Posts
144
Joined
12/9/2013
Location
Boerne, TX
US
Edited Date/Time
12/27/2014 2:37am
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I raced in Texas in the early to late 80s on 60s and 80s. Did pretty good, also. Got 10th at Ponca one year, and 3rd at Lake Whitney's Texas Championships. I had a friend die on a 250 at Rio Bravo, and mom made me hang it up. My brother and I would have so much fun cruising around Texas with my folks going to different tracks, but after the death, we moved on to ball sports and girls.
I'm 37, and my brother died in September at age 35 from cancer. He left behind a 2 year old son.
So, for some strange reason, I bought a 250 2-stroke, and am going to the track on Sunday for the first time in almost 25 years.
I feel a little silly being "risky" as I have 3 kiddos of my own now, but life is short, and I intend to at least enjoy my time, as none of us know when it will all be over. We worry about our knees when we're 75, or the money we spend on toys, but sometimes our lives are cut short, and I promise you that we all wish that we had "lived" more.
yes, I'm in shape, and yes, I've been on bikes since I was a kid in a variety of forms. But this will be the first time I've put on leathers and tried to rail a berm. Just thinking about it right now makes me smile.
Anyway, thanks for the great forum - I enjoy reading it daily. I especially enjoy reading you old-timers like me out there that refuse to hang 'em up. I guess I'm joining your club now.
I raced in Texas in the early to late 80s on 60s and 80s. Did pretty good, also. Got 10th at Ponca one year, and 3rd at Lake Whitney's Texas Championships. I had a friend die on a 250 at Rio Bravo, and mom made me hang it up. My brother and I would have so much fun cruising around Texas with my folks going to different tracks, but after the death, we moved on to ball sports and girls.
I'm 37, and my brother died in September at age 35 from cancer. He left behind a 2 year old son.
So, for some strange reason, I bought a 250 2-stroke, and am going to the track on Sunday for the first time in almost 25 years.
I feel a little silly being "risky" as I have 3 kiddos of my own now, but life is short, and I intend to at least enjoy my time, as none of us know when it will all be over. We worry about our knees when we're 75, or the money we spend on toys, but sometimes our lives are cut short, and I promise you that we all wish that we had "lived" more.
yes, I'm in shape, and yes, I've been on bikes since I was a kid in a variety of forms. But this will be the first time I've put on leathers and tried to rail a berm. Just thinking about it right now makes me smile.
Anyway, thanks for the great forum - I enjoy reading it daily. I especially enjoy reading you old-timers like me out there that refuse to hang 'em up. I guess I'm joining your club now.
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I went through the same deal with myself after my Dad passed. Decided life is to short and I better hit some things on the bucket list. I rode when I was a kid and hadn't touched a bike again until I was 36. Turning 40 in a couple of weeks. I ride religiously every week now. Shed some extra weight I was carrying instantly. Can't even begin to tell you how riding clears my head from all the bs I deal with during the week.
I'm also in the same boat with kids. Just ride within your comfort limit and It will all come back in time. Don't push it until your ready!!
If your ever in Houston PM me. I ride Rio Bravo every week. It's a cool laid back track with a older group of riders now. Good luck out there! I'm sure your Brother will be looking down smiling!
Thanks for the encouragement, men.
BTW, you might be in shape, but not offroad motorcycle shape! Ditch the kickstand man!
As for fitness: "In shape" = am not overweight and can turn some laps and moderate intensity without gasping for breath. I'm certainly no Ironman, but I'm certainly no fatass either.
Thanks again guys....
We hang on to issues life deals us way to long usually. There's still a freedom we all have that each of us have to get after, certainly get your life and make sure those we support are protected.
It is my life, your life and we are here to flourish. To most of us here that's grabbing a big handful on a finely prepped machine and ripping loose some terrafirma velcro!
Oh and that kickstand will come in handy when you glaze across your bike parked between you sitting on your tailgate with a cold beer and that freshly turned over track at the end of your ride. Enjoy brother.
I come from your same time frame, as I raced at Barona Oaks in the mid '80s and had friends who probably raced against you at Ponca.
Kudos to coming back and living life as a rider again. I know your brother will be watching over you and smiling. Stay safe!
Pit Row
Welcome back!
I read something once that I try to live my life by, it goes like this: "I refuse to tip-toe through life only to arrive safely at death."
Took the bike out yesterday for a spin. It had sat for perhaps a month. Fired up fine, but had a weird bog at extreme low rpm (just as I turned the throttle).
to the googles and found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVzqqpgviyI
That's the exact sound my bike is making. Pulled the carb, cleaned the jets, dumped the fuel, new spark plug.
Fired back up, and had exact same issue. (using fresh fuel). The air screw has ZERO effect on the bike - no matter what or how I adjust it, the sound/issue is the same.
Thoughts????
I've only got a couple of days to get this fixed!! I can't miss Sunday's ride, or I'm going to be beyond pissed.
I can't solve your mechanical issue, although I can give you a virtual bump start.
There are some pretty smart peeps on here... Someone help a brother get his steed running right.
I too had a couple reboots over the years.
I'm 56 now and having the time of my life. And I plan on riding as long as physically possible.
Now I'm in it for fun. Even when I race, I don't push the limits like I used to. As you know mx is a risky sport, but you can minimize some of the risk by using your head. When in doubt back off. Live to ride another day.
I've been to way too many funerals where people passed before their time. Life is precious and short.
As you said, we never know when the party is going to be over. So make the most of the time you have. Stay involved with your kids. They grow up before you know it. But the memories are priceless.
They mean a lot when you get to be an old guy like me. lol
Sorry about your bother. Way to young to die. Cancer sucks. I lost my mom to it when she was 60.
I'm confident some day they will cure it.
Anyway, welcome back!!
Good luck, be safe and have fun.
Post up what carb you have, maybe we can help cross reference so you can find some today or tomorrow.
Second choice Powerhouse on Rhapsody in SA, 830-980-1823
Meh. We'll see. There's still hope. I'm determined to slay this track this coming weekend - I'm going to roll all of those jumps and tip over in every corner I can find just like a total badass.
As for the bike, I got it sorted out on Friday. I ended up taking it to the local shop, and after a carb teardown, the said the pilot jet was dirty. Not sure how, as I personally blew the damn thing out with compressed air, but I can't argue with results. $200 later, and I was back in action.
I drove out to the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE to "White Knuckle Ranch" on Sunday afternoon. Went solo. The track was great for total beginner like me, as the jumps were all pretty safe. However, I bent those little doubles and tabletops to my will, and became Bob Hannah again.
A quick recap:
Here's my finely-tuned machine ready to carve it up.
Here's the 80 foot double was clearing :-). Had just enough air-time for me to wave to my adoring fans!! (When I cleared this, I laughed out loud all the way through the next corner. Smiling from ear to ear)
Here's the whoops I was blitzing just like David Bailey -!
With my left grip almost on the ground, I railed this berm like none other. Like that epic picture of Emig that has his bar in the dirt, that was me.
I carved these corners like Johnny O. Roost flying everywhere, I had perfect form and everyone stopped to take photos.
Just as I imagined, I was instantly 12 years old again. It's amazing how many of the "skills" stayed with me - yes, I was slow as molasses, but sliding forward on the seat, putting my foot out, elbows at attack position, throttle control, feathering the clutch..........it was all still there.
The only thing missing was my brother - but I know that he was smiling too.
All in all, the perfect day.
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