Finally made it home after our epic road trip which took us to Adelaide and then on to Shepparton for Round 2 of the National Series. After a very successful Champs in Adelaide, Team Crimmins headed to Shepparton with 2 days to fill in before we were due on Thursday before race. We drove to Swan Hill and stayed there overnight and drove the rest of the way on Wednesday which saw us there a day early. As we couldn't book into our cabin until the Thursday, we had to then find a motel for the night. This was harder than expected as not only was the race on, there was an International Dairy Festival on as well. We mananged to find what I think must have been the last motel room in the whole of Shepp.
After departing our Motel, we couldn't book into the cabin until 2pm so we headed to the track to walk it in the morning and then had shuttles in the arvo (in 45deg heat). Having seen footage of the track we weren't expecting much, and we weren't disappointed. But after walking the track, it was actually a lot harder than first thought with most of the track being off camber with a really snotty rock shoot and a few rock drops. Speed was going to be hard to maintain if you wanted to stay on the track. The dirt was red like you would imagine on Mars. You just had to stand on the side of the track and you would go home with what looked like a really bad fake tan.
Friday was a full day of practice. Thomas was getting the hang of the track and actually started to enjoy it. Andrew, not so much. He was struggling with the rock shute (he wasn't the only one, let me tell you) and had numerous offs in that section but luckily none involved injury. Practice over with and back to the cabin to do some washing and get ready for the next day.
Saturday practice for Group B started at 8:30am so we were out and about very early (who said we were on holidays?). Practiced well with Thomas saying that it is like learning a new track every day as it changes so much. The boys hung around for Group A seeding in the afternoon as Mum headed back to get dinner ready and do more washing (gotta love that red dust).
Sunday race day and we were at the track early with Group B practice again at 8:30am till 10:30am then Group A and then racing at 12:30pm. Had a look at the start list and Thomas was 3rd off in U17's and due to start at 12:47pm and Andrew first off in U15's with a start time of 1:07pm (not that it ever starts on time anyway). A few categories came down in their race runs and then it was the U17's. Connor came down first in a very fast time of 1:59.48, next was David who finished in a time of 2:05.26, then we could see Thomas coming down (as the hill was so small and there were no trees, your could see virtually the whole race run except just the first little bit). We were all yelling him over the finish line and he came in at a fantastic time of 2:03.51, provisionally into 2nd position. As there were at least another 40 riders to come, we were still on the edge of our seats to see if he could hold onto it. All riders in U17 over the line and it was official, Thomas was 2nd. Good work Son!!!
Next it was the U15's turn. We watched the whole of Andrew's race run and just held our breath that he would hold it together, especially after Adelaide. Luckily he had a really good practice on Sunday morning with no stacks in the rock shute and he was feeling really good about the track now. As we yelled him over the finish line, he posted an excellent time of 2:13.97 which saw him sitting in the hot seat. As the rest of the field finished, Andrew managed to sit in the hot seat for the whole of the U15's division. It was official, he won, with the closest rider coming over in a 2:21.98. We were all very happy for Andrew with Adelaide now a distant memory. Well done Team.
