Rubber Band Starts

Fred Boss Mx Dion
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 5:28pm
Now, That was extreme Motocross!!!
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Digger437
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Digger437 12/16/2011 8:11pm
12/16/2011 8:11pm
What do you mean was? haha, my son and I race at a track that has one AMA Dist 16 mx race a year and it still has the bungee cord start. The club has been hosting one mx race a year since I think 1971. T&T Riders Marshfield WI. Gotta love the bungee!
TooOldToPlay
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TooOldToPlay 12/17/2011 6:07am
12/17/2011 6:07am
Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
Now, That was extreme Motocross!!!
The most "extreme" part of it was chosing the wrong location to shoot a photo from and getting whipped by the bungee!

(Digger: This is from Rhinelander 1976)

Highsider
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Highsider 12/17/2011 10:17am
12/17/2011 10:17am
Who needs a startgate...or a bungee cord, for that matter!
Saddleback Oct '72. I am 444 on an AJS 250.

Fred Boss Mx Dion 12/17/2011 1:39pm
12/17/2011 1:39pm
Highsider wrote:
Who needs a startgate...or a bungee cord, for that matter! Saddleback Oct '72. I am 444 on an AJS 250. [img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f242/Highsider2/1971Start.jpg[/img]
Who needs a startgate...or a bungee cord, for that matter!
Saddleback Oct '72. I am 444 on an AJS 250.

Ahhhhh....It's The famous " Hand on Helmet " starting Technique.... Jam it in gear and go....hopefully you don't loop it right there on the start line....Or trash your Tranny...Clunk.

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croom mx
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croom mx 12/17/2011 3:23pm
12/17/2011 3:23pm
There were some old stories about how the rubber band would hit riders in the face and knock them off their bikes!
mx400bee
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mx400bee 12/17/2011 4:42pm
12/17/2011 4:42pm
croom mx wrote:
There were some old stories about how the rubber band would hit riders in the face and knock them off their bikes!
That`s probably the real reason for full face helmets. lol. I`ve been hit a couple times but not in the face. It damn sure will leave a mark.
se7enmx
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se7enmx 12/17/2011 7:34pm
12/17/2011 7:34pm
Those things were so painful if you got snapped in the neck by one of those.
CR500Rider
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CR500Rider 12/18/2011 12:28am
12/18/2011 12:28am
I loved rubber band starts!
NetMXer
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NetMXer 12/18/2011 5:34pm
12/18/2011 5:34pm
I had the rubber band start technique mastered, that's why they invented the starting gate.
Highsider
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Highsider 12/19/2011 7:18am
12/19/2011 7:18am
The longest-running track in Iowa just got a start gate in the past ten years.
I was getting sooo good (at cheating) right before they installed the gate!Laughing
HORNETDRIVER 12/19/2011 9:00am
12/19/2011 9:00am Edited Date/Time 12/19/2011 9:03am
I still have a scar on my ribcage from getting whacked at Agency, MO back in '74. At least the scar reminds me of winning the mini class!
Mike_Meshkoff
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Mike_Meshkoff 12/20/2011 7:04pm
12/20/2011 7:04pm
I remember Corona Raceway and De Anza Cycle Park in the 70's, those were the best times
rallendude
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rallendude 12/20/2011 10:46pm
12/20/2011 10:46pm
I stretched quite a few of those a quarter of the way to the first turn at Gary's Warrior Motocross back in 1986-1987.
JPT
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JPT 12/21/2011 5:24am
12/21/2011 5:24am
Highsider wrote:
Who needs a startgate...or a bungee cord, for that matter! Saddleback Oct '72. I am 444 on an AJS 250. [img]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f242/Highsider2/1971Start.jpg[/img]
Who needs a startgate...or a bungee cord, for that matter!
Saddleback Oct '72. I am 444 on an AJS 250.

You beat me to it. That's the way most of the races started my first season. Come to think of it, that was '71 too.

As far as the rubber band starts went, I saw one knock a guy off his bike. It tangled on the bike someway or another, streached out to the ffirst turn then snapped. Hit him right in the middle of the back and he fell off.


By the way Jim, which is the longest running track you're talking about? Hartford?
lumpy790
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lumpy790 12/21/2011 8:18am
12/21/2011 8:18am
Any one know what they call the surgical hose that was used for these?
OW38B
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OW38B 12/21/2011 9:33am
12/21/2011 9:33am
Mike_Meshkoff wrote:
I remember Corona Raceway and De Anza Cycle Park in the 70's, those were the best times
I raced a few at Corona with the rubber band start. Was a cool Night MX course.
Fred Boss Mx Dion 12/21/2011 9:35am
12/21/2011 9:35am Edited Date/Time 12/21/2011 9:36am
lumpy790 wrote:
Any one know what they call the surgical hose that was used for these?
Lumpy...Re:surgical tubing....You buy this stuff in rolls...Probably 100-500 ft. They have it categorized by Wall thickness and ID and its simply called Surgical tubing. Seems that I used to use 3/8 ID by 1/4 " wall.You buy it at medical supply stores. Why...You going into the starting business?
JustPuttinAround 12/21/2011 1:31pm
12/21/2011 1:31pm
They were mostly gone when I started racing, but one I remember was as Sunrise (now Racetown 395) in the late 70's. Grinning

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HORNETDRIVER 12/22/2011 5:42am
12/22/2011 5:42am
Let's also not forget if you jumped the start, in addition to getting zapped by the ring on the band, after everybody lined up again you would most likely start the race lined up backwards for your sins.

