The Fort William World Cup brings more than just tight racing down Aonach Mor. Every Friday night of the World Cup, The Dudes of Hazzard put on their slalom race.
Words, photos and racing by Pete Scullion
Weeks of sun and more sun had left the hills above Loch Linnhe parched. Amongst the bracken hid the hero dirt, and the Dudes were quick to put shovel and pick to ground to create some buff turns. A perfect evening not hampered by the ruthless Scottish midge saw some amazing racing and surprisingly few crashes.
The Wideopenmag crew were on hand to capture the madness.
Top turn out and conditions on the hills above Corpach for the Dudes of Hazzard Dual Slalom World Champs.
Two very tight, twisty slalom runs gave no real advantage over the other, leading to some super close racing in both heats.
Cube Global Squad’s Matt Walker rocked up on an E-Bike and set about destroying some turns. Slalom is all about your own power though, so Matt would have to save his energy for the big race.
Low tech starting orders. Names in a hat, two rounds with one per lane, keep going until only two remain.
Matt Walker’s team mate Greg Williamson found his inner Beavis to see off the midgies.
Friends and rivals. Joe Barnes goes head-to-head with ‘The Mexican’, Lachlan Blair. The latter would take the overall by a whisker.
‘Sketchy’ Lachlan getting his Scandi-flick on during one of the motos against Enduro-MTB’s Ross Bell.
The race was our first ever shot at Facebook live stream – here’s Team Wideopenmag’s Big Dave giving it a pop:
Barnes chases down a flying Lachlan Blair in the hero dirt.
Radon Factory Racing’s James Shirley putting down the ponies off the start line.
Joe Barnes slingin’ the Canyon into the last left-hander of the right-hand lane.
Barnesey laying down the horsepower. Our attention turned to the young lady over Joe’s left shoulder. A late entry, but certainly made Rab Wardell work for his win! Keep an eye out for Louise Ferguson!
Your eventual winner, Lachlan Blair. Barnes, Shirley and Blair took wins a-piece in the 3-way final, but it was Lachlan’s reckless abandon that took the gong today. Your 2016 champion!
