Unlike the success of the MOTOR Club's first official race last season the kick off the their side project, HELLCATS, did not share in the same blissful launch all had hoped. The 'all' consisted of only 4 people but to those four this conjunction of racers expect a lot of themselves therefore placing high expectations amongst the team. Although you never know who is going to show up at a race the team went in with a 'Win or Bust' mentality.
This culmination consisted of 4 racers from three different teams. So it was agreed upon that all four should be united under one flag. But not the flag of an existing team. A new formation of Twin Six, the HELLCATS. Jeremy Daum from Team Trail's Edge, Jon Wlodarczak of Einstein Racing and also Brian McCabe and Aryn Pongratz of the MOTOR Club. In 2011 this formation was strong enough to finish 2nd place overall in the Men's Advanced 80 mile division at the Tree Farm Relay. So in 2012 with all four members being faster, the water was starting to boil over with anticipation.
But with anticipation come drama. A few weeks before the race Jeremy's carbon Cannondale Flash frame had cracked. Cannondale was out of the carbon Flash frames so his warranty frame would be a 2013 carbon flash. However, they would not be ready until September. So he had to settle with an aluminum frame replacement in the mean time. Jon, the most improved rider from the year before, had just started a new job and had his riding time cut weeks leading into the race. Last, rain. The morning of the race the trail was very damp, slick in many corners due to the rain the night before. It would dry up for later laps but the first few would be tricky for sure. Pre riding was done to recon some of the harder hit areas and a game plan was set in place.
Lap 1 - As always Jeremy 'The Dozer' Daum got the team off to a great Le Mans style start. He was first into the woods and came out second place, less than a minute out of the lead. He reported the slick spots to Jon and Aryn but Brian had to go out without the scouting report as there is not time to chat when the hand off is made.
Lap 2 - Brian, being the Diesel he has been all year, put himself in gear and was able to hold the team's field position through his lap. His knowledge of the course helped him keep the gap to the first place team and also the team in third behind him.
Lap 3 - Jon, JDub9 as he is known to his groupies, went out for what would be only his third time ever riding this trail. He held his own well but the team in third sent out a rocket and made up some ground on him. He was able to hold onto second place though and held a split equal to Jeremy and Brian's.
Lap 4 - The Sport traffic began. This part of the race has always been the A-Train's job. The responsibility of lap 4 includes much passing and all the advanced teams would have to do the same. Upon what looked to be a clean pass at about the 4 mile mark of the course, the passie lost control of his bike and in order to avoid a nasty crash with another rider the passer, Aryn, had to go off the trail. Things went downhill fast....right into a tree. Handlebar twisted sideways, brake lever rotated under the bar, chain guide slipped over and chain free of the chain guide. The tools came out and with the help from a passing rider Aryn was back in action but lost nearly 5 mins and 3 places in the ovrall. He was able to ride his way back into 4th place but now the Hellcats were ~6 minutes off the lead.
Lap 5 - Jeremy had it set that he was going to split 2 mins faster thatn his first lap and gain the team some ground. He ended up going a full minute faster this lap and gained a position back but the team still stood ~5 mins from the lead however were back in a podium position of 3rd place.
Lap 6 - Like Jeremy, Brian's next split was over a minute faster than his previous lap. He had put some time on the rider behind him but catching those in front was a bigger task. He held his time gap to them but with only two laps to go it seemed the crash was going to coast them the win.
Lap 7 - Jon went out like a bullet fired from a gun. He was in a tough position as the Hellcats knew that Mark Parmelee from Cycletherapy was about to launch behind him and no racer there was safe. Jon had a 2 minute lead on Mark but they all knew he is one of the fastest guys around and 2 minutes would not be enough with 2 laps to go.....not even with one to go.
Lap 8 - Jon came to hand off to Aryn and as expected was passed by Mark P. That put the Hellcats back in 4th place. Jon did everything he could to not let Mark get a huge lead on him after being passed. Dub9 rode a remarkable lap coming around with the fastest split for the day for the team. The A-Train was sent out onto the tracks but our Hellcats knew it would take a mechanical from another team to make up ground on the 3 teams ahead of them and no one likes to win that way. Aryn still gave it his all though and even said he was starting to catch Mark. That is until Mark realized Aryn was in pursuit. It only took one look and what was a visual on Mark turned into a cloud of trail dust and he put the hammer down to make sure he would not be caught. Aryn had let off the gas at mile 9 of 10 knowing his 4th place was secure and the dream of catching Mark was just a dream.
In the end our band of merry racers walked away 4th out of 17 teams and ~ 5 minutes out from the lead after 80 miles of racing. Without the crash they knew they would have been in the thick of the fight for the win but really we will never know. In 2007 Brian and Aryn teamed up with others to take second in Sport Men's. In 2008 Brian, Aryn, Jeremy and another friend teamed up to take first in Advanced Co-ed. In 2011 Brian, Aryn, Jeremy and Jon took 2nd in Advanced Men's. This marks the first time in 4 races here that the core of this team has not finished on the podium. Will this fester over the off season and come back in 2013 to fight for the podium again....or will they show up in 2013 wearing costumes, race Sport and start drinking at 8am?
Congrats to the "One Ring" riders, the Superhounds and also Cycletherapy for well fought podium finishes.
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