West Camden Country Store Race 2010

[Mostlyhounds]

Just a quick note to all.
Christina and myself have been actively working on this event for 2010.
As a trail boss I can tell you it is 110% improvement over last year. Trail grooming will be ongoing from first snowfall. Two road crossings which are nice and easy straight accross. One bridge (LARGE and WIDE bridge easily passable with no problems straight on) crossing. Mostly rolling terrain with some all-out flats and some climbs, one short steep climb.
Plenty of parking in Two large fields.
Race trail is 6 dogs 4.6 semi-challenging miles, skijor and 4 dog 3.6 miles. All loop, no head-on passing.
We are actively seeking sponsors for the event and at this time can not speculate on final purse. However, we are hoping for a much larger purse and turnout than last year.

Event will take place March 6th and 7th and take place at the same site as last year with exception of start-finish and parking for mushers will be accross the street.

I will not be partaking in event and will be assisting anyone that may need help to the line with an ongoing ATV (all who are interested will sign up on Friday or Saturday morning). Also offered will be a trail viewing on Friday PM hours to be posted on site later.

Also, Friday evening we will have kids events and sponsors race under the lights in downtown CAmden at the park, food, etc. will be on hand.
We are also planning a mushers dinner in downtown Camden on Saturday night.
Mark your calendars.
More to come later.

[JSperry]

It’s been a while since I logged into this message board and I must say, I really like the security question!

Roy, I didn't go to this event last year, not familiar with the trail at all but something in your description really jumped out at me and thought I should ask the question/pose a suggestion. The 6-dog trail is 4.6 miles and the 4-dog trail is 3.6 miles? Why not make your job MUCH easier and have all teams run the 4.6 mile trail? It’s not unusual for the 4-dog class to run further than 4 miles, especially at the end of the season. Seems logistics would be much simpler with one trail/no trail changes.

Thanks for doing the work.

Jason

[Mostlyhounds]

LOL
Jason, yeah I also thought quite possibly doing that as well. Most likely WILL happen thanks.
Were not quite ready for a 8 dog or open trail and the existing trail is challenging, in other words not a cake walk super fast trail is the reason I shortened the 4 doggers. But, we'll see I probably WILL go back to my original idea of everybody runs same trail. At least THIS year.
Next year were looking at SJ, 4, 6 and Open class or 8 dog.

see ya

[Xtremeweather]

Roy,

For what its worth, I'm with Jason. I would rather see the 4 dog run the 4.6 trail as well. You and Christina have done a great job with this race. Thanks.

[Mostlyhounds]

Latest as of Thursday 3/4.

Don't expect a super smooth trail. Conditions are OK to good, but if you have a super fast dog team please play it safe and keep the speeds down on portions of the trail or stay home.

I don't want to discourage anyone from coming, but want to keep it real and let everybody know before hand what your getting into. It will be a little punchy as the day rolls on and the surface is frozen granular type snow.

Trail is SAFE and as a whole, smooth and flat but with this weather don't expect miracles. Trail was smoothed out a lot of the bad spots with big groomer today and will be touched up with smaller groomer and again after the 6 dog last team is out.

Tentative schedule is 10:30 start on the 6 dog teams to allow most of trail to get a little softer on top to ovoid the ice caused by the thaw-freeze cycles we are having lately.

Like I said, it isn't the greatest trail I have seen but certainly not the worst. Thats MARCH weather for you.

NOTE: We have a small section out of the start chute with head-on passing roughly .3 of a mile.

ALL CLASSES will do a 4.9 mile trail.