If regrets, poor decisions and injuries were trophies my garage would probably look like carmichaels! So let’s have a positive thread to go with it!
A fond memory of mine that I have found myself reflecting on from time to time was years ago I was racing the final round of a state series and I was contention for top 3 overall for the series in b class. First moto I’m moving forward in the top 5 after a so-so start, with a couple of laps to go I get a rear flat and have to limp it home salvaging what I could. It’s a short turn around so by the time a get the wheel fixed and back on I roll into the gate with the 30 second board up in a panic. Gate drops and I somehow rip the holeshot and lead the first 2 laps then disaster strikes again, there’s a super tight, rutted right hander hugging a tyre wall I get off balance and snag my brake pedal bending it the entire way around the foot peg so as I can’t even stand on the peg without it dragging bogging the bike down. I immediately get passed by 2nd and 3rd and I ride the next half a lap in utter disbelief how bad things have turned out when i realise if I stand on my tippy toe I can ride without dragging the brake. I put my head down and wind up reeling in second place passing him on the last lap and with that pass ended up securing 2nd overall for the championship! Now 2nd is not a “win” to most people but refusing to lose despite setbacks feels just as good as a win sometimes!
getting passed by Mercedes Gonzales at Canyon Raceway in 1990 when they ran women’s and 125 Beginner split moto!
Racing my Dad's KTM 495 against my two older brothers in the 500 JR class at Saddleback Park.
I beat my oldest brother on a Bultaco 370, but not my other brother on a YZ465.
Great times . . .
Not coming last for the first time ever.
Getting my first ever race win in my first season in the AMCA (UK) adults in 1988. I was in second place for the whole race, then the leader fell with half a lap to go.
Tip-toed round the rest of the lap trying not to crash, then did the full arms-up fist pump as I crossed the line like I'd just won the MXDN lol.
Sat in the pits between races proudly telling anyone within earshot about my win, then enjoyed the cool factor of being the first one to pick his gate in the next race, where I went on to crash my brains out.
Happy days :-)
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Proudest moto moment was 2 months ago. The whole family went out to the desert and I was able to ride with my dad and both of my kids. First time we've all been able to ride together at the same time. The smile on my dad's face and the tears in his eyes made the whole thing that much better.
Back when I was sponsored I had a provincial championship race at a track that was 3 minutes from that sponsors location (Karcher Canada), and I told them to let everyone at the plant know to come cheer me on. I had my best race of the year and went 1-1 for the win. A month and a half later I was on the cover of their world wide magazine with the title "Karcher, Always Leading The Way" and in small print under the picture "Karcher Sponsored Rider Goes 1-1 in Provincial Championship" (3rd for the series actually, but 1-1 that day).
^Hell yeah.
^Hell yeah.
Two come to mind. I was a skinny kid, maybe 110-120lbs. I won my first race in the C class, got back to the truck. Cooled off and started to load stuff up. I push my bike up my ramp into the truck and the chick of the guy next to me starts berating him saying “look at that scrawny kid load his bike by himself, why you need help” Didn’t know if I should be offended or laugh, bud did throw out a “yeah and I just won my moto” 😝😂
Second one was a couple years ago. A promoter in WI runs a race late in the season where he has a mini “sx” type track that he runs a night race in and then the next day runs an “outdoor” race. He combines the results to crown a “battle of WI” champion. I didn’t tell anyone but I really wanted to win the +40 race. So I took practice a little more serious the months leading up to it and had some good races with another +40 dude where we were wheel to wheel all weekend both outdoor and the night track. I was able to sweep the motos to win the “championship” lol. Pretty cheesy but I thought it was cool and my non-moto friends had no clue it was just a local thing so they thought it was cool also 😂
The first ride on the bike I bought with my own hard-earned money that wasn't running when I got it @12 years old. Dad tore the motor down and got it running while showing me how to work on my own stuff.
Bithlo 2002 maybe, +30. Holeshot & won 1st moto. Holeshot 2nd and was totally gassed with 2 to go & was ready to pull off. Just kept saying "1 more corner" & ended up with my only 1-1.
Best part is my son was on the line for next moto & watched it all. Tim got a shot of him cheering me on that's a great memory for both of us.
No particular order:
-first time I passed my dad (although there was some bittersweet to this as well)
-first time I cleared a double
-first win
-winning a local series (traded wins with two other riders the entire series)
-watching my daughter progress from barely being able to let the clutch out to having to basically drag her off the track when it was time to go.
Watching my kid win his first overall 2-1 the very first day he ever raced in the 50cc 7-8 class and 50cc open. We had never even practiced that track before. Meanwhile I got my ass kicked as usual....
Next would be him legitimately beating me at 9 years old on our home track. After 2 laps I got nothing for him. He's on a stock 85, but 4 or 5 riding lessons a year helped him a ton.
I'm hoping to get in shape to be proud of something on my own, unfortunately I have 2 blown out discs probably requiring surgery, and a big battle ahead of me just to get in shape. Reward for getting into shape is riding lessons for myself. I'd like to get the hell out of the c class. Never was good enough to sandbag a moto win.
Beating Graham Jarvis at an enduo event, now before anyone gets the wrong idea of my capabilities he crashed out and I didn't. But you got to finish to be on the results board! Haha
I get it. Both of my kids accomplishments always mean way more to me than mine ever did.
