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47 - Luke Edelbauer - the 24hr
So when I put my hand up this year to finally get off my butt and have a crack at the 24 Hour Road Trial, in the back of my mind I was thinking “24hours, that’s only 4 normal races linked together, which is twice the length of the Robertstown 2-day, so all I really need is some extra fuel I guess…” how wrong can one be??? I learnt many a lesson in the lead up to this event. Lesson number 1; it’s never too early to start preparation for the 24. Lesson number 2; call in ALL favours. Lesson number 3; have a support team on hand, especially for lap 3… the darkest of the dark hour… After weeks and weeks of build up, chasing tyres and mousse tubes and electronics and extra riding gear, in typical “Last-Minute-Luke” fashion, the Kato was again pieced together the day before the biggest event of the year. Hats off to my number 1 sponsor, www.gazaracing.com (may not be available at the moment), who not only had his own bike and mental state well prepared weeks prior, but he was also on hand to sort my lights and bike set up less than 24 hours before the start. BIG thanks, as team ktm would never have made the start line without this support. So Satdee morning awoke to dark clouds and constant drizzle for the entire drive out to Kapunda. So whose idea was it to run this event in July again??? Luckily by the time machine examination began at 930am the clouds began to part, but the temperature remained low. The wind was angry that day my friends, and so the biggest dilemma before the start line was what the hell to wear. After a few words of advice from my partner in crime, number 48 Jason Werner, it was decided 3 layers top and bottom would be the best form of defence, with extra layers stored in the jacket for the all important 3rd lap… The butterflies were swarming at the start line, camera’s cranking, and handshakes and well wishes flying, but by the time we passed MAXY dressed in drag on the first transport section, things had definitely settled down and the groove had begun.
LAP 1: I HOPE YOU LIKE ROCKS…
Being up the pointy end of the field, and with the side-car’s diverted for the tight creek sections; parts of the track were almost virgin for our arrival. Rocks and water are never a good mix, and as such a very cautious approach was better than charging through for an early exit. Time flew by, and before Jason and I knew it, we were tucking into a hot roast dinner at 6pm in preparation for our first night lap. The only trouble so far was trying to save damage to the bike by using my shoulder to break the one and only fall.
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LAP 2: DARKNESS FELL
The track had been laid down, ruts started to form, and we managed to get a good look at the course before the first of 2 night laps. Many a dollar had been pumped into the light set up for this season, and as darkness fell I could literally see dollar signs bouncing off the ground in front of me. I could spot the rocks up ahead, make out the markers, and tell the difference between a dip and a crest well before I was on top of it. Lap 2 was good to me, but Jason was having a con-FUSE-ing time (thanks Jay) keeping his lights going. The decision was made to ride all the transport sections together, working off each others lights in case more problems occurred. The plan worked a treat, and as it clicked over to midnight, it was time to roll back into main control and refuel for the all important premiership quarter…
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LAP 3: STRUGGLE TOWN
I’d heard from many a wise-man prior to the start… “If you can make it through lap 3, you’re home!!!”. And so the arsenal was large; guarana drinks, glucose tablets and gels, and mars bars to help with work, rest and play. The midnight break at main was all a bit of a blur, and before I knew it I had hit the depths of Struggle town. The run to the first fuel stop was smooth, and I was saving my “WEAPONS OF MASS CONCENTRATION” until well and truly required, but by the time we hit the second fuel stop of lap 3, I’d found myself in a world of hurt. The energy drinks were guzzled, mars bars inhaled, but the mind was starting to give in. Jason was doing his best to keep me going but I needed something more. In stepped the support team. Bev, Nik, Mum and Kate. Fresh faces at 3am, just what the doctor ordered, someone else to talk to, listen to, get advice from, and most of all find that motivation which was lost back at Kapunda. I can’t remember what exactly was said during those 5 minutes, but whatever it was it worked, and got me through to the end of the lap for a much needed bacon and egg sanga… Cheers guys!!!
LAP 4: TIME TO RISE AND SHINE
Back at Kapunda… again… get the gear off and sit down for a big feed… the whole thinking, speaking thing not working well… brain-function-not-sleep-well-without… sit down and eat, recharge, then contemplate a plan for the last lap… coffee… bacon… eggs… recharged… birds are chirping, is that the sun coming up… let’s get it ooooooonnnnnnn!!!!
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When the sun rose on the last lap, talk about a second wind. Vitamin B was tha Bomb!!! Good times were had on the last lap. The track was trashed, ruts axle deep and as wide as the markers would allow, but what an awesome course it was. The amount of people that stuck around and made it through the cold and windy night was amazing. Some of the random places people camped, on the side of the road, in creeks, fords, on top of hills, they came from everywhere. And the closer we got to the finish line, the bigger the smiles grew. Rolling into the Juventus control at the end of the last competitive, seeing a few familiar faces, the realisation started to sink in. We’re gonna finish this event. All that was left now was to roll back to main, soak up the applause, and reflect on what a long and tiring race it was. So the BIGGEST thanks go out to number 96 Garry Crane, who not only achieved that elusive finish for himself, but also got me to the start AND finish line. Also BIG thanks to Nikki and Mum and Kate and Bev, for pushing me through that all important 3rd lap. The 3am Truro fuel stop was very nearly the end of the road for me, and if it wasn’t for the 5 minute chat to spur me on, I’m not sure how much further I would have gone. Also to number 48 Jason Werner, riding the event side by side, the varied arm and leg signals, the knee out Moto-GP style cornering techniques, all that definitely helped to get me through to the end. Congrats on the finish also for Shawn Keller, Simon Hoff, Tyson Brown and Todd Blackwell. And if the numbness fades in my right thumb sometime this week, I might even have another crack next year. After all the stress and pain and suffering throughout the night, I can’t really explain why I’d want to do it again, but I guess like moths to a flame; we’re just drawn to it…
Chiz
Number 47 Luke Edelbauer
2008 Rookie and Finisher!!!