MODERN ENDURO ary Enman, a 15-year-old hare scrambles racer from Bangor, Pa., admits that he wasn’t sure what to expect when he started enduro racing. “For the most part, I didn’t have any idea what I was doing when I lined up for my first enduro,” says Gary, who decided to try the national enduros when he was just 13 years old. “My younger brother, Neil, and I were looking for something different. Our dad used to ride traditional time-keeping enduros, so we decided to give enduros a try. It wasn’t that hard to transition into.” The Enman brothers say their parents are their pit crew, but their dad hopes to ride with them next year. On occasion, the boys get to ride on the same row, and that adds to the camaraderie-building experience. “The enduros have a great community vibe,” Neil says. “It’s like being part of a huge family. Someone is always there to One Of help when you need it.” While racing is the main focus of the weekend, the Enman Motorcycling’s brothers say they enjoy camping, hanging out with their race friends and checking out the terrain. They also try to Oldest Disciplines, experience something local to the race location, whether it’s seeing a national landmark or eating at a local restaurant. Enduros Are Evolving For “If you’re someone wondering if you should try enduros, I say A New Generation just go for it,” Gary says. “It’s nice to go out and race all day, but be able to take breaks and reset your mind. For me, it’s been BY HEATHER WILSON really fun to ride.” Shan Moore 22 AmericanMotorcyclist.com 22 the assigned minute as possible, The Format based on the arrival time indicated Enduros date to the 1920s. Early by the route sheet. Riders who arrive contests used mostly road courses at a checkpoint when they aren’t (although early 20th century roads supposed to are considered “off their were little more than rough two-track minute.” A rider who shows up early in many cases), but a typical modern is said to have “burned” that check. enduro is a woods race. The 75- to The route sheet is made up of 150-mile competitions consist mainly a combination of numbers and of single-track trail where racers letters. The first row of a route sheet ride from checkpoint to checkpoint, might read: 1R | 1.82 | 10:04:33. ultimately returning to the starting This indicates that the turn is area. In all but the rarest cases, the number 1, it is a right turn, and the trail is ridden only once, so it stays in correct mileage is 1.82. The time prime condition throughout the race. indicates that the rider should arrive Riders leave in small groups of at 10:04:33, or 4 minutes and 33 three to five. These groups, also seconds after starting the enduro, referred to as “rows” or “minutes,” assuming the start time, or “key typically start at 10 a.m. and every time,” was 10 a.m. minute thereafter until everyone has Regardless of the rider’s row or entered the woods. Because of the minute, the wristwatch or computer desire to limit the number of riders can be set so that it will tick over in each group and to make sure to 10 a.m. when the rider starts everyone can finish by a reasonable the enduro. Then, the rider simply time, enduros cap the number compares the time on the watch to of groups and riders they can the time on the route sheet to know if accommodate. he or she is early or late. Each rider is individually scored In addition to the route sheet, based on when his or her row is most clubs mark the course with scheduled to arrive at each check. ENDURO ESSENTIALS » Without a route sheet arrows and post signs on the course Because of this, a row can include holder (top) and route sheet, you won’t know that state when a rider should have a mix of classes. This is one of where to go or when to arrive. The transponder arrived at that intersection. enduro’s endearing qualities, (middle) has modernized racing. It’s mounted After the enduro, penalty points because it can allow a dad, perhaps underneath the visor of a rider’s helmet and are tallied, with one point assigned racing the 40B class, to race on the scores the rider electronically when he or she for each minute a rider arrived late. same minute as his son, perhaps rides through checkpoints, rather than manually If a rider burned a check, the rider racing the 200A class, and a friend writing the score on a paper under the pull is given two points for the first who might be in the Open A class. scorecard (bottom) mounted to the front fender. minute early and five points for each Engineering Enduro Most enduros assign each rider additional minute arrived early. a number printed or written on a Enduros can have emergency sticker that is applied to the front number plate. checks, as well. These are scored to the second, This number reflects the row, or minute, the rider is on. So, riders counted from the minute the rider was due to arrive. For example, on row 20 might be given numbers 120, 220, 320 and 420—or a rider due on minute 20 who comes in at 21:30 receives a score perhaps 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D. of 90 seconds for the emergency check, not one point. There are two broad types of enduros most popular today: Because of the penalty for arriving early, traditional enduros traditional time-keeping enduros and start-control/restart enduros. aren’t just a flat-out race. Although many sections will be difficult and only the best riders are at risk of burning these sections’ out-checks, so-called transfer sections and checks in unexpected Traditional Time-Keeping locations can catch riders who are riding too fast. For decades, traditional time-keeping enduros were the most “There is a significant benefit to time-keeping, especially if popular, and many local and regional enduro series still operate you’re not the quickest rider,” says Kevin Brown, a long-time this way. Traditional time-keeping enduros often use public roads enduro rider and volunteer with the Appalachian Championship to route riders to different sections of the course. This requires the Enduro Series in Ohio. “Sometimes the winner may not be the rider to have a valid motorcycle permit, and a motorcycle that is fastest rider, but he or she is the smartest rider.” registered as a street legal vehicle. Brown says he grew up riding the traditional enduro format and Riders equip their bikes with a route sheet holder, scorecard likes the challenge of it. He thinks riders like Mike Lafferty always holder and odometer. They also need a way to track their time, did well in the traditional time-keeping races because he was a which can be something as simple as a wristwatch, or a purpose- smart rider and had to use his head. built enduro computer. Although traditional time-keeping enduros have a reputation The route sheet lists key turns on the course and the correct among new enduro riders as tricky or difficult, they are fairly time and mileage for arrival. The arrival time is based on a required simple. Riders will know whether they are riding in an easy section, average pace, which is typically 24 mph. The scorecard is used as where they’re at risk of going faster than the average or in a a backup for, or in place of, electronic scoring. It mounts on the difficult section, where they can ride as fast as they can and still front fender and is where the check workers record each rider’s not burn the out-check. official arrival time at the checkpoints. Thanks to the enduro format, a new rider likely will be on a row The goal is to check into and out of each section as close to with an experienced enduro rider. Because this rider is most likely December 2014 23 MODERN ENDURO Checkpoint: Mike Lafferty Enters New Era in a different class, they’ll almost certainly be willing to help the newcomer. Eight-Time Champ Retires From Professional Racing Start Control/Restart But Is Going Nowhere Fast At the beginning of the year, Start control/restart enduros have Mike Lafferty announced that he grown in popularity recently. In 2007, the AMA National Enduro Championship would retire from his two-decade Series switched to this format. long racing career at the end of This format doesn’t penalize a rider the Kenda AMA National Enduro for arriving early at a check. Riders are Championship Series. Lafferty is checked in and out at points along the one of the top enduro riders in course, and all competition takes place in history. The eight-time national closed-course sections. enduro champion managed to rack Because riders can never burn a up 70 national enduro wins over his check, they simply ride as fast as they can. Transfer sections route the racers career as a Factory FMF/KTM rider. from the end of one timed section to the “Everyone always thinks it’s just start of another. If riders arrive early at the 70 wins, but that’s actually only Mike Lafferty start of a section, they just wait to enter my national enduro wins,” he says.