Any vital members qualified for a national?

blockhead17
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Tokyo, JP
6/17/2026 8:21pm

Any grown man making a hour long video complaining about someone has deeper problems..

3
wardy
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3/31/2008
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USA
6/17/2026 8:34pm
truck wrote:
Had two uncles qualify for several in late 70's- early 80's. One of them got 13th in a moto at red bud on a 500 once...

Had two uncles qualify for several in late 70's- early 80's. One of them got 13th in a moto at red bud on a 500 once. To this day when he goes to a national he'll wear an event t-shirt from one of those races just to attract old timers to bullshit with. If you're at Millville this year and see a guy with an old gatorback shirt on, hit him up and he'll tell you stories for hours if you let him. 

IMG 20260614 172243.jpg?VersionId=bTjY66euiDteeMxIl

Say hey to Russ!!!  I raced him a ton back when dinasours roamed the earth!!!  HA!  I was right there when he "endoed" UP the ''rough'' uphill at Motosports byron IL!  I know that guy anywhere! 

2
yamahaha131
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730
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4/7/2010
Location
Newark, OH, USA
6/17/2026 8:44pm
What's considered a "member"? Frequent the site often? Or just talk shit in the forums? Is there an official initiation with a patch I can wear...

What's considered a "member"? Frequent the site often? Or just talk shit in the forums? Is there an official initiation with a patch I can wear at my local track... Asking for a friend 

This feels like a trick lol. 

3
Nairb#70
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Ivoryton, CT, USA
6/18/2026 4:24am

Awesome thread, this is what Vitalmx is about.

2

The Shop

MarkF
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3/18/2013
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Colorado Springs, CO, USA
6/18/2026 11:42am
se7enmx wrote:
IMG 3943 3
Searspoint 1980

I had the same boots and shocks back then. In 81' I had the black and yellow Scott boots. Those boots were junk, but they looked cool and Bob Hannah wore them so....

wpark89
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Mattawa, WA, USA
6/18/2026 12:24pm
Bad Billy wrote:

Two 125cc nationals: Budds Creek in 2000 and Steel City in 2003!

Give me a minute and I'll tie my story back to you...

By '99 I got to where I was consistently battling and beating 2-digit National guys locally.  Tried 7 Nationals and never made it...it was always a dream to ride that parade lap and be on the starting gate...but something always seemed to happen.

'99 Washougal I rode really well in the Saturday Qualifier, but missed it by a few Sunday morning...this was one that several fast Japanese riders showed up at and I remember battling them.  '00 Hangtown was brutally hot, I remember a few guys having heat strokes.  '01 Glen Helen was my peak and was in a spot to make it Sunday.....but caught my boot in a rut and tore ACL/Meniscus.  '02 Hangtown I was in position and my clutch basket exploded.

The dream passed, but any chance I had to line up with anyone who had qualified for motos or had scored points, I was motivated to beat them.

So 20 years ago...in 2006 (Ironic Mt Morris is this week), you and I met on Amateur Day at High Point for the Moto X Country race.  I'm all the way from Washington State....but I know you qualified for those 2 Nationals and had the "Factory Rider for a Day" article in Racer X.  We met at the Friday night party and found out we are both riding the Industry class the next morning.

I can't remember if it was a rubber band or flag start....but we ended up spending an hour in the Pennsylvania woods smashing each other back and forth.  It was easily one of the best races I ever had....and nobody saw it besides us.  I just had extra motivation to win because I knew you had qualified for those Nationals a few years prior.  I got interviewed by Weege after......and that whole weekend was one of the most memorable of my life.  I should go up to the attic and dig that trophy out this weekend to tell my kids the story....but probably not tell my wife about the night at Bent Willys...

7
Scott920
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Sedro Woolley, WA, USA
Fantasy
6/18/2026 2:37pm
FerCzD wrote:
I'm friends with Felix Lopez (best finish: 16th at Pala in 2022), and I've ridden with him on the same tracks in Mexico. The speed differential...

I'm friends with Felix Lopez (best finish: 16th at Pala in 2022), and I've ridden with him on the same tracks in Mexico. The speed differential was insane, I felt like a total squid. What's even crazier is that the top guys were putting gaps on him. Having that firsthand reference really puts into perspective how unbelievably fast the elite riders are. It's hard to wrap your head around it.

JazzyJJ wrote:

I have similar experiences with Carson Brown. Tough to wrap your head around guys like him getting lapped in a moto

Same here with Carson, it's crazy how fast he's going when he goes by you. 

JBecker 72
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Eastern Panhandle, WV, USA
6/18/2026 2:45pm
kpiper wrote:
How many of you guys know someone who is very fast and then you see them not even qualify at a National? Or if they do...

How many of you guys know someone who is very fast and then you see them not even qualify at a National? Or if they do, they look really slow running around in the back getting lapped? It is amazing how fast the top 10-20 guys are.

Two guys that I’m on track with fairly often, Scotty Clark and Gauge Keith. They are absolutely bad MFers on a dirt bike. And they are just off the pace to make the cut. 

JBecker 72
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6/18/2026 2:54pm
mgifracing wrote:

Does flat track count? Then yes

Anyone making the cut in pro flat track is a beast! 

