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Dirt Rag Articles
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Burn 24 Hour Challenge
May 27-28
Wilkesboro, NC
The fourth stop on the 2006 Dirt Rag World Tour was down south, more properly just outside of Wilkesboro, North Carolina on some U.S. Army Corps of Engineer land. The W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir boasts several campgrounds, beaches, and most importantly for our purposes, two multi-use trails, the Dark Mountain Trail and the Overmountain National Victory Trail. Both of the trails are the result of a successful collaboration between the Army Corps of Engineers and the local mountain bike club, the Brushy Mountain Cyclists. The trails were built with long-term use in mind, and are pretty much a shining example of properly built, sustainable and really fun trail.
The Burn 24 Hour Challenge (so named because of the title sponsor, Burn energy drink) used the Dark Mountain Trail system, a seven-mile loop of undulating singletrack. The trail twists and turns, following the contours of the land, and riders were pretty much either climbing or descending the entire time. This meant they had to constantly be on their game, but one thing’s for sure, no one got bored out there.
About 270 racers hit the course, many of them camping out in the field where the event was staged. Apparently, North Carolina was enjoying some unseasonably cool weather…that is, until the day of the race. Toasty. As Maurice delights in saying, “it’s not the heat, it’s the stupidity,” and as temperatures broke the 90 degree mark, the sultry air posed quite a challenge for those out on the course and those of us who were simply trying to poach a bit of shade in the open field. But there was plenty of water for the racers (as well as all the Burn anyone could care to drink), people were being considerate out on the course, and everyone worked together to make it a great time.
Maurice and I hung out in the shade of our Airstream awning and booth pop up, and got to spend some quality time meeting and greeting folks, many of whom very kindly thanked us for coming down. The last time Dirt Rag was at the Burn was in 2003 (former staffers Joel Kennedy and Carol Clemens worked the booth), so it had been a few. Lots of people took advantage of our sweet premiums from Kenda and DeFeet and signed up or renewed their subscriptions. Thanks to everyone who did, and welcome to the magazine! We also raffled off two Dirt Worker portable washers and a much drooled over Fox Talas RLC fork after the race. A hearty thanks to all our fine Partners who “attended” the race with us!
Speaking of race, congrats to everyone who braved the heat and the challenge--particularly the soloists and the racer from Costa Rica whose bike didn’t show so he spent the first 14 laps riding a $150 Mongoose before I lent him my bike. How did these racers fare? Well, the top male finisher---Mark Hendershot, riding for Santa Cruz Syndicate---got 32 laps in (that’s 224 miles for those of you who like numbers), and the top female finisher---Danielle Musto, riding for Slingshot bikes---(coincidentally, like Hendershot, also from Michigan) gave him a run for his money with an impressive 28 laps (that’s 196 miles).
Other weekend highlights included the spooky “Alien Abduction” set up in the woods: under cover of night, I tagged along with Tyler Benedict (the former promoter of the race and owner of Source, the company that makes Burn) and some other guys as we drove a quad up into the woods to set up lights and hang plastic Aliens from the trees. I’m sure some of the racers, well into the “zone,” may have tried to communicate with the Aliens...in any case, it’s the little touches like this that make the races memorable. Sunday afternoon the kids came out in force to race, and some of the competition has hot and heavy---multiple crashes and barriers being taken out. Lots of future racers on the makeshift course, that’s for sure.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth, to Eddie and crew for putting on a great race, and for giving us a big dose of that good, old-fashioned southern hospitality. Check out our photo gallery of the event!
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