CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- More than 300 Marines and civilians pedaled across Camp Pendleton during the first Hell Fire Fat Tire Bike Race here March 23.
“The mountain bikers competed in 13 and 23-mile courses through some of base’s most drastic elevation spikes and falls,” said Jimi Shive, the assistant race director of the Hard Corps Race Series.
Competitors crowded the starting line at Lake O’Neil at 8 a.m. with registration numbers on their handle bars and a time keeper fastened to their shoes.
“It was great that we had cloud coverage, so no one overheated,” said Col. Bo Hellman, the assistant chief of staff facilities here. “People tend to layer up in the mornings and forget to take off the extra cloths when they start the race.”
The riders darted through dirt roads, around trainings areas, along the installation boundaries, to the top of Engineer’s Hill. The Climb is also referred to Seven Steps to Heaven due to its elevation that ranges from sea level to just over 600 feet.
“It was pretty neat to see the base from a different perspective,” said Brig. Gen. Vincent A. Coglianese, the base commanding general and regional authority for five military installations in the southwestern United States. Coglianese bent a sprocket during the first half of the 13-mile course, and without wasting time to stop and fix it, he pushed through to finish in 1 hour, 37 minutes, 14 seconds.
Racers received souvenir dog tags with the race title and date inscribed after all the bikers safely crossed the finish line.
“I signed up because I ride road bikes through base a lot, but I also wanted to see the trails,” said Carolyn Reeves, the first place winner for the 13-mile course. “The event was a lot of fun and there were a lot of riders here.”
To see
military or
civilian race results, or visit the
Hell Fire Fat Tire website.
Contact Lance Cpl. Sarah Wolff-Diaz at
sarah.wolff@usmc.mil