Jun 10, 2011
This is the introductory feature from Harold Grissom as he recalls his first Stampede in 2009.
I literally pulled the newly built bike off the rack and headed west. All for the quest of winning the Horse Stampede IV cross country race (you win nothing, but the pride in knowing you won). The year was 2009 and I had been planning for over a year of building an off the wall bobber with a 96 Evo engine for the cross country race. The rules of this race are simple: (1) no shocks, hardtails only, (2) no rubber mount engines, (3) no windshields or farings, (4) no hard saddle bags, and (5) no chase vehicles. Just you, the bike and some nads. I finished building “The Rebel” bobber just in time to head west for the race. There was no time for break in miles, no adjustments, no stretching of the new chain, etc. Just hop on and go. It was a suicide mission. I had no title because our very competent Mississippi DMV lost the paperwork which sat on their desk for months. Accordingly there was no insurance and the tag on the bike was off another chopper of mine.
When I arrived in Cottonwood, Arizona I had the opportunity to spend some time at one of the last Smoke Out West rallies with my youngest son, Preston. Then I headed west to Barstow, California for the race’s green flag blast off. Upon my arrival I joined up with some guys that have been friends of mine since that time. You realize quickly that due to the nature of this race, it is not one that draws a large group of participants, but the guys and girls that show up are legit. They love pushing the limits in every respect. There is a mutual respect for one another and a close camaraderie amongst the bikers.
On the Sunday morning the race began, there was a variety of different bikes (customs, evolutions, shovels, yamaha’s, etc.). When the green flag finally dropped it was as if we were battling in a clustered quarter mile race as you could feel the earth shake to the thump of each engine’s stroke. The pack begins to thin as each biker takes their respective position and starts to employ their own race strategy. My bike, the Rebel bobber seemed to hold up for the better part of the first day even though I was having to make adjustments and work on the bike at every gas stop. I had already passed many bikes broken down in the Mojave Desert through the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. Late into the night as I approached Albuquerque, New Mexico I started hearing that death tick coming from my 96 Evolution engine. Pulling in to check things out I realized that my run had come to an end. The cylinders were scored and I had burnt every ounce of oil from the case (defective cylinders, but that’s another story). By the time I got to it, the last drops of oil were dripping from my exhaust.
I continued to monitor the race through my cell phone contacts. Not many finished and the race turned tragic when Lorrianne Barisic was run over by an 18 wheeler and killed. She was survived by her long time boyfriend, “F-Bomb” Brian who was also running the Stampede. It was a sad day for all and continues to bear on all of our minds how life is short and precious. In the end, Charlie “The Nomad” won in grand fashion making record time cross the country. For me, not finishing has worn on me ever since. 2011 will be different! Updates to follow…
Harold Grissom
