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Only $10 for all 2024 SX, MX, and SMX series (regularly $30).
Unfortunately, skill, (and access to practice tracks) is very limited.
(Getting Old - peak of career/earning potential. trough of skill/bravery.)
I still use a jersey I bought superseded in 2004. (Among others bought from the “specials” rack since.)
The Ti Pipe, carbon “glide plate”, and two spare sets of wheels don’t seem to improve results. But hey, I enjoy the whole experience.
Life is racing, the rest is waiting around.
Last actual race was Supermoto.
Last ride was a MX practice day - 238 riders showed up. Got 4 x 10min rides!!
The Shop
Of course the world was a better place when I was a teenager. (My body was also a better place. Brain, not so much.)
Another reason I’m interested in this conversation:
I was recently given an opportunity to move to the US.
Looked like I would earn about US$85 000 (Increasing as I gained the required experience/qualifications.)
Could a guy that loves racing bikes live a good life in the US on that? Depends on where I lived I guess. (Morristown NJ initially.)
I earn a lot more than that, but its Au$tralian pe$o$, in a Country where everything is crazy expensive, including income tax.
Your style. Haha.
Racin on a budget. But with top notch equipment.
My first real job outta college I made 30,000 take
Home a year after taxes. Bought two used 2 strokes. Filled them up to look identical and raced. bought a house and started paying on student loans. Raced quite a bit. Not every weekend but I could have if I wanted to....it’s doable. And had beer money! But I live in Ohio also.
I grew up racing from a blue collar family. There were years I would be battling with kids at area qualifiers and regionals. Then the following year they would come out of no where and be getting top tens/winning national championships. It would leave me scratching my head every time trying to see what I could of did different. But it’s hard to compete with someone with a fleet of the best bikes when my practice bike was my race bike, and they travel around everywhere in a RV racing all the big races riding 24/7.
Deduct all the income, sales, and property taxes, and that 50 becomes 30 or 25 in a hurry.
Reduce the size of the welfare state, lower taxes, and allow people to keep more of what they earn. They can use that money to buy things and stimulate the economy.
That said, ride a two-stroke, keep it mostly stock, get every ounce out of every part, go for budget gear, and carpool to the riding spots and races.
Put in some OT if you work hourly.
Also, if possible reduce some unnecessary spending to put that money in the moto fund.
And most importantly, don't get married or have kids.
In the USA, housing varies greatly depending on location. Taxes vary depending on the state and local. Some areas have hideous school taxes.
85K will get you a closet in Manhattan or a mansion with moto track in the yard in Ohio. Avoiding getting married and having kids is the best path to economic freedom. Nothing against women and kids, but they are expensive. And they get more expensive if the marriage doesn't work out, which is a 50/50 chance at best.
More so time constraints in motocross are a larger factor than money. Running stock classes nobody is beating you with money.....
I’m hopin my daughter wants to golf. I’ll drag her to every golf course all over the world! Atleast she might make some real money one day.
Longer Ti caliper bolts and al spacers, allowed fitting 320mm disc. (And saved grams of unsprung weight)
Ti/Cf Pipe saves some serious weight, gets rid of the “ice cream cone restrictor” and allows Pipe removal without taking the shock and swing arm off!!
I have numerous fabulous bikes. (See, “No wife, and especially important: no kids”)
My GF has a “portable” job and could, if she wanted, move to the US with me.
She just bought her own new KTM 390 Duke.
Ohio sounds like the place to be - My own Moto Track - A dream!
Pit Row
A Playstation and exercise bike may be the best way to cope with the crappy and depressing weather.
If you can find a last season F2 Carbon with MIPS, you can get a fairly cutting edge helmet for under $200. That's pretty much all I run anymore
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