Posts
2270
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5/20/2011
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PW
US
Edited Date/Time
6/23/2015 12:22pm
Seeing as they're not enough decisive topics/opinion on Vital today, I thought I'd bring serenity to the forum.
I recently got an invite to a private track and can't help but make old/new comparison. The track is laid out in a gravel/sand pit on a side hill with some awesome elevation changes and excellent terrain in general. It's far from a flat pit with walls.
The track used almost none of the available features and just looped back and forth with 8 double/triples/table-tops ranging from 30' to 80'. When I asked about the layout I was told that's what they need to practice on for the tracks they raced on.
By comparison, back in the day we would have had that track going up/out/down and all around the natural features and had all the "natural" air time we needed.
No news to any here that moto today is so focused on jumping. Seems like a flat field with jumps opens up "motocross" to a much wider audience but loses some of its original appeal and what makes it motocross IMO.
Bacon.
I recently got an invite to a private track and can't help but make old/new comparison. The track is laid out in a gravel/sand pit on a side hill with some awesome elevation changes and excellent terrain in general. It's far from a flat pit with walls.
The track used almost none of the available features and just looped back and forth with 8 double/triples/table-tops ranging from 30' to 80'. When I asked about the layout I was told that's what they need to practice on for the tracks they raced on.
By comparison, back in the day we would have had that track going up/out/down and all around the natural features and had all the "natural" air time we needed.
No news to any here that moto today is so focused on jumping. Seems like a flat field with jumps opens up "motocross" to a much wider audience but loses some of its original appeal and what makes it motocross IMO.
Bacon.
My first motocross race was in 1969.
Last one was maybe 2005.
The biggest difference, IMO, is pre mid 80's, before big air, you looked for traction.
It was about hookin up and getting power to the ground.
Post 80's, post Johnny O, it's about clearing whoop sections, and pinning it for the triples.
Just my opinion.
The wife keeps horses , so today I repossessed some of the fields and had a go at track making. My waistline is now more like a coastline so I told her it's a needs must situation. So to lose weight I need to make a track.
The Shop
10 ruts in everyturn is 100 times better than a track with jumps
So a c rider and an a rider hit a 100 ft jump side by side, they land into a deep rutted straight completely chewed out leading into a turn that is also rutted to hell. How far ahead will that a rider be by the time he exits that turn in front of that c rider?
I see the biggest goons in history hitting every jump at the local tracks but they can't navigate a corner or a rut to save there lives. Why do you think that is?
I raced REM June 20th thanks to Jody Weisel on a CRF250F and had an absolute blast. Motos were 16 plus minutes, temps at the century mark combined with the REM vibe what a way to spend a Saturday! I told Frank Thomason right after practice and again at the end of the day thanks for providing a real MX track to race on.
I also took a warm up lap on the National track before practice. Hadn't been on the National track in years.
To people like thetoothperry I respect your opinion but disagree totally. I am just glad I am 58 not 28 because I am not sure of what the landscape will look like in 30 years with tracks, insurance, etc.
Pit Row
On a side note as far as gooning, not everybody was given the chance to ride at an early age with the nicest gear, bikes, teaching, etc. Many people like myself did whatever you could just to have an old used bike and a decent used helmet. Hell I remember having a rear tire that was almost bald smooth in the middle of the tread. Fortunately, now we can afford to have a nice newer bike and plenty of nice new gear. Not everybody was given the opportunity to get an early start in life cornering and jumping dirtbikes correctly - it takes seat time and teaching to get it right. Plus, many people still like riding but they have too many responsibilities (family, jobs, mortgages, cars, bills, etc) to risk pushing the limits too far. Doesn't make them any less of a fan of the sport. Ultimately, everybody is a goon at some point - some make it past that, some don't. It takes all kinds of good people to make up our community of riders.
As for the goon statement I wasn't referring to what gear/bike you have. It was more towards people that don't know how to control a bike in the air or correct themselves if they get out of shape. Don't take it as an insult because I have no idea on your skill or ability. I'm just going off from what I see on a weekly basis.
For the record my first real bike was a 80 2 stroke when I was 12 or so. Never spent my child hood racing 50s and up. My first race wasn't till I was 14. I have nice things now at the age of 26 because I have a good paying job finally and have disposable income that I've never really had. Mx is my only real hobby these days so that's where all my money goes. Never had flashy modded bikes growing up, never even had pre printed backgrounds. electrical tape was and cheap 3'pack numbers is what my dad bought.
Figure 8 tracks and rut tracks are the way to go, I have one in my back yard that's gotten pretty gnarly and I try to ride it a few days a week after work.
Again never meant any disrespect with the goon comment, it had more to do with skill level riding over your head then what bike/gear or whatever
On a side note, am I envious of some of these 13 year old kids out there getting brand new YZ80's to ride that can whip it over 80ft triples because they've been riding sick bikes since they were 4? Yes.
My top 3 that I have raced on:
1. Mammoth
2. Honey Lake MX
3. Fernley NV
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