AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series race reports
Round 5, Shasta Lake, California
April 12-13, 2008
 The 2008 Round 5-AMA Western Hare Scrambles Championship Series and Round 4-AMA Western Youth Hare Scrambles Championship Series events were
held April 12th and 13th, 2008 at the Shasta Dam OHV Area in Shasta Lake, CA. The weather was sunny with temperatures in the low 80's. We had over 600 racers turn out this year, exceeding our
average of just under 500. We added some new trails this year, the long course was approximately 20 miles. The courses varied from technical single-track, rocky and challenging hill sections
to loamy dirt through dense trees with fire road connectors. The beauty of this OHV/camping area made our event even that much better!
Overall winners in the AMA Western Hare Scrambles Championship Series Round 5 were: 1st place: Jordan Brandt (above), 2nd place: Brian Garrahan and 3rd place: Garrison Gragg.
Overall winners in the AMA Western Youth Hare Scrambles Championship Series Round 4 were: 1st place: Anson Maloney, 2nd place: Kale Elworthy and 3rd place: Alex Dorsey.
Round 4, Emmett, Idaho
March 30, 2008
To start the event, the Women’s and Super Senior classes lined-up for a two-hour, four-lap race on the 16-mile course. Alan Deyo from Orfino, Idaho, set the pace and ultimately lead the
racers into the finish, taking the race win and first in the Super Senior class, while Brooke Hodges was on fire, finishing second overall on a KTM and 1st in her class.
The seven-lap main event followed with a good line burned-in for the AA, A and B riders to follow. When the green flag dropped, KX450-mounted Russ Pearson took the lead down the long sand
wash. Pearson led the race for a few laps until his rear brake pads melted, forcing him into the pits for repairs. Justin Soule used Pearson’s unexpected pit stop to take the lead, with series
point leader Brian Garrahan following in second. Garrahan (above) did not remain in second for long, however, passing Soule and soon extending a convincing lead. After a grueling three hours and 25
minutes of racing, Garrahan took the lion’s share of the Rekluse Motorsports-sponsored Pro Purse with a first-place finish. Soule claimed second, while local Idaho Pro Motocross racer Kody
Bill aboard a Yamaha finished third.
The DIRT Inc. crew set out to create a tough event with a fast and rough course that left racers with nowhere to rest. By the end of the day, all racers heartily agreed the club achieved
that goal.
Round 2
 The recent rain in Arizona proved to be the deciding factor in labeling the
second round of the AMA West Hare Scramble Championship Series, hosted by Arizona Motorcycle Riders Association and the Rock Stars Motorcycle Club, an “epic” event.
The dirt was perfect and the dust at a minimum as 150 A and B riders battled it out through the rocky canyons, tight and twisty trails, and an Endurocross-inspired section at the Gila County Fairgrounds in Globe, Arizona.
Local resident and Factory Kawasaki Pro Destry Abbott (left) took the win by almost a minute, and with that won the Pro class as well as a bonus Pro Purse offered by the Rock Stars MC and K-Rock Photos. Ryan Powell from San Raphael, California, and Gary Sutherlin, a local AMRA Pro, rounded out the top three.
Round 1
The Salinas Ramblers hosted the Picacho Creek Challenge AMA West Hare
Scramble Championship Series round 1 on February 10. While this was the
3rd year for the Picacho Creek this was the first year it was part of
the Championship Series.
Although 3 inches of rain and snow fell the previous weekend, Mother
Nature decided to grace the event with temperatures in the low 70s and
perfect conditions perfect.
Riders were treated to a true Cross Country course consisting mostly
of single track, rocks and creek beds that proved to be fun while
challenging for even the best riders. Jordan Brandt led for the first
couple of laps followed by Brian Garrahan. But when Brandt developed
mechanical problems, Garrahan gained the lead and held it until the
finish.
Behind Garrahan were Ryan Powell in second and Garrison Gragg in
third.
© 2008, American Motorcyclist Association
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