Posts
6185
Joined
8/27/2006
Location
Acworth, GA
US
Edited Date/Time
8/11/2020 9:53am
Other thread got me thinking about this.
Keep in mind I was never a expert. I was a c rider or b rider at best when top of my game.
I was sixteen and was on a cr125. This was 20 so years ago. I was racing the c class which at a local race is ton of guys. Usually 20 people. My family and all my friends were there and me and this other guy were going at it and I ended up winning first place. One of the best feelings I ever had. None of my friends or girlfriend were actually watching they were goofing off but my mom and dad were and gave my mom a big hug after. Was such a great feeling to be first.
The second one was I was 32 or so and got back into racing. I had a crf250 and was racing over 30 class but was not enough competition so I decided to race the c class with all the young guns. 20 plus riders and I got like 4th. I was nailing this huge tabletop each time and just felt good. I was flying it felt like. Even though didn’t win it felt good to place that high for only being back racing for a few years and against the younger kids. I was 200 pounds also 6 feet tall on a crf250. Loved that damn bike.
Keep in mind I was never a expert. I was a c rider or b rider at best when top of my game.
I was sixteen and was on a cr125. This was 20 so years ago. I was racing the c class which at a local race is ton of guys. Usually 20 people. My family and all my friends were there and me and this other guy were going at it and I ended up winning first place. One of the best feelings I ever had. None of my friends or girlfriend were actually watching they were goofing off but my mom and dad were and gave my mom a big hug after. Was such a great feeling to be first.
The second one was I was 32 or so and got back into racing. I had a crf250 and was racing over 30 class but was not enough competition so I decided to race the c class with all the young guns. 20 plus riders and I got like 4th. I was nailing this huge tabletop each time and just felt good. I was flying it felt like. Even though didn’t win it felt good to place that high for only being back racing for a few years and against the younger kids. I was 200 pounds also 6 feet tall on a crf250. Loved that damn bike.
The Shop
Anyway, I had finished 4th in the first moto and was hoping for a podium. I got a bad start and started to panic... slashing through the slower guys to get up to where my competition was. I was on a 125 so it was tough going against the 426Fs and 250s. Just as I commited to a small double, I saw there was an enormous pileup at the entrance to the whoops ahead. I landed already on the brakes and I think the lightness and agility of the little bike saved me. I managed to squeeze past several dudes as they were crashing too, and I came out in 3rd. I had noticed the guy who won moto 1 was trying to kickstart his bike from the crash.
I made my way to the front, passing the guy I had been battling with in moto 1 in the process. Won the moto in front of my fiancee and her friends! How awesome that feeling was.
One guy went 2-2 so I didn't take the overall, but apart from that it was a great day.
Jumping loraccos leap was cool.
8th at Loretta's was sweet (with a 2nd in moto 1).
Racing at the us open in the MGM was sweet.
Always liked doing cheesy intermission freestyle shows with Adam Jones before he went on to be who he is today. (Broke mentioned yz250f nearly in half once at switchback in pa lol).
It was stupid hot, too. I'll never forget. I jumped one of the jumps out of the corner in the back and specifically remember seeing a copperhead crossing the track below me. It was like slow motion. Weird.
I got my ass whooped the first couple of harescrables I ever did! Midway through the season we started practicing more and I started working on my endurance again. The next race was in North Florida which is a little more tacky and hardpack compared to the sand we had in South Florida. I had another dead last start and just rode my own pace (Found out i was good in the mud). It had rained all day for the past three days at this property. I picked anyone off i could and wound up with a second out of 12 and only 13 seconds off the leader! After that race i strung 3 more seconds in a row, a 3rd, a DNF when my ole CR grenaded itself, and we had a 3 week long break because of the weather issues before the last race of the season. A friend from the races texted me and told me i could win the championship and i didn't even believe him until we calculated the points.
