My OperaHeading Home - Guest Blog by Dan Roush
Tuesday, June 6, 2006 1:57:34 AM
By now, all the members of team Can-Am (Canadian – American) have gone their separate ways, but not without additional challenges.
After retrieving Bryan and the bike from the course at race mile 322 we headed back through the fog and dust, on the course, to a paved (sort of) road. We were attempting to make it back to the hotel for some much needed rest. A few miles into the journey Bryan and Steve’s previous bailing wire repair to the exhaust system of the truck failed.
To paint the picture: It is 2:30 A.M. We are on the side of the Baja 500 course in a mountain range by the sea. The area is dusty, rocky, and off camber. The fog is dense. Competitors are racing by. We are parked inches off the course. Visibility is sketchy at best. The fedrale’ commandeered Bryan’s flashlight earlier and we are sans light. Without repairing the truck we are stuck. We have been up for almost 24 hours. Tired, haggard and spent. Anyways, after ½ an hour with two pry bars and an emergency bicycle light Bryan and I were able to get the truck rolling again. We made it back into the hotel at 4:00 A.M. After a couple hours of sleep we loaded the equipment and headed to San Diego so that Steve and Brent could catch their flight. This was not to be. We spent 3 ½ hours trying to get across the border. This put us into San Diego ½ hour after their flight departed. I later found out Bryan made the same crossing in less than an hour. Bastard.
Damage assessment on the bike is completed. I can not even begin to comprehend how Bryan and Brent are still standing after seeing the bike. Based on the appearance of it, I am proud to report that there was some real racing going on. No doubt Bryan and Brent rode it for all it (they?) were worth. It (the bike) is damn mad, and will surely throw me off in the future for letting them damn crazy canuks ride her.
Broke clutch cover, basket. Springs and bolts gone, all oil ran out. Bravo!
Radiator pushed back into the exhaust. Torn radiator shroud.
Right side number plate torn off, rip in the seat cover.
Lighting system sub structure and mount brackets bent, mangled.
The great news in all this is that is just a machine, and can easily be repaired. These are minor issues in comparison to a scenario in which one of our team riders were hurt, in a desolate location, and in need of assistance. All day long on the SCORE race channel we monitored the carnage. It started with a rider down 9 miles in the course with a head injury and momentarily not respirating. It continued with reports of a broken femur, broke back, arm, etc.. All day long the medical helicopter was busy. Looking at web reports, a few race team helicopters were sequestered for assistance as well. In fact, one bike I traded leads with back and forth for miles wrecked about ½ a mile behind me and broke his leg. He was airlifted out.
Even though we did not finish, we were doing well when we went done. At race mile 100, I had made up 45 minutes based on our schedule. Even after 7 wrecks, Brent rode his section (in scorching heat) and had gained another hour, a testament to his speed and determination. He must have been riding like a cat on fire. When Bryan went down, he was another 30 minutes ahead. He accomplished this even though he had trophy trucks to contend with. This performance from a couple of guys from the great white north. Pretty good.
As for myself, I had a great time. I was fortunate to have made two new friends in Steve and Brent. Good guys both. Along with Bryan, I was in stitches for days. It is a funny thing to hear a Canadian flow in and out of Spanish and English. An example would be Brent thanking a waitress for his meal by saying Gracias Eh’. Thanks to Steve for all the pre-run support. It makes all the difference. Thanks to Brent and Steve for accepting the challenge. It is a unique, scary, rewarding and fulfilling thing.
I was once again privileged to spend time in a beautiful country, with good company doing something I love. I have a superior family that supports me. You are reading a post from a blessed man.
Vaya con Dios.
Dan
After retrieving Bryan and the bike from the course at race mile 322 we headed back through the fog and dust, on the course, to a paved (sort of) road. We were attempting to make it back to the hotel for some much needed rest. A few miles into the journey Bryan and Steve’s previous bailing wire repair to the exhaust system of the truck failed.
To paint the picture: It is 2:30 A.M. We are on the side of the Baja 500 course in a mountain range by the sea. The area is dusty, rocky, and off camber. The fog is dense. Competitors are racing by. We are parked inches off the course. Visibility is sketchy at best. The fedrale’ commandeered Bryan’s flashlight earlier and we are sans light. Without repairing the truck we are stuck. We have been up for almost 24 hours. Tired, haggard and spent. Anyways, after ½ an hour with two pry bars and an emergency bicycle light Bryan and I were able to get the truck rolling again. We made it back into the hotel at 4:00 A.M. After a couple hours of sleep we loaded the equipment and headed to San Diego so that Steve and Brent could catch their flight. This was not to be. We spent 3 ½ hours trying to get across the border. This put us into San Diego ½ hour after their flight departed. I later found out Bryan made the same crossing in less than an hour. Bastard.
Damage assessment on the bike is completed. I can not even begin to comprehend how Bryan and Brent are still standing after seeing the bike. Based on the appearance of it, I am proud to report that there was some real racing going on. No doubt Bryan and Brent rode it for all it (they?) were worth. It (the bike) is damn mad, and will surely throw me off in the future for letting them damn crazy canuks ride her.
Broke clutch cover, basket. Springs and bolts gone, all oil ran out. Bravo!
Radiator pushed back into the exhaust. Torn radiator shroud.
Right side number plate torn off, rip in the seat cover.
Lighting system sub structure and mount brackets bent, mangled.
The great news in all this is that is just a machine, and can easily be repaired. These are minor issues in comparison to a scenario in which one of our team riders were hurt, in a desolate location, and in need of assistance. All day long on the SCORE race channel we monitored the carnage. It started with a rider down 9 miles in the course with a head injury and momentarily not respirating. It continued with reports of a broken femur, broke back, arm, etc.. All day long the medical helicopter was busy. Looking at web reports, a few race team helicopters were sequestered for assistance as well. In fact, one bike I traded leads with back and forth for miles wrecked about ½ a mile behind me and broke his leg. He was airlifted out.
Even though we did not finish, we were doing well when we went done. At race mile 100, I had made up 45 minutes based on our schedule. Even after 7 wrecks, Brent rode his section (in scorching heat) and had gained another hour, a testament to his speed and determination. He must have been riding like a cat on fire. When Bryan went down, he was another 30 minutes ahead. He accomplished this even though he had trophy trucks to contend with. This performance from a couple of guys from the great white north. Pretty good.
As for myself, I had a great time. I was fortunate to have made two new friends in Steve and Brent. Good guys both. Along with Bryan, I was in stitches for days. It is a funny thing to hear a Canadian flow in and out of Spanish and English. An example would be Brent thanking a waitress for his meal by saying Gracias Eh’. Thanks to Steve for all the pre-run support. It makes all the difference. Thanks to Brent and Steve for accepting the challenge. It is a unique, scary, rewarding and fulfilling thing.
I was once again privileged to spend time in a beautiful country, with good company doing something I love. I have a superior family that supports me. You are reading a post from a blessed man.
Vaya con Dios.
Dan
