US Desert Racing Series – Round Two

 US Desert Racing Round Two Video

Just like that, Round Two of the US Desert Racing Series has arrived. After my stunning performance in Round One (13th out of 15 in the  Senior One Beginner class) I’m ready to race again, and maybe even move up a position or two.

We arrive at The Ranch in Anza early on Friday, picking a choice spot to park the Mobile Desert Assault Vehicle. My race isn’t until Sunday, but I like to be early for everything. The entire weekend my beautiful fiancée Fiona, my good friend Keith and I are constantly amazed at the friendliness of the entire USDR racing community. Though this is my second ever race, we’re immediately greeted like old friends. After practice and the team race on Saturday, we’re invited to hang out around a fire with our new friends; some watching the mudfest that is Daytona Supercross, others teasing, telling tall tales and lies, all sharing some good laughs. At first I was a little hesitant to camp in the racing compound, not wanting to be surrounded by a rabid pack of party animals. Nothing could be further from the truth. By 9 PM on Saturday, most racers were long gone, sound asleep. When I asked about it, I was told, “Yeah, they take their racing pretty seriously!”

It’s finally Sunday, finally race day, eight in the morning… or is it nine? Or maybe seven? Overnight the ridiculousness of Daylight Savings Time has kicked in, and I’m unsure exactly what time it is. As I wander the campground, I’m told the race has been pushed back an hour to accommodate people that may have forgotten to change their clocks.

People like me.

An hour later I line up on Row Seven, and count only four (!) other Senior One Beginners. Inwardly,  I smile, knowing the worst I can do is fifth in my division, though I’m aiming for better. I fire up the 450x and wait in nervous anticipation as the first few rows roar off onto the race course.

The green flag waves for Row Seven and we’re off! In the first minute of this race I’m already in fifth place; I really need to work on those starts. Just like in Round One, the row behind catches and starts passing me. I start to make mistakes, and have a few less-than-graceful unplanned dismounts; I really need to work on staying upright.

It’s been said that slow is fast, but in my case, slow is just slow. The race is fast, and I am not; I really need to work on getting faster. When I start to feel frustrated, I take a second to remind myself that above all else, I am challenging myself with all this. Some of these racers have doubtlessly been racing since they were tadpoles. I’ve been racing since February.  Regardless of how I am faring in the race, I know I am having a good time. The involuntary smile on my face tells me so.

Lap Three is by far my best lap. I manage one complete circuit without falling into one of the notorious Ranch Super Gravity Wells; remaining upright for an entire lap feels like a victory to me. Speed will come eventually, my technique can only get better. When I’m out on that track, I am literally having the time of my life, and while I’m still not very good at it, the only way for me to go is up.

After a few more missed corners and various other biffs, bobbles and bounces, I cross the finish line with a career best fifth place (in the Senior One Beginner class) finish! The race was hard, demanding and physically tiring, making finishing it at all a really good feeling.

I have a few things to work on between now and Round Three…..