Going into the last race I had 1 point over 2nd place. I was super nervous and could barely stand on the line about to run to my bike, I wound up pulling a holeshot and a huge lead and in the last 1/4 of a mile of the first lap I crossrutted and hit the ground pretty hard, As i was picking my bike up the kid who was second in points behind me skirted right by, I got up and I was just pissed, I wound up getting on his tail and i felt like i could do no wrong, I could hit any bump how i wanted or rail any corner I saw, On the last lap we went into a long whooped out sand section and he started swapping in front of me so i moved to the edge of the trail and held that slow
old CR wiiide open past this brand new KTM, I wound up beating him by a little over a minute. Winning the championship was sweet, making a speech on the top step of the podium at the banquet was pretty cool, but i'll never forget of pulling out of scoring and seeing my dad with tears in his eyes and arms out ready for a huge hug, It's shit like that that will always have a permanent impact on me.
I hadn't done any type of racing since I was 12 or 13, My parents got divorced during that time, my dad lost everything and worked his ass off all over to have his nice stuff again. I didn't have the nicest or newest bike, I didn't have cool custom graphics, Not the nicest helmet or boots, Not the freshest tires, not the most popularity at the races, but that whole season I did realize I have the coolest and most supportive dad I could ever ask for, dealing with all my other problems I have in life and paying for my race fees and parts and fuel, He never doubted me one bit.
Too many to list.
Congrats to you.
Proudest? Probably the 2001 Dunestown GP on my RM125.. There had to be 30+ 125s on the line, maybe more. Dead engine start... I kicked it over in first gear with clutch in, dropped the clutch and holeshotted. Finished 4th. I've never been fast and LACR was always packed and intimidating, so I was really stoked on that 4th!
or
Coming from a last place start at Mammoth in the 85 (12-13) LCQ to 2nd, only to have my motor blow up going up the big up hill on the final lap right behind the leader. I ended up not racing the main event that was literally the next moto because I was so drained. Looking back, I should have raced the main event. I was exhausted, but the list of names in that race was something special. I can't find results anywhere but every single rider in the main went on to become a pro rider and qualify for main events. I wish I could go back in time and race and see where I ended up (I qualified for the Supermini main).
Pit Row
-getting my first trophy. I think got like 9th and they gave out top 10 trophies in the 65 class.
-qualifying for the BooKoo Arenacross in the 85 class
-qualifying for Lorettas in the 85 Sr class.
-winning the 85cc regional points championship my last year in the class, after I lost it the previous year due to snapping my femur at the final race. All I had to do was finish the race to get points to clinch the title. Ended up with 2nd that year. The redemption was great.
-moving up from 85 to the 125/250 B class and beating my older brother for the first time. He was pissed!
-jumping the national sized Chadapult and uphill triple after it on my stock 125.
- clinching the 125/250b regional points championship
-and lastly seeing my brother back riding after breaking his back at Millville 2 years prior.
The supportive dad part is something a lot of guys fail to appreciate. I love my dad a lot, has taught me a ton, but he stopped the MX support when I was 14. I'll never forget it because my buddies left for the weekend for the races and I was unable to go. I'm sure in his mind it was a smart decision. Said he couldn't see me get hurt anymore. At the time I was really devastated. Really bummed because I was at the age to move up to the 125 from my 80.
I remember being to tall for my 80, just riding at a practice turn track down the street. I got so pissed I rode the dog shit out that bike that day and blew it up... But with a blown up bike, no support, what does a kid do? I got a job. I worked hard, saved, saved and saved. After a year, I had a grip of cash together to get my 125. I ended up buying a used team green raced to death but well maintained 125 (1994 KX125), was so stoked. I'll never forget holding all that money, looking at it and remembering how much hard work it took to get it. I actually questioned spending it on something I grew to love so much, motocross.
I got that 125 and raced again. 1-1 It was very rewarding because I did it on my own. It shaped my character as a young man.
