Ian Schmeisser didn't let the rain or mud get him down...

Ray Helms, lead trainer at the BMW Performance Center shares know-how during Thursday’s training sessions.

Polarbear’s daughter Jessica makes her way through the Monster Mash.

The GS Challenge - muddy, but mucho fun!

By Ian Schmeisser, GS Event & Challenge Chair

From the October 2009 BMW Owners News

Building on the GS Trials that got its start last year in Wyoming, the Appalachian Fairground's motocross track made it a no brainer that we'd repeat this event.

Sponsoring the event were BMW Motorrad and BMW Performance Center. Through their support, our event took a major step up in 2009.

The event ran over a two-day period, with day one for rider training and day two for competition. Broken up into 4 1-hour riding sessions each day, nearly all the sessions were booked in advance via the BMW MOA web site.

The existing track was supercross in nature, not suitable for the GS. So a track builder was brought in to create a number of obstacles conceived by the trainers at the BMW Performance Center. Oh, and 45 cubic yards of soft sand were trucked to the site. Parts of the motocross track were adapted and a few special obstacles were added, only for the competition.

With names like Hill Climb Hell, Touch & Die Trials, Bridge Gone Bad, Monster Mash and Go Pound Sand, the course was challenging but the emphasis was on fun for the big GS bikes.

Then came the rain, very early Thursday morning, forcing a couple of the training sessions into the track's parking lot. Even with knobbies, the greasy red mud was untouchable until early afternoon. And ride we did, well into the evening, as the track was kept open after the training sessions. The smiles per square foot were more than I've ever seen at a rally before.

Friday dawned with more rain, and the Challenge had to be postponed to Saturday. Major bummer as several of the big dogs had to return home, unable to compete. But over 20 other good riders took the challenge and the grandstands were full of spectators all day.

Top finisher was Matt Evans, followed by Jeff Husted, Dennis Ramsey and Damon Gooch. Prizes included very generous BMW Gift Certificates. And comments on the forum ranged from "the GS Challenge was highlight of rally for me" to "The GS Challenge was a brilliant idea - field events on steroids!"

It was great fun and discussions are underway to see what's possible for next year.

For more coverage of the 2009 BMW MOA Rally, see the October BMW Owners News!