So, you know how that old cliche goes, "sometimes great and mighty things come in small packages"? Well, this is what this weekend was for us.

This was an average 5-6 hour tour for most people to get up to the mountain. We knew going into this event the numbers would be on the lower side so we sincerely thank the almost 300 riders that made the long journey to race in the clouds. We were all rewarded with perfect weather and the perfect race weekend. It is fully understood why many chose this race to stay home on but we know your thoughts were with us as ours with you. The economy and back to back far away races are affecting everyones wallets and spirits. We are keeping the faith and enjoying being together when we can. Hopefully all that find a way to make the races have no regrets for making the choice to come.

Brian, Joe, John and passel of kid power were up there all week preparing the course and according to them, that is when the fun began. When I joined them on Thursday there were already a few people there riding the trails. Right then and there I knew it was going to be a great weekend.

Saturday starts at 11am with Tutor Time. This has quickly become very endeared to us. Dan the Man has taken over the role of mentor and instructor and it suits him beautifully. The kids are intently listening and responding to everything he is teaching them. This class has sweetly become the prelude to our weekend events.

Being on the lower end of numbers the girls at registration didn't know what to do with all their extra time so Lady T, Amy, Wendy and the rest of the girls plus NEOC Pops did each others nails. This was such a laid back event-Crazy!

Four tikes came to play king of the mountain at high noon. Three girls and one boy. After Lil' Jakie took a tumble down the hill, it left three new throttle queens to rule the road. I am super stoked about all the girls that have started racing regularly in the NEOC. Well over thirty from the Tikes to the main event. I have never seen more then a handful race offroad at one time. With each event there is a new set of pig tails on the line.

One o'clock twenty oil injected bikes were lined up to take on the longest course we've ever laid out for them. Almost two and a half miles of rocks and hill. It wasn't a problem at all. Piece of cake. In-fact, some of the OI boys came early to ride the six thousand acres of trail. Devin Macavoy put in forty four miles just Friday so our course was like crossing the street for him. Both OI classes are in such a tight points battle from first to last place. 7-8 winner has taken a dominate position against second and third. #316 Jonathan Miller, #86 Devin Macavoy and #84 Mark Brogen ran the rocks like it was a trials run. Our 4-6 winner was running his own race on the mountain. #237 Tyler Kowalski excelled on this course. A solid second went to #89 Wayne Cox with #88 Chris Hemple taking third and the last sixth lap. All did a great job. Everyone did multiple laps including #511 little Mackenzy straight out of the tikes.

3pm forty plus PWs were in full battle gear and game faces on waiting for Brian to give the call of the wild. First to answer that call was 7-9 65 #26 Kyle Tino and before a rock took a bite out of second place #64 Neil Enmans tire and rim he was leading the way. The Thumper class win went to #125 Chris Blackburn just ahead of #165 Nico Marts for a photo finish and before #388 lost his seat he was choppin for the lead. #41 Jason Tino dominated the 4-8 50 class with #136 Colby Davis chasing him down. The 10-12 EL was super spread out at this event. Winner and only one to have eight laps #460 Beau Hickman has taken a good hold of the lead spot for the crown. #813 Adam Exel secured second as did #444 Colin McCollough for third. way to ride boys. 4-9 EL winner and points leader #117 Ryan Gross ran with confidence and has become a well rounded rider. #288 Craig Cossaboon placed second with a strong lead over #705 Hunter Riggins.

5pm Forty plus pit bikes took to the line for some fun and that is just what they did. As Big Chuckie always says "Ladies First" so we'll start with the Doe class in honor of him. #629 Samantha Hill is the matriarch of the herd with #615 Shawn Davidson right there willing and able to take the lead spot if Sam lets her guard down. #85 Ryan Klair was the master Mega buck on the trail. Young bucks battled ferociously for position. First and second overall #393 Philip Morshead came to the checkered with #40 Nicky McCollough locked on to his sharpened ever growing horns. Our Big Slam Daddy was a great and fun battle to the end for the top three. #75 Robert Robbins, #121 Wolf man Randy Cox and #515 Jeff Hickman. Ninth overall was #75 Jack Hansen from the 12 pointer pro breed. Ruttin Buck first place has become a regular at the big boys watering hole and #906 Jeremy Williams is drinking his fill. The younger Spike bucks are only less by age and size because skill and competition is off the hook. Top two were #122 Dillan Abrams and #198 William Sigler. Great fight for the lead. Button bucks had its own display of Motsie between #185 Johnny Manera and #78 Nathan Bell. Both of these pit bike events were great to watch. Fast and Furious!

