gasgasmi

My son's 280 Pro wouldn't start this weekend after a few months of no use. Someone finally tapped on the float bowl and it took off on the 2nd kick. Float must have been stuck. Craig

Biff, There were a few issues with that section, had it not been you someone else would have wiped it out. We could have set that up a little better I think. A big thanks to everyone that came out for the event! Hope you all had a good time. If anyone has comments I am always glad to get input so we can make it better next time. I like to hear the good and the bad so feel free to e-mail me or comment here. Our club works hard to get it right and I know we can always improve. Craig

There might be a couple logs yes.

I got a call the other day asking for the address (for GPS and mapping stuff I assume) and came to that it's not on the web flyer. Here ya go.... 3825 Barker Rd. Whitmore Lake MI, 48189 4 sections ready to go and 4 to mark Saturday. Weather forecast is improving. Looking to have some big fun for the last ride of the season. See ya'all Sunday! Craig

We're gonna start marking sections Sunday. Tried to freshen things up a bit and make a nice fun ride for the last one of the year. The cows have been hard at work so you won't be at a loss for things to dodge on the loop.

Well...... you are on the right track to try em out. Not everyone likes the same stuff. We have 2 280s and a 300 at our house so I do have some insight. Bike 1: 04 280 tuned for my son (22 year old SPT class rider. He likes jap-zaps and big jumps. He likes the 280 pretty well however when he rides my 300 he asks if I am ready for a new bike so he could have my old one. Good power, kinda quick revs, suspension is good, brakes are good. Bike 2: 05 280. Wife rides this in INT class. Has a spacer under the head and a black tube to calm it down. She loves the bike but finds it hard to start. I think all the pro models are harder to start and it doesn't help that she weighs 30# less than the bike. This is less zippy than the son's bikes and is just the way she likes it. Bike 3: 07 300. This one is mine. I am 6ft 200# and have always liked the bigger engines. I had a 320 and a 321 before this bike. I ride senior class. The 300 has LOTS of low end torque which suits my style perfectly. I run a 10 tooth front sprocket (all 3 have this mod) to slow it down a bit (bring the revs a little higher really) and have rejetted it for easier starting and smoother running as per Dale M. (USA importer). No flywheel weight needed. Biggest difference I find between the 280s and the 300 is the low end torque. The 300 will pull right off idle any time I need it where the 280 needs a get wound up more. Either bike works but the torque with the big engine works better for me. Try em out, ride in section like areas and see what fits you. My advise.... 300, you may find the 280 or 250 fits you better. Oddly I was looking at Shercos and I liked the engine on a 250 Sherco better than the 290 on just a short demo ride.... go figure. Craig

I got to that section just too late to see it. Wish I woulda hurried a bit. Funny thing is we were setting up for Metro on Saturday and we looked up at a tree in the middle of the section that was dead and said... hmmmm we really should drop that just in case it's windy. Glad we did, this tree would kill someone if it fell on em.

Just so my bike isn't as muddy as it was at Rose City on Saturday......... I hate when my brakes quit working. You guys have the creek that rinses off the mud in the middle of the section.

Sounds like a good plan Biff. See ya Sunday, Craig

You are keeping in mind that there are real people that ride the INT line, not machines like Bob and Don right?

We will be on the South side of Barker Rd. this fall. Been out there working on it for a few weeks. Think logs..... lots of logs. Big logs, little logs, long logs, short logs.... did I mention logs? Ok, there are a few rocks too. ;-) Craig

As to the "Dimples" tag, it is her nickname from a road going club and if you look at her when she's smilin' you'll know where it came from. Dimples and I disagree (imagine that!) about section 10, I thought it was easier the way we rode it in the past. She did very well on it this time. I do agree on 8 and 9, I was so outa shape I never knew which section I was in, woulda been really nice to get my poop in a group before I started 9. I haven't seen the final scores yet but it seemed to me like we were riding at the top of the skill level for INT class in nearly every section. Thanks guys, I know you work hard at it. Craig

Sounds fun but that is Labor Day weekend and we have plans. Not sure when we could fit it in as we have a lot of work to do at Whitmore Lake and have time set aside every weekend for that. I'll keep an eye on this thread and see if it happens to pop up when we could go. Craig

You guys did a great job of making things as good as could be under less than ideal conditions. To make me have fun in that much mud not a small thing. Thanks for a great weekend! Now, who wants to help me get all the mud outa my bikes and clothing?

We'll try to remember them. Looking forward to a great weekend!

Your wife lettin' you outa the house for the whole weekend? WOW!

Any more word about a pot luck? If we need to bring food for a bunch we need to know.

We spent some time with David and Alex Bedley at TDD earlier this year. They are two very fine young men and both great riders. For as young as both of them are they make good coaches. Hard as it might be to teach an old guy like me anything new they gave it a good shot. Craig

Did the registration thing online and called the campground. The guy at the campground told me I didn't need a reservation even for a sewer site. Hope I have one when I get there. Have you seen the sites Paul? My rig is about 45 feet long and I need another 10 feet or so to get my ramp door open and unload the bikes. Forgot to ask him about length. Sewer would be nice but I could live without if I have to. Craig

Thanks for the hard work guys. Can't speak for everyone but I thought the INT lines were on the hard side. Half the class was over 100 points. I judge things by the middle of the class not the top or bottom and like to see the middle between 40 and 50 points. Again thanks for all the work you guys put in it but I'd love to see you let off a couple notches. Craig

I think I got my answer. Most of the e-mail was breakdown related re: the DNFs. I was just worried about it since almost half the class didn't see the end. Oddly most of the ADV riders say they had fun, the scores were kinda high I thought but if they had a good time then it's all good. Of course Zippy can take 1,000 points and still be smilin'. Thanks for the input, we're always looking to make it the most fun we can. Craig

Ok, so it wasn't perfect...... seems like the ADV scores went high and EXP was a little hard perhaps. I have a question, I know there were a few bike failures that resulted in DNFs but there were a BUNCH of INT riders that did not make it to the end. Too hard? Bikes quit? I would love some input. If you want e-mail me direct or post here. Good or bad I like to hear about it. Please give me details if a section or two were out of line or were really fun. gasgasmi@att.net Craig

The sections are perfect of course, would the hard working Metro crew do anything less????? We are on the north side, parking is off Merill Rd. just like last fall. Most of the stuff will take a little rain, if we have a lot of liquid sunshine we'll have to ease off a bit on a couple of em. I am hoping the forecast changes before Sunday but if not we're saving the hills for last minute setup.

We're almost ready. Have 2 new sections, a little longer loop, and some mods to the old sections. How far out in the pond ya think we should put Biff's special split? Craig

Sounds like great fun but we are outa town for the weekend. Have fun!!!! Craig