I was fully planning to race this one...I've never raced it before, never liked the terrain, but figured I had to try it at least once...and the cards just didn't fall into place and I couldn't make it.
Since I'm never racing for points-and only hit 5-8 races/year...I pick and choose my favorite races (Rhino Rally, all the enduro's, all the cherry creek races, Price...Knolls is definitely NOT on that list) I'd rather go ride cherry creek or hobble creek, or even in Price (not where the race was) than spend a ride day in sand whoops all day.
I'm on the fence about racing Firebirds and Sageriders NHHA this year though...the courses the past few years have been almost exactly the same and are all whooped out and just not that much fun. I know that the clubs are forced to race the same courses each year due to the stupid BLM and Raptor nests (as its expensive to have someone come out survey the nest to make sure they don't race within a mile of them or whatever), but for the occasional racers like me, it takes those races off my "must race" list-which is unfortunate, because the clubs deserve support...but with limited number of ride days I want to ride some place fun (selfish, I know).
I hoping to hear from the clubs that the courses are different this year...HOPING that's the case. I usually bring 4-8 guys down with me for firebirds (and that is the only race they do every year...but they love Cherry Creek, and its only an hour and a half away, and is usually around 70 miles-short-so I can get them to go), but they've all said if the course isn't different than the past couple years they aren't coming. So I REALLY hope, the BLM will loosen the reigns just a bit and give the clubs a little more flexibility in picking their courses (but I'm not planning on it).