Posts
221
Joined
3/14/2014
Location
Schaumburg, IL, USA
Edited Date/Time
12/28/2019 7:31pm
So, I realized about half way thru 2019 that I was hitting a pretty significant milestone year with racing:
35 straight years racing on 2 wheels!
Anybody got that beat?
First race was April of 1985 on an RM60, and I have raced at least once every year since. There were a couple years just after my daughter's were born were I only made it out 1 time. Lately back to 4-6 times a year. I used to complain to my dad on why we could only get out once a month when I was a kid. I wish I could consistently do that now!
35 straight years racing on 2 wheels!
Anybody got that beat?
First race was April of 1985 on an RM60, and I have raced at least once every year since. There were a couple years just after my daughter's were born were I only made it out 1 time. Lately back to 4-6 times a year. I used to complain to my dad on why we could only get out once a month when I was a kid. I wish I could consistently do that now!
Me(189) chasing my old buddy Spud(60) in the 60cc class
The weird realization for me was when I figured out over half my time racing has been in the A class. That’s when I felt old.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Took me 6 races to get my 1st trophy . Then about 3 more to start winning..,
I actually rode 6 years before I ever raced in 79. So it's 40 years of racing & turned 56 this year.
As a side note I ride more now than I ever did back in the day . For me Moto only.
I can easily see riding well into my 60's barring Injury .
I'm 29 and started racing at 4. Can't imagine my life without it.
Big props to you, 40 years of racing...an awesome run of good times you've had so far!
My first race was 10 years later than you in 78 and was the 250 beginner class at Tulare in Central Ca. That was a memorable first corner for my first moto ever...my buddy did me a favor and turned off the gas and that's something I'd only due when I load up the bike at the end of the day. Actually, had a very good start but engine ran out of gas exiting the corner. From that point on, I always checked the petcock to make sure no body else was doing me a favor!
Other than being out due to an injury, I've never missed a year of racing of some sort. I'm 62 and ride a "modern" bike for fun, the only racing I do now is post vintage stuff.
I can't say I've been riding and racing the whole time
because I missed a lot of years due to finances. And I've only ever competed at
the local-for-fun level. But for the most part, I've been there.
Pit Row
Now days, I just do some trail/play riding and hope I don't fall down to hard.
FIrst race in 1982, but not moto. First couple years were hitting select Wiseco 100 milers. My first race was the infamous Blackwater 100. Didn't start moto until 84 or 85, and raced every year up through the early 2000's, when I took a job move in 2002. Lost my riding buddy group at that point. So there was a 20 year run, then about a 13 year gap with play riding only, then I found and took up AHRMA cross country for the last 5 years. Back to my roots.
So racing spans 38 years but actual racing for 25 of that.
Moto just isn't the same and although I can jump well still at 60, I find the sport moving in the wrong direction as far as I am concerned. 4 lap motos, sitting all day for little rode time isnt as appealing as it once was. A 500 2 stroke has nothing on a 450 4 stroke, yet everyone thinks the 500 is too much for motal people. That was the thought process in the mid 90's when they did away with 500 2 strokes.
I love the sport but the direction needs to change for me to continue and not become a GNCC rider soon.
Last ride 2004
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