3-7-99 Devil's Ridge MX

This was my second race since 1993. I had built some timing back, and some confidence, after my previous race. I felt that I could ride close to my old speed, but I know I have a long way to go. This race was part of the US Eastern Spring Series. An Excellent crowd was on hand, and some of the warmest weather of the year.

In the +35 class first moto, I got a terrible bite off of the concrete starting pad, and was nearly dead last in a 17 rider field going into the first turn. After the first lap, I was probably around 5th or 6th place, and I picked off a rider or two for the remaning laps. On the last lap, I passed for second place, and could see the leader now, but ran out of time to catch him. I knew my start stank, but I had riden well and thought Iwas prepared for the next motos.

In the First 30+A moto of 7 riders (30+ is now broken down into A / B / C because of popularity and the growing age of motocross racers these days), I was convinced that I could nail the start if I went back to my notebook of old tricks. With less riders in the class I had a better pick on the gate, and picked the gate closest to the starters box. But you see, at Devil's Ridge, They have never invested in an enclosed area to pull the gate lever, and after the sign dropped sideways, I looked out of the side of my eye and watched the gate man pull the lever. This was on old trick I had learned when gates were a new thing in Motocross, and all starts were done with a bungee cord. If you got nearest the center, you could watch for the guy to pull a pin out, and you dump it and be gone, before the ones on the end ever see the cord fly by. As I watched the gate man, Kent (Cool) Cameron, I underestimated his Coolness, since he and were old racing buds from the 70's and 80's. He must have seen me gazing at him, rather than the gate in front of me, since he gave the gate a pump pull, and made me jump the gate and get hung like bear in a trap! I watched as the other six riders raced off into the horizon, and I pulled my scarred bike out of the trap. Since I had popped my fork protectors out of their tracks, I took the time to pop them back in before blasting away. It cost me time, but I was more concerned about ruining my fork guards, than trying to make up for my mistakes. I was able to race back to 5th place, after starting about 20 - 30 seconds behind the field. I had cought up the pack by race end, and used this moto to get track time and to select better lines for my next moto.

In the second +35 class, I was ready. I knew that I could win this race, If I got only a decent start better than mid pack. I did just that, and got out about 5th or 6th. By the end of lap 1, I was in 2nd place, and was reeling in the leader. After the start of lap 3 of shortened 4 lap race, I jumped past the leader on a large sweeping jump, and began to pull away. My impatience and the fact that I had not won a race since 1992 made me nervous. I was more concerned about the rider behind me than the track in front of me. Just before the last lap began, I went to the inside rut, to make sure that I would not get cut off by my challenger. As I approached the turn, I stalled my bike, tried to bump start it before I completely stopped, but it was dead! I quickly kicked the bike to life with one kick, and took off just as he skated by me, with one lap to go. The best place to pass was the first section of the track, and he had a second or two on me as we began the last lap. I quickly pulled up to him, and still had a chance to pass for the win. I jumped way past him on a tabletop jump, but landed hard on the other side as he quietly held his position by staying out of the air and hooking up. Just a few straights from the end, I had a chance in the whoop section, as I had a secret line through the rough stuff. I went to the outside line and nailed the throttle, and pulled beside him as my rear end kicked on the next to last whoop and nearly sent over the bars. I held it on two wheels, but I couldn't make the pass. I was a wheel behind at the finish, and finished in second place.

The second +30A was less eventful. I started about 3rd, and finished 3rd at the end of the race. I felt good that I could hang with Scotty Shipley and Sidney Williams for the entire race. I let them go the last lap, but was pleased with my performance for the day.

Picture 1

Picture 2

+30A Results

+35 Results