Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1545984
Flashback! August 2026 5 I'm convinced dirt riders are nothing short of masochists, pos- sibly even cer fied psychopaths. Case in point, last month's Northeast 24 Hour Challenge. As in years past, Trail Rider Maga- zine had a six-man team at this grueling event. It's a favorite as there's nothing like the NE24. It takes a certain mindset. Commitment amongst the team is understood. If you sign up to race the NE24, you be er fully understand what you'll be in for, as racing dirt bikes for 24 hours straight is insane. Yes, we enjoy our recrea on and to the fullest. Of course, bike prep and physical fitness are definite- ly requirements, but I truly believe the proper mindset might be of utmost importance. And what's proper mindset for the NE24 you ask? Well, it's simple: you must be a masochist. You see, the NE24 is flat out brutal and seemingly impossible to plan for. One year we might have scorching heat and dust so thick you can't see beyond your front fender. Other years we'll get treated to rains of biblical pro- por ons. Some years, we might get a li le of both, turning the talcum powder-like soil into a quagmire with the consistency of cake ba er. The beauty of this event for me, at least, is watching the true mas- ochists thrive in the worst of condi ons. The tougher it gets, the bigger the grin amongst these com- pe tors. It's like who can withstand the most torture. I admit, i greatly enjoy enjoying interac ng with these fine people and compe ng amongst them, as I too just might be a masochist. The 2026 NE24 differed as dust was a non-issue. Only minutes a er the green flag dropped at 10 AM Saturday morning, the skies opened up. Our man and team leader, Keith Taylor, was the first to lead our pack, and with a fresh course ahead of him. Despite the rain, Keith's lap mes around the 11-mile Hare Scrambles format course were respectable. When he pulled into the pit a er his shi , it was game on for all involved as condi ons deteriorated quickly, with mud bogs and rivers of running water all over the en re course. To race in condi ons such as this, serious commitment is first and foremost. Just as you couldn't imagine things ge ng worse, incredibly it did with no let-up from the rain. In fact, it just kept dumping un l the race officials red-flagged the event with concerns for the riders' safety. I'm glad these people are level-headed folks, as those behind the bars certainly are not! Fortunately, the rains subsided enough to restart the event just before nigh all. By this me, our team was a bit smoked, but interes ngly enough, it was the youngest rider in our crew, 18-year-old Liam Hicks, who ripped the most laps while grinning from ear to ear. Despite horrific condi ons, Liam was having the me of his life, twis ng his Husky TC150 so ght that only dogs could hear him ripping down the trail! Huge respect, Liam; you, my friend, are a true masochist, one who laughs in the face of adver- sity. You make the very best of what others might consider a bad situa on. With an a tude like that, I'm sure you're going to do well in life. I'm proud of my team of luna cs. You guys make this old masochist proud. I'd also like to thank Joel Grover and the Northeast 24 Hour Challenge crew for their efforts in taking over this epic event and doing a fantas c job not only in laying out the course but also in making sure all riders were safe and accounted for. A job well done by all! -Kurt