Swenson Tops Spring Creek harescramble
May 12, 2024
By Rolfe Otterness
Nick Swenson topped the field of A/AA riders on a very warm spring day at the latest Larson’s
Cycle/KTM-sponsored Hare Scrambles. Swenson gave up a bit of displacement to the competition as he
bounded through the trees on a stock GasGas 125 (larger tank fitted) but maybe on such a warm day it
was helpful to run a light bike. The temperature soared to the high 80s, testing rider endurance as
more than a few were not in shape for that extreme especially in the two hour race for the A and B
classes. Taking the AA riders out, the top A class rider was Nathan Bauer, who was the only A rider to
make it across the scoring chute in time to go for the sixth lap, as did six of the AA riders. At least the
course was in nice condition, little dust and not significant mud.
Logan Kittock surged to the front of the AA/A group early on as they took to the course. At the end of
the first lap he clocked in at just over 21 minutes and was tailed through scoring by Swenson who was
only three seconds behind. Logan Cipala and Devon Jirik were still pretty close in a battle of their own
and about half a minute behind. Swenson took control on the next lap with Kittock hanging in behind
him but losing a bit of ground over the next two laps and then dropping out with a coolant leak ending
his charge. Swenson continued to lead on to the finish after gaining a nice two to three minute lead
over the new second-place rider, Cipala. Swenson was chipper after the race, even though his hands
were ripped up pretty much to ground beef status. Ouch! Cipala maintained second and had just less
than a minute over Jirik at the end. Luke Wilder was 1:23 back for fourth and in fifth overall was A rider
Bauer.
Motocross-crossover Brandon Espe-Tiegs captured the overall in the B class, showing he was able to
handle the long two hour race with a good pace as he was about four minutes clear of second-place
rider, Nicholas Taylor. Luke Huff and Hudson Vandyke battled to the end and finished just two seconds
apart as they secured the 3-4 positions while 60+ rider Dave Schreiner ran strong to take fifth.
The C class riders ran on a shorter course and were lapping at around 14 to 15 minutes. Junior rider
Austin Holasek led through the chute as lap one was completed. But there was considerable shifting of
race order amongst the top five or six riders over the next four laps. Eventually Logan Mowry secured
the win with nice charge on the last lap as he pulled a couple minutes over second-place Cole Dryden.
Wilson Rosenberg was third and only one second off for third as those three were the only ones to make
5 laps.
Rylan Murphy snapped up the first place trophy in the 50cc Sr. 4-8 class with six lap charge to defeat Ellis
Mittelstadt by 14 seconds at the race conclusion. These little guys ran a course with about 7 to 8 minute
lap times. Stanley Bjork was third over Conner Rosenberg and then Ryder Mayfield rounded out the top
five.
Results here at ARMCA website: https://www.moto-tally.com/D23/HS/Results.aspx
