Gas in the Can at Virginia City Grand Prix

Virginia City Grand Prix is a race of racers. It’s a nasty rocky race against time. The track is unseen and not pre mapped out for riders prior to the race. It’s kept as a mystery and riders take the punches as they come. The track is just trails in the hills of Nevada. No track maintenance or perfectly groomed jumps here. Track length is 21-25 miles long, this year it was 22.1. Our group signed up for Sunday.

The riders are beat on by the Virginia City hills for every inch of the 3 hour long race. Some Riders stop after one lap some after 1 mile. For those who ride the entire 3 hours, they are men of men, even if they are only 15 year old boys. Their names are forever etched in the results, for all to see as finishing this race.

I have the best job though; I get to pit for 5 riders Steven Earl, Nick Tibma, Sean Olson, James Mello, and Dawson Fettic. Though they all ride to have fun these riders are riding for history, they are not pro’s but never the less they run this race not just to finish but for personal gratitude.
 
In the morning, time to get each motorcycle tech inspection completed. Nerves start to rise but the boys are all smiles and ready to go. This year VCGP officials took riders to the starting line by group. A parade if you will of riders. Keeping riders together by number and starting position. This is a moment to be clean and give the crowd a chance to get a picture of their favorite rider riding by. I thought this was a great idea.

Onlookers go to the starting line or in this case the downhill street leading to the course.

Once the race starts, its back to the pits or spectator’s favorite spot to watch the race. Not knowing how long it will take for the racers to make a loop and return is part of the mental battle for spectators and pit crews. In 2014 lap our times were 70 to 90 minutes, but every year its different, track, riders, and weather conditions all play part in lap times.

Life in the pits is slow at first wondering what lap times will be. Will the strategies discussed give an advantage? Strategies like:
• More laps then others
• Less pit stops
• Bigger fuel tank
• Rider pacing
 
Lap one, first in to the checkpoint and pits, Dawson (second VCGP) for fuel, second in Sean (our groups veteran of the VCGP) and third in Steven (First VCGP). Sean and Steven choose to pass the pits. They are running approximately 55-65 minute lap times. The fourth in for gas is Nick (second VCGP), with 70 minute lap time. Followed by James (running his first ever VCGP) with 80 Minute lap time. All bikes running good and riders feeling great the second lap begins. Now I have a grasp of who will pit next lap and what order they may be in.

Lap two, Dawson passes the pits no gas for him. Sean pits gas water and off he goes. Steven is next with gas. Nick is in again for gas. All the riders are looking great and the pit stops are fast. We are getting our rhythm; Mike Sr. (my father) holds the bike and Pete (Steven father) holds a rag around the fuel tank just in case I overfill. Last in to our pits is James, He gives the, I am beat up by this nasty course sign. He chooses to end the race after 2 laps but happy to say he road this nasty race. Lap times are still close for each rider.
We regroup, knowing Dawson didn’t pit after lap 2 and Sean, Steven, and Nick just stopped, all remaining riders are on the third lap. I set Dawson’s gas can out hoping for a fourth lap. Time is running short and the 4 lap may not happen.
This is when it starts to be tough on spectators and the pits crews. We want short lap times. We want to see our riders succeed. We want the riders to get as many laps as possible in the 3 hour time limit.

Lap three, 50 minute mark since Dawson skipped the pit, I am now wondering if skipping the pit on a stock fuel tank was a bad idea. Finally, our spotters Bryce and Cheyanne tell me Dawson is headed in. The gate is still open to run another lap. Dawson had a four lap goal, so we fill his bike and shove him out of the pit. Steven passes the pit. No fuel ready to get another lap. Sean (our veteran rider) comes in. I was not prepared for Sean to say get me gas after 3 laps. Gas and gone Sean headed out. At this point Dawson, Sean, and Steven are running on the 4th lap. Still no sign of Nick, he is still on his 3rd lap.

I start to worry Nick and with bad thoughts go thru my mind, flat tire, out of fuel, broken bike, or worse he is hurt. Hoping he is ok, listening to the announcer (Moto Mouth) for updates on riders down or riders with issues, I hear nothing. Nick is now at the 100 minute mark for lap 3 and the gates are closed to exit. I head over with the spotters looking for Nick. I’m starting to stress out. Finally I see Nick headed in. Thankful he is good to go. He stopped to help another rider who went off course and down a hill.

Lap four, back to the spotter’s, who is next, waiting, the excitement is building. Dawson is headed up the hill to the finish line. Steven is right on his back tire. They cross the line in that order. Now waiting for our veteran to finish, Sean rolls thru just a few riders behind Steven. All of our riders are in and we all meet at the pits. Happy for our group of riders, they all made it safe and sound. Bikes are beat but not broken.

The guys finished like this:
Overall Number Name Total Laps Class Class Position Time
85 305 Steven Earl 4 Open 16 3:53
99 189 Dawson Fettic 4 Novice 250 25 3:56
115 188 Sean Olson 4 40+ 18 4:02
243 258 Nick Tibma 3 Novice 250 51 3:37
DNF 347 James Mello 2 N/A N\A 2:21
Time is given by starting position.

So many come and complete with a goal of 1, 2, or even 3 laps. They call it good for whatever reason, fatigue, broken bike, or the terrain was too difficult, I give you credit. To complete a lap of the VCGP is tough and I feel you should get a pat on the back for even signing up. This is some of the hardest racing that riders will ride. It’s not the perfect mix of dirt on a moto track; it’s not a flat road to cruise down, It is however difficult and its beats a rider up mentally and physically. I have been the pit guy for two years now. I hope that I will get to do this for years to come.

For me it’s not the race. It’s not who is first or second. It’s not how many laps they completed. It’s about the guys with dirty faces and smiles because they ran this race. It’s the team of riders that did what they set out to do… It’s about the gas in the can!!!!