GNCC Bootlegger Enduro 2010

So we crossed the Yadkin way up farther north than we usually do, it was a little muddier, a little narrower, and we went into Apple Festival Country -- Wilkesboro, NC. Met up with the Race Shop guys who were running on 4 hours sleep in between two Enduros and a 1450 mile round trip in the Race Shop Mobile, pictured here with me. It's a lot like the Batmobile -- modified, "technologically advanced," and bulging with hidden gadgets and superpowers.
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Here I am saying, with my best Napolean Dynamite voice, "Gosh! I hate this camera. Stupid camera!" tossing it in my pocket with Pedro's Tots.
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{sidebar. Who wants a Napolean Dynamite Party with me? I'm ready to watch it again}
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Now. Where was I?
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The Batmobile.
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On top? Is a tent. You climb the ladder on the side and go nightey-night, overlooking all the other little people camping on the ground. Peek inside the back door on the right wall? Yeah, a bed. Folded up on the sidewall. And see that white square above the bed on the right sidewall? Yeah. Toilet Paper. On a roller. Ready to go. 'cause you never know, right? The Racemobile has many, many more secrets, too, but that's for another day.
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We met up with some of the Race Shop riders: Mark Hutchinson and Michael Grizzle who left Atlanta Friday, raced in the NEPG in Indiana all day Saturday (The Muddobber), drove to NC all night long and raced in the GNCC Bootlegger (here) all morning Sunday. The rally ended around 1 and they were on the road again at 3:00.
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The Bootlegger was tough; if it had been raining, not many would have crossed the finish line. A lot of guys got hung up on the hills in the middle of the trail with no passing zones so a lot of guys behind them would have to get off and push the bike around. Not good.
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But it was dry. The Muddobber the previous day in Indiana was wet and slippery like riding on glass. What was the worst part of the Muddobber? The slippery terrain and log crossings. The worse part about the Bootlegger? No sleep. Hutchinson loved the Bootlegger, it was a lot of fun and way more fun than the Muddobber.
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When they first rolled out of the Racemobile and drearily approached their bikes, Grizzle sighed, "My wet boots: the only thing I dread." The bikes were filthy. All they could do was change the tires, clean the chain and hop back on. They were riding on about 4 hours of sleep, maybe 900 miles on the highway and 1 1/2 enduros at that point.

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The Bootlegger started out foggy and cool. A lot of hills, roots and tight places. I caught up with the guys in between Resets when they'd refuel, grab a drink and go again.
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There is one thing I still cannot get used to at these events. I can handle accidently peering into a Racemobile and seeing someone changing clothes. But I just can't get used to all the wide open bathroom breaks in the woods.
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Grizzle took first in his class both at the Muddobber and the Bootlegger. Hutchinson took third in his class at the Bootlegger and possibly also at the Muddobber. Both were using the fairly new (2010) Beta 400 RR, which they describe this way: "feels like a 250 on steroids." All in all, an excellent day in the woods.