Fernley National Story May 25 - May 27, 2018.

Fernley National May 25 – May 27, 2018.

    The Reno chapter of the OTHG hosted the second round of national motocross championships. It was a two day event of racing with the traditional barbecue and a party Saturday and Sunday night. It all started at practice on May 25th and that evening it was the South chapters OTHG Friday night dinner. We had a small feast to eat of barbecued chicken and beef, Arnie's buns, Bruce and Karen's rice and beans, Chris's canned corn, tortillas, Barrett and Chrissy's custom made potato salad, chips and salsas from other members .Richard was grilling on the barbecue. The dinner was a great time for the South chapter to get together and talk about the Friday track practice and the road ride up to Fernley, Nevada. The track was perfectly watered on Saturday from the light and intermittent rains. Sunday was 70° and sunny. The track layout was changed on Sunday.

      Nick Stern (926G) seemed well rested for his Moto's on Saturday, May 26th. He was running hot after a good Friday practice and finished 3rd and 4th place on Saturday. On Sunday morning May 27th he got a third-place start. Sterns in the very first half a lap had past Shaylen Pearson ( 149B ) and Sterns moved into second place. Then shortly afterwards at 3/4 of the first lap he was hot on the tail of Kawasaki's Reno rider Zach Howell (449R). Sterns after the four tabletops on a sweeping left hand turn raced from the outside line to the inside line to try and pass Howell. Sterns said "I did not stand up". That's when Sterns recounted "I hit a hole and a kicker. It bit me in the butt. I got thrown off my bike. I looked back so no one would hit me as I literally crawled off the track". Sterns final results were 3 – 4 – 13 – 99 (DNS). The incident thwarted Sterns's podium finish for that weekend. Sterns added "you have to stand up a lot and those Reno guys really know how to race this track" Sterns is in 6th place in overall points within the South club , after the Fernley national.

  Michael Haisten  (853G) based in Mammoth, California. Said after all 4 completed Moto's "I had a lot of fun at the Fernley sandbox. It was kind of bittersweet. I had a battle with a different person almost every Moto. The Moto that stands out the most in my mind was in the first Moto on Sunday morning. I had a great back-and-forth battle with  Cloyse Holland III ( 93S) there was a lot of respect and solid riding shown. I even tried passing him on the outside of the 90° turn and thought for a second I was going to be put over the berm, but to my surprise, he stopped about 6 inches from me and held a good line." Haisten  finished 2 – 9 – 3 – 7 for 6th overall.
  Haisten  added "one of the most fun things for me to watch was , my wife Emma (137R) who raced the women's beginner class. She had a great battle with Colleen Finnerty (Fin).In several of their Moto's. They both pushed each other in their weak spots and that helped them improve. Watching Emma's progress reminded me of, when I was a kid and riding a minibike. That's why it's so fun to come out and race." Emma's Moto finishes were 1 – 1 – 1 – 99.

Colleen Finnerty (FIn) (23G) had a chance to recap her weekend saying "this weekend in the sandbox was super fun! Friday was practice and it rained pretty much all day. For me, it was a chill out kinda day. Me and rain don't get along… Ha ha! Thank God the track was friendly and not super jumpy for us beginners. I had a blast racing with Emma Haisten . She has improved immensely! I was trying to catch her for 3 Moto's. That's what made the racing fun and exciting. It all really took and pushed me to new limits! A big thank you goes out to Kim Kinslow (14 G) ( K– low) who finished third in the 45 novice's by going 4 – 4 – 3 – 3 and Steve Mizrahi (537 R) (Elvis) who finished third in the 58 novices going 4 – 2 – 5 – 3. Those two riders rigged my throttle and allowed me to race my last Moto... you guys rock" Fin won Moto 4 when Emma looped out on the concrete starting line. She broke her clutch lever and shifter. Fin as she likes being called went 2 – 2 – 3 – 1 for first place overall.
 
A great weekend all in all! 5 over the Hill gang chapters got together and raced. For those that missed it, just put it on your calendar for next year. There is no place in California that is anything like the well prepared deep sandy Fernley place they call the "sandbox" and well worth the scenic drive to get there.