Indeed, all the plays on words have already been taken, but seriously--the mud, the sweat, the broken gears, broken backs and in some instances dented skulls, were everything this race was composed of...and a LOT MORE.
Holy cow! This weekend in Fayetteville was unlike anything I've ever seen...almost laughable if I hadn't actually seen it for myself. Whilst sitting in the pits, I saw people "ride by", but really it was a lesson in pushing your bike with 80 pounds of mud on it and wheels that would no longer spin in an attempt to at least make it to the finish line. Many did, but many did NOT...lap times were inflated to three times their size, and the "unlimited beer" supply at the end was a welcomed consolation prize...
BUT! So many people plodded through to the end, and so many racers deserved more praise than they were given. Tho it was a veritable hike n' bike walk of attrition through the woods, there actually was a race going on!! So that being said, the Terrapin Racing Team gave the factory pros a run for their money in the Duo Pro category, making Sam Koerber and Thomas Turner work for their win. Sam and Thomas made impressive time especially in the final lap, but Wild Bill Lanzilotta and Jeremy Edge were on their tails the entire time, with lap distances, at times, of less than eight minutes.
A brief interview with Wild Bill after his second and final lap went like this:
me: "So? How was it?"
WB:"You really wanna know?"
me: "Uh...yeah?"
WB: "In the 25 years I've been racing...this is BY FAR, the worst race I have EVER done..."
me: "hunh--wow..."
Worst as in messiest and most difficult, but as Bill and Jeremy later agreed, it also by far, built the most character.
The Terrapin pit before the mudslide
Jeremy off for his only 'normal' lap
"She's a maaaniac, MANIAC, on-the-flooor..."
Bill comes back from his first taste of the track
Yowza!
Jeremy advises Bill on how to carry his bike
Final lap, finally over...
A glorious victory for everyone
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