Why did you quit Racing Motocross?

mikec265
Posts
1668
Joined
10/19/2015
Location
Edinboro, PA, USA
3/26/2019 9:49am
I quit in 2007 with several bs excuses.
1- Driving trucks over the road made it hard to stay in shape
2- I was an alcoholic. But sober 6.5 years now
3- Winters around here suck.
4- I was trying to build a business when the economy was down, and putting the business first.
5- House, marriage, 3 kids.

Built my own track last year and at least riding on a regular basis with my 5yr old son. Things are coming around. I only work my business part time now, and can afford the time to do whatever. I'll still be doing it as cheap as possible. No $50,000 pick up truck for me. A mini van and 5x8 will get us to and from the track just fine, then I can invest the rest. I will race again if my kids want to race, but for now it's just practice at home most of the time. I won't be pushing my kids into racing, but I also won't deny them the opportunity.
8
Texas Vet
Posts
14
Joined
3/25/2019
Location
Springtown, TX, USA
3/26/2019 9:54am
Me: Have continuously owned a motorcycle of some kind for 50 years. Currently own 4. I ride every day that it is above freezing and even in the rain as long as it isn't too heavy. Have a 1979 xr80 project bike. Harley project bike. In other words eat, live, breath bikes. Yet, I don't race anymore . Raced twice a week for years(Friday nights/Sundays)....years. At one time Regular job plus cutting grass(Sat.) plus sweeping floors at night. Contrary to the sniping towards me, I love(d) racing. Just indescribable to the layman.....tapped out on the start sweeper at Lake Whitney on a 500...

Quit riding modern and took up vintage mx. Politics. My God-the size of Texas and we can't agree on anything?

The problem in the end is either vintage or modern, takes place on the same crappy tracks. Throw in the wife not wanting to lose the entire day Sunday(she stays home and we spend even less time together).

Financially-making more money than I ever could have dreamed of during those struggling years. Almost laughable.

Racing now? MEH.
1
Tarz483
Posts
6344
Joined
2/25/2009
Location
Mankato, MN, USA
3/26/2019 9:58am
kburgie wrote:
When I was a kid, I could ride down my driveway, down the road, onto a connecting trail, and then either trail ride or meet friends...
When I was a kid, I could ride down my driveway, down the road, onto a connecting trail, and then either trail ride or meet friends at two backyard tracks. Those were some of the best days ever (~1999-2003). Before I was old enough to drive, my CR80 was the coolest thing in the world and represented absolute freedom. With help from Dad, there were a few gravel pits and trail systems that we could load up and drive to.

Over the next few years one of those tracks was shut down over a lawsuit (which actually wasn't motocross related) and police started patrolling the pits and kicking people out. Play riding largely came to an end, and any riding meant loading up, driving to one of a few race tracks, and paying to ride. Still lots of fun, but considerably more effort than those magical days of riding in and out of my garage.

Then I went to college and around junior year sold my bike to pay for tuition. Then I graduated and got one of those motocross industry jobs. I thought I'd get to ride all the time, but even though this was motocross work, work got in the way!

Since then, it has felt like there are too many obstacles to get back into it: A place to store a bike, a vehicle to carry a bike, a place to ride, and the funds to support it.

Also, the injury thing. It was almost a rite of passage to break a bone on your dirt bike as a kid. Today it's a major inconvenience. The way I view injuries in our sport has also changed in a way that won't be popular here: We treat catastrophic injuries as if they're common. Chad Reed's injuries, for example, don't happen to other people unless they're in a horrible car accident. Professional athletes in other sports don't break their arms like Roczen, or their pelvis like Seely, or a femur like Stewart, and ever expect to come back. They don't smash their head like RJ Hampshire at Straight Rhythm and post on Instagram "just some bleeding in the brain" with expected timeline until they play again.

TLDR: I still watch, I still think of riding all the time, but life, money, time and risk of injury keeps me away.
For you And others that have fear of injury high on your list
(Im not saying its not a good reason)
But question, if there was a form local of racing that was
More common , with much less powerful bikes and a little smaller track, something like a langtown if you know what that is , would you and any others that are listing danger and having to work monday as a reason , participate in that?

