boulder strewn wash, the distinct riding styles of Brent Betker and Brett Ribeneck were clearly evident.  Brent Betker, riding on minute 1, came to the last boulder pile first.  He quickly found the easy line through – OVER the boulders!  Blipping the throttle, he was quickly over and through the boulder section. He got to the last sandy uphill and made it through the check in his minute at 53 seconds.  Brett, next up, got to the boulders and bull-dogged his way through, attacking the section like he was an angry dog.  He bounced off several rocks, throttle open to the uphill and the check.  Despite the chaotic run, Brett still got through at 54 seconds in his minute.  Even down a second in the final special, Brett had done enough throughout the day to secure the Overall victory just 2 seconds ahead of Brent! 

The Eberzberg Rodeo highlights what makes TWMC such a great place to race.  While the course was arguably the most challenging in recent memory, only a small number of participants bowed out early.  Riders who did finish the course should feel proud for finishing one of the toughest events of the year.  While not every event is as challenging, many are in their own way and riders are certain to find an event, and most likely, many events, that appeals to them.  TWMC certainly has something for everyone!

Route Sheets and Roll Charts for the
Eberzberg Rodeo
are available below:

Route Sheet
Roll Chart
Roll Chart W/O Speed

The turn off to the event is 4 miles north of the Wagon Wheel turn off on Trona Road. It is the road just PAST the powerline road. It is arrowed from Trona Road to camp. See you there!

The old lady has spoken.

“Come to the Eberzberg Rodeo!”

Location:
North Spangler, North of Randsburg Wash Rd.
35.638240, -117.479867
Arrowed from Trona Road

Potluck Theme:
International Foods, 6:00 Sat.

For questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at: twmcsecretary@gmail.com

“The Enduro Gods love the Macho Man!”

With rain the week before, and then, the “Macho Man Miracle” -- rain the night before the event -- the Enduro Gods truly did bless the event.  Riders were treated to high traction and low dust both Saturday and Sunday. 

Saturday’s Beginner ride was stuffed with new faces challenging the old guard.  Riders like Hailie B, Ford and Beziu F, Warren W, and Blake A gave the old timers Caden C, Jack R and, returning after a long absence, Parker R stiff competition in the enduro game.  Ultimately, it was the old guard who prevailed.  Jack R took another victory but right behind him was Hailie.  The new timers’ parents have to be proud with how well their youngsters did in their first enduro with the club.

Sunday began after the night of rain with the modified first loop, tailored for Novice X.  The challenge was just right for the Novice X class.  Naveah Z came in second place to newbie Allen Roe, finishing his first race after bike troubles kept him at the start line of the last event.

The second loop was uneventful with most riders getting perfect or near perfect scores.  Trail Boss Brett Ribeneck was only toying with riders, giving them a false sense of accomplishment.  Check 9 is where things really got interesting.  Riders sat just prior to the possible in a valley.  Thomas Moore, on minute 1, started his bike, a little ahead on time, and crested the little knoll.  He immediately grabbed his brakes, desperately trying to scrub into the hidden check.  As everyone in the valley looked on, Benny Thomson ran into the back of Thomas. What happened next was hidden behind the hill, but all riders knew where the check was.  The next few lines zeroed the check, but Brett dialed in a 2.1 mile special test through the tight ravines at 21 mph right after the check which put a lot of riders down on time. 

The final special test for Masters and Experts was a treat for those there.  Only three riders made it on time.  Thomas Moore made it first, cruising on in 12 seconds off the 30.  Alexis Eberhardt, dominant winner of the Expert class, was the only rider there on time.  According to Brett, she stalled just outside the stakes and had to restart her bike, costing her a few precious seconds.  But it was the “desert gazelle,” Brent Betker who secured the overall win with 20 seconds dropped in the special and a total of 39 for the day. 

The show of the day, though, came from Aaron Baxter.  Aaron approached the drop off into the final check and, bull-dogging it down, hit the start button on his bike.  The bike launched out of his hands and rode itself down the hill before gracefully laying itself down at the bottom. 

Congrats to our class winners Brent Betker, Alexis Eberhardt, Danny Lyons, Tim Moore, Nicko Kazadzis, and Stephan Butze.  You all had an amazing ride!

Macho Man results are in!

Click on the link below:

Results

For questions or concerns, or if you are one of the people who did not turn in a card, email us at twmcsecretary@gmail.com

Need a guide to help you decipher your results?

Look here.

I attached Matt Eberhardt’s card and a guide on how He got the score he did.

As always, feel free to email your questions, concerns, or comments to twmcsecretary@gmail.com