This weekend was all about motorcycling – Friday and Saturday were up at Leota MI with Brent, and my brother Scott and his son John. We had a great time sharing three vehicles with four people. This allowed for plenty of time relaxing around a campfire between rides.
On Friday evening the three went out without me and went farther than told them to go and got sort of lost – they had left without the maps and GPS and my instructions as to what to do and not to do. I spend a nervous hour sitting at the campfire, thinking I would have to call the sherrif to haul them in – the trails at Leota are great and easy and fun – but a wrong turn can send you on a 50 mile trip. But as the sun set they came back – they had gotten a little lost but found their way back. Whew – I immediately gave Scott a map and the trail riding lesson :)
We stayed the night in Harrison, MI – had dinner at a bar with a live band – pretty cool. I did not like the place we stayed (won’t mention any names) – AC was not working and the shower ran out of water. But the next morning we did visit a really nice place that we will stay for our next trip the Lakeside Motel and Cottages. Fishing, swimming, boats to rent, all right on on Budd Lake and in downtown Harrison.
This is the first time I have ever been to Harrison, MI – going up to Makinaw all these years – I have driven *by* Harrison 100+ times – it is a very lively town – with local restaraunts, flea markets, nice little shopping center – it is not a”cute” town – just a very functional town and nicely close to mid-Michigan and to motorcycling and snowmobiling.
On Saturday John and Brent spent time in the scramble areas and really short trail rides on their own. Scott and I took a longer trail ride and explored some new areas – we found way points four and five finally and found the way back to waiypoint 3 from the hill climb that has eluded me for all these years. Scott increasingly became more skilled on the ATV and I had more trouble keeping up with him. By the time we got back from our 10 miles my bike had been ridden harder than in a few years – a few bolts loosened up.
Sunday morning was another Vintage Motocross event – this time at the Battle Creek Motorcycle Club. I wanted a video of it so I asked Scott and John to come along as cameramen.
The day dawned with the first rain in 5 weeks – great for lawns – bad for me on a morotcycle – but I pressed on. I met Ben Wanke – the Vintage MX Chairperson and he introduced me around. The Vintage MX group is like a family. They even helped pull start my bike when it flooded and would not start.
The track was VERY sliick and muddy. I fell down for the first time – I was coming out of a curve and gunned it before I had enough traction and the bike just slipped out from under me – thankfully that was during practice. During the first moto – my goggles got wet and muddy and I had to take them off – it just meant blinking your eyes when a faster bike flies by throwing mud everywhere – not so bad. Later I noticed that lots of riders rip off their goggles after they get gunked up.
I used my strategy to start last and be behind the riders – but that kind of failed because they ran two classes at the same time – I was in the first class – about a minute later they dropped the flag on the second group of about 10 riders – many of these guys caught and passed me – so plenty of mud in the face.
While there are about 25 riders on the track at the same time – there are multiple classes running at the same time. I am in a class called Evolution for bikes that are 1981 and older. (Vintage <= 1974, Evolution <= 1981, Innovation <= 1989) - for this race there were only two entrants in my Evolution class. After the race I went up and found out that I had come in first in my class. And that if I raced a second time I and came in first again - I would win a trophy. So while Scott and John had to go home - I convinced Brent to hang out for another hour so I could race my second race. This time I knew who was in my class - racer 641 from Clio MI (I forget his name). At the start this time - I actually wanted to compete - not just survive. When we started out - I stalled my bike in the excitement - and watched 641 absolutely fly away from me - by the time my bike was restarted - he was long-gone - and I could tell he was a good rider - much better than me - so instead of competing with him - I just wanted to survive and go fast enough not to be lapped (and get mud in my face). Again the pre-1974 bikes started a minute behind me (they are supposed to be slower bikes :) ). Soon they began to catch and pass me - and for a few seconds I was actually racing two abreast and keeping up - but then I would slow down for something and they would fly away. I actually passed a guy who was having some kind of trouble with his bike and going slowly (my first motocross pass) - then three turns later - his malfunction was apparently fixed and he flew by me - throwing dirt in my face. So again I came in last (second place) and got no trophy because if there is a tie the person placing higher in the second race gets the trophy - I was 1-2 and the other guy was 2-1 as he won the trophy. After the race 641 came over and introduced himself and his two children - they also had a Polaris Predator ATV they were using as a pit bike. He explained that he had run out of gas in the first race - that explained a lot - because I had won first place starting out last and never passing anyone. That also explained why in the second race he kicked my arse so handily. Ah well. Back to low expectations. I know I will never be competitive in motocross - when I was 16 I was not competitive - I am not crazy enough to be competitive - even old racers are pretty competitive. But racing is fun - even without winning - I may continue to do it for the exercise and comraderie. Here are the pictures - things are pretty muddy as you can see. I am feeling pretty tired, muddy and waterlogged. http://www.dr-chuck.com/images/2007/08/index.php?img=05-08-07_105716_01.jpg
Sorry Georgia Tech – the T-Square t-shirt was at the top of the pile because I wear it a lot – I did not know how muddy it would get – I am sure it will clean up with a good washing – it is just sand.