Once all the pits were cleared and the boys closed up shop, Miss Anita, started the games. Watermelon eating contest, relay races and an attempt at a bubble blowing contest but by then the kids started to span out and play their own games. Before you knew it the mountain looked like a BMX event with a semi-pro football league debuting its season picks. The sun was setting as the full moon was rising. A cool breeze blew from the peaks down to our camps. Fires were flickering with sounds of music drifting in the background mixed with happy screams and bursts of laughter. I am told it was by far, the best Saturday night everyones enjoyed this season. And then....the storm hit everyones alarm clock for Sunday Morning. The rain on this day was a welcomed friend because dust is always your mortal enemy on any day.

It's 6am and time to make the donuts. By the time I got there Lady T and the girls already had a couple dozen made. They are efficient and professional. 7am Eric D had Tech open, Chuckies voice was filling the air waves. 8:30am Brian, Todd and Phil were setting their watches, all the sweepers were lined up waiting to go with their designated group of riders and the course workers were out ready to man their post. The ten second call was made, riders leaned forward with foot on kicker and elbows out. Flag dropped and the day began.

#3 Robbie Civiletti ruled the AA Youth today. #109 Thorn Devlin took a solid second for a good bump in points. 12-15 100 #921 Adam Toth took first and fifth overall for one of his strongest races ever. #216 Zach Olsen kept second and sixth overall in his pocket. #65 Danny Boyle took third place points to help gain ground in the end. 14-15 85 #36 Chris Gordon has been riding like a man possessed. He took first and third overall again. I see AA in his future for sure! #666 J-Rod locked in second place. Our 12-13 85 winner #906 Jeremy Williams has won a few times this year but he climbed the charts on this day with eighth overall. #543 Tanner Barnhardt had another awesome finish with second place and tenth overall. 10-11 85 was a great race to watch between the top two. #198 William Sigler took a well deserved win over #312 Sal Cusimano but it could have gone either way. Great race guys. The 4 stroke class 13-15 150 was taken by #909 Johnathan Hiles, never thought I would see a sandworm ride the rocks so well. Second place #289 Kevin Adams ran great until he lost the battle to a rock. Rocks will win every time if you don't wear your knee pads. #98 Matthew Cropper is on a roll for the 10-11 65 class. He ran away with the win. Well I get to announce again #293 Hunter Bush as the winner of our 10-12 125 class and a solid second for #70 Brandon Ritchie. Both are grabbing the points. Now our ELW girls keep making us scream and holler. This has become the most competitive class in our youth division. These girls know what place they want and they are aggressively going after it. There has been a shift this season with the mind set of all the girls. A shift into high gear. First place and only one to get four laps #302 Miranda Kendrick, second place went to #337 Jennifer Wenger and thank goodness the flag came when it did because #24 Chelsea Marriner was a minute faster on the last lap and bit a knobby off Jens back tire. Super cool indeed.

Sixty plus C rider took off for the mountain side at 11am. On the second lap C 4 stroke #112 Tanner Way took the lead spot and kept it. One mistake and C Light #759 Christian Crum was there to capitalize on his misfortune. Next C Light and third overall #30 Trevor Stevens had a good time fighting for position with his friends. Forth and fifth overall were the Pettit brothers from the C 4 Stroke class #190 George was a split hair ahead of #118 Jeff. Jeff almost had the braggin rights bro! First C Vet and eighth overall went to #75 Robert Robbins. Ninth overall C Heavy #115 Jon Tarlowski with C Senior #611 Tracy Potter next in line. Fourteenth overall was our first lady contender #372 Felicia Robichaud on her KTM. Many great battles throughout this event.

Our main event was on the light side for attendance (43) but lack for luster it did not. The game changed around a bit with some of our hot shoes MIA. I am proud to tell you #504 Tanner Thomas, out of the B Light class, took the overall. He answered the call of the wild with the loudest howl. A Light #326 Kenny Tenner is a NEOC Top Gun and on his way a championship and AA Status. Second A Light and third overall was #393 Philip Morshead. He made is mama proud. Fourth overall and first A Vet was #102 Michael Collins. Our Schoolboy winner just recently joined the ranks and has proven he's got what it takes #40 Nicky McCollough, who also made his mama proud. The B Heavy King was next in line for the flag #910 Darren Huff with seventh overall. Sealing off the top ten was B Senior #38 Randy Hentges. All of the main event riders were treated to a ten mile loop around the out skirts of heaven. Most were able to get five laps before the flag came out.

This was a wonderful time. We thank everyone who made the journey north (or south for that matter) to meet up with the NEOC for a spectacular race weekend. A Special thanks to Mike, Gary and the whole crew at Rock Run Recreation for giving us the perfect atmosphere and outstanding hospitality.

See everyone at the Cow Patty 2 July 10th & 11th in Berkshire NY