If you dont know what Langtown was ,it was a small Supercross track , and raced on 150cc air cooled 4 stroke bikes , with race chassis and suspension.

Tarz483
Posts
6344
Joined
2/25/2009
Location
Mankato, MN, USA
3/26/2019 10:00am
I just realized that I hadn't raced Motocross in 3 years. I practice pretty regularly, and hit some Scrambles and Enduro's and Dual Sport. Tibia Plateau...
I just realized that I hadn't raced Motocross in 3 years. I practice pretty regularly, and hit some Scrambles and Enduro's and Dual Sport. Tibia Plateau a few years back chilled me out I guess? At 61 I've been in and out a few times, injuries, kids, money wife and life. It's in my blood til the day I die though.
The future doesn't look too good, since I am transitioning to a Race Organizer and likely won't be on the line, but probably staging the line so others can enjoy. And believe me, what I am putting together is designed to address many of these issues and Make Moto Great Again! I'm putting my money where my mouth is and doing something about it.
I would be interested in hearing more about it ,
I have been thinking about things that i think would help for years also.

The Shop

DJS721
Posts
148
Joined
1/1/2014
Location
Grand Prix Raceway, OH, USA
3/26/2019 10:19am
Lifer in MX and riding in general, but fell out of love with MX once I shattered my tibia and haven't ridden the same speed since. This frustrates me to the point of not wanting to line up anymore simply because I struggle to hang even though I know I should be faster...mostly a mental thing for me at this point. That being said I really enjoy practice days and off road more than ever (4T MX, 2T off road). I hit the occasional hair scramble or GP and this is fun and the long event is great seat time.

I will line up again if I feel the right juju and everything flows
hillbilly
Posts
9079
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Afton, TN, USA
3/26/2019 10:20am
In 09 I drove my femur down thru the tib plateau shattering the top 4 inches,24ish screws and a 12inch L plate no cartilage. Leg is half inch shorter.

Btw,

Numerous other injuries in 39 yrs of racing

In 03 broke c3&4 was paralyzed neck down about 2 days, shuffled my ass out the hospital on day 7 only to get so weak could not lift the covers off myself.

Started working out,got better and 3 ish yrs later was sneaking my bike out to race so family wouldn't freak. WAdded,got caught by the bruises,family freaked. LoL

Given a 08 crf 450 for 10 cents, 2 yrs ,broke the leg in a weird crash. Done.

Have frankenlegg now,wearing shorts scares little kids.

Was the plan to go out on a bike but now gotta figure some other way.
4
3/26/2019 10:44am
simpson335 wrote:
At 17, I discovered this magical thing that my girlfriend had and I lost interest in everything else. Fast forward through military, marriage, careers and kids...
At 17, I discovered this magical thing that my girlfriend had and I lost interest in everything else. Fast forward through military, marriage, careers and kids... and my kid tells me he wants to start racing. So, we both got bikes last summer. I personally think that once you’ve raced, you’re never done. It’s just an addiction waiting for you to relapse.
late bloomer i see.
4
zippytech
Posts
1510
Joined
9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH, USA
3/26/2019 10:47am
1. travel time to and back.. 2 + hours each way.
2. lack of track time. too much sitting..
3. thieves. our camp group got hit multiple time over the years,, every thing from wood, gear, and even a bike at steel city

4. cost per lap. hell the last time I was at a big race I got like 22 laps for 2 classes .

Moto331
Posts
525
Joined
11/21/2011
Location
Coeur d'Alene, ID, USA
3/26/2019 10:54am
How well did you do in the attempt to qualify for nationals?
Paw Paw 271
Posts
3632
Joined
4/3/2013
Location
Benton, LA, USA
3/26/2019 10:54am
Old age, bad health issues caused me to quit.

