GO JEFE!!

If I am reading the tracker right it looks like Scott left camp 20 minutes after Aaron and Lee.  Before the race I asked Scott if he could make the tracker do rough calculations for stage races.  Of course...something like this must be tested...kinda hard for Scott to do while riding.  Poor "blue dot junkies" will just have to wait.   

I got a call from Scott last night.  He reached the first stop at 4:36. He said that that was considerably faster than he went last year. Aaron was on his heals with a time of 5:10.  It looks like we have a race!   

I did not think about this until after I posted that, but a spot user can get poor reception if the spot is put in the bottom of a pack.  

I don't think he is right with Carney the time stamp on Scott puts him more than a mile ahead.  My guess is that he is trailing Jarral and Adam.  I think he was riding with Adam for part of the night.  He could also be riding with one of the unspotted (hahah) riders.  Although I would not be surprised if he had his game face on and was actually racing.  He has been a little more serious lately.  

Oh!  Oops!  I guess not Jarral he looks like he'll be the next spot finisher.  That is unless Tim and Greg are still in front of him.  Neither have gotten a point in quite a while.   

First two finishers!  It looks like it was a sprint to the finish!

Jeff Kerkove  12:26
Kevin Thomas12:29

Well said!  I think the stealth mode is one of the things keeping me on the edge of my seat.  Of course, then again it could just be Scott.     I really need to get scott to put one of those smileys with hearts on this forum.

All I know about the stealth thing is that 6 decided not to take spots.  I do not know what advantage stealth would give a person if the race is that speedy.  There has been quite a few occasions when spot has been used to chase someone down that was not visible while riding.  Also, it sure looks like JK is just sending out a point when he takes a break.  The spots are much more regular and less "spotty" than his. 

Hi Dave, Paula here.  Cameron started the race he can be found here:

http://vaportrail125.com/vaporResults.php

I'll bet he left the spot behind or is carrying it as dead weight without the realization that it is not working.  I have been awake most of the night watching Scott race.  I wish there was something more.  I think that some of the weirdness in reception is because the riders are/were going in stealth mode to gain a tactical advantage. 

Is anyone following the Vapor Trail 125?  I have been watching the progress of the race on Trackleaders.  I want more information about what is happening in the race.  The VT 125 website has little to offer.  Anyone know of other places to find info on the progress of the race?

Yep, brrr.... and it would have been a long push into the night to finish stage 4.  Hopefully it'll be warm by the time he hits Wing Mtn.

OKAY! Something is very wrong.  I was just about to have a conniption fit because Scottie and Lee show up as scratched on the tracker.  I know that if Scottie were to scratch he would call me.  I thought that maybe something was wrong.  Maybe a crash?  I imagined him helicoptered by a rescue team off the mountain unconscious and losing blood.  

I called Chad, Scott and Lee and finally Lee called.  He said that he had not scratched and that he seen Scottie 2 hours ago.  So I think everything is fine.  The person doing the scratches seems to have made a mistake.  I will stop freaking out now and so can you Paula and Harleywood.  

Hello, hello!!  If your out there Scratch Person....you seem to have scratched the wrong people!  Please fix it soon so we can watch the race.  

Scottie just called.  He is with Chad.  They have made it to the second stage stop before sunset!    He says it is cold and that they hiked their bikes for the last two hours.  Based on where Rob B. is he should make it just before sunset, but the others are doomed to ride in the dark.  

This is the hardest stage of the race and you can be assured that these guys are beginning to suffer!  Hopefully everyone makes it before bedtime there is not much room to camp except for a very slim spot right on the trail.  

Mike Jones is about 2 hours ahead of the stage racers and it looks like he is still riding.

Scottie just called.    He says the riding in Sedona is awesome!  Lime Kiln had shandies (sitty sand).  He is just about to climb up Mingus.  He has almost caught Chad, but Chad hightailed it out of Cottonwood when he saw Scott.  

He also said that Rob Dennis has dropped out and is riding back to Flagstaff.  

I think he has plans to call me again when he arrives at Stop 2.

I'm in Leadville getting my knee rested and generally getting myself back together.

Is that you Lee?  It was great to watch you ride.  I wish I could have been there with you.

Paula.

Hi Stefan's wife, I just talked to Scottie.  He implied that the pace was pretty aggressive and that he had not had much time to eat.  Like others have said, It will be interesting in the next few hours to see who keeps riding and who stops to sleep.  Trackleaders is making it very hard for me to get anything else done.  Hopefully, for me, Scott goes to sleep.  As long as he is moving I am not sure I will be able to stop watching.  I love this tracking thing.  

Who knows...Kurt's spot could have also stopped working.  Maybe he decided to wait for Chris?   

I'm not so sure about Kurt leaving Chris behind.  15+ hour stop and I know Plesko hates to be alone... 

It doesn't look like he will be riding alone for long!  He is inching ever closer to Matt.  Ohhh the drama!

When they came down for the AZT it was clear that they were good friends.  It is not that I thought that they would ride better solo, but rather that they needed to kick up the pace.     

I am on the edge of my seat.  The race has finally begun.  Kurt has pulled away and apears to be chasing Matt.      

SPOT dots are moving south.  Only a few thousand miles to go...