Mt Hood DH Series #4 of 5: The Scotty Graham Memorial

Before you read this, put in Pennywise’s “Bro Hymm” on your iTunes so you get the feeling of remembering your friends who have passed. We all have them, and in honor of the life of Scotty Graham, a DH race is held every year on his favorite year-round playground called Mt Hood Ski Bowl. This inspirational mentor to me passed in a car accident several years ago, his memory lives in me so vividly, that I can hear him hooting and hollering it up as I took my run down the 2 mile long course.
Just like Scotty, the mountain served up a very demanding course that required each racer to really dig deep and race aggressively. Conditions of the course were very dry, very loose with “Baby-heads” becoming dislodged and becoming obstacles. The course was an ass-kicker. For a twist to the course this race (pro/expert class only) had an alternative route through a very rocky, rock garden. Items that grew in this garden were mostly bruises to ego’s and bodies. The entry into this line gave this author a wicked case of the puckered ass and once I committed to running this route I was pin-balling through some seriously large rocks. The greatest feeling is getting your bike through un-scathed- I can only imagine how much pain riders felt falling through this section, it did produce some of the best pictures of the year. Some you won’t ever see due to requests of the racers.


From the summit of Upper Bowl, the start box sits in a very scenic spot, a 360 degree view all around you. Each class has their own dedicated course from the top. I’d like to point out that the “Beginner’s Class” is not for anyone weak or whimpy, it's one long course, it's an Enduro DH that goes down “Skyliner” all the way to the Warming Hut, then runs all way down the “Knar Knar Trail” to the finish line, its about 9 minutes from start to finish. The “Sport Class” has it a little easier as it shares with “Pro/Expert Class” by dropping down “Cannonball” (a NORBA certified DH Course) and past the Warming Hut and down “Knar Knar” to “Fire Hydrant”. Off the top, Experts get a dedicated route that can be described as either “bliss” or “you're outta your mind” . Halfway down the course the “Pro/Experts” split onto a very demanding “Arrowhead” to lower “Fire Hyrdrant”-the finish line is a fast pedal. The “Pro/Expert Class” I admire heavily, they run a course that is wicked narrow, drops and rutted axle deep in spots. Accolades and Props to all racers in the “Pro/Expert” classes, all are very amazing athletes in my own humble opinion.


I 've got one racer to talk about first, and it would be disrespectful if I didn’t- Nathan Riddle put together 2 amazing run to destroy his competition by 15 seconds to take the win in the Pro class and earned the top $$ check for his efforts. His Santa Cruz V-10 must have been tuned to absolute perfection. Another amazing racer that caught everyone’s attention is Brian Barlett of Fluidride/Ironhorse, he has serious determination to stand on the podium this year. If you are unaware of who this inspirational racer is, then a quick click to this YouTube clip should blow your mind.



I did notice a few crazy incidents, one racer went right off course and his bike tumbled a quite a ways into a nasty rock garden, Another rumor was that a hiker accidently walked onto the course and nearly got hit by a determined young racer. That was a scary moment for all. There was even talk that some racers would get asked to leave if caught camping in the parking lot at the final upcoming race. So be warned that the man himself told me to pass this information along. There’s several great camping places really close- Trillium Lake and Clear Creek offers the best spots to enjoy the area, there’s Steel Creek Campground down HWY 26 as well and there’s a campground up the Timberline Lodge Access road. You can shuttle “The Old Glade Trail” down to Government Camp for fun if you camp up there…..its all downhill to Ski Bowl from there, a great spot.


Overalls are now the talk heading into the final race. Its going to wrap up Sept 23rd at the Shiloh Showdown Series Final, sponsored by Brad Delzer (Specialized Fanatic) of Shiloh Cyclery. For race information and all the forms to enter, please go HERE. For the results for each race and the points chase for the overalls, please go HERE.


Once again, A huge THANKS to Petr Kakes and his Hurricane Racing Staff for putting on a tight, technically proper race, the Lift Staff, The Course people, starters to medics, and a big round of thanks to the sponsors that support this series (Dakine, Arrowhead Racing, Pryme, Maxxis, Lost Energy Drinks, Shiloh Cyclery, Fat Tire Farm) if you would like to contribute to the finals, please contact the crew at Hurricane Racing by email HERE.



RESULTS:

Pro Men (2 runs combined format):
1 Nathan Riddle WTB/Fox/Santa Cruz 8:22.90
2 Bart McDaniel CenterCycle 8:43.18
3 Simon Lawton Fluidride/Ironhorse 8:49.32


Semi-Pro:
1 Phillip Wiering Trailhead Cycles 8:29.39
2 Jason Moon Boone Dog Bikes 8:48.11
3 Ben Storrar Bear Naked Cannondale 8:56.02

Jr Experts Under 18:
1 Charlie Sponsel Tonic Fab 8:53.66
2 Evan Gilsdorf DH Racing Zone/Scott 9:03.67
3 Harrison Phelps 9:21.64

Expert Men 19-29:
1 Tyler Gilsdorf DH Zone Racing 9:11.20
2 Jerry Knight Fluidride 9:33.08
3 Patrick Funk Tonic Fab 9:54.20

Expert Men 30-39:
1 Matt Petterson Dirt Corps 9:42.94
2 Keith Thompson 9:47.50
3 Brad Delzer Shiloh Cyclery/Specailized 10:03.53

Expert Men 40+:
1 Todd Olsen Shiloh Cyclery 10:58.01
2 Andy Voight Team Dirty White Boy/Recycled Cycles 12:30.76
3 Darrel Jamieson Azonic/Boone Dog Bikes 12:44.97

Pro Women:
1 Chelsea Stevens 14:15.91


Sport Class had 40 riders, and Beginners had 12 racers to battle out those classes, CONGRATS TO ALL!!!

YouTube Bonus! This clip of Overall 30-39 Expert Brad Delzer (A Specialized Loyalist) is just the midway point where your speed out of the upper section is crucial, he gets bucked a little bit. Check it out here.


-Mike Estes