1
Flatliner
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4209
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11/3/2009
Location
CA
6/18/2026 3:28pm
What's considered a "member"? Frequent the site often? Or just talk shit in the forums? Is there an official initiation with a patch I can wear...

What's considered a "member"? Frequent the site often? Or just talk shit in the forums? Is there an official initiation with a patch I can wear at my local track... Asking for a friend 

2000 cdn west champ!

1
Madkiwi
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8/20/2018
Location
Auckland, NZ
6/18/2026 4:40pm

Not as exciting (or competitive) as it wasn't the U.S., but I started riding dirt bikes at 32 y.o. after a stint racing road bikes at the national level in my mid-twenties (mid-pack at best). Started club racing MX at 33 and by 38 had come 2nd in the national support class and went on and qualified and raced multiple 450 Nationals. Usually finishing in the top 30-ish.

My best result was a 21st but that was luck and good judgement!
The weather was dreadful for the 2nd race, absolutely chucking it down, and the track was horribly muddy. As a tactic to keep my goggles clean, I decided I had nothing to gain fighting into the first corner and let the whole field go ahead, sadly for them, but great for me, nearly half the field came together BEFORE the first corner in a massive pileup. With heaps ending up pulling off.

I finished the race in 22nd place, not even noticing until after that my front tyre was flat, the conditions were so bad it probably helped Smile

 

image 632.jpeg?VersionId=kU3JOVuaqkIgUZXIGQRM82HXQdu37

Mark Collier No-49 2.jpg?VersionId=U7unh49F



 

3
Mallet
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1/23/2013
Location
Duluth, MN, USA
6/19/2026 2:46pm
MarkF wrote:

Awesome, vmx503. 503 was my rookie national number.

VMX503 wrote:
Thanks so much Mark. My number was 168 as you can see on my KRW helmet. That helmet is 51 years old! Ironically, my address was...

Thanks so much Mark. My number was 168 as you can see on my KRW helmet. That helmet is 51 years old! Ironically, my address was Box 168 lol. When I got my pro license, I was really excited after all the work to get it. Got the microfilm health info done and it was such an awesome feeling. I raced against Mark Barnett a few times in 1974. He rode a sleeved 100 elsinore and a 125. At Red Bud, he was to my right on the start line and we were inside as back then, it was a right hand first turn. He was a bike length ahead through the first turn, 1st and 2nd and then he was gone! I could not believe he could ride so fast. Keep in mind, I was racing against guys who made the top ten in the 125 nationals but man he was a true talent. 

MarkF wrote:
Love old moto stories like that! I also raced Mark Barnett later on in 1983. I also had 4 top 10 national moto finishes in 1983...

Love old moto stories like that! I also raced Mark Barnett later on in 1983. I also had 4 top 10 national moto finishes in 1983, a 6th, 8th and two 10's. 

You definitely had some good rides that year, your good starts helped. I always wondered who did your motors.

MarkF
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Location
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
6/19/2026 4:25pm
VMX503 wrote:
Thanks so much Mark. My number was 168 as you can see on my KRW helmet. That helmet is 51 years old! Ironically, my address was...

Thanks so much Mark. My number was 168 as you can see on my KRW helmet. That helmet is 51 years old! Ironically, my address was Box 168 lol. When I got my pro license, I was really excited after all the work to get it. Got the microfilm health info done and it was such an awesome feeling. I raced against Mark Barnett a few times in 1974. He rode a sleeved 100 elsinore and a 125. At Red Bud, he was to my right on the start line and we were inside as back then, it was a right hand first turn. He was a bike length ahead through the first turn, 1st and 2nd and then he was gone! I could not believe he could ride so fast. Keep in mind, I was racing against guys who made the top ten in the 125 nationals but man he was a true talent. 

MarkF wrote:
Love old moto stories like that! I also raced Mark Barnett later on in 1983. I also had 4 top 10 national moto finishes in 1983...

Love old moto stories like that! I also raced Mark Barnett later on in 1983. I also had 4 top 10 national moto finishes in 1983, a 6th, 8th and two 10's. 

Mallet wrote:

You definitely had some good rides that year, your good starts helped. I always wondered who did your motors.

Thanks, I got a few holeshots. Jeff Slavens built my motors and was my mechanic. He is still going strong in the industry!

2
Vet57
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2518
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12/13/2010
Location
BRO Town, MA, USA
6/19/2026 9:24pm
What's considered a "member"? Frequent the site often? Or just talk shit in the forums? Is there an official initiation with a patch I can wear...

What's considered a "member"? Frequent the site often? Or just talk shit in the forums? Is there an official initiation with a patch I can wear at my local track... Asking for a friend 

Flatliner wrote:

2000 cdn west champ!

Hip Hop !

AZ35
Posts
2941
Joined
6/1/2008
Location
Peoria, AZ, USA
Fantasy
6/19/2026 10:43pm

Not a chance, but my last reality check was in late 1987 at Blythe raceway for the Western States Memorial (the race to honor Bruce Bunch, Rick Hemme, and Kyle Fleming).

I was racing 250 pro class, got to the gate early, and then had Broc Glover line up on one side, and Doug Dubach on the other side.... 

About 10' out of the gate was the last time I saw them, just wish someone got a picture to show I was there for a moment.

3

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