First race in 15+ years, any suggestions?

99CR125OK · Feb 19, 2002

Well, looks like I'm going to race at a local MX track this weekend. This will be my first race in 15+ years and I'm kinda nervous. It's a fairly easy track, probably won't be a real big turnout.

My biggest problem is not being able to make the 5 laps:eek:

Any suggestions?

Senior KX Rider · Feb 19, 2002

Stay loose and have fun. It gets easier after that 1st one.:cool:

JuliusPleaser · Feb 19, 2002

Size up the competition first. If they look like a buncha squirrels, let 'em all go when the gate drops, and then try to catch them.

Of course, letting everyone go is not an option with me. It happens whether I want it to or not. It's like Senior said - just have fun.

biglou · Feb 19, 2002

Rule #1: Have Fun! If you're like me, you're too old to be hurtin' yourself. I ususlly push as hard as I can to the first turn and then go carefull so as not to get taken out or take anyone else out (Thunder 33 has no idea how close he came a couple weeks ago!). After that, just dice it up with whoever is racing near you. Pick a guy and try to catch him. Try to keep the guys behind you from passing. After the race, I usually walk around and shake some hands of the fellow racers.

Did I mention: "Have Fun"?:)

Sawblade · Feb 19, 2002

I did my first race in 10 years back in Oct. Meet mx547 and bswift at the track and had a evening of racing, both on the track and off. I found out again why I enjoyed racing so much, and wondered why I stopped for ten years.

You have been given the best advise all ready. Have fun, meet some new people, and be prepared to go to work Monday very sore!

By the way, what track are you racing at? I did a search to see were in OK you are located, but came up with double goose eggs.

Regards,
Sawblade

mx547 · Feb 19, 2002

Originally posted by 99CR125OK
Well, looks like I'm going to race at a local MX track this weekend.

i can't think of any local tracks that are racing. i think there is a state race at ascot this weekend. you don't want to go there, huge turnout. you need to hook up with some of us drners from around here (heartland spodes). we're all overweight, over thirty (over forty in my case) and not too fast or crazy. i'm trying to get them to race mx more often. watch out, they'll try to turn you into a woods rider.:D

Sawblade · Feb 19, 2002

Re: Re: First race in 15+ years, any suggestions?

Originally posted by mx547
...and not too fast or crazy. i'm trying to get them to race mx more often.

Now there's a statement of subjective opinion! Don't let mx547 fool ya. He's faster then is aw shucks attitude persona he displays on screen.

99CR125OK, like mx547 stated you need to hook up with this group. A good time is always had when this bunch gets together.

mx547 · Feb 19, 2002

Re: Re: First race in 15+ years, any suggestions?

Originally posted by mx547

we're all overweight

my mistake. bswift weighs about 120 pounds. but he smokes so that makes up for it.:)

aw shucks...

Sawblade · Feb 19, 2002

Re: Re: Re: First race in 15+ years, any suggestions?

Originally posted by mx547
my mistake. bswift weighs about 120 pounds. but he smokes so that makes up for it.:)

aw shucks...

Hey mx 547, no mistake on your part what so ever. ;) Just ribbing you a little bit about the speed thing.

DKT735 · Feb 20, 2002

I agree with the others, have fun, don't worry about what position you finish. Here are some tips I hope you find helpful.

- Think about starting on the inside of the start gate. (Example: If the first turn is a left hand turn, line up on the left hand side of the start gate.) In most first turn crashes, bikes are usually pushed wide in the corner. If your on the outside, you'll be right in the middle of it. Watch a few starts before your moto so you will know the start procedure.

- This may seem stupid but remember to breath. Out of habit or excitement, I sometimes hold my breath while going over a jumps or whoops or entering turns. Then feel out of breath and wonder why.

- Don't worry about not doing the double jumps or how slow you may think your going during practice. Start the first lap or so slow then increase your speed to what you feel comfortable with.

Give us a ride report after the race. Good luck and have fun!

Jeff Gilbert · Feb 20, 2002

here's my advice

I started racing mx last September at the age 42. Don't forget to breath.;)
When the gate drops you'll probably be passed by a lot of riders and that's okay, don't forget to breath. As you make the 1st lap and are still on both wheels don't forget to breath. By the 3rd lap when you can't feel your hands don't forget to breath. By the time you begin the 4th lap and your tongue is stuck to the roof of your mouth and you can't breath just keep reminding yourself only one more lap. After you cross the checkers and there really is someone behind you breathing gets easier.

Seriously, after the race is over be sure to stretch out again and keep moving around so you don't cool off so fast you get stiff. The next day at work is a b---th but the hurt is a good hurt. Work the soreness out and race again the next weekend.

