Woodside whispers

old git · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject: whoops,

sand & more whoops Very Happy

Lossie regs down below Cool

http://www.scottishenduros.co.uk/99/Downloads2008/Regs%20Lossie%202008%20Master.doc

old git · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject:

So who is all coming to Lossie to have "fun" in the sand?

Against my better judgement I'm entered in Clubman B, the twice I've previously ridden in Sportsman I've not been clean on time. Think I'll find it hard Rolling Eyes

Dalmahoy · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 60 Karma: 0 (0)

Entry was posted tonight.
Staying in Elgin Saturday before the race so all is in place.
Still entering sportsman though - would like to think next year I could enter clubman B.
Confidence needs a boost though between now and end of season.

wullienic · Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 9 Karma: 0 (0)

Entry in for my first Enduro....

Where's the pits, anyone got a map ref so I can have a nosey on google maps?

Will be coming over Sunday morning, will I have enough time to look at any of the route or the cross country test before the start? or are the pits too far away...

old git · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:

If I've got it right the start/finish area is at the following location 57 41 37 & 3 12 31. The special test is normally available to walk late afternoon the day before the event. Was up there today with Barry, Kevin and the crew...a lot of new trails being marked, it promises to be a great enduro.

Give me a shout on the day, I'm no 52.

Wink

Elginboxer · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:50 pm Post subject:

Just checked that Brian, looks spot on to me:wink:
_________________
Never argue with a fool. They will lower you to their level and then beat you with experience...
GMCC

wullienic · Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 9 Karma: 0 (0)

thanks Old Git, I'll definetly give you a shout, think my number was 53 but can't be sure (work away from home), I'll be the one looking lost / nervous and will have a YZF250f with brand new shiny yellow backgrounds! (possibly foolishly opted for ClubmanB rather than sportsman - time will tell!!).

Can't make it over on the Sat, so hoping to be there early on Sunday for a good look around and to get some well needed advice Wink

stucinabog · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 71 Karma: 0 (0)

if the course is similar to previous events then there will probably be two checks per lap. The checks (i.e. Pit area) are generally quite close to each other as they run it in a figure of 8 - well almost because you don't actually cross the course at any point.

Those grampian dudes do like to throw a few tight check times in, so no stopping for a rest on the course!! Especially in the dunes, keep going at all costs. The sooner you get out of them the better in my opinion!

If they leave the test the same length as it was for the BEC round it will be another few minutes longer than it has been for previous scottish rounds.

PS. There is a reward for anyone who finds the remains of my front mudguard in lossie forest.... and to the person who cuts down that pesky tree!
_________________
If it aint broke keep trying.

Dalmahoy · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 60 Karma: 0 (0)

Cracking event.
Pretty tired today with the usual bruises and aches.
Sand dunes and special stage were very tough.
Glad to say after 2 dnf's all went well - awaiting the results with a little more confidence than usual.

stucinabog · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 71 Karma: 0 (0)

Well done Dalmahoy.

The course is pretty relentless.

How did everyone else get on?
_________________
If it aint broke keep trying.

old git · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject:

The GMCC Lossie Enduro is the first enduro I ever attempted and 2008 is the third time I've ridden it. My first 2 efforts were in Sportsman class and while I finished both of them I had time penalties. It was with a bit of apprehension that I started this years event in Clubman B. A lap of over 20 miles with 3 checks per lap and as always with GMCC events some clever tightening of the times to make sure that there is little time to relax as the day progresses. The weather forecast in the days leading up to the event was not good but the sun did shine all day and the course was dry everywhere. Very Happy

The Lossie enduro is an event that most people should be able to finish but in my opinion it is one of the toughest in the Scottish enduro circuit. There is nowhere on the course for the rider to sit back and relax, it demands full concentration and effort at all times. No fire roads, no fields to blast across only unrelenting whoops, stumps, roots and of course the dunes Shocked

. A few new trails were great fun to ride Smile

and offered the briefest of respite from the predominantly bumpy going though new trails meant new stumps & roots to catch out the unwary Shocked

. Lossie is normally the opening round of the Scottish Championship and takes place usually in March. Running it in August changes parts of the course greatly. Many of the open trails are now very overgrown and the obstacles are that much harder to see.

My first mistake of the day was the log at the start Embarassed

..I'll blame a cold engine for the early stall & undignified dismount though those who know me will know better. I hoped this wasn't going to set the tone for the rest of the day Shocked

. After 4 DNF's out of 5 events in Clubman B I really was looking to get a finish Rolling Eyes

. I made the first check with a few minutes to spare but was aware that I'd have to up the pace a little for the subsequent laps as the times tightened up. I approached the dunes with trepidation and managed to get through slowly without falling off. Back into the woods again and arrived at the 2nd check with time to spare. On towards the untimed test and the section where I always struggle. True to form I ride like it's my first time, bog down and fall. I arrive at the end of the lap with around 10 minutes to refuel & get through the check. The log is no problem this time around and I pick up the pace a little as I know that this first section is likely to be where I could lose time. I arrive with 2 minutes to spare, knowing that I am very likely to arrive late at this check on my third lap as I doubt that I can safely ride any quicker. I have a little more time to spare as I arrive at the 2nd check. On towards the test where I struggle badly in the sand Sad

and finally back to refuel. Thankfully this last section has a reasonably slack time and I've got enough to refuel and get a drink. Just out of sight from the start on the third lap I make a stupid mistake & stall the bike on a small hill and lose 2 or 3 minutes that I can't afford Embarassed

. I am now feeling really tired and it is usually at this point I lose concentration and make stupid mistakes but I get to the check safely albeit 4 minutes late. I lose another minute or so by the time I get to the 2nd check. I stop for a few minutes before the test hoping that it'll give me the energy to get through the sand but I struggle all the way through. I hand in my time card totally exhausted, blistered and sore but taking some satisfaction from having got a finish Cool

.

All in all I'm happy how my day went..I rode as well as I'm ever likely to in the woods and managed to avoid any crashes there. As usual my real downfall was the deep sand, which no matter how hard I try to improve it still gets me every time. One of these days I will finish Lossie with no time penalties!

Once again John, Barry, Kevin and all the others who spent a lot of time preparing the course have pulled off another great enduro for GMCC. The new trails were great fun to ride and the effort taken to clear and mark them I'm sure was greatly appreciated by all the riders. Thanks to everyone else who gave up there day to, marshal, man the checks, sign us on etc.. Your help is very much appreciated.

Next up is Aberfeldy.........will there be bogs???? Shocked

Elginboxer · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: Provisional Enduro Results

Brilliant report there Brian and I'm glad you guys enjoyed yourselves the provisional results can be found HERE.
Good to hear you got a finish Dalmahoy Wink

Thanks to everyone who took their whole day out to help on the day and to those that have been preparing the course for the last few weeks Wink

_________________
Never argue with a fool. They will lower you to their level and then beat you with experience...
GMCC

Dalmahoy · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 60 Karma: 0 (0)

Any idea how the times differed between sportsman and clubman 'B'
I managed the times ok but managing to complete another lap is a whole different ball game!
Energy burned getting through the sand dunes ment the cramps set in pretty soon afterwards - just in time for the special stage!
Superb track though - so different from anything else on the calander.

Elginboxer · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:14 pm Post subject: