curious how many 40 yr olds vs 50 yr olds still ride or race

Stooperbike
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Stooperbike 10/26/2011 12:58pm
10/26/2011 12:58pm
Will be 40 pretty soon. Riding since age 8. Started racing at 15 and have not stopped yet. Both my kids race along with my wife who just turn 40. I remember being in high school and counting the hours down till I could go riding, now I sit at work and count the hours down till I can ride. Back on a 2 stroke this year and loving every minute of it. I hope I can keep doing this for alot more years, I am proud to say I race motocross!
moto922
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moto922 10/26/2011 1:38pm
10/26/2011 1:38pm
Me 60, raced MX early 70's stopped 83. Rode super senior class 30+ at LL in 1982. First year for LL, they didn't have 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+ or A,B,C, in 30+. Being 30+ back in 1982 was considered old fart. Started back riding MX in 96, haven't rode in a year, moneys, son in college, damn lazy. Need to start back, blood pressure today was 144-96. Love the vintage races and guys. I got 82 CR480 that is better than any drug. Also got 2006 CR250r that I like. This topic may get me riding again.

pilotdude
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pilotdude 10/26/2011 2:00pm
10/26/2011 2:00pm
pilotdude wrote:
I'm 44 and won the 40+ B class at Washougal this year. Contemplating going to A class next year.

RUUUUUPPEEEEERRRRT!
Also, I got lucky and won the Grand Prize drawing this year at the awards banquet-free gate entry and 1 free race entry at every Washougal event next year...so I HAVE to race at least one more year!
exsarg
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exsarg 10/26/2011 2:24pm
10/26/2011 2:24pm
im 43 and race vet A in mx and hare srambles. i own and operate a concrete finishing company so its easy to stay in shape. i average about 80 hrs a year on my bikes. despite 6 months of winter!! i started riding at 4. raced a fair bit in my teens. did not ride from the age 20 to 33. i am faster then ever. no bull!!. i was never super fast. at 18 i was a mid pack inetermediate. now at 43 i can easily hang with fast intermediates and even some mid pack local pros. i jump everything the kids do. im less afraid now then iwas at 18. kind of a late bloomer i guess. i look up to a dude named pete degraff. i live a couple hrs away. he is a 3 time over 50 world champ. races the glen helen vet championship races. he is 55 or 56. he can still run the pace of the faster local pros here in alberta!! he also races superbike and wins the pro class almost every race.

The Shop

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ballinger19
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ballinger19 10/26/2011 5:33pm
10/26/2011 5:33pm
Love reading this stuff, keep it up.
REAL MEN MOTO
jwhite66
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jwhite66 10/26/2011 6:06pm
10/26/2011 6:06pm
I think we have it better then the kids at the races. The night before a race we can hang out with everyone
and sound faster then we are. On race day we don't need to jump that 100 ft double if we don't want to,
don't need to worry about turning A , Factory rides , going Pro or making our mom or dad mad. We can
ride, get a work out , yell at other riders , find someone to race with , and enjoy the day with people we
want to be with......... thats a good day. And at the end of the day a cold beer taste soooooo Good.
mx400bee
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mx400bee 10/26/2011 6:12pm
10/26/2011 6:12pm
I`ll be 57 in Dec. and started riding again 2 years ago after taking a 16 year break. I got hooked up with a local vintage club and it`s a blast. I`m too slow to get serious and camping out with the gang on Sat. night with a few beers is damn near as much fun as racing on Sun. Smelling all that two stroke oil a couple times a month is the best therapy I`ve come across in quite sometime.
DAG
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DAG 10/26/2011 7:18pm
10/26/2011 7:18pm
I think alot of people have picked up on why we all still ride. I've learned over the last few years that ultimately I enjoy riding still but really have learned to appreciate going and being at the track.

Throughout my life it has always been a constant that has kept me grounded. Whenever I moved to a new town it was mxers that I became freinds with because we had an instant connection, they were good people always willing to lend a hand and share some laughs.

Its a sport that has helped me through tough times by always being that constant. No matter how bad things got I could load up, think of the times my Dad would get up at the crack of stupid to take me to the track, go do something where nothing else entered my mind and enjoy the people that I parked beside.

We are all the lucky ones who get to truely enjoy everything that the sport provides. The youngsters are still just chasing a stopwatch....
Camp332
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Camp332 10/26/2011 7:36pm
10/26/2011 7:36pm
I was having a shitty couple days, then I went and moto'd today. Boom instantly fixed!

Moto = Happy Life, Happy life = Happy wife
CR250Rider
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CR250Rider 10/26/2011 7:43pm
10/26/2011 7:43pm
no more racing, but i ride dirt 25 weekends a year
steve_97060
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steve_97060 10/26/2011 8:05pm
10/26/2011 8:05pm
wow, didn't realize there were this many old farts on Vital...

My first race was in 1974 on a sweet ass 125 elsinore..

now have a 2010 yz450..
sharkey
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sharkey 10/26/2011 8:06pm
10/26/2011 8:06pm
pilotdude wrote:
I'm 44 and won the 40+ B class at Washougal this year. Contemplating going to A class next year.

RUUUUUPPEEEEERRRRT!
pilotdude wrote:
Also, I got lucky and won the Grand Prize drawing this year at the awards banquet-free gate entry and 1 free race entry at every Washougal...
Also, I got lucky and won the Grand Prize drawing this year at the awards banquet-free gate entry and 1 free race entry at every Washougal event next year...so I HAVE to race at least one more year!
alot of fast dudes in a class .guys like dan moore .love that track but hate it at the same time. every race we went to this year with the exception of 1 was a mudfest. friggen hate washigton sometimes
jeffro503
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jeffro503 10/26/2011 8:19pm
10/26/2011 8:19pm
DUDES!!!!

This is one of the best threads I have ever been involved in on this site! It's so awesome seeing a bunch of older guys like myself out there still tearing it up ( body and bike! ).

I will say......more older guys ride on here than what I was expecting. Makes me feel " Not so crazy" for getting back into it. can't stand it when someone says " Aren't you getting a little old to be doing that stuff"?.......Jesus Christ , shut up and let me ride my bike! You can just sit there on your couch all weekend , drink beer , get fat and watch football.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 10/26/2011 8:24pm
10/26/2011 8:24pm
pilotdude wrote:
I'm 44 and won the 40+ B class at Washougal this year. Contemplating going to A class next year.

RUUUUUPPEEEEERRRRT!
pilotdude wrote:
Also, I got lucky and won the Grand Prize drawing this year at the awards banquet-free gate entry and 1 free race entry at every Washougal...
Also, I got lucky and won the Grand Prize drawing this year at the awards banquet-free gate entry and 1 free race entry at every Washougal event next year...so I HAVE to race at least one more year!
sharkey wrote:
alot of fast dudes in a class .guys like dan moore .love that track but hate it at the same time. every race we went to...
alot of fast dudes in a class .guys like dan moore .love that track but hate it at the same time. every race we went to this year with the exception of 1 was a mudfest. friggen hate washigton sometimes
Ahhhh.....Old Dan Moore! Years ago at a Pac-west race at Albany in the Int / pro class I pulled a killer holeshot......then met Dan in the second corner. He shoved me wide at 3rd gear tapped.....right into one of those huge monster truck tires. I wanted to kill the SOB that day since it was a big contingency race.......didn't make a dime thanks to that guy. He does good suspension though.
Craze
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Craze 10/26/2011 9:19pm
10/26/2011 9:19pm
52 yrs young, race an occasional mx race here and there, R.E.M @ Glen Helen, The Ranch @ Anza...Ride mostly offroad with a few guys my age and older.... At R.E.M the over 50 group is usually the largest gate. Here's a pic of me and 2 youthful guys on my birthday weekend back in March......Chuck "Feets" Minert # 45, Age 79 & Gary Scott #157, age 59.

Photobucket
Vet57
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Vet57 10/27/2011 6:07am
10/27/2011 6:07am Edited Date/Time 10/27/2011 6:09am
53 here..been rippin' on/off since 1974. Just did 2 back to back weekends at Southwick with my son!
Tumblin
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Tumblin 10/27/2011 8:10am
10/27/2011 8:10am Edited Date/Time 10/27/2011 8:16am
54, tried several nationals in 78. Tore up knee, hurt back, got all twitter-pated with future wife through rehab, consequently quit racing for 3 years. So far this has only been the 4th year since I was 15 that I haven't raced. Awesome bikes and the ability to ride tracks on practice days and to still be able to do so with no serious injuries have certainly extended most of our racing. I never ever thought I'd be still racing at this age, certainly riding but the intensity of a good battle with some air time that's required can be pretty extreme. I certainly give more room and keep myself in check, but when I'm strong and comfortable on a track I can turn the throttle hard and only big whoops and difficult jump sections will gap me from the kids. I do need more time to prep myself for racing, more seat time both on and off the track, more mtn biking, stamina/strength/balance and reflex work, hence not up to some of the racing this year as of yet (working still sucks!). I also dig hanging in third with the best seat in the house watching a great battle in front, that stuff use to piss me off! If I'm into rubbin side panels, cool! If not it's still cool! Moto is my drug, it puts me in a place that can't be duplicated. It takes ALL of my focus, it leaves me spent -very much like a gnarly romp in the sack. I also know that I'll be very fortunate to be doing this in another 10 years and as crazy as that would have sound 20 years ago...it's still a brutal reality that makes me dig turning up some soil more than ever.
7I3N
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7I3N 10/27/2011 8:20am
10/27/2011 8:20am
I’m 53. Rode my first MX race at Indian Dunes in ’72. I still ride every weekend. Mostly in the desert, but still go to the track once in a while. I’m not as fast as I used to be on a track, but I can still rip in the desert. I haven’t raced much lately, only a GP and a 100 mile Hare and Hound in the last two years, but I’m 2-0 in the over 50 expert class.

I remember a tee shirt from a few years back:

“You don’t quit riding because you get old. You get old because you quit riding.”

Pit Row

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Racer92
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Racer92 10/27/2011 8:23am
10/27/2011 8:23am
47 - Do I line up on occasion, yep. But what I do on the track cant really be called racing. Tongue
TomZ
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TomZ 10/27/2011 8:41am
10/27/2011 8:41am
Rupert X wrote:
Me 52. Raced this past weekend, ride regularly and still absolutely suck at this motocross game. I pretty much always have and, most likely always will...
Me 52. Raced this past weekend, ride regularly and still absolutely suck at this motocross game. I pretty much always have and, most likely always will - suck at it.. As I've declared in the past, most of us got into this filthy motocross habit because of the cool motorcycles - yet we stuck around motocross because of the cool people.... Honored to be amongst you. Let there be motocross. (and beer afterwards..)
I think Rup put it quite well...

I turned 49 a few weeks ago and raced (Great Lakes Grand Prix) for my birthday. Racing again this weekend (Monster Mash @ Baja)........i think that my appreciation for the sport and all that surrounds it has grown as i get older.

Talking with many others it seems they feel the same.

A greater appreciation for being involved....and by the way...we get to go racing also.

TZ
Rupert X
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Rupert X 10/27/2011 8:50am
10/27/2011 8:50am
Wondering why there is seldom 50+ class at my local tracks and why MXSPORTS treats us so inhumanely as to limit 20 guys in the back of 45 + ?

Two classes for women at Loretta's and they make up about 1 or 2% at local tracks ?

Why is this ? Why the different and preferential treatment ?

We demand answers !

Justice for ancient men in colorful costumes !

Or, we shall OCCUPY some berm somewhere, spill beer and spread tales.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 10/27/2011 8:57am
10/27/2011 8:57am
Rupert X wrote:
Wondering why there is seldom 50+ class at my local tracks and why MXSPORTS treats us so inhumanely as to limit 20 guys in the back...
Wondering why there is seldom 50+ class at my local tracks and why MXSPORTS treats us so inhumanely as to limit 20 guys in the back of 45 + ?

Two classes for women at Loretta's and they make up about 1 or 2% at local tracks ?

Why is this ? Why the different and preferential treatment ?

We demand answers !

Justice for ancient men in colorful costumes !

Or, we shall OCCUPY some berm somewhere, spill beer and spread tales.
God damn it Rup......I for one missed you around this joint!
YAKMX
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YAKMX 10/27/2011 9:13am
10/27/2011 9:13am
Rupert X wrote:
Wondering why there is seldom 50+ class at my local tracks and why MXSPORTS treats us so inhumanely as to limit 20 guys in the back...
Wondering why there is seldom 50+ class at my local tracks and why MXSPORTS treats us so inhumanely as to limit 20 guys in the back of 45 + ?

Two classes for women at Loretta's and they make up about 1 or 2% at local tracks ?

Why is this ? Why the different and preferential treatment ?

We demand answers !

Justice for ancient men in colorful costumes !

Or, we shall OCCUPY some berm somewhere, spill beer and spread tales.
jeffro503 wrote:
God damn it Rup......I for one missed you around this joint!
X2... Shifting gears and drinking beers!
Huckster
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Huckster 10/27/2011 9:23am
10/27/2011 9:23am
Camp332 wrote:
I was having a shitty couple days, then I went and moto'd today. Boom instantly fixed! Moto = Happy Life, Happy life = Happy wife
I was having a shitty couple days, then I went and moto'd today. Boom instantly fixed!

Moto = Happy Life, Happy life = Happy wife
Isnt that backwards? Happy wife = Happy life, no

just turned 45. Still riding but not racing as much due to my kids being involved in other sports and life seems to get in the way on Sundays.

