156: 24hrs of West Virginia

24hrs of Canaan, 24hrs of Snow Shoe, 24hrs of Big Bear- will always hold a special place in my heart. For me this was the first “big “ race that I ever went to. From time to time I still watch the video of that race “24hrs of Canaan: night of the living dead”. Gunnar was a superhero for sure. Getting to met and race on team with him years later is still kinda surreal to me. That first race is what I believe hooked me on this sport. Sure, I had done a few local races, the Iron Hill Series mostly, but that trip to Davis was my first run to a really big race.

At that time, the 1994 the event had just moved to the Timberland lodge from downtown Davis. Additionally, the race was the only 24hr race in the country. As such it was a magnet for people all over the country to take part in this new style of racing. As a point of reference at that time there was no solo class- all teams. When I look back at that first trip, I have to laugh at the simplicity of it. Our team, Mike Brevoort, my brother Craig, Andrew Mein, and I were like babes in the woods. We had Diane along for support, and I think she would concur, that she was really no support. I remember being in awe when we arrived, and seeing all the teams, and the equipment. The scope of the event was amazing. We were all in awe, our eyes as big as saucers. Truth is even compared to cross nationals, I don’t know if anything has stuck me like that 1st year at Canaan.

On our pre-ride we had so much fun on the course. I just remember being amazed that I was going to be a part of this event. As rookies, we really had no idea what we were doing. Both Mike and Craig had their lights charged by the neutral station, that was grossly overwhelmed, both ended up having their lights go out on their first night laps. I remember poor Craig come back to the camp sight from like the middle of his lap during the race asking us what he should do. I think he wanted us to tell him to go to sleep, instead Andrew and I told him to go to Night Rider and make them give him a light. He did, and he crushed the rest of his lap. This was so long ago that Mike and Craig were both just graduating from high school, and skipped graduation practice to make the race.

Andrew tried to be the leader of our crew. Although he was the most experienced of us, he had never seen anything the scale of this race. He did a great job pointing us in the right direction, but I also remember how big his eyes were as he lined up with over 500 other people to start the classic le mans style start. Now a days that start seems a little silly, and the crowds fail to do it justice. I clearly remember thinking that it was one of the most amazing things I ever saw, surely on scale with the running of the bulls.

Other memories that stick out for me from that race were the high top football cleats that Mike was wearing with his toe clips and straps. Clipless pedals were still a pretty damn new thing. I also remember Diane and Mike fighting over her cooking for him. Perhaps even greater is at some point Mike lost the keys to his truck. This would result in us leaving Mike’s truck, and he and I driving back down Monday morning with a spare key… Mike’s brother Joe, and a couple of other friends came down late Saturday night, and hiked up into the woods and heckled folks coming down the final hill.

When I look at pictures of our compound, basically 3 pop up tents, I am amazed at the simplicity with which we attacked this event. Hell, that year our lights, 10 watts were cutting edge. I clearly remember seeing a number of folks with mag lights duct taped to their helmets. That was hi-tech at the time.

That was pretty awesome. I am proud to say that I have raced at 3 of the 4 venues for the 24hrs of West Virginia. I have done 3 at Timberland, 2 at snowshoe, and now my second attempt Big Bear. That first year we finished 69th out of 129 sport teams. We were so stoked.

In the years since, I am amazed at how the race has changed, how lights have changed. That year it was $40 a rider, this year it’s $140 for riders on a team. A 10 watt light would be used for commuting now a days, and no one would really consider it as something to race with. When I look back on that first race, I can easily understand why my love affair with it was launched. Over the years I have raced the West Virgina races with some great teams:

94: Andrew Mein, Craig Vettori, Mike Brevoort
95: Diane Crampton, Andrew Mein, Craig Vettori, Mike Brevoort
98:Andy Lowe, Bill, Karate dude
00: Jeanie Rengers, Ted McDaniel, MarkFitzwater, Jesse Epstein
01: Lauri Weber, Joey Thompson, Dan Chopko, Ted McDaniel,
05: Buddy Briggs, Matt Thomson, Andrew McDermott
08:Ethan Townsend, Johnny May, Kris Auer

Our campsites have grown, the rosters have changed, but the lure of this event still attracts me. I guess it always will. And so it’s with great excitement that Diane and I load up the toaster, and head out the country road once again to By God West Virgina, to the birthplace of 24hr racing, and really were I trace the roots of my love affair with team 24hr events. Some 25-30 team events later, I still find them to be one of the hardest, yet most rewarding styles of races that I get to do. This is going to be a lot of fun.

respect.

faticus