6/12 Hours Of Ithaca Report

6/12 Hours Of Ithaca 7/19/08

I really wanted to do well here for a couple of reasons. 1) since its really in my back yard (9 miles thats close when you live out in the sticks). 2) I help build alot the trail so I should know it like the back of my love hand. 3) Mrs Napper was going to be there and might get some trophy sex.

It started Friday night. Watch Vision Quest. Pack up the car. Put in front wheels,spare wheels,lights, MYSS race kit and spare cloths, work stand,cooler everything I need except bikes on the roof. Woke up Saturday morning check the weather looks like rain is coming. So if Mrs.Napper is coming I wanted to make sure is dry because she will be getting sweating later trophy sex that will be happing later. Went out the back shed grab my old ez-up so Mrs.Napper would be dry and when rains come you can never have to many ez-ups. then I got a couple of calls asking if I could bring this and that. Cool I already have that stuff extra so I don't need to stop by the bike shop. Hop in the car off to Ithaca(9miles) Get almost to the barns about 200 yards for the big ass RV and thought to myself and said a few choice words I FORGOT MY BIKES IN THE GARAGE yes you can not make this up had everything else but my bikes. Yes I am a waterhead. Laugh it off back home I went got my bikes and back to the race no harm done.

Start of the race with my bike. I line right up at the front something I never do I'm a slow starter normally and most of you all have meet me at one point or another I'm more John Deere tractor than say a Porsche. I hear the go and I off like Michael Jackson at an all boys slumber party. I'm either 6th or 7th overall first 12 hr guy until the 2 track at the end and L.C. and Wayne MF'ER ( I give that title with love)Cook come by and we go through the scoring area together. I'm thinking this is a little to fast OK alot to fast for the tractor that could. I thought to myself better back off. I ended catching up with Amy, Brent's friend Asked if I wanted to go by and heck she was going the perfect pace and she is HOT and smelled way better than alot of jackasses that also decided to ride with us that day. Then it happened I hit a fricken tree on one of the easiest part of the trail. I really thought Mike Tyson came out from behind that tree and knocked me off my bike. I went down hard and knocked the wind out of me and I re injured my rib that I whacked up really good about a month ago. It looks like I was dragged behind a horse for 10 miles. Regain myself and yell at Mike Tyson to get the hell out of here I'm busy now but I will come back for you at some other time.

Then things got even worse. Laps 2-3 I was messing with my seat binder clamp/bolt it must have broken when Mike Tyson stepped on it. On the 3rd lap my seat went down 2 inch and there was no fixing it. I have my spare bike all set up with lights for the night time. Went back to the car stripped all the stuff off got on it took and rode to lap 8 I think. My rib was hurting bad pissed off that I couldn't ride because it hurt to breath and thought screw this I'm going back to the car and drink PBR and drink my sorrows away.

I end up sitting out for about 1:20 minutes in the that time people that passed would ask what was going on so I told them my story a couple of time and Mrs.Napper just sat there quite for some. Junk came in shortly after saying he is not felling well. Must be getting married is working on his nerves?(j/k) He has not been able to ride much lately. I told him good we can sit here and drink beer together. Next thing I know he has disappeared like a carrot cake at Rosie O'Donnell's house. Finally Mrs.Napper goes you better try to go one more time or you will be unable to live with for the next couple of weeks.

So off I go and not really feeling any better then I fall once again at a slow pace land on my same side that my rib is killing me. Get up pissed off I was going to pull out at the cattle gate where those guys were hanging. (also what a cool bunch of guys) Not really happy but I heard my buddy Steve (who might ask to be on the team next year) I thought what the hell I will ride out the lap with him. I not sure what happened in that second fall but rib was starting to feel better. Ended up riding 2 laps with Steve (his first endurance race and he did 12hr on a SS) he went in and I just continued to ride and ride well. I had a few things going through my mind.1) Iron Maiden "run to the hill" 2) Iam Steven F'ing Segal "Superior Attitude' and Superior state of mind" 3) Various of quotes from Steve Prefontaine. I was feeling good again and happy to be on my bike.

I was getting dark rolled in the pits and Junk and Mrs Napper got me hooked up with lights a food and the best tasting Coca Cola that I ever had. I was around 10:00 pm coming on the stinking two towards the end a stupid deer comes running out from my right so I turn right to miss him and there is less than a foot for impact and down I go again. My Battery pops out the the cage and I'm on my hands and knees searching for it until some one comes by and I spot it.

Came in with about 12 minutes before midnight ask Junk do i need to go back out? His answer. I'm not sure. I sat there and ponder and said what the hell it will only be another 25 minutes or so. About 3/4 from the finish I see another SS'er and I pick up the pace caught the guy by the factory and got by him to the finish and I was glad to be done and finally get the cold PBR.

So in the time of 12hrs I went from second (first lap when I did not have my head on straight) to DFL by 3:30 hrs into it. To come back and get 4th place finish and the guy I passed at the end beating him by a minute.

Thanks to Randy and Sally for just being them. Brent as usual thanks for putting on the series and the event. Junk was the man in the pits for and thanks for your help and I won't say anything to your new bride on how you went looking for Rosie O'Donnell. Wayne glad to hang out with you for a couple of days and you are the man Mr. T would be proud. Duke(dutch boy) always glad to see you. Nice work with the team it has made racing fun again. Abbytrails,GearsWhatGears, Bratney good job and thanks for coming out to the sticks to race.

One last one to thanks goes out to Mrs.Napper since I was really not fun to be around for little over a hour she made it clear just go out and ride your damn bike.

In case if you are wondering no I did not get any trophy sex since I got fourth and by the time I got home I really didn't care.

Disclaimer: I know I can't spell and I'm no English major so be kind.

This post was brought you by the fine folks from Pabst Blue Ribbon.

napper