Salem Short Track Series–back on it!

Evan Plews, photo by Kenji Sugahara

A couple years ago, a buddy started a local summer short track series at the local fairgrounds. I’m not big for riding in circles but I pony’d up and won the overall the first go-round despite starting to feel the effects of EB and chronic fatigue in 2009. Last year I knew I had nothing for it and for the better stayed home.

With the positive treatment with CPAP and summer coming full-on I decided it was time for a revisit. This time I vowed to make it work the ride across town and signed up to race both the single speed and open races which went back to back. This meant about an hour of racing full-gas each week which would give me some good training stimulus and really test my recovery capability.

The first night I went well in the single speed race and won and was feeling good in the next race only to discover that I had forgotten to re-tighten my front brake caliper during my intermission wheel swap. Having brake caliper swinging perilously close to the spokes of a brand new wheel provided further adrenal fatigue and the ensuing stop for twist ties to secure it killed my chances for any more than second place.

The next week I wasn’t so good. Evidently Saturday’s wake-surfing expedition was more than I could recover from and my left quad had its fatigue dagger plunged but the third lap. Game over—I could only finish third and fourth that time around.

After winning the OBRA single speed championship the day before the third race, the proof was on and I was up for it! Oregon cross and short track king Shannon Skerritt was in the house and with fresh legs pretty much blew our doors off. However I was good and finished second in the SS race. He and Steve Carwile (OBRA SS Champ) set the early pace in the open event but I reeled them in on the last lap. As we entered the rhythm section of the BMX track I overtook and passed them much to my surprise as they caught a lapped rider.

Not to my surprise was the relative lack of traction below the berm which washed out my front tire spectacularly and ended my bid for the win almost as quickly as I made it! Steve won and I finished third setting up a great finale.
The series would throw our lowest race making it game on for the final night. I was leading the single speed and Steve was just behind in the open category with my more or less out of it in third place. I made short work of the first race sewing up the series and we set about how to win the next one for Steve. It meant he needed to win or at least place second with someone else ahead of the series leader Pat Jackson. Steve got a good start and I patrolled behind staying ahead of Pat until I crashed again allowing him to rejoin me. He was re-energized by my my mistake but a couple laps later I was able to drop him for good!

Mission accomplished: I won the single speed series and my teammate Mr. Carwile was able to win the open category. I cam third to round out the podium for the team!