Seems to me we only did the hand on helmet thing for Hare Scrambles...

Cheers.
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Highsider 12/22/2011 9:14am
12/22/2011 9:14am
JPT wrote:
You beat me to it. That's the way most of the races started my first season. Come to think of it, that was '71 too. As...
You beat me to it. That's the way most of the races started my first season. Come to think of it, that was '71 too.

As far as the rubber band starts went, I saw one knock a guy off his bike. It tangled on the bike someway or another, streached out to the ffirst turn then snapped. Hit him right in the middle of the back and he fell off.


By the way Jim, which is the longest running track you're talking about? Hartford?
Yes, New Hartford, Iowa.

It has been an AMA racing facility for over 55-years, starting out as flattrack.

I can remember camping and racing mx there 35-years ago! I raced there this year in April and September.
JPT
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JPT 12/22/2011 6:21pm
12/22/2011 6:21pm
Highsider wrote:
Yes, New Hartford, Iowa. It has been an AMA racing facility for over 55-years, starting out as flattrack. I can remember camping and racing mx there...
Yes, New Hartford, Iowa.

It has been an AMA racing facility for over 55-years, starting out as flattrack.

I can remember camping and racing mx there 35-years ago! I raced there this year in April and September.
I may have asked you this before, but did you ever race at the old Anamosa/Mechanicsville track?
lumpy790
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lumpy790 12/27/2011 7:06pm
12/27/2011 7:06pm
lumpy790 wrote:
Any one know what they call the surgical hose that was used for these?
Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
Lumpy...Re:surgical tubing....You buy this stuff in rolls...Probably 100-500 ft. They have it categorized by Wall thickness and ID and its simply called Surgical tubing. Seems that...
Lumpy...Re:surgical tubing....You buy this stuff in rolls...Probably 100-500 ft. They have it categorized by Wall thickness and ID and its simply called Surgical tubing. Seems that I used to use 3/8 ID by 1/4 " wall.You buy it at medical supply stores. Why...You going into the starting business?
lol..... no but the carolina vet race may need it
Highsider
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Highsider 12/28/2011 7:21am
12/28/2011 7:21am
JPT wrote:
I may have asked you this before, but did you ever race at the old Anamosa/Mechanicsville track?
Never raced there, but if you do FB you need to surf the "Forgotten MX Tracks of Iowa".
I think they have some pretty good stuff on our history.
Highsider
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Highsider 12/28/2011 7:25am
12/28/2011 7:25am
lumpy790 wrote:
Any one know what they call the surgical hose that was used for these?
Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
Lumpy...Re:surgical tubing....You buy this stuff in rolls...Probably 100-500 ft. They have it categorized by Wall thickness and ID and its simply called Surgical tubing. Seems that...
Lumpy...Re:surgical tubing....You buy this stuff in rolls...Probably 100-500 ft. They have it categorized by Wall thickness and ID and its simply called Surgical tubing. Seems that I used to use 3/8 ID by 1/4 " wall.You buy it at medical supply stores. Why...You going into the starting business?
lumpy790 wrote:
lol..... no but the carolina vet race may need it
Back in 1978 when I opened my first track, surgical tubing was a "controlled substance"!
Suppliers thought only the main-lining needle-users ever bought it.Dizzy
RM Mike
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RM Mike 12/28/2011 1:06pm
12/28/2011 1:06pm
I remember the start was a 6" steel pipe half buried at Madera Lakes with the rubber band start.
Dropbear
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Dropbear 12/30/2011 1:13am
12/30/2011 1:13am
Back in '81 at Pt Lincoln, South Australia on my CR450, I thought I got a good start, Trouble was the band had knocked my front brake cable behind the front numberplate. As i started in 2nd, on a 4 speed gearbox the front wheel skimmed the air for a while but when it came down my front wheel locked solid and endoed me in front of the field. I still have the scars on my back.

Thankfully it was starting gates pretty much from then on around here.
Todd D
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Todd D 1/8/2012 3:58pm
1/8/2012 3:58pm
Was hit in the back and would swear i heard it comming. Hurt like hell for hole 1 st lap
cbt.medic02
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cbt.medic02 1/8/2012 5:18pm
1/8/2012 5:18pm
lumpy790 wrote:
Any one know what they call the surgical hose that was used for these?
Fred Boss Mx Dion wrote:
Lumpy...Re:surgical tubing....You buy this stuff in rolls...Probably 100-500 ft. They have it categorized by Wall thickness and ID and its simply called Surgical tubing. Seems that...
Lumpy...Re:surgical tubing....You buy this stuff in rolls...Probably 100-500 ft. They have it categorized by Wall thickness and ID and its simply called Surgical tubing. Seems that I used to use 3/8 ID by 1/4 " wall.You buy it at medical supply stores. Why...You going into the starting business?
its called Penrose Tubing
Todd D
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Todd D 1/8/2012 5:49pm
1/8/2012 5:49pm
NetMXer wrote:
I had the rubber band start technique mastered, that's why they invented the starting gate.
I had Freds frontwards gate at helvita mastered thats why they invented backwards gate

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