2001 Furnace Creek 508: Reports from the Road

2001 Webcast Home

We had a huge crowd for the pre-race banquet and meeting! Chris Kostman MC'd the action, with Steve Born saying a few words, as well as Ron Jones speaking about Norm Hoffman and Chris Kostman with Diane Torpin speaking about her brother, Roger D'Errico. The race was dedicated to Norm and Roger this year. A moment of silence was held to honor them, as well as intended race entrant Darrell Bowles, who lost his son John Luc in an auto accident last week, and of course, the 6,000 plus who were lost on September 11. There was much to think about tonight, and there will be much to remember and keep in our hearts and minds over the weekend. To see the pre-race meeting slideshow, click here. To read about the race dedication, click here.

I just got off the highway after an hour plus of driving - it's 1249am, the night before the race. I had to go see if the route is actually open! A huge fire has been raging nearby all day, closing our race route through San Franscisquito Canyon all day and into the evening. But thankfully, it's back open now and the fire seems to be both contained and well away from any roads or homes. Ashes are landing thickly, though, on all the support vehicles in the parking lot of the Valencia Inn here in Valencia. It's going to make for hard breathing for all our racers, though. But, we should be good to go, in terms of the route, at 7am! - CK

Chris called me at 4:20pm PDT as he was driving up to Randsburg. He reported the weather was delightful, with clear blue skies and temps in the mid-80s. He was driving amid the 2-man teams, and was aiming to catch up to the lead solo riders by dusk. The 4-man team race started smoothly, although there was some concern over San Fran Canyon road being reclosed because of yesterday's fire. Fortunately, the road remained open, and everyone got through. The Davis Tandem Relay Team was 90 seconds up on Team Armadillo. A navigational error in Mojave cost Team Armadillo their previous scant lead over Davis. Chris also reported the first retirement of the day: Paul American Eagle Bonds had to drop at MM125 due to a bike mechanical. - NG

Chris reported at 7:20pm from Panamint Valley. Thus far 25 riders have made the right turn and started up the infamous Townes Pass. The summit is at nearly 5000 feet; the base of the climb is near sea level. In 10 agonizing miles, riders climb nearly a vertical mile. Othmar Old Fox Villach was the first to hit the summit, but while he stopped to prepare for night riding, Justin Panda Peschka went rolling right by into first place. Justin is no stranger to first place in the 508, and Othmar, as well as the next pursuer, Richard Akita Ashabranner, will have their hands full trying to keep up with Justin. Chris said that the weather continues to be favorable, with calm winds, clear skies, and cool evening temps. The horrendously bumpy stretch of road through Panamint Valley has been resurfaced, but a 5-mile stretch before Trona had recently been scraped in preparation for paving. You win some, you lose some. Finally, Chris promised 4 more slide shows somewhere around midnight tonight. - NG

As is normally the case, Townes Pass scattered the racers throughout the desertscape. Panda and his nemesis Old Fox were nip and tuck through Stovepipe Wells and into Death Valley National Park. It is in this section that distances can be deceptive--an opponent's taillights can look so close, only to be miles ahead. Whoever didn't get the wind knocked out of their sails by this time will have another chance to do so with the Jubilee Pass/Salsberry Pass dynamic duo climbing out of the park. From there, it's a fairly easy ride to Baker, home of the "world's tallest thermometer."

The women's race is extremely close, with Bumble Bee holding a slight lead over 508 recordholder Hoopoe. In the Men's 60+ division, a real battle is ensuing. Gecko held a mere three-minute lead over Pteradactyl at Furnace Creek, while Worm was less than an hour back (hardly inching along).

The 2-man Jackalope team has built a sizeable lead over its nearest foe, while the Davis Drills tandem relay team is slugging it out with the Armadillos from Texas. - NG

The sun's coming up and all but Robert Thunder Hawk Rich are accounted for. He may still make it, or may come in unofficially. I't's a beautiful day to conclude this was a spectactular race! -CK

Read the official race report! Click here!