If you ever see guys on older sleds with snow piled up on the running boards, that's where the radiators are. We're trying to cool off the hell that comes from under the hood. Newer sleds have a "better" idea, and moved the radiators. They can't put snow where we do to cool things off. If you're running hot, the best way to cool off is to throw some snow under the sled by "turning" into a snowbank. It's a gamble at best, but if you find yourself at this point in your life, it's pretty much your only option.
I had snow piled high on the running boards when we left Curtis. I knew it only bought me some time. I knew Pat and Eddie behind me on the newer sleds were gonna be hurting. I hoped the other 8 behind me were smart enough. 2 miles, lets do this. I was trying my best to peel snow off of the bank, but I knew it was futile. It hadn't snowed in days, I was riding on hot blacktop and trying to stuff a ski into ice. I didn't "need" it but I knew the more snow I could throw into the street, the better the guys behind me would be. The slush the other riders were talking about would be a relief right now, at least it's colder than the sparks coming off my skis. I can see the trail head in front of me on the left, check my mirror, 1,2,3,4,5,6... Look behind me, no cars, no cars in front. Grab a ski full of ice on the right, LEFT TURN! Ya need snow for these things to turn. I used the ice bank on the right, to make a left turn possible. There was literally that little snow.
By the grace of god, my sled turned. I saw the slush. I saw a snowbank and hoped it wasn't ice. I needed to cool this thing off, and in a hurry. They aren't made for sunshine and blacktop. Made the trail head, got a little selfish, got a little slushish and grabbed some throttle that was pointed at that snow bank. It was SNOW, not ice! Thank you! Quick puff of steam.... OH SHIT. Steam from a liquid cooled machine, not cool!
Its all aluminum, physics, and gasoline. Cooling aluminum too fast, although your aluminum is currently too hot, is ALWAYS bad. I pulled out of that snow bank like a porn star, the next thing I saw was open land with some actual snow. Handful of throttle to get air/snow moving to get the temperature down seemed like the best thing to do. So that's what I did. Quick glance in my mirror and everyone had the same idea.
That "little" XCR went skis up, ass down and showed me what that little bump is on the back of the seat, to keep me from falling off!!!
We all circled around the trail head for a few to cool off the engines, thumbs up from the whole crew even though we didn't have to talk, we were all overheating to a certain extent. We were all enjoying this slush to a certain extent. Let's dive into the trail once I got them all back into line...
Last year up to this point I legally passed cars on the 3 mile road trip to get to the trail head. Because I was faster in the snow. This year we had none. And now we were playing in slush like we just found the holy grail.
Up to this point we had sleds already falling off due to heat. But now that we're all cooled off, we had a new plan. As always, Newberry or bust. I see the trail off to our right...
Let The Bodies Hit The Floor
Let the bodies hit the floor...
Can't take much more...
HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO!
Look behind me with a thumbs up..
"Nothing wrong with me!"
"Nothing wrong with me!"
"Nothing wrong with me!"
"Nothing wrong with me!"
"Something's got to give" and we should have stopped.
But we didn't. I blame myself. I hit that trail at 45 MPH KNOWING there was a hard right turn coming up.
That right turn, and "Edmund Fitzgerald" playing in Danny's pocket......
We had a good time. For about two miles. Long straight aways are always our favorite, but we utilize the slow parts of the trails to regroup.
We made that right turn off the trail head, and I swear to god I was wide open throttle already. Ready to ride. The XCR showed me what I was missing, but we came to an understanding on that straight away.
2 stroke smoke smell inside the helmet mixed with wild Michigan air. I'm in!
First pull off comes up, so I pull over to make sure our group is all together. Everyone show up except Danny. Where the hell is Danny?
Then we all hear "The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald" playing from the woods, and it seems to be getting louder....
