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Unlucky Socks
by John MacInnis - SOBE/HEADSHOK |
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Here is a compact version of my story of how I managed to arrive at the Fell Mtn. Challenge after the start time. This was the first time in 8 years of racing that I was too late to make the start. Even when Jeremiah Bishop's car died on the way to Tidewater a couple of years ago we still made the start by time trialing down the highway for 15 miles. It's about a 4-hour drive from my home in Mt. Airy MD to the race course so I tried my best to leave early. I carpooled with my friend Mike Cunningham who informed me early in the drive that he was wearing his unlucky socks and today would be the day that he turned his luck around. There would be no such luck. |
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My first problem came near Harrisburg when some how, we ended up going south on I-81. Before we had realized our incorrect southbound direction we pulled over at a McDonalds for a pit stop. When returning to I-81 we couldn't figure out why we were going the opposite direction. At first we believed the signs were incorrect (it's PA so anything is possible). It was then obvious that either, every sign on I-81 was wrong or we had screwed up. Surprisingly it was Mike and I who had erred. This little incident cost us about 20 minutes. So now the Toyota is heading on a northern heading and myself, being the now attentive navigator calculate that we can still make the race by 10:45. About 15 miles North of Harrisburg everything looked in order, except the police car lingering about 20ft off our right rear bumper in the right lane (we were in the left lane). Mike tried to slow down and let the officer pass. However he just slowed with us like we were part of some fighter squadron flying in formation. After a minute or so I new something was up and there was going to be trouble. Another minute goes by and the flashing lights go on. We were pulled over for traveling more than 2 miles in the left lane. We lost about 20 minutes and Mike gained a $94.00 citation. The multi-tattooed officer sent us on our way. We were now way behind schedule and I wasn't sure we could make the start. Mike suggested riding at Michaux instead, but I only wanted to race. Needless to say we didn't make the start. Instead we cruised 2 laps of the course. Missing a race on such an awesome course really made the situation harder to accept. However all I can do is put the blame squarely where it belongs, on the Pennsylvania State Police.