AMA Pirelli Parts Unlimited Moose Maxxis

Mid-South Championship Winter Hare Scrambles

Round 9, The Chicken Run

Blackwell: No Chicken

BY DEBBIE ALLEN

Iuka, MS, February 8, 2004

The ninth round of the Mid-South Championship Winter Hare Scrambles was no place for Chickens as the Pirelli Tire, Parts Unlimited, Moose, and Maxxis Tire sponsored series made its way into Iuka, Mississippi. Promoter, Mark Akers and crew did their best to party hearty with a feast of barbecued chicken and shrimp the day before. Come race day, it was no walk in the park. Heavy rains caused a lot of problems which led to some interesting results in the overall positions. Somehow everything washed out clean for the 421 riders who slid in the Mississippi mud, and Doug Blackwell spit shined his way into first place on the Funky Chicken’s platter.

Off the start, the problems began immediately as many of the riders slid into one another coming out of the first turn. John Robbins held onto the lead after getting the holeshot. He led Doug Blackwell, Landon Carter, and P.A Allen out of that mess while Dustin Gibson, John Maschino, and Bersano were left picking up their bikes. Throughout the first lap, the nine miles posed no problems; however later, that would become another story.

“Today was definitely very interesting,” said Sports Cycles Suzuki / FMF / Smith / IMS / Dunlop / Hebo supported Blackwell. “The guys working the course did their best to keep the bad sections rerouted, but there were just so many of them that it was hard to keep up.”

Blackwell said, “I had a little bit of clear sailing for a while until P. A. reeled me in, and then the battle was on. We had a good race for most of the third lap and the entire fourth lap. I know he was using me for all the good mud holes, and we had a little cat and mouse game going. My Suzuki ran well and in the end, I had all the luck because it could have gone either way.”

Just before the finish, both [Blackwell and Allen] got stuck right next to each other. Rocking back and forth, they kicked up the mud, rocks, and parts of the creek bank in order to break loose from their rut. Both struggled for the next thirty seconds until Blackwell took the lead and Allen soon followed. They finished the entire track but not as the front runners. Apparently, Maschino was rerouted into an easier section, and he came through in first place.

The controversy was soon settled as Gas Gas / OffRoad Group / Leader Goggles / LTR / MSR sponsored Maschino admitted to not being in first or second. He said, “I know those guys were long gone and somehow I must have been mistaken for a slower rider because I was rerouted to the easier section. I’m happy for third place and want to congratulate Doug and P.A for really being out front.”

Team Green / Pro Circuit / Fox / Shift / Dunlop supported P. A. Allen said, “I really pushed the last two laps and about two miles from the finish, Blackwell took the lead, and I got second.”

In spite of a few problems, many riders smiled a grand victory. Mike Sampson came in fourth place in Overall and finished in first place in 250 A. Brandon Freeman made a quick recovery from a misplaced shoulder at the last event. He got the holeshot in 4 Stroke A and finished in fifth place. Robert Patterson was the winner of 4 Stroke A, and he finished in eighth place in Overall.

Hats should go off to promoter, Mark Akers. He no longer holds the rookie status because he officially gained experience at this event. It was a great race in spite. See you at the next event. It’s new. Hum? Is this promoter a rookie?