Tales of an MX adventure!

[Jeff]

So this last Saturday, I was talked into racing MX for the first time in my life.  I thought what the hell, I enjoy riding MX so why not go out and have fun!  My boy has been bugging me for 2 years now to let him race, so this was the perfect opportunity to do it. 

We went to Gravity Park where they were having a no-points, free-race-entry day.

Due to circumstances beyond my control (*never* try to sell something to the open public!!! grrrr), we ended up getting to the track late.  Practice ran from 1-3 and racing was 3:00 on.  We got to the track at about 2:30.  Just in time to register and get setup before racing.

I was up first in the 250C class.  Having NO practice or laps at the track, my goal was to be last, and stay upright.  Out of the gate, I went easy and let everyone go.  There were about 20 riders in the pack.  By turn 2, I had passed 4 or 5 people (even going dirt slow).  I thought, what the heck, I'll just keep going!  Everything was going fine, I was comfortable.  Then on a tight right hander, I was just going too slow and lost the front and dropped the bike.  CRAP!  Pick it up, kick like mad and get back on it.  Now I was DEAD last.

I made my 3 laps and (okay, let's laugh at this) took a cool-down lap which put me in the next moto! LOL...

Next up would be Queue on the 04 CRF-150 in the mini-SR class or something.  He was running against REAL young kids on 65's, but with their experience they were much faster than him.  He finished his moto in 6th and upright (better than his old man).

Next time out I was in the vet class.  This is funny.  16-29 has like 50 people in it.  30+ (vet class) had 5...  On the line, I was talking to another guy and he was telling me how nervous he was as it was his first moto EVER.  I said not to worry as it was only my 2nd!

We took off and in a very uneventful race, I managed a 3rd.  It was pretty fun.  Getting the hang of things a little more.

2nd round of motos.

250C class.  I am lined up next to Johnny Petta (who talked me into this mess) and we take off.  I'm surprised to be RIGHT on his tail.  We were running 10th and 11th, passing people and getting passed, but holding our spots.  I was confident I could pass him.  Along came the opportunity in the back section in a 180 degree left.  John went high, I went low.  I got a little ham fisted on the gas on the way out.  That combined with a slightly damp surface since the wet it to control dust, brought the rear end out REAL far.  I thought I would simply lowside the bike, but noooooooo.  Snap!  It spat me off the highside.

In an instant, I go from passing Johnny, sliding sideways to flying through the air, upside down and looking backwards at the riders coming at me.  It was quite a moment.  As with most highsides, I landed on my head & left shoulder.  It was a pretty brutal landing.  I got up and saw stars.  For a minute I thought I'd just call it a race, but getting back on I was still ahead of a few folks so I just finished it out.

A bit of a headache, a rashed shoulder and a really beat up left lat muscle, but all is good...

Queue went out for his final race and pulled a 4th place which gave him an overall 5th for the day.  He was absolutely thrilled as he walked away with a 16" high trophy (which he slept with for 2 days).

Right about that time, the sky opened up in a torrential downpour which closed the event for the day.  After it lifted about 30 minutes later, we packed up and grabbed my 3rd place trophy for the old-man's class and headed home.

All in all it was a really good time.  MX officials and people are VERY cool.  No where near as rigid as CCS, but they have the flexibility to change things which would not be appropriate in CCS.  (i.e., Queue missed his first moto due to us not knowing procedures.  They moved him to a different class and let him run!).

MX is fun to ride, but I don't know that I'd like to race it too often.  While much cheaper, I think I'd spend the rest of what I spend on roadracing in medical bills!!!

Queue on the other hand is VERY psyched on continuing.  Today my goal is to find an 85 to replace the CRF-150, so he can be on an appropriate bike for classes in dist 16 AMA.

If anybody wants a 2004 CRF-150 with about 15 hours on it and in perfect condition, email me QUICK!  ($1750).

[TommyG]

So I guess this means you won`t be using your sore wrist from the T7 incident as an excuse for why Debuhr beats you at Blackhawk! Oh wait.....you`ve got the moto injuries now!

[Jeff]

LOL...  Well, we know why you'll be on the roster ahead of DanO this weekend now don't we?

Actually the wrist held up pretty well.  It was kinda sore afterwards but not bad at all.  I have no excuses for not beating Deni (well, I've got a BAG of excuses, but none are really valid).

[TommyG]

With you and DanO on 600s and me and Deni on 750s the end result is obvious isn`t it?

[Gixxerblade]

I did my first MX race last month. By the end of the last moto I was throwing up. It was hot and humid and I was de-hyrdrated. Not a good combo to be running with the 18 year olds. I ended up finishing 6th in both my races so it wasn't too bad of a first time. One thing I will compare to roadracing is that the paddock in MX is real real dirty and in roadracing its relatively clean so I think I will stick with RR just because of that aspect. Good learning experience though.

[Jeff]

so I picked up an 04 RM85L at lunch today to see if the boy can safely ride it.  Should be an interesting time...  I almost looped the thing in 3 gears in the parking lot.  It's unbelievable the amount of snot these things have...

2 stroke dirt-bikes are the work of the devil.  I just don't get it.  They're all but unrideable...

[jer271]

 :lmao:pussy!

[Thingy]

2 stroke dirt-bikes are the work of the devil.  They're all but unrideable...

That is why the nickname of my Husky 250 is 'The Devil Bike'.  Name given by Brian when he broke two collar bones in less than a year on it.

Brian, Brad, and I did an open practice the other day at the local MX track.  It was pretty humbling riding across the top of a table top and having 16 year olds flying over the top of you.  You should come down and do the Hare scramble that Brian and I have done a couple of times.  It is pretty intertaining.  8 mile loop through the woods and go around as many time as you can in 2 hours.  It is totally different than an MX track.  I thought it would be like riding thorugh the trails at the local riding area.  WRONG!!!.  The literally tie flags to trees in fresh, virgin woods.  Some places aren't even wide enough for the handle bars.  It is in October.  Why don't you come down?

[Jeff]

I've ridden hare scramble courses before.  I made one lap and thought I would die...

3 weeks later after the actual hare scramble, it was a pretty cool trail which I could do a couple laps on.  I could probably do a hare scramble on a 230 or smaller 4 stroke, but not on my 450.  It's just too strong for that tight stuff...

[JBraun]

I ride nearly every week with CJ Greaves (son of CORR champion Johnny Greaves) and it's a bit embarassing. He's eleven years old and rides a RM85. The kid OWNS me. I'll be riding my ass off on my YZ250 and he'll pass me in the air and check out like he's not even trying.

At least he's nice enough to give me pointers 

[spyderchick]

Hey Jeff...good on ya, mate! Most old guys quit riding moto because they're all busted up. You decide "hey, what the hell...I'm not busted up enough, so I have some catching up to do!" That takes some cajones grande! 

[Jeff]

yeah no shit Alexa...  As I was driving home, my wife reminded me how stupid it was to have done that in the middle of the race season..  LOL...  And I forgot about the wrist until on the ride home when it started hurting.  doh!