AMA Pirelli Parts Unlimited Moose Maxxis

Mid-South Championship Winter Hare Scrambles

Round 8,  The Chigger Run

 

Blackwell Banks at

Mid-South’s Mud Fest

BY DEBBIE ALLEN

Maplesville, AL, January 11, 2004

It doesn’t take long for one night of rain to turn into a mud fest when you have 1,300 spectators and 350 dirt bikes camped out in your front yard.  The Allen family was brave enough to do just that when they opened their gate for the 8th round of the AMA, Pirelli Tire, Parts Unlimited, Moose, and Maxxis Tire sponsored Mid-South Championship Winter Hare Scramble Series.   Located in Vanleer, Tennessee, the Chigger Run ran as scheduled in spite of freezing rain delaying those from the North and scattered showers intimidating those who were awaiting the nine and a half miles of mud.   One good thing about all of this for the Allen crew was that Doug Blackwell came to pay them a visit.

 

He said, “I had a good time today.  It reminded me of the Mid-South battles that I had when I raced with Scott Plessinger a long time ago.  It was a lot of fun.”  

 

Off the start, Suzuki / Sports Cycles Racing / DP Brakes sponsored Blackwell took charge immediately and led eight riders in the AA class.  He splashed into the creek and went over the embankment with John Robbins and P. A. Allen following him into the woods’ section.  Shortly thereafter John Robbins swapped for first, and led for the rest of the lap.

 

 “I guess I kind of let the Mid-South riders use me for the first lap or so,” said Blackwell.  “I got soaked in mud, rock, stone, and whatever Robbins tried to throw at me.  He was real good about making sure that I caught everything too.” 

 

Robbins held tight and caught the first hundred dollars for coming through the score tent first.  During the second lap, Blackwell pulled the lead and made an easy hundred while Allen came through in second place.  They both stopped for gas and Gibson grabbed the lead with Allen and Blackwell freight training from behind. 

This continued until the riders hit the motocross track, and then the two front runners, Gibson and Allen, pulled away.

 

It was a battle to the finish when Blackwell dropped back to third place. Gibson maneuvered his KTM into first place throughout the entire third lap and enjoyed the hundred dollar hot spot while Allen continued in second place.   However, Blackwell was another thing.  He somehow lost a minute and charged for the lead during the fourth and final lap.  He got around Allen and then battled with the Sarge’s Cycles / KTM / GPR / Gibson’s Trucking supported Gibson.  

 

Blackwell said, “Dustin [Gibson] was really riding smooth today. He was picking all the right lines and everything.  Luckily, I got around him just before the finish and won another hundred bucks.” 

 

Gibson finished in second place while Team Green Kawasaki / Pro Circuit / Twin Air / Shift / Fox backed Allen completed the podium.