Napa Valley Dirt Classic '16

[Greg Alsterlind]

My first race last year as a Cat 2 was my first as a Cat 1 this year. Two things that stand out to me about this course:  going down "Sand Hill" and climbing "Heartbreaker".  I was back on my Top Fuel with Maxxis IKON 2.2 tires. It had been raining and figured it would be muddy out there, but it turned out to be worse than I thought. We had 2 top racers and mechanics in teammates Shiloh and Jim of ACME and I forgot to ask about tire pressure in the mud. I guessed and upped mine to 5psi over normal conditions.  Team member Mark Buell and I were lucky enough to pre-ride the course with Jim, who showed us a lot of lines to take if we could keep up with him at his half speed. This turned out to be huge. I made every spot I walked or put a foot down from the year before.  Big thanks!  The start was overcast and light rain was beginning to fall.  Having made the mistake of lining up in the back with teammate Mark Ingwersen the week before, I pulled up tight to the woman holding the first sign. What a clear view. I was right behind Jim and Danny McNaughton and in the wrong place. Dave Benjamin and a smiling Mark Buell were signalling me back. Turns out pushing your way back from the front is just as hard as going forward to the front. Wow, Cat 1 - I know Shiloh ,Dave and Mark belong here but me? I just didn't want to embarrass myself or my team. The start out of the parking lot went well. Shiloh and the younger guys lost us in the first 3-4 minutes, but Mark, Dave and I hung tight in the top 10 through the hike-a-bike and along the airport. The mud was not too sticky but I could feel the loss of speed as we pedaled along.  For the first hour we made our way in and out of the trees and I was beginning to think the rain had little effect. Then we started to descend in the open and the terrain changed from hardpack to a wet grass, sand, and clay mixture. I was passed for the first time by 2 riders as I hit the end of Sand Hill. The first climb was too muddy for any of us to climb. Once back on the bike, we made the rest of the short, steep climbs. I just barely made it up Hart Breaker 2 days before on fresh legs and I had no idea if I had it in me to do it again.  The mud made that decision for me. I spun out 1/3 of the way up and jump off to hike the rest. The 2 riders who passed me made it, but it cost them. I caught back up to them at the top of the hill and now had to think about when to pass.  I picked the last hill.  Two days before, Jim told us how it breaks a rider to get passed on this short hill if they are just hanging on.  Turned out to work perfectly.  Once pass them, I spotted one more guy 300 yards ahead entering the vineyard. I didn't want to risk passing him before the steep hike a bike section so stayed behind him till we had a clear shot to the track at the end. Passing him and finishing within a few minutes of Mark and Dave felt like I had a very good race even though my time was better last year. In the end the team was once again successful. Jim and Cathy both won!  Danny and Shiloh both got 2nds.  The rest of us all did well and finished so I would call it a great showing by Team ACME.