Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1547331
November 2026 37 the first med test: the Accelera on test. Basically a drag race on blacktop, one at a me. My over-ana- ly cal brain always overcomplicated the idea of FIM mekeeping, but once I realized that they sell vodka in the gas sta ons, I understood. Day two brought some overcast but s ll outstand- ing temps to race dirt bikes in, but the lack of rain became apparent quickly by the ever-lingering dust. Both day two & three used mostly the same woods loops, twice each day, with three special tests per loop for a total of six med tests each day. The wild ski slope test was used four mes over those two days, but was a real trip with the local spectators. Day three drizzled enough to make goggles or safety glasses worthless, but not enough to pat the dust bowl down in the woods. A li le drizzle and floa ng silt make a crappy concoc on, like smearing caked grease on your face and in your eyes. In classic Ger- man fashion, Lil' Oma's fed the riders gummy bears at some of the checkpoints, which was a highlight for me. Day four was the Final Moto, which included some of the prior days' moisture carryover, making the earliest motos a bit slick, especially for a podunk without grass track skills. The road to the final moto and surrounding fields were crowded with locals coming for the Saturday entertainment by the side of a beer tent and bratwurst vendor. Overall, the special tests were all fairly interes ng, but wide- open affairs, quite the opposite of how we define a tradi onal "Enduro" compe on stateside and more akin to a Sprint Enduro at best. So much as a stall, crash, etc. in any one special test, and that lost me would be enough to knock you way down the scoreboard. Doing it on my homebuilt DR350 with Drew's Works Enduro Rider suspension valving and the mythical Progressive "pink" shock spring felt like chea ng. Nobody was having a be er me out there than me, up ll the greasy grass track final moto. I loved the upstate New York-flavored forest of East Germany, seeing random castles on top of hills as a backdrop to the Special test and chasing a few past world champs through the forest is for- ever Etcha-sketched into my gray ma er like a 3D image in a viewfinder. I would like to thank Rob, my mom, and buddies O o, Bill Eyler, Jake Todd, Perry Hodges & Tom Banks for their support and encouragement. -Lissa Darrell Diamond Darrell Diamond