What is something your dad/moto mentor told you as a kid that stuck with you? Was it true or false?

A Local Pro was helping me on my corners, he'd set a stand on the spot id let off and each time i had to move the stand closer to the corner. His quote "Dont let off till you see the light at the end of the tunnel"

My dads favorite saying he still uses today "The first turn is your only chance to pass 20+ riders in one shot"

"Remember who you are."

"Think for yourself."

Pop was awesome.

That’s the gas , that’s the brakes, and don’t crash gonna hurt

“You gotta block!” I can remember him screaming from the sideline. Then It turned into “get a job” at about 14, shortly after that he was back to screaming, only it changed to “get off of her!”

"I hate motorcycles."
"I don't think you're very good at this."
"Haven't you grown out of motocross yet?"
All true.

"Live to ride another day"

Early 1981 at a Russ Darnell riding school he told us “Go slow to go fast.” I thought he was crazy.
Decades later I understand.

Jump for show. Corner for dough ($).

You don’t get participation trophies. Oh and hundreds of hours of late nights in the garage. Those the most impactful nights. No plugging the bike in hoping it’s fully charged in the morning.

"You're the best looking loser on the track".
Man, I miss him so much.

My first visit to Ponca City was in 1982. My dad said "Don't be intimidated by those boys. They put thier leathers on just like you... one leg at a time."

I never actually wore "leathers", but that is advice I still live by today.

"Come back smiling".

It was true.

Never quit

"I don't think you're very good at this" also heard that one lmao. Dad used to take me riding and I admit, I either sandbagged it or was just lazy the entire time. We went enough that I got okay when I was younger... It really turned me into the mediocre rider I am today lol.

"Turn the gas on dipshit"

"If you lose this race we are going to sell all your bikes"

"Don't be a p**** and twist the throttle"

"If you lose today you're sleeping in the camper this week"

"the wrong boy died"

my old man wasn't big on dispensing advice, but a couple of my most endearing memories:

When we got to the gate he ALWAYS had to run off into the trees to take a leak.

Then, with 30 60cc bikes screaming all around me, he would grab my face mask and put his face beside my helmet and yell a quick prayer for safety in my ear.

He has ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and is withering away now at 74. It's gut-wrenching. Dads are pretty damned important, i think we'll all agree.

You can't win the race if you don't finish.

I never knew until this moment how easy it was to cut yourself in half with a machete!

My dad HATED my motorcycles. But my riding buddy's dad was a long-time racer himself. He told us, "Have your bike and gear bag ready for the weekend by Wednesday. In doing that, you'll have checked out everything and know in time if something is missing, or needs to be replaced or repaired."

Good advice. I've used in in life as well: packing for a trip, getting ready for a weekend project, getting ready for a business presentation or project, etc.

Non moto related "If it smells like fish its a dish, if it smells like cologne leave it alone"

There’s no such word as “can’t “ when I was trying to get the timing and carb cleaned on an old DOT 197cc.
My dad Fred was a self thought mechanic who rose to working for Rolls Royce cars in design development dept. He would patiently explain how to fix something, but never do it for you. Great mentor, miss him loads .

My Dad was brought up on a farm and fixed all the machinery when he was a teenager. He competed in cars and taught me how to build engines etc. He jetted a bike by listening to it and was always on the money with mixtures. Best advice “never moan about your bike until it’s really holding you back and then make it better”
He’s gone nine years now but he’s kind off still here if that makes any sense. You think when your young that you will meet people that you can learn more of but I never did.

I’m using that one.

Wasn't to me but he told my brother you can't be a puss and ride motocross.

My Moto Mentor said to me "You've never been knocked out? You ride moto long enough...You will"

True.

Just 3 days later I was on my first (and only) ambulance ride after crashing my brains out in a race...And getting knocked out.

I pulled off the track. Once. On the way home Dad says I think I'll go fishing next weekend, I'm freaking out (didn't have a driver's license yet) he explains to me how he works everyday so I can race, does all motor work on the bike, drives me all over the state, and really would like to do something else on Sunday other than watch me not put out the effort that he's putting in, and We never quit, at anything. Always try your hardest and see it through to the end, even if you do not "win" you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you tried your hardest.
Years later when I first started racing 500's after the moto Dad's says why didn't you pass that guy, you're a better rider than him? I pull off my jersey and everywhere my chest protector didn't cover was red raspberry's from the roost, I said man I tried but every time I got close the roost bout knocked me out of the saddle, 500 roost SUCKS. Nonchalantly my Dad says if you pull the holeshot you won't have to deal with roost. Let them behind you deal with your roost, you need to concentrate on what it takes to get the holeshot on the 500, and practice until you get it down. I worked on my 3rd gear starts and pulled a lot of holeshots after that talk.
Learned a lot of life lessons racing with my Dad and we had a lot of fun together as a family. He is dearly missed.

Race forward. Don't ever look back.

“Look. Lean. Gas.”

All moto technique can go into one of those three.

“Hondas are reliable bikes” - true for the majority.

“Dont rev the bike up when its brand new” - im not sure.

“All that motocross racing shit is, is a damn money pit” - TRUEST.