The climb to the bottom

"The weather out there today is hot and shitty with continued hot and shitty in the afternoon. Tomorrow a chance of continued crappy with a pissy weather front coming down from the north. Basically, it's hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut." (free Twin Six sticker if you can name that movie without going to Google)

That about sums up the two weeks leading into the annual Stony Creek Marathon, ironically renamed the Heat Miser due to the same conditions last year.  Why is this race called a marathon?  Because it's about twice as long as a normal XC race.  The Diesel was in for 40 miles of pain and suffering while the A-Train was suckered into renewing his USAC licence this year meaning he'd have to do 50 miles.

The pair met up around 08:00 to set up camp and figure out how they were going to survive the day ahead.  Not long after,  Motor Club groupie/Einstein Racer Dub9 and his wife showed up and set up at base camp.  New guy, Derek from WSJ Racing, hung out with the Triple Twin Sixers before the start of the race for some laughs and race advise.  The race was to start at 10:00 and temps were already well into the 80's at 08:00.

To make a long story short, the day sucked for everyone who didn't get first place in their respected classes.  Hell, even half the people who won their class wondered if it was worth the effort against the searing heat.  The indexes were over 100 and in Michigan that's hot.  The Motor Club applauds everyone who stuck it out and finished the race as well as the people who gave their all but had to eventually bow down to the dreaded DNF.

Downhillin' Diesel getting a break from the heat.  Great job on your Podium 3rd place!  

No podium for the A-Train but it was a big mental win in a hard fought season of hitting the restart button.

And of course big props to our fellow foes Brad Lako and William Ott for podium finishes.  These two guys continue to be great measuring sticks for all of us.  And also to John Osgood, Jon Wlodarczak, David Moore Jr and Coach Kevin for sticking it out and not giving in to the dreaded DNF.  

Next stop on the USAC Tailwind Tour, Bloomer XC on July 22nd.