Over 20 years ago, when I still thought my XR100 was a giant, my parents started cutting trail in Vernon, B.C., and decided they would host a motorcycle race. The race was cheerfully named the Squealing Pig Hare Scrambles.
Today, the race is still one of the longest running and most enjoyed races of the season and it is now in the very capable hands of the Premier Off-Road Club (PORC). Saturday night sees the infamous Night Pig Hare Scrambles, which I very much enjoy racing; however, this Saturday would be different.
My brother, Jordon, who is also a racer, was getting married at his house at the bottom of the gravel road. It was a small wedding in the backyard, and a very special moment for the family and especially for my dad who is fighting cancer right now. I knew a few friends from the race site would be riding down the road to say “Hi” after the ceremony, but I never would have suspected what was about to happen.
After hearing that Dad had made it to the wedding, everyone wanted the chance to come and see him and show their love to him and our family. Just after the ceremony at 2:15 p.m., I heard what sounded like a giant swarm of bees coming down the road. I opened the gates to the backyard and close to 50 friends from the race site filed in on their dirt bikes, making a parade lap around the yard before coming to a stop next to the wedding tents.
In a large group, everyone revved their bikes together in big congratulations to my brother as he held his hands up cheering back at them. My dad watched from a distance, emotionally touched, along with the rest of us. After shaking my brother’s hand and hugging my dad, everyone left just as quickly as they had come and rode back up the mountain for the night race.
That night I didn’t race. I visited with family and stepped in as my brother’s chauffeur and tried to go to bed early to prepare for the race on Sunday. The next morning, despite how difficult it was on my dad to make the drive in his condition, he and my mom arrived just in time for some quick hellos and to listen in on the riders meeting.
My dad was honoured when the organizers asked him if he would please start the Masters (Pro class) to get the race underway, just as he had many years ago.
I lined up in the Expert class just behind the Masters class riders, who were the first wave of racers. I watched my dad, with the help of my mom, precariously crutch his way through the field to the starting area. Dad raised the rifle into the air and shot off a round that echoed through the valley and the first wave of racers thundered away from the starting line, beginning the 3+ hour race once again.
Dad ready to start the race with Mom by his side. — photo courtesy Victoria Hett
My start was next and as I watched my parents from the starting line, I handed my bike off and ran to my dad to give him a big hug. I told him I loved him and then I returned to the starting line and a few seconds later the expert class was off and running. I was fourth off the start and 100 per cent focused as I raced through the grass track before heading off into the forest for what would be two laps of the 50-kilometre course.
I had a great gas check at the halfway mark. My boyfriend, Tom, and brother, Malcolm, had me fuelled up and fitted with new goggles in no time and I was off again to complete my second and final lap of the course.
After three hours and 15 minutes total, I came into the finish and was greeted by friends and family who announced, to my great delight, that I had finished in second place, not far behind the first-place rider.
In my eyes, this was the best finish in my racing career, because although I have won the Men’s Intermediate class several times, getting second in the more competitive Expert division trumps all of those wins. I couldn’t wait to get back to the trailer and call my dad and mom. When I told them the news they were so excited and very proud, and of course they both wished they could have stayed and been there longer.
This May long weekend is one that I will never forget and one that I will talk about for a long time to come. I’d like to thank everyone who made this weekend so special and helped me and my family have such a wonderful weekend.
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