I'm pretty sure you can search old stories from the Beanpot here (I know I put up a few). Basic recollections.
First time, B race, started with 70 riders, started raining about half way through. 10 riders finished, 20 crashes. I saw a line of 4 riders go down each spooning each other in a hay bail after the first grabbed brake heading into the second lefter. Oddly the worst I saw was the 3 left, gent hit a pot hole, front wheel went in the air, could turn, drilled the curb and flipped. Stretcher time.
Then saw a good friend go into the first left turn as 4th wheel, get swiped from behind and break his hip on curb.
My basic advice would be stay in the top 10 for purposes of health and winning or just sneak off the back and DNF. Its not a race to half ass.