Day 11: Battle Mountain NV

The Caly Poly PSOs are demanding to read about this morning's exploits today¹ so here's the morning Stuffs.  I'll add the rest of Saturday as and when, or something.

Usually weathery nonsense this morning, viz. cold and breezy.  And a freshly roadkilled antelope at the five mile marker.  Dealing with dead ruminants is above my pay grade, but Calvin, Larry and John J dragged it off into the brush for the circling vautour to have for lunch.  The antelopes were out in force this morning, crossing the road with neither due care nor attention to snack on the alfalfa growing on the west side of the 305.  No near misses, thankfully.  The horseys were back too, and volunteer Colette thought she saw a hedgehog in the road during one of the sweep runs but since North America has lacked hedgepigs for about five million years this seems unlikely.  So, what happened?

No qualifying runs, for starters.  First heat comprised Erin in Cyclone and Ken in ARION 8, resulting in 49.06 and 42.66 mph respectively.  Non-legal wind.  ARION 8 sported a hastily-confected extended tail which was so effective that it was removed when Karen ran later.  One of my Sinister Agents tells me there's a plan to make a bigger one from "big-ass quantities of cardboard" for this evening.  We will see...

Assorted types mooching at the start: Larry, Calvin, Adam, Eric

Tail extension for ARION 8

The second heat had Bill, Claire, Peter and Nathan.  Bill in the Milan RS reached 58.24 and Claire 53.99 in Cyclone.  Not legal wind.  Peter opened the vent hole in the front of his Milan, got cramp and went slower.  47.93 mph, non-legal wind.  It is most pleasing to report that Nathan got Woohoo under way without damaging the bike's paintwork, albeit not within the stipulated 15 metres.  Like he cares.  His fastest run of the week with 50.03 but again not wind-legal.

Nathan & Woohoo, rubber side down

Three more willing victims in the the third heat and yet again the wind conspired against Slash upgrading to a 60 mph Hat.  62.53 mph or a smidge over 100 km/h.  Niklas' 57.19 and Karen's 41.43 were similarly wind-afflicted; the weather seems to be picking on Niklas in particular.

The Beanery, mooching

Adam was first off in heat 4 and reached a genuine 69.11 mph.  Not wind-legal.  FFS.  There is a rumour that he might try Bill's Milan this evening.  We will see.  Erin drove Adam's truck as his chase vehicle; I swear she was grinning more as she set off than she was after finishing a run in Cyclone.  Another best speed of the week for Ellen and Orange Bullet with 60.90 but, well, you can probably guess what the wind thought about that.  Finally it relented and Harrison got a wind-legal run in Cyclone; 57.34 mph and a 55 mph Hat.

Harrison heads for Hat City

Less wind, more warmth for the final heat and François increased his personal best and European record to 88.07 mph.  He was followed down the course by Russell, who upgraded himself to a 75 mph with a new PB at 76.11 mph, but just short of his hoped-for BRITISH record.  Another PB followed, this one for David with 72.94 mph but the bastard wind had done the dirty again.  Wiebke brought the morning's proceedings to a close and grabbed herself a Hat with a wind-legal 50.42 in the Milan RS.

Perfect launches for François...

...Russell...

...David...

... and Wiebke

The morning debrief was somewhat delayed.  This was because a cow had become stuck in the muddy pond that lies behind the catch area parking lot.  While attempting to rescue said cow, Battle Mountain Mike Engle's truck fell in a ditch and got stuck. Determined efforts to rescue him by Arnold, Cobus and their trucks came to naught, though it is pleasing to note that both Mike and the cow were eventually able to go about their business once more.

The delay was a bit much for Professor Admiral Baron Timelord Jun

The Ligtvoets are lording it over us peasants in this mobile monstrosity

Group photo time outside the Civic Center.  Normally at this stage of proceedings Officer Aten rocks up in his patrol car and hauls some recidivist off to the hoosegow in handcuffs but it very much appeared that he was late this year - presumably doing Actual Policing - and everyone had dispersed to polish bikes or tit about in front of the hospital.

Vehicles & riders

Yay!

Liverpool's Responsible Adults, titting about

Team Northern Monkey

I shall shortly be heading out for the final session of racing so cross your thumbs, press your lucky rabbit's foot and stroke your fingers for a miracle to occur and the wind to bog off to Humboldt County and stay there.

1. Lie