Paw Paw
1
Rupert X
Posts
11034
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Newark, OH, USA
3/26/2019 10:59am
For me, it was the music, when they started playing the country version of the National Anthem, I’d had enough. Now, I’m experiencing a flourishing rap career and canning CBD Oil in my basement. Happy indeed, I don’t need Motocross, Motocross needs me. Burp,
16
Tarz483
Posts
6344
Joined
2/25/2009
Location
Mankato, MN, USA
3/26/2019 11:01am Edited Date/Time 3/26/2019 11:02am
zippytech wrote:
1. travel time to and back.. 2 + hours each way. 2. lack of track time. too much sitting.. 3. thieves. our camp group got hit...
1. travel time to and back.. 2 + hours each way.
2. lack of track time. too much sitting..
3. thieves. our camp group got hit multiple time over the years,, every thing from wood, gear, and even a bike at steel city

4. cost per lap. hell the last time I was at a big race I got like 22 laps for 2 classes .

Some Interesting and Sad stories in this thread, your the first one thats brung up theft , man that sucks , my first thought when you said that was the wheelie guys in the inner cities like philly , i dont know why
But i have to say your reasons make sense.
Some of the injury stories are sad too
Tarz483
Posts
6344
Joined
2/25/2009
Location
Mankato, MN, USA
3/26/2019 11:03am
Rupert X wrote:
For me, it was the music, when they started playing the country version of the National Anthem, I’d had enough. Now, I’m experiencing a flourishing rap...
For me, it was the music, when they started playing the country version of the National Anthem, I’d had enough. Now, I’m experiencing a flourishing rap career and canning CBD Oil in my basement. Happy indeed, I don’t need Motocross, Motocross needs me. Burp,
Haha ,Do you still have that bad ass El camino?
2
suzukiread240
Posts
64
Joined
4/28/2016
Location
Saint George, UT, USA
3/26/2019 11:06am
I was 19 and finally heading off to college after a few to many concussion and deciding that I could never race pro. I decided to just be like everyone else and quit racing, go to college, and quit getting hurt. I definitely miss racing but I have just as much fun trail riding with my family.
peelout
Posts
18394
Joined
1/6/2011
Location
Ogden, UT, USA
3/26/2019 11:10am
4-strokes and the cost that goes along with them killed it for me and i'm a firm believer that they are killing the local level sport of moto. i love my 4-stroke KTM 525 and think big 4-strokes are the shit in the desert, but they have no business on a motocross track imo.

come @ me, bro
7
simpson335
Posts
40
Joined
1/15/2019
Location
Pearland, TX, USA
3/26/2019 11:11am
late bloomer i see.
Yea, I had ZERO game. It wasn’t for lack of trying.
2
wildbill
Posts
4382
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Christmas Valley, OR, USA
3/26/2019 11:12am
Swapped 4th gearing bike made whoops in 04. Destroyed right shoulder and broke every rib on same side, in numerous locations, puncture the shit out a that lung, everywhere too. Hardware rubbed my humeral head flat. 10 years later I got a new shoulder from a specialist at OSHU (should've went to him to begin with). He said "Do not fuck this one up because I can't replace it." This time, I actually listened.

I hillclimb occasionally on a slew of friends big bores. Pretty safe actually because if/when you hit the ground, you're traveling at less than 1 mph.
1
JWACK
Posts
2583
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
USA
3/26/2019 11:13am Edited Date/Time 3/27/2019 7:31am
I quit racing locally after winning the AMA championship in the area just to have the promoters not hand out any of the series-end awards.. The banquet was scheduled and and a date was set and it got canceled. No awards folks, good job though. Thanks for the business. They did us dirty.
I was mad about it affecting me, but really pissed about the young kids who just won their first championship. They expected and deserved a nice jacket or a trophy worth remembering and got the shaft. I didn't deal with those folks for years after that.
3
2
avidchimp
Posts
5808
Joined
7/9/2008
Location
EGL, MN, USA
3/26/2019 11:14am
Multiple concussions, broken bones, and both knees blown out a couple times each. I could deal with the injuries, but after at least 4 good hits to the head, that was all she wrote for me.
1
3/26/2019 11:19am
Practice days. Cheaper, more laps and can pull on and off as I please.
1
mx617
Posts
1622
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Trail, CA
3/26/2019 11:38am
I kind of feel like Stewart, I haven't officially pulled the plug but at the same time I haven't raced in probably 5 years.

