"Whoops-A-Daisy"

The title says it all..."whoops, whoops and more whoops". Yes, that was a wicked whoops section welcoming riders who signed up for the November 8th MX Race at Hawaiian Motorsports Association's "Kahuku Motocross Park".

If you are reading this and don't know what "whoops" or "whoop-dee-doo's" are just take 4.5 minutes to watch the video and you'll get the idea. So anyway there they were, a washboard rack of evenly spaced sharp edged mini mountan peaks that each rider was hoping to navigate just quick enough to maintain position but not so fast as to be catalpaulted over the bars.

Whoops sections are the ultimate motocross obstacle. More so than a huge triple or even a big double, hanging it out in a whoops section requires a certain mental voodoo. Let's face it, turning on the power of a 50+ horsepower, 220 pound 2 wheeled aluminum rocketship through a set of landmines poised to blow you off your trusty mount the split second your front wheel drops requires a certain hypnotic trance.

There are usually 3 ways to attack a whoops section, blast 'em, time and jump 'em or row' em. Only top riders have the skill to blast 'em and only when there's enough space can they be timed and jumped so that leaves the last way: Row 'Em. Most riders have a personal version of rowing the whoops and the taller the whoops the more animated the "rowing" becomes. You know the rowing look, it's easy to spot: The rider is standing, leaning over the bars, suddenly the arms jerk outward as the front wheel drops into the whoop and then just as suddenly the arms slam back into the chest as the wheel rides up the next whoop.

It's a violent exercise, even playing havoc with the riders head jockeying about like it's spring loaded. Of course while all this is going on the rider tries desperately to avoid that little tap on the butt from the seat signifiying the start of his rotation of doom as he goes over the bars. Yes...whoops are the ultimate obstacle.

Today, the track was running counter clockwise and along with the whoops section the track designers provided a major league leap of professional propotions. It was situated over the drainage pipe tunnel and when hit with enough speed it propelled the riders up over the top and down into the valley in a big long arc of BIG AIR. (Again see the video for some of the action.)

Fortunately after this "big air" the track continued straight down to the vallley floor disappearing to the right out of sight giving a lot of room to brake and scrub off the speed from such a big jump. Navigating through the valley floor, they returned to the upper section using the farthest section of track next to the woods which is a relatively long up hill freeway with a few nice uphill jumps. Of course every rider had to be thinking of what lie at the top as they raced to the summit and that long left sweeper which lined them up with the....WHOOPS.

Some riders rode the left hand sweeper wide which lined them up on the far right hand side of the whoops section while some riders chose the inside line and took an unusual path across the whoops starting on the far left of the whoops section and cutting diagonally across the whoops from left to right. It was this method that seemed to cause the most problems whether you were rowing the whoops or blasting them. The two biggest get-offs occured not in the whoops but immediately after them although the majority of falls were in the whoops.

Speaking of get-offs, you may have seen that one of the bulldozers tipped over down in the valley as the track designers were doing the track layout on Saturday. No serious injuries but accidents can and do happen to even the most experienced folks. Best wishes and a speedy recovery to Kawasaki rider 501 who on his maiden voyage aboard his new 2009 2250F took a spill that snapped his arm. Get well soon.

The 65's class has become one of the hot races to watch this year. It's been populated by a few hotshots from the 50's expert class who now get to fool around with that extra lever on the handle bars and that thing-a-ma-jig down there next to the left foot peg known as the shift lever. Along with the 50's the 65's class has the greatest number of pit crew members surrounding the riders at the gate giving encouraging words, a quick shoulder massage, a last sweep of the dirt in front of the gate and final bike adjustments. It's where the future riders of the sport are learning the new limits of their bike, their skills and their courage.

Mostly this class is filled with Kawasaki's but there is a screaming yellow and red bike out there tucked in among all the green ones. It's a COBRA and its rider is Dalton Pahia. From the perspective of the camera, the camera likes the yellow bike. It's color and Daltons usual black colored gear is something that the camera's autofocus can lock onto with ease. So I've spent alot of time watching Dalton ride and now we're going to find out a little bit more about him as the Feaured Athlete for November 2008.

Name: Dalton Pahia

Age: 10

Race Number: 56

Racing class/classes: 65cc

Started racing when? October 2006

Current Points Standing? I am not up in point standings but I have fun.

Hometown: Kaneohe, Hawaii

Mom and Dad: Aaron and Angela Pahia

School: Ahuimanu Elementary

Grade Level: 5th grader

Best Subject: Math

Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Baker

Favorite Food: Hamburger Curry

Favorite Music: Hip Hop , R&B

Bike Manufacturer and Engine Size: CX65 Made in the USA by Cobra Motors

Who supplied the bike or what bike shop do you get parts from. The bike was purchased from John Wilson of Wilson motorsport that I also get all my parts from.

Is the bike stock or does it have aftermarket parts? Stock

Who wrenches on the bike? Pit dad #56

What kind of gear? Thor, No Fear, Simpson

What kind of boots? Alpinestar.

Where you do get your gear from? Motosports outlet, Cyclegear, Troy Miyashiro@TM motorsports

Who’s his favorite rider to watch up at Kahuku? Curren Fujio, Bronson Heathcote

Who’s his biggest competition in your class? I am learning a lot, Having lots of fun. Everyone in my class are great competitors.

Does he watch any of the pro races on tv and does he have a favorite rider? Yes , Ryan Villapoto and Trey Canard.

Does he do any trail riding? No

What do you like better, getting air or railing turns or straight-aways? Getting Air!!!

What part of the track is hardest for you? The hardest part of the track is rutted out sections and some of the crazy big jumps.

What do you want to do when you get older? I want to be a mechanic and motocross racer.

Are there any plans to move up in the next few months? At this moment there are no plans of moving up. Keep training and ride as much as I can.

Any last words from "Pit Dad #56"?

"Cherish the time you have with your kids while they are young, Keep the riding fun for the little guys and gals.".

Thanks Dalton, good luck in December!

See you in December...keep it on 2 wheels.

-scott