[Jason]

Today I had my first race at the club. It was the third time I've ever been on a track and I don't think I did too bad. If you count last place bad. I know I had a blast which is what I was out to do. I'm almost clearing most of the jumps. I'll post pictures when I get them developed or find away to put film on a computer. The digital ones didn't come out too good.

[redrider911]

ah yes "the first race"! i remember mine like it was yesterday. It was the first weekend in April. The temp was 35 degrees. The weather could not make up its mind to rain ar snow. I was on my 1995 cr 250 that i bought from someone who rode it once, crashed, and sold it to me. So there I was, at the line with my Smith roll offs on and goggle lens taped to my visor. The gate drops and well all I could see was mud shooting 25 feet in the air. Only blurs of color were visable. After the first turn my roll offs were clogged and the goggles were off. By second turn there was 50 feet of roll offs trailing me. By third turn my bike stalled. 4th, ground. 5th, ground. 6th, back to my truck.

All i can say is dont give up and always have fun!

[Jason]

The weather cooperated great for once. First chance in a few weeks to ride. Saturday the track was hard and dusty but it rained a little in the night. The first race was a little slick but the second was great because it was tacky. The only bad thing was the 100% humidity.

I goofed both starts or would have done better. There's no way I'm going to quit, I was laughing all the way around the track on the first lap because I was having so much fun.

[redrider911]

keep practicing those starts. Its alot easier when your out front, especially the first turn. U gotta send pics

[jonda99]

LOL!!! You guys are seriously making me think of trying a race.

[redrider911]

try it! Its like crack!

[DaveX]

My first race,seems like yesterday..........actually it was last year. I had been riding trails but loved the thought of the MX track, all that groomed top soil. I was riding an 04 XR400 which I figured was fine for beginner class MX - a 40 year old surounded by 18 year olds. I actually missed the gate for the 1st moto and lined up with the intermediates by mistake It was a sand track with clay jump faces and rained for days before the race - the track was ok but the faces were a mess - the 50s were being pushed up the jumps by their parents who were unable to stand up as well! On the first lap I followed a rut around a 90 degree turn facing a step uphill - I got bogged in the rut and got lapped several times until I actually pulled it out and got that pig restarted. Ok - not the best memories, but had a few other races last year and loved it. Now I have a 450X which will still be good in the woods, but will be easier on the track and easier on me - can't wait for this season

[Jason]

You have to give it a go. It's sad that at 27 I'm almost twice as old as the people I race. It's kind of embarassing when you get beat by a 12-13 year old girl with a Barbie doll strapped to the bars but I have fun.

A little more about my first race a year ago:

A friend of mine told me to start in second because it's a concrete start. So the second moto I don't give it enough gas and nearly kill it off the line. I quickly slammed it in first and nailed the throttle. In the blink of an eye I was running behind the bike with the front wheel in the air trying to grab the clutch to jump back on. Yep, it threw me off but I did manage to jump back on in a way that would have made John Wayne proud.

I've worked on it and now start in second with no problem. It's amazing how much I've learned in a year.