The rain came suddenly, although ominous slate-colored clouds had loomed in the distance since we had arrived. Standing beneath an easy-up tent in an effort to stay dry, a thunderous sound could be heard in the distance. But it did not come from the sky above. It was the start of the youth ATV race, which kicked off shortly before I was scheduled to race myself.
A dead engine start (key on, motor off) meant that the kids scattered across the starting line had fired their engines in unison when the green flag waved. An eruption of sound followed as they tore off across the field, battling for position, heading into the first of two hairpin turns. Holeshot secured, the first rider disappeared into the dense forest that would make up most of the 12-mile GNCC racecourse surrounding Watkins Glen International.
