(ED-Here is
Pro hillclimb Yamaha racer Cable Willford's thoughts on the final RMSHA race of
the season last weekend at Schweitzer. We followed Willford all season long as he
helped try to put Yamaha on the map-hillclimbing wise that is.)
By Cable Willford
Team Yamaha saved the best for
last with some strong finishes during the RMSHA season finale at Schweitzer Mtn.
in northern Idaho.
We scored eight top tens with four top fives highlighted by my third place 600 Mod
run. This is the first ever podium on the RMSHA circuit by a four-stroke powered
snowmobile and marks the best finish in more than a decade for Yamaha since
returning to hillclimbing.
I ran towards the front of the 600
Mod class and laid down a solid run that felt like it had the potential to be a
top 5 time. After returning to the pits, the minutes were tense as I watched my
time withstand some of the fastest riders, each one of them gunning for the
win. My dad and my wife Megan were keeping score as the final run failed to
knock me off the podium and sharing that moment of celebration with two of the
most important people in my life is something I will never forget.
The tone was set for the rest of
the day and I followed it up with a 5th in 700 Improved and a
6th in 700 Mod. Teammate Kody Malmborg also rode hard with top 5s in 700 Mod
and Open Mod, as well as 7th in 800 Mod. Somehow I managed to crash at the
bottom of the course in Open Mod and wiped out again in the hillcross race, but
nothing could take away from the success we had already achieved.
The course layout at this race was
super tight and very technical. Because the hill was shorter, it was gated
through the trees and the lift towers with a heavy emphasis towards a
boondocking-style discipline. Big holes and bad ruts developed almost
immediately, but an abundance of snow kept us out of the dirt and rocks for the
most part. Schweitzer
Mtn. proved to be an
awesome venue for racing with spectacular views, great accommodations and the
Sledfest weekend was a good fit for the RMSHA year end points race.
I need to thank Lane
Lindstrom and SnoWest for affording
me this opportunity and giving me an outlet to share my experiences as a RMSHA
racer. I also need to thank all of those involved with the Yamaha race program
who made this year possible and thanks to all of the RMSHA racers, members and
fans who make it all worth it.
Most importantly I thank my wife
Megan, my son Ryder, and my dad Harlan. My family's involvement in my racing
efforts help make the highs higher and the lows not so low, without them it
just wouldn't be the same.