merica
is full of great off-road racing series. From the local level to any
one of the National Championships, American off-roaders have an almost
limitless array of events to compete in: Enduros, Hare Scrambles, Grand
National Cross Country, and Desert racing. There are so many to choose
from that even at the highest level of professional off-road racing,
it's impossible to name an overall off-road champion in the
U.S.A. Who do you pick? Is the best off-road racer in America the GNCC
Champion? The National Hare Scrambles Champion? The National Enduro
Champion? If you want to start a lively debate or a bar fight, just
try to name one rider as the best Off-Road Racer in the U.S.
In 2001, a group of off-road racers and promoters decided to create
a series that could answer the question. The World Off-Road Racing
Championship Series (WORCS) racing kicked off in 2001 with the ultimate
goal to once and for all crown the off-road rider who is truly the
best in the nation, if not the world. Professional and amateur riders
began competing in the newest series in off road racing. In just four
short years, WORCS has established itself as one of the biggest national
off-road motorcycle racing series in the United States, and one of
the biggest national off-road ATV racing series in the United States.
The 2005 season will see over 11,000 racers with backgrounds in Enduro,
Hare and Hound, Hare Scrambles, GNCC, Best in the Desert, and Motocross
all come together to compete in some of the most pristine racing facilities
in the United States today. Racecourses that challenge every aspect
of a rider's abilities...from
the fast open deserts of Nevada and Arizona to the technical wooded terrain
of Washington and Texas and the outdoor style motocross tracks incorporated
into each venue. WORCS claims to draw over 50,000 fans annually to their
spectator-friendly off road courses. The WORCS crew wishes to bring Off-Road
racing in America the fame and fortune it deserves. The WORCS mission
statement explains it pretty well: "...to bring professionalism,
integrity, quality, and most of all fun to each and every round, all
the while staying true to the family-oriented grass roots environment
that off road racing is all about."
 Being one of those guys who enjoys a nice off-road ride and self-delusional
enough to have visions of personal racing glory, I traveled to the closest
WORCS event to enter and check it out. Now being self-delusional doesn't
mean stupid, WORCS is real racing and I wasn't about to show up
and completely stink up the track. I called Mike Webb (Manager of Team
Suzuki/FMF Off-Road) who kindly offered to loan me a RM450Z for the day.
I also spoke with GNCC Champion Rodney Smith and former WORCS Champion
Mike Kiedrowski. When they finished laughing at the prospect of me being
on the same track with them, they all said the same thing, "Get
in shape." So, I went into trainingÐmaking sure I was in bed
by 2:00am when the bars closed and switching to filtered menthol cigarettes.
I even went to the gym and rode the Life-Cycle, sometimes I even pedaled.
Actually I don't smoke and other than an occasional MotoBrew,
I rarely drink, but monkish habits and regular gym visits are only a
little help during two-plus hours of off-road racing.
Not having done any racing of any kind for a long, long time, I arrived
early at the event, worried that it would be a DMV-like hassle just to
fill out the paper work and enter the race. But the WORCS people make
it easy-all you really need to do is show up and race. When you get
to the track, you will pay a gate fee (varies depending on venue) for
each person in your group. You will also pay your race entry fee and
have to either show your WORCS card, or join the association in your
region, which costs $30 Big Bikes/$10 Minis for a one-year membership
and can be purchased at the track. You will receive a number that can
be run at any future WORCS Race. $10 day passes can be purchased as well;
you will receive a temporary number for the day to be eligible for trophies
and contingencies. No AMA Card Required. You can also buy or rent a transponder
to ensure proper scoring. If you rent, your money is returned to you
when you return the transponder after your race.
Webb, Smith and Kiedrowski all suggested
that I enter the "1/2 Dead-Old-Never Was Fast and Never Will Be" class,
which was perfect for me. WORCS actually has a huge variety of classes
to suit almost everyone. This depends on your age and riding ability,
and your machine's engine size, type and modifications. Look at the class
section in rules. WORCS asks for a valid competition card verifying your
ability level from any other association. Motocross classes convert as
follows: MX Pro=Off Road Pro, MX Intermediate=Off Road A, MX Junior=Off
Road B, and MX Beginner=Off Road C. Bring your competition card or, if
it's your first race, just say so. Your race or races will depend on
the class you enter at the event, varying from 30 minutes in the 50cc
class to 120 minutes in the Pro MC. Courses vary in length from 3-10
miles.
And you can ride more than one class. WORCS recognizes a rider's
age as of January 1st for maximum age classes. 50cc 7-8 years must be
8 years old or under as of Jan 1st of Season, 50cc 4-6 years must be
6 years old or under as of Jan 1st of Season, 65cc must be 11 years old
or under as of Jan 1st of Season, and 85cc/Girls must be 15 years old
or under as of Jan 1st of Season. For minimum age classes rider must
be minimum age on first day of event. Vet-30yrs+, Master-40yrs+, Senior-50yrs+
and Super Senior-60yrs+ on first day of event. Bring a valid ID to sign
up.