At first it was a lack of funds due to being new in my business, but the biggest thing that fucked me up was I wanted to do one more year with a good solid effort and just see how I stacked up since I felt like I hadn't hit my potential yet.

Well after a year of working out, getting in the best shape of my life (6 pack and all), I hit the track and had two good, fun races. #3 I went over the bars in practice on a sand straight, broke 3 vertebrae, tore some nerves in my neck so my left arm doesn't work right, dislocated and fucked up my shoulder. Then I got fat again lol, and plus now I have two kids.

I'm thinking like a lot of you, move to race organization and helping out, ride some practice, and maybe do some off road races in the future.
2
SmokinJoe439
Posts
2399
Joined
3/7/2012
Location
Renton, WA, USA
3/26/2019 11:38am
1. The sand bagging C class riders in the beginner class clearing triples and hitting whoops like A riders.

2. Redundant classes and sitting around all day.

3. Idiots who have to block pass you hard for like 20th position at the end of a race.

4. Four strokes - and so did a lot of others I used to see at the track.
5
3/26/2019 11:45am
Quit for my education. Came back one solid year. Broke collarbone at 28. Have been racing 3-5 bigger events e dry year since because I refuse to race 3 guys. Then my brother almost gets killed last year. Didn’t touch a bike the whole year. This year bought a 350. My brothers back racing. Crazy fugger. So I figure I’ll try some racing. But the military is basically my new racing slot. I go on a lot of training. Had a baby. Uh. Time. The best days are when I hit a Grand Prix. Show up at 11. Done by 1. Home at 3....

Plethora of reasons. Main being no full Gates and time. Because when the gates are fuller at big events I don’t care about the time.
1
3/26/2019 11:47am
Dislocated my shoulder, met a girl, the rest is history.
2
2
Moto331
Posts
525
Joined
11/21/2011
Location
Coeur d'Alene, ID, USA
3/26/2019 11:57am
We’re you just that far off the pace to not even bother racing the consolation race? I don’t remember how those work
motomojo
Posts
509
Joined
12/3/2015
Location
Kingman, AZ, USA
3/26/2019 12:04pm
For me it was sitting at the track for 14 plus hours to get in 10 laps 20 if i double classed.
First moto around 10 am second around 4 pm just too long to sit around in the hot sun.




5
Alex.434
Posts
457
Joined
12/12/2016
Location
Warner Springs, CA, USA
3/26/2019 12:08pm
Another plastic trophy doesn't add any additional value to my life, my happiness, or my self-worth.
1
3/26/2019 12:11pm Edited Date/Time 3/26/2019 12:16pm
After 11 years of MX racing , thought those days were over in 1987. Showed up to a local short track race one night in 1991, and a guy offered his bike to me for the night. That snagged me into flat track for quite a few more years, as my left knee was still in good shape. Called it good in 2007 at 44 years old.

1
zippytech
Posts
1510
Joined
9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH, USA
3/26/2019 12:16pm
Tarz483 wrote:
Some Interesting and Sad stories in this thread, your the first one thats brung up theft , man that sucks , my first thought when you...
Some Interesting and Sad stories in this thread, your the first one thats brung up theft , man that sucks , my first thought when you said that was the wheelie guys in the inner cities like philly , i dont know why
But i have to say your reasons make sense.
Some of the injury stories are sad too
I still ride a few times a month, and do some woods playing. It's just more bang for the buck with out the BS..
1
spimx
Posts
1314
Joined
3/25/2019
Location
Port Isabel, TX, USA
3/26/2019 12:21pm
Time and money. I quit for a few years then came back when my job and life stabilized but now I'm back in school and gf wants a kid. I just can't get to the track as much

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