OFFROAD RACE SERIES
16th annual All Weather Sports Death Ride -- June 23rd, 2002 -- 20 Miles

A good field of 23 riders showed up for the 16th Annual Death Ride, 
Sunday, June 23rd.  Longtime race host (and race inventor) Doug Burnside 
had marked the course with skulls and crossbones, and even had a 
skeleton riding a bike on the signup sheet.  

Racers proceeded down Chena Hot Springs Road for two miles or so, and 
turned up Smallwood Trail, commencing a long, slow climb that invited a 
few mosquito bites.  Reaching the top 20 minutes later, contestants 
sped down the other side to the notorious swamp.  As it turns out, 
2002 is a good year for the swamp.  It is bigger, deeper, colder and 
muddier.  In fact, several riders found themselves either submerged at 
one point, or at least neck deep.  Forging ahead, riders were then 
beat up by the long uphill climb out of the swamp to the dirt portion 
of Gilmore Trail.  Contestants raced along the dirt road over rolling 
terrain, until finally meeting Gilmore Trail, proper.  Then it was 
speedy riding on pavement, followed by a dash into the woods on 
North Hubernite, into the "Rabbit Trail".  Coming out of the other 
end of the Rabbit Trail, it was subdivision roads all the way back 
to the finish on Juniper.  

At the finish, there were fine refreshments served, and all was well.

Here is the "Official" News-Miner report, by Bob Eley.

"Riders Defy Death"

  "The swamp was worse than in any other year, but all 23 participants 
defied death in the All Weather Sports Death Ride held Sunday afternoon.
  Despide the treacherous conditions of the dreaded swamp, veteran rider 
Jim Lokken came within two minutes of breaking the course record in the 
Interior's most grueling mountain bike event.
  Lokken completed the 20 mile course in 1 hour, 31 minutes and 14 seconds, 
just 16 seconds ahead of runner up Kevin Petrone, who posted 1:31:30. 
Dave Delecourt and Josh Snow rounded out the Expert class with times of 
1:35:26 and 1:41:34, respectively.
  The Death Ride encompasses terrain ranging from good paved roads to 
virtually impenetrable swamps.  This year's swamp was unusually wet, with 
many mud holes that were waist deep.  One mud hole, that caught nearly 
half the field, was more than five feet deep.  At least one of the smaller 
riders ended up completely submerged.
  Even with the difficulties in the swamp, 10 riders finished the race in 
under two hours and all 23 starters completed the course.
  Dave Leonard won the Sport class, which was the most popular with 10 
riders.  Leonard posted a time of 1:50:12, with Tom Clark (1:52:23), 
Pete Wilda (1:52:23), Steve Clautice (1:57:09) and Doug Yates (1:57:33) 
rounding out the top 10 finishers.
  Kelly Hill won the women's division in 2:10:38, followed by Jill Gash 
and Laura Nutter in 2:51:38.
  Tommy Lokken won the Junior division and was fifth overall in 1:44:16.  
Steven Norris was second in 2:05:26, and Noah Mery was third in 2:17:38. 
  Christopher Conn was the Novis winner in 2:10:32."


Expert Men		Time		Div Finish	Overall Finish
==========		
Jim Lokken		1:31:14		1st		1
Kevin Petrone		1:31:30		2nd		2
Dave Delcourt		1:35:27		3rd		3
Josh Snow		1:41:35		4th		4

Sport Women
===========
Kelly Hill		2:10:38		1st		14	
Jill Gash		2:51:39		2nd		20	
Laura Nutter		2:51:39		3rd		21	

Sport Men
=========
Dave Leonard		1:50:12		1st		6
Tom Clark		1:52:23		2nd		7
Pete Wilda		1:55:57		3rd		8
Steve Clautice		1:57:09		4th		9
Doug Yates		1:57:33		5th		10
Zach Via		2:00:30		6th		11
Don Norris		2:21:54		7th		17 (tie)
Pete Carney		2:24:09		8th		18
Doug Burnside		2:36:27		9th		19
Chris Thompson		3:21:49		10th		22

Junior Men
==========
Tommy Lokken		1:44:17		1st		5
Steven Norris		2:05:26		2nd		12
Noah Mery		2:17:38		3rd		15
Andrew Branham		2:17:45		4th		16
David Norris		2:21:54		5th		17 (tie)

Novice Men
==========
Christopher Conn	2:10:33		1st		13