GNCC Women's Novice Samantha VanBuskirk Race Report

2008 GNCC Novice Women's Class Champion Samantha VanBuskirk

With the Women's Novice championship safe and secure, would I tread through the mud in Indiana or paint my face blue and white enjoying the festivities of senior year? My logic was this, I already skipped Prom for the Penton race, and so what is another dance and a couple of pom-poms? I can never pass up a mud race.

After arriving at the track after 12 long hours of travel, we bundled up and decided to walk the course. I always love walking the track with my dad because we argue about every line there is to take and we're both pretty good at I-told-you-so's.

Before I knew it it was Saturday morning and the little town that had been quickly forming in the fields was up and about. My dad made some last minute adjustments to my Fox Shox and I wrapped my hands in the Disney Princess medical tape I had found at CVS earlier that morning (no one likes blisters!). Everyone was bundling up for a windy, messy, cold race and with a few last minute words of advice from my teammates, I hustled to the starting line eager to get moving and warm up.

Samantha VanBuskirk battling through the roost on her KFX450R

By the time we had hit the second set of woods I was sitting in a comfortable first and thankfully treaded on. It was not long before I came upon the first bottleneck. I had remembered the line my dad told me to take and I saw kids slowing down so I dodged to my line of choice which was littered with unexpecting spectators. Though my path was longer, it proved efficient as I reached the meeting of about 15 other quads sitting in the route dad had picked. (I told him so.)

So now here's the fun part. You know when you're riding and you do something you think is good so you go for the pat on the back so to speak? Well not long after that pat on the back, you inevitably regret it. Yep, more bottlenecks. We got stuck and I saw a line around it, but there was a rider next to me who I needed to move. By the time we had both gotten able to move we were about 25 deep and not going anywhere. When we finally got out, it wasn't long before another rider got stuck just two spots ahead of me. As riders began to flock around the three of us, we needed to start moving. When I raced the youth league, we were all very small and we always worked together to help if we were stuck. Things don't exactly work like that anymore I am guessing. I convinced the rider ahead of me to help pull the first rider out, but he rolled the kid down sideways. I guess he did get him out though. So now he was just about making it up the hill. Well I knew my plastics and headlights were already broken up so I gave it all I had and bumped him just enough to get him free. Then another guy came up and got stuck on me just as I was about to get out.

My eyes started to well up and I was slightly upset. My quad, which I am still working all week and going to school to pay for, was breaking into pieces before me. I jammed it into first and tried to make it up, reverse back down, first, and I guess the kid who had smashed me was getting upset that I was getting him stuck even further and people started to help me. Now bellowing white smoke I was hauling.

Traci Cecco caught me and I was fortunate enough to be behind her on the big hill climb. My dad shouted the line to take as we were passing and I shadowed her the whole way up. As I reached the top I was shocked to still be right with her so I pushed a little harder and kept up for a bit. She told me last summer that being a girl; you have to ride like a girl. I've been trying to pick up on how other girls ride at nationals, since we don't have a women's class at home. I am eager for the front row.

Next lap, Angel Atwell caught me and I tried to stick with her for awhile. When we came to what I am guessing is Ironman Hill, she wisped down. With the sudden disappearance of her helmet I reached for every brake lever I could get to. Now I love hill climbs, but this one scared me. I looked to my left and I just shook my head and said, "Nope." The guy standing there seemed shocked and I felt like I was arguing with myself. I knew there was an easier way down, but if I did not do it I would have to go all year knowing I wimped out. I felt a tap of my grab bar and I guess I made it down cause when I opened my eyes I was at the bottom.

Before I knew it I was in the midst of the big mud pit all bottled up again. I saw a way around and went for it. Enthusiastic race fans pointed up a hill that was huge. At this point I was just having fun and I decided I would try it. I got to the tip top and felt my front end lift. Now I know what teammate, Matt Zeleski meant by the term 'pucker factor' I clenched the tank so hard I thought my knees were going through it and of course there came the infamous girly shriek as I toppled down. I thought for sure I was a gonner, but once again when I opened my eyes I was at the bottom- rubber side down. So being the ballsy little fella I was being, I tried it again. After another unsuccessful attempt I gave up and eventually found another way around.

As I rounded a turn I came across Matt Close of the schoolboy class sitting aside, helmet off, shouting for me. Though broken down, Matt was still positive and smiling. It is really amazing the amount of sportsmanship kids show in this sport. Now I had to get my butt moving, I had to get out and tell our pit crew where he was! I had "Five Mile Mark" branded into the back of my mind.

My last lap was my slowest and I about ate the dirt three or four times. I thought I was in dead last and all I could think about was how cold I was. When I slid through scoring it said 422, 1, 0:00. I was shocked. I just rode my race the while time and used it for some more seat time. It worked for me this time, but I have to say without support from the guys at Stroud Motorsports, Team Cardio Stack, and of course Dan Geery at Fox Shox, I would have been one of the many sitting. The race was rough on equipment, but mine handled it. Sure I need new plastics and I am now sporting a padiddle with a missing headlight, but it was worth it. I learned a lot and I am sure it will all come in handy next year in the Women's class.
In closing, a lot of people have been asking me about moving up next year.
Am I ready? Yes. I have had a phenomenal season this year and have been fortunate enough to race with very talented women such as Angela Horn, Jenna Gray, and Heather Krouskoupf. I've ridden with riders like Brian Ace and worked with companies hand-in-hand for the first time. I am ready to be at the bottom again, to work my way up, to earn respect. I probably will not win next year, maybe not the year after, but I will not give up. So yes, with Traci Cecco's blessing, I am ready to ride like a girl!

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