So we backed up to the caution tape (marking of where we would pit during the race) and got into bed. When we got up the next morning we found ourselves engulfed by other trucks and trailers. We ate a hearty breakfast and started unloading the quads. We put on our numbers and checked over the quads just in time to go to the Drivers' Meeting. Dan went over the usual information, like what the signs on the course meant, where the checkpoints would be and what to do when you reach them, what the lineup and starting order would be, etc. After the meeting we suited up and headed to the starting line. They started us in groups of two, split by 30-second intervals. First to leave were the Experts, then the Amateur classes, and last the Novices. Because we signed up at the same time, my dad and I ended up paired together. We were the first Novices to go. Dad told me he was going to let me start ahead of him, I think because he knew I'd pass him eventually!   The track was no where close to what I thought it was going to be like. It was a lot of very rocky, hole-y hills with surprises over the ridge of them. There was one particular hill that by the end of the race everyone knew well. Or maybe I should say one yucca everyone knew well. You came up over the top of a hill and there was a giant, SHARP yucca on your left hand side. By the end of the race, so many people hit it that it was barely rooted to the ground.

My dad was one of the riders that hit it - except he was one of more unlucky ones. He broke a tie rod end on it. While he was still sitting there broken, someone else hit the yucca and took a wild ride down the ravine. My dad hiked down the hill to help. The rider was fine, but it was quite a job to get his quad back up the hill. I passed dad and stopped only long enough to take the broken part with me. I had a race to finish! When I was done, it was my job to scrounge up a replacement part for my dad. I had to wait until any Raptors competing finished - the first two in were more modified than my dad's, and he couldn't use their parts. My last hope was the final Raptor in, because it was stock. He didn't have any spares, but after he caught his breath, he agreed to give me one right off his quad. We were very glad to get our hands on the part, because by now dad had been sitting about six miles out on the course for over an hour, and there was no way we could get a trailer or pickup out to get it - he would have to ride it in. I thanked the guy with three or four cold beers, and we had one of our teammates take the part out and help get dad's Raptor back to the pit.

Since the course was clear of all other riders, they came back the shortest way, which was back the way he had gone. If they had gone forwards, he would have actually crossed the finish line in the allowed time limit and taken second place in his class! As it was, he started his SNARE season with a Did Not Finish (no points). Rats. The race was run Grand Prix-style. That means once the first person finishes five laps, everyone else behind him finishes, whether you're on your first or fourth lap. I finished three laps in two hours. I got second in my class, the others were all adults. As this article goes to print, the ink is just drying on the check paying our entry fees for the next SNARE race. It's back at Nelson Hills, February 23, so if you'd like to check it out in person, pack a cooler and come cheer for Team Off-Road.com! If you come say HI in the pits, maybe we'll slap a sticker on ya' and take your picture for the next article.