Jingle Cross Rock

Simeon was asked to be a starter for 2 sets of races at this years Jingle Cross Rock. What is Jungle Cross Rock you ask? It's a very hard and adventurous bike race at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. A course is made that winds throughout the entire fairgrounds and even up the BIG hill behind the arena. Depending of what skill level the racers are in, they go higher or lower on the hill named Mt. Krumpit.

Simeon started the 1st 2 sets of races of the event-the women and mens beginners, and the Masters 35+ and Masters 40+ races. He was given a cow bell with the top womens riders signature on it. (We can't remember her name-so it's just a lovely autograph cow bell. So Iowa!).

Rebecca enjoyed all the action going on around her, but she was also quite cold. She crashed when I opened my jacket and snuggled her into it.

The race is really fun to watch. Because of where we stood we had racers all around us. Looking at the hill we saw them come down either from the top of the hill, or half way up, they then had to get off their bike and carry it over boards, then they turned a corner that had the stickiest mud. It was jamming up their front tires to the point that some tires couldn't move and they'd have to stop and pull the grass out. Others carried their bikes through the mud. We saw lots of crashes on this corner, one that even took out the side of the course. Then behind us was the spiral where the riders rode into the center then out the other side in a dizzy haze of orange plastic fences.

(Ammon was getting bored of watching, so I gave him some camera time, which he just loves. I really like this picture because you can see just how muddy the riders were, and see the motion of the racer. I didn't do anything to the picture-it's an Ammon original.)

Another Ammon picture. I rarely get on this side of the camera.

The kids stayed warm running around in the open area we were standing in. They raced, tackled, raced some more, tackled some more and raced a few more times.

The 2nd set of races, sent the riders to the top of Mt. Krumpit. The ride down is really steep and slippery with a very tight turn at the top, and another extremely tight double turn at the bottom right before they hit the boards that they had to jump their bikes over. It is so fun to watch the bikers on the hill. Some rode down fast, other really slow, other carried their bikes, and yet another plowed right through the side of the course!

We ended up leaving before the 2nd race was over because we were so cold, so we didn't get to see the winners. Even leaving the area is an adventure because you have to cross the race track. They have a crossing spot with a gaurd on either side and a dead zone in the middle. When it's safe you cross very quickly before a rider comes down the track.