Spragueville – Hansen’s Hollow, north of Spragueville is a biker and side x side destination area where individuals can spend their days riding the varying terrain and trails and spend the nights camping. It has been a host site for various Enduro races over the tears, this year being no exception. Several Spragueville/Preston individuals as young as four and half years old have picked up the dirt bike sport and travel the region and the country competing. They are quite proud to have a race in their own backyard and having professionals join them on their home turf.
What is a Hare Scramble? Hare Scrambles (From the Iowa Enduro Riders Website); A hare scramble is a two-hour race (Nationals are three hours) around a closed loop track that consists of trees, hills, fields, streams, and rocks. Like motocross, to start the race, bikes are lined up in a straight row and they all leave the start line at the same time as everyone else in their class. There are different start lines for different classes (the class you ride is determined by your skill level and the size of your motorcycle. See “Class Descriptions”).
Riders race head-to-head around the track (Usually 3 to 8 miles long in Iowa). At the end of each lap they pass through scoring gates. Riders race as hard as they can for the full two hours. They can race even longer if they go through the scoring gates just before the two-hour mark. Because even though two hours are finished, you have to race until you get back to the scoring gates.
The last time through the scoring gates the scorer writes down your finishing position, starting with number one though whatever number the last rider to finish is. The positions are first grouped by who completed the same number of laps. Then it is broken down by who had the lowest finish number. The person who had the most laps with the lowest finish number is the overall winner.
Riders compete in different classes, and you are only scored with people who are riding in the same class that you are.
Friends of all ages not only compete against one another but offer great support to one another as they race.
Brandon Bredekamp completing his race by climbing over tractor tires and other obstacle placed right before the finish line.
A competitor chose to try Hero Hill. If a racer completes the very steep incline they are deemed a Hero, and it shaved about 15 minutes off of their lap time. There was another route that was part of the main race route and when the racer got to it, they could choose what to be- Hero or Zero. The first rider to make the Hero climb received $400 at the end of the race. Even though the racer had to throw the bike forward near the top and climb the remaining few feet, it was considered a victory at this point in the race.
This racer chose to be a Hero and made the steep incline. As seen in the lower left, a racer didn’t make the hill and chose to descend and make an attempt at the regular route.
Thad Bredekamp drew a crowd of young racers who had a fun time telling him about their racing adventures earlier in the morning and all the cool things they are learning to do with their bikes. Thad and the other teens from the area are wonderful role models for the beginners and take the time to support and listen.
Radlee is four and a half years old and officially began his racing career in December when he turned four. He already has a following around the country because of his many videos and how advanced he is for his age. He took home his first ever victory on his home turf, lapping three of his competitors in the children’s course and finishing over two minutes ahead of his nearest competition. He races in the 4–8-year-old division.
And the races begins!!