Webb suggested I also enter the Unclassified race, which is open to all
comers and really serves as a practice and bike set-up event. Almost
all the pros ride the Unclassified race so they can learn the course,
which meant that I got to see just how fast guys like defending WORCS
Champion Nathan Woods, Ty Davis, Kurt Caselli, Mike Kiedrowski and Rodney
Smith are at race speeds. There are no points and no money in the Unclassified
race, so the riders use the race to warm up, practice and have a little
fun. Rodney snuck up behind me and grabbed my ass on a wicked down-hill,
which scared the hell out of me and produced the requisite swapping tank-slapper,
near-death, almost-crash to the bottom of the hill Smith was hoping for.
When he finished laughing, Rodney told me to follow him. He wanted to
show me some good lines around the 10-mile course. That lasted about
three minutes before he lost me. Even when he's goofing around
and riding one-legged (Rodney was still nursing a badly broken leg and
just riding for rehab) it's hard for anyone to keep the 5-time
GNCC Champion in sight. Though I did see him a lap later helping 85cc
kids make a tough up-hill. He was on foot, pushing a kid up a silt hill.
What a hero! So I decided to roost him. Bad karma caused me to loop out.
When Rodney finished with the kids he rode my bike up the hill for me
and stole my goggles.
The Unclassified race was a real eye-opener. This WORCS event was in
Taft, California and included a motocross track as well as about eight
miles of hills and valleys, sand, mud and rocks through the California
desert. It was also hot. Very hot. Even in my Moose Sahara gear I was
sweating out a lot of water. This is why all the pros wear a water system
when they race. So, once again I assumed the role of the journalist-mooch
and borrowed a Moose camel back from Rodney for my second race of the
day.
Here's the thing I noticed about the WORCS events that everyone
likes; they are very well organized. They run each event by the clock
and if your race is posted to go off at 11:00 am and will last 60 minutes,
then you can be sure that if you show up on the line at 10:55 am, the
green flag will drop at 11:00 am and you will see the checkered flag
at 12:00 noon. Plus, they always include a motocross course which gives
spectators a chance to watch a large part of the racing. This is particularly
nice when the pros race. These are some of the best guys in the world
and watching them fly is a real pleasure.
My race went off on time and I actually got a good start and moved up
into third by the time we all left the motocross track. I would like
to say that everything went according to plan from that point forward,
but it isn't true so I can't say that. I settled into a
good pace and had visions of a podium, if not a win, a big trophy, the
hottie trophy girl, factory ride, fame and fortune. None of which is
really possible for me except maybe the podium finish. I was keeping
the leaders in sight hoping to make my pass sometime after the 30-minute
mark when we would all be tired. I had added a can of Red Bull to my
water system and was counting on the caffeine boost to give me the juice
to win. But I was already way too tired and the Red Bull was not giving
me wings. Then my bike started to make funny noises.
Since WORCS races are long events, it is recommended to check your bike
over before your race. I had done this before my first event (the unclassified
race) but failed to follow up and do a pre-flight check before my points-paying,
trophy-getting race later in the morning. Instead I had sat in the shade
and begged the combined Mrs. Kiedrowski, Smith, and Webb to all pour
cold Gatorade over me. My lack of any mechanical prep paid off in a loose
header pipe that completely came undone at about the 30-minute mark.
I limped into the pits, thinking my race was over and I could at last
go back to the shade and cold Gatorade shower. Instead I was accosted
by two of the greatest racers in the world and their team manager, who
pulled me off the bike and did a NASCAR stop-and-go repair, slapped new
goggles on my head and beat me back onto the track with broom handles.
Thus Smith, Webb and Kiedrowski persuaded me that my race was not over
and that off-road racers never quit until the checkered flag drops.
Between limping back to the pits, the fix and begging the guys to quit
hitting me, I lost about 10 minutes on the pack. But I went back out
and finished the race, getting a tenth in my class. And though I would've
liked a trophy, I didn't earn one, so I settled for the satisfaction
of finishing. I'd rather have a trophy so I'm going back
to the next California WORCS event.
WORCS is a great series that covers a lot
of ground. Some of the best pro off-road racers in the world fight for
the WORCS Championship every season and it has become a very prestigious
title. It isn't the ultimate American Off-Road Championship yet, but
it might get there in a few years. Right now, it's a well-organized event
and great fun for spectators and weekend amateur warriors alike. If WORCS
were a movie, it would definitely get two thumbs up.  |