Funny thing happened this weekend for me. I've been racing 2 classes the last few weeks but on short tracks. This weekend I raced a longer track with many more obsticals. I didn't think about it much at the time that I was 1st and last moto's until they started 2nd heats. That put me in back to back motos'. I ran the best races of my short tenure and honestly could have gone longer. I found after racing back to back that I could relax in places, loosen my death hold on the grips and remember to breath. One of the kids that couldn't pass me said after the races that he was trying as hard as he could to pass me but I was too fast. What really made me feel good was he was in 3rd place. He said "I kept waiting for you to get tired and slow down." "Old people aren't supposed to be able to ride like that." Somethng like that anayway. He only raced 1 class and I had just finished the moto right before that race yet he was tii tired to keep up. Kids;)

Just have a good time with it, you've got nothing to prove except that you can breath.:aj:

wardy · Feb 20, 2002

can we say

tylenol, anacin, or bayer? thats what it will take tues-friday after the race on sunday! at least it did for me for years! after that long being off, be sure to watch the jumping. Most tracks have changed to the new style of jumps in which the take off ramps are shorter and not as forgiving. A friend of mine came back after 18 years and found out with two compressed verts that one can't sit on the seat anymore!

wardy

have fun!

99CR125OK · Feb 20, 2002

Hey, Thanks everybody.

I'll try to remember the breathing part. I'll definetly remember the tylenol, etc.!

sawblade, the race is at JRP Motorsports in west Tulsa. Broken Arrow is just outside Tulsa. It's a pretty new track, they just opened last year, they have a pretty good size concrete banked oval they run carts on. I guess they decided to branch out into MX also. It's a really tame track, not many jumps and no really big ones.

Thanks again everyone!

BEEF706 · Feb 20, 2002

Been there and the advise is rithe on , 1. have fun (if it's not fun you're not doin it right) and don't forget to breathe. One other thing, the age group classes (over 30 or 40) are usually faster so you may not be competetive right away like you would the beginner class, but they are alot safer usually. I have had more fun racing in the last three years than I would ever have thought posswible mostly because of the people I race with. Vet and senior racers tend to be a friendly and fun loving bunch (at least until the gate drops). BTW are any of you OK guys gonna come to Moriarity NM for the Loreta Lynn's qualifier, you sound like a fun bunch.
P.S. I like Orudis KT for the pain and swelling.:aj:

sfc crash · Feb 20, 2002

big lou posted

Try to keep the guys behind you from passing

:mad: he aint kidding about that, be advised if you try to pass lou he's got a block pass technique that is superb,and he's got the film to prove it. btw, that's just mean, ya got a guy, outa shape, riding a bike waaaay to big for him,then ya block him out, and to boot its a 426 (try kicking in the mud) and wears the poor guy out. and...you sit there on your bike,filming the poor guy struggeling.:whiner: meanie.

mx547 · Feb 20, 2002

99cr125ok, have you ever ridden at jrp? i've never been there. i've always heard that it's not much of a track but i would be willing to give it a try. it seems that i usually like the tracks that most riders don't.

99CR125OK · Feb 21, 2002

Mx547,
Yeah, I've ridden there several times. It's not much of a track but it's fun. Just about any level of rider can do all the jumps. Me and a several of my friends like going there because we can take the kids and it's not too crowded and it's easy enough for them to ride their 50's on. It has enough jumps and stuff to make it fun for the slow people like me.:)

Me, and a friend are going out Friday afternoon to ride a little and we'll be there Sunday for the races. Practice opens at 8:30am Sunday morning if your interested. Look me up if you can make it, I'll be on my CR250, and I drive a red ford F150.

mx547 · Feb 21, 2002

is that on 41st or 51st? i just might show up sunday.

OKKX'er · Feb 21, 2002

Do they have a sat. practice? I have a kid's B-day dominating this weekend,
but this sounds like fun.

BSWIFT · Feb 22, 2002

The track is on 51st just west of I-44. I think they have Sat. practice. I'll stop by there on the way home this evening and find out. If possible, I may show up this afternoon and practice(big maybe). Maybe Justql would be interested unless he has already entered the GP.

99CR125OK · Feb 22, 2002

We're going out this afternoon for a little practice. They work the track on Saturday, so no practice then. Hope to see some of you there!

:cool:

rollingp · Feb 22, 2002

Breath, look ahead not at your front wheel, relax whenever you can,
and most important ride your own race.
If others are passing you like nothing dont get frustrated just try to concentrate on being smooth. With smoothness comes speed eventually.
Try to avoid the follow the leader trap .

99CR125OK · Feb 25, 2002

Update

Well it went quite well I thought, I got fifth in the first moto and fourth in the second. I got really good starts, better than I expected, and rode pretty good. The first moto I actually got the holeshot! but they red flagged it because someone wasn't on the line.

Read the race report here

Thanks for all the advice, now which pain reliever should I use first? :whiner:

biglou · Feb 25, 2002

Congrats!

Wow, I've never even made 4th or 5th from LAST place!

Senior KX Rider · Feb 25, 2002

Well done:cool: :cool:

First race in 15+ years, any suggestions?

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