Being in my 20's money got tight, riding areas closed. At the time I had a 250 I sold to pay bills. Fast forward to 5 years ago I was in the woods shooting my bow at a public park. A buddy doing construction work at the park saw me and let me know about a bike his friend was selling. I don't know what it was, the spark lit again. It had been so long since I rode, never even crossed my mind to get another bike. I questioned myself so many times was it a smart move? I'm to old right?
I bought the 06 YZ 450. I remember sitting in the garage looking at the old bike at 34 years old feeling like a kid again. So happy to just turn some laps and wrench on the thing! After knocking off a ton of dust, my technique came back but I had missed the 4 stroke boom in my 20s. Had some struggles at the time I didn't realize was me trying to ride the thumper like a smoker which leads me into my race story to add to this thread.
Later ended up building a KTM 300sx and was extremely pleased with. After 17 year race break I lined back up. I put my best foot forward, training, diet, etc.. etc.. My wife and a ton of friends was there. Looked at that gate and that anxiety was back. I quickly got a hold of myself by saying this and its what I tell everyone thats nervous before a race... "That gate is only hold you back from riding your motorcycle".
I rode my ass off for 4 motos. 1-1-1-1 Had a buddy on the pit board, friends in the pits with air horns, cheers every lap. So surreal, man it was awesome. A day I'll never forget. I thanked my Dad for telling me no years ago, I'm glad he did, maybe he knew something I didn't or maybe he was tired of his squid son getting 2nd all the time or in the emergency room LOL
I work a job right now, I don't make as much as my friends, I'm still paying back my dad for when he helped me buy my first truck, I pay my insurance as well. Any money I can scrounge up to pay for some parts to keep on the shelf for when I need them I do, I buy second hand jerseys and pants, And just dropped my practice bike frame off to get re powder coated yesterday.
After racing hare scrambles last season we decided to move to MX and right now I race 250c, we knew that my old CR was way too short on power so we wound up buying a top amateurs kid mod 2016 KTM 125 with an extra 150 cylinder, and we got a deal on another 2016 KTM 125, from the same kid we bought my old Honda from, racing has brought me and my dad to whole new level of a father and son relationship.
My best race was at Bellpuig, Spain, for my first 125 european champion in 1993 i think. I really didn't know if i'll be able to qualify, and ended up second of my group! Then, almost holeshoted the first moto (i was terrible at start...), fighted the whole moto with Camerlengo, Federici, Seguy and Jorgensen to finish 4th. I was pumped. 7th in second moto was OK, and then i landed on some swedish guy in the last one after a bad start. Everything was clicking that day, track was perfect ! A young DV was also in this race.
But a few of my proudest moments indvidually would be:
- My first trophy when I was 8 years old.
- Selected to Team Green when I was 11 or 12
- 2nd place 250b at Mammoth Mtn.
- 1st place 250b at Ponca
- 1st place 250 pro Ponca
- 3rd place minis at Loretta's
- Selected to Kawasaki Race of Champions at the World Mini Grand Prix in Las Vegas
- Qualifying for my first AMA National at Broome Tioga
There are ton of great moments and some not so great moments sprinkled in between all of those things.
A lot of great memories. Heading to California to race CMC races in the winter time or Texas for great off season racing. Mini O's in Florida. Mammoth Mountain, Lake Whitney. Loretta Lynn's, Ponca City, etc etc etc. And all of the race tracks, practice tracks in between.
Getting old sucks because I have already forgotten more then I can remember.
One thing I've always noticed is that a lot of my memories center on the travel to the events. The break downs, the camping, the working on bikes with my dad, hanging out with the family, doing the tree jump at Lorettas. I can remember more of that then most of the actual racing.
The racing is what kept our family close. And it's those memories that have survived a lot longer then any specific race or trophy I received.
Second would be my C class Supercross championship at a local track in 94. I broke my collar bone, but was still able to pull it off. Me back in 94
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