I've had 4 surgeries between L4-L5. If it's a burst disc, I highly recommend getting the surgery. I was back to work 8 weeks after my 4th one & riding again within 5 months. Just lay off the seat-bounce jumps.
Holeshotting and winning all 4 motos at the OTHG South National last year. I was +30 Novice for over 3 years and was getting smoked at every club national. Finally got a win, and a dominating one at that. Bumped myself to Intermediate right after.
It was also the last time my dad watched me ride. A month later he had a couple strokes and unfortunately isn't the same anymore.
Don’t know if this counts but as a father my most proud moment came at northern Nevada hare scramble. I was in the pits after the race and I overheard this lady say how she got stuck in a big silt bed with a steep uphill after it for like 10 minutes. She said a young rider came up on her and helped her get her bike unstuck and up the hill . Turned out it was my son.
My father and I are farmers, I’m an only child. We (still) spent way, way too much time together. Racing was a ton of fun, but had its very tense moments of disagreement. I wish I had the realization as a kid of just how much time and money my father invested into my racing, it would’ve perhaps changed my perspective in the moment. Communication between us was mostly unspoken.
When I read this title, one moment popped into my head. We used to have Western Canadian Am Nationals. I believe I would’ve been 13. I won the first 2 days of my class, and battled for a last lap pass on the third day to sweep. The top 3 of us parked at staging to congratulate afterwards. I remember clear as day watching my father stop and shake hands with the dads, and their sons. I was upset why he didn’t come congratulate me first (whatever attitude of a 13 year old). But I will never forget the smile he had on his face as he turned around to face me, and congratulate me on the win. I think about that moment still 15 years later as we work the fields together, or run from man-killing cows.
Dads reading this, when your kid wants to go riding you damn well take them riding and make sure they know how much you love them.
Pit Row
Being able to be in the 125 support class in the 1976 Houston Astrodome Supercross. I was a nobody, but made it to the main...and crashed out on the third lap...but I was so totally excited to be there, and in the same pits as my heroes.
I don't know who was more proud that night...me or my Dad!
125cc novice moto win in 1985. Kid who came in second said he was faster but couldn’t stay on track in the corner he passed me in. He over jumped that corner and went off the track. I was too psyched to respond to him.
Holeshot and just clicked with the finish line table top. Hated the doubles.
Last year at a SoCal OTMX race. Got my dad back into riding/racing and he wanted me to do a race with him. He went 1-1 on the day in 50+ and beat Dave feeney(he was fired up) and I went 1-1 in the support class. It was on Father’s Day. That was a pretty cool moment! Even if it was just a vet race haha we both podium’d an SRA last year too. Was a cool year. His new wife put a stop to all that 🙃
I was going to give you a thumbs up until that last sentence. But dammit man! Now I don't know what to do....
Passing Ryan Mills on 80s...he crashed after lapping me
Top 3 moto at Lorettas. (After a 1-1-1 at red bud regional)
2 O/a at mini o's.
Front page of starkville MS news paper as an Ohioan.
Beating guys in +30 at a regional that have gotten 21st at a national.
First ama "#1" plate last year at Daytona.
Jumping loraccos leap.
Having raced inside the mgm grand.
Sorry, couldn't pick one..
Only accomplished those with talent. Had I took it more seriously off the bike (biggesr regret). Physical training off the bike got me my only #1 plate at 37. Who knows what i coulda woulda shoulda accomplished with more effort back then.
after riding 80 beginner for 4+ years, I made it to my local pro class and did this...
https://youtu.be/f08vpoWEtTI?si=JipVp0fddMfYlKEb
This is my first post in many, many years. Enjoy lurking Vital.
On our way back from "the ranch" 2009 Loretta Lynn's National Championship.
Son - "Dad"
Dad - "Yes Son"
Son - "I think I better go to college."
Dad - "no problem son, that is a lot cheaper than racing."
He is now upper management in a very large well-known company.
For me, I never rode a track until I was 37 years old. I was proud of myself the day I mastered (did all the jumps) the vet track at Elsinore MX.......until James Stewert came out and doubled the two back-to-back 40 ft tabletops.
Watching Stewart that day and combined with the fact I could not keep up with my son on his 85 I reaized.....I suck.
I'm proud I never ended up in the hospital.
Pics of my son. Competition Edge and Loretta's.
Haha all I can say is don’t marry someone who hates what you love to do with your family. No pussy is that good.
Finishing 2nd in Open B at Daytona Amateur day in 1982. Following it up the next year by pulling a massive holeshot and winning the same class...while being a dirt poor college student at FSU and working full-time. Just something special about Daytona and looking into those grandstands.
That's one night stand pussy! I have friends who married that kind. I told my wife before we were married 15 years ago that dirtbikes were the only "love at first sight" I'll ever have. Gotta let them know where you stand from the get go. I did take it easy for awhile until I got to the point where I could afford to get hurt, and my family and employees will be ok.
I have photos for most but didn't wanna clutter the thread. No particular order:
Winning an AMA National Championship (First ever one on an Alta)
Being in a best whip contest that Tom Parsons judged
Winning an overall the same day as my little brother years ago (50cc & C class)
Getting one day where my dad and I lined up on the same gate (50+ class & C class)
Missing the first round and coming back to win a NEMX B class championship by one point in the very last moto in the mud!
I have videos of most of these on my YouTube channel too https://www.youtube.com/@JasonWhite884
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