Just curious to hear from the guys who do both MX and HS. How do they compare? I have always been interested in doing a HS but never have. I like the idea of a shorter day with more time on the bike.
ak23
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ak23 10/27/2011 10:31am
10/27/2011 10:31am
Camp332 wrote:
I was having a shitty couple days, then I went and moto'd today. Boom instantly fixed! Moto = Happy Life, Happy life = Happy wife
I was having a shitty couple days, then I went and moto'd today. Boom instantly fixed!

Moto = Happy Life, Happy life = Happy wife
Huckster wrote:
Isnt that backwards? Happy wife = Happy life, no just turned 45. Still riding but not racing as much due to my kids being involved in...
Isnt that backwards? Happy wife = Happy life, no

just turned 45. Still riding but not racing as much due to my kids being involved in other sports and life seems to get in the way on Sundays.

Just curious to hear from the guys who do both MX and HS. How do they compare? I have always been interested in doing a HS but never have. I like the idea of a shorter day with more time on the bike.
i really thought hare scrambles were terrible……. here in mich there were 250 turns in a couple mile loop and nothing out of 2nd gear, seemed more like an obstacle challenge …...-although i was on a 450 and i truly thought i would have doubled my speed on an rm80. I gotta say all these responses are very very inspiring and have completely convinced me to keep riding - love the stories!!!!!
flyinb501
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flyinb501 10/27/2011 10:41am
10/27/2011 10:41am
I turned 30 this week, and just got back into the sport after a 10 year break. I know this thread doesn't apply to me, but I just wanted to say much respect for all you older guys. You are all an inspiration! Great thread!
ehr400
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ehr400 10/27/2011 11:22am
10/27/2011 11:22am
I am only 32 but I met a guy at the track a few years ago and he was 72 at the time. I asked him how he still does it and he was like it is like this: My knees and back hurt all the time wheter I am sitting in the lazy boy or riding my dirtbike. So I choose to do the latter.

I keep telling my wife I am going to ride until I am 70. She laughes. Then I said not you! Lol.
Craze
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Craze 10/27/2011 11:24am
10/27/2011 11:24am
7I3N wrote:
I’m 53. Rode my first MX race at Indian Dunes in ’72. I still ride every weekend. Mostly in the desert, but still go to the...
I’m 53. Rode my first MX race at Indian Dunes in ’72. I still ride every weekend. Mostly in the desert, but still go to the track once in a while. I’m not as fast as I used to be on a track, but I can still rip in the desert. I haven’t raced much lately, only a GP and a 100 mile Hare and Hound in the last two years, but I’m 2-0 in the over 50 expert class.

I remember a tee shirt from a few years back:

“You don’t quit riding because you get old. You get old because you quit riding.”
Must be the Rekluse you run in the 450...LOL...What's up Neal?
7I3N
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7I3N 10/27/2011 11:42am
10/27/2011 11:42am
7I3N wrote:
I’m 53. Rode my first MX race at Indian Dunes in ’72. I still ride every weekend. Mostly in the desert, but still go to the...
I’m 53. Rode my first MX race at Indian Dunes in ’72. I still ride every weekend. Mostly in the desert, but still go to the track once in a while. I’m not as fast as I used to be on a track, but I can still rip in the desert. I haven’t raced much lately, only a GP and a 100 mile Hare and Hound in the last two years, but I’m 2-0 in the over 50 expert class.

I remember a tee shirt from a few years back:

“You don’t quit riding because you get old. You get old because you quit riding.”
Craze wrote:
Must be the Rekluse you run in the 450...LOL...What's up Neal?
You know what they say: If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying hard enough. Wink

What’s up Dave? You ready to do another ride down Dutchman’s?
TomZ
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TomZ 10/27/2011 11:42am
10/27/2011 11:42am
Rupert X wrote:
Wondering why there is seldom 50+ class at my local tracks and why MXSPORTS treats us so inhumanely as to limit 20 guys in the back...
Wondering why there is seldom 50+ class at my local tracks and why MXSPORTS treats us so inhumanely as to limit 20 guys in the back of 45 + ?

Two classes for women at Loretta's and they make up about 1 or 2% at local tracks ?

Why is this ? Why the different and preferential treatment ?

We demand answers !

Justice for ancient men in colorful costumes !

Or, we shall OCCUPY some berm somewhere, spill beer and spread tales.
Funny you would mention that Rup......I believe i will have a spousal consent form signed soon by Mrs Z allowing me to qualify for LL this year.

I think you are just the guy to lead this charge. Let DC know we're behind you all the way.

You should come to LL this year, it will be like the old days......bring the sidecar please as my ability to walk post-moto is sometimes compromised.

Ride on old guys !!

Post a reply to: curious how many 40 yr olds vs 50 yr olds still ride or race