Duluth, Spirit Mountain. The last weekend of the season and of course another double points weekend, ugh. We are doing a full day of racing on Friday and Saturday and off for Easter Sunday. I got up there early Thursday around noon and Matt Scheer had a really good parking spot for me on the asphalt, no mud this year. I took out both sleds, practiced and even had time to run to the hardware store for ear plugs. Warren didn't get here until early evening. He took his sled out for a test ride, lost the exhaust plug where the test probe goes, and had to go find one in Duluth. I did the clutching while he was gone and got everything else done. Our buddy Jimmy Forsyth even showed up to race, good to see him on a cat again.

Both days were beautiful. Friday was a little longer then I would have liked, but it beat out the blizzard we had here last year. I really screwed up in my qualifiers and took a third in the finals. Doug Green won the finals and Terry Wagoner took second, and our old friend Steve Sherwood even raced with us for a forth place finish. Steve has been racing HillDrags this year and has done really well over there. His son Jordan is a Pro Rider in HillCross and is also very good. Because I did not do well in the qualifiers and the third in the finals meant I had to beat Doug Green in both qualifiers and win the finals to win the championship on Saturday, this is not how I wanted to end up, believe me. Warren took a 12th and 11th (600/700 Improved Class) on Saturday. Remember he is racing against over 20 drivers and this is only his first year running Semi Pro. Friday night Press Party was a blast as usual, there was this guy who wanted to dance all night long with anyone, he would feel sorry tomorrow morning though. It was a lot fun.

Saturday would be hard, I would have to race and be on my game. I would have to drive like I did 20 years ago if I was going to win this thing. I lucked out on the first qualifier and drew the top spot for lane choice, I pulled out some old tricks here and won that race. The second qualifier I took a second but still was able to beat Doug Green, so I had to win the final in order to beat him for the championship. The way the points system was set up this year I had to win the final not just beat Doug. I qualified first so I had lane choice. The flag dropped and I drove up that hill faster and jumped farther then I had in years, and didn't give up until after I crossed the checkered flag, I won, and by a good margin. I accomplished the goal of winning the championship that I had set at the beginning of the season. It wasn't easy because Doug and Terry were racing just as hard. At the end of the race I stopped at the gate and high five'd the other four racers who were in our final, a perfect end to a successful season .

Warren finished 10th and 13th. Warren had a good season and I think he will really do good this coming season in 2010. I am very proud of him and support his dedication to the sport. I am also proud and thankful to my oldest son George for getting us all involved in HillCross and HillDrags, it has been fun and we made a lot of good friendships. I also enjoyed racing in this circuit because it truly is a family sport. Parents, sons, daughters, cousins all participate and are all part of the team.

Taking the win in Saturdays final and winning the year end points championship all in one race

Warren racing Nate Blasko, unfortunately Nate had a bad wreck and didn't finish the season

Warren racing in his 700 class, although Warren had a good run he later crashed in this race and took him out of the final

May 2009, Eric in the hospital after another successful season