2007 Burn Photos

There were single speed bikes, cross bikes

and some unsuspended rigs like this one out the trails.

BMCC's Jason Bumgarner cheers on

Middle Ring Mafia rider Chad Oliver.

Not everyone had a grimace during the Burn.

Solo rider Chris Coulter looks beat near the end Sunday.

A pursuing rider looks for a place to pass.

A Georgia rider guts it out for his team Sunday.

BMCC's Matt Adams is kickin' up a little dust.

Cruising toward the finish line

Mark Hendershot can win the solo men's division

and chew gum at the same time.

Takin' it to the bank

Rocky road

Kris Kjellquist of Asheville flying through the woods

Chad Oliver blazes through a turn.

A quiet moment Sunday morning

Solo rider Scott Sherrer concentrates on a tricky spot.

Second place men's solo rider Bob Anderson

gives it that little extra push.

In the woods

Namrita O'Dea won the female open solo division.

A member of Abingdon, Va.'s Komakazies team

heads for the home stretch.

The next generation was out in force.

Chad Oliver with BMCC's Matt Adams in hot pursuit

Mike Smithey, tough as a pine knot,

completed 15 laps in his first 24 hour event.

It's not blood...it's war paint!

The face of fatigue

'Cross biker reins his rig in on a downhill stretch.

Jake Brown's right arm has a hash mark for every lap:

13 down (and 5 to go).

Charlotte's Clint Allen rocks through the rock garden.

About 250 riders competed in the BURN 24 Hour Challenge at Wilkesboro's Dark Mountain Trails Memorial Day weekend.

Local riders made a strong showing. The Middle Ring Mafia team took first place in men's team competition. Team members include riders Ethan Anderson, Kirk Brittain, Jim Horton, Chad Oliver and Paul Stahlschmidt, and team mechanic and crew chief Richard Fink.

Mark Hendershot of Grand Rapids, Michigan took the men's solo title for the second year in a row, besting 2004 BURN champ Bob Anderson. Namrita O'Dea took the women's solo honors. Complete race results are posted online at the official BURN 24-Hour website.

BMCC's Jason Bumgarner coordinated the club's efforts at the BURN.

"We had another impressive turn out for this year’s race. I’m tired and I didn’t even race. I do want to thank all of the volunteers that came out between Thursday evening and Monday morning to help with everything from trail maintenance, scoring & timing, staffing the checkpoint, clean up and tear down. Hendershot told me that this is one of the most enjoyable races he does all year. That says a lot for our trails coming from someone who races bicycles for a living. To top it all off, BMCC’s own Middle Ring Mafia brought home the win in their category. We build them and then step on necks when we race them!" Jason said.