Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Did many here race when they were young?

« on: July 02, 2011, 05:32:37 pm »

Many thanks for everyone that is sharing their stories.
I suppose this is a good example of the realities of bike ownership that I have always misunderstood a little.

Being a young fella and reading magazines, you get the idea that 90% of bikes riders (or at least racers) are rich kids with parents who throw endless amounts of money at them. Seriously, the amount some spend on one kid for a season alone could be a years worth of mortgage repayments for many people.

What this thread has made me realise is that the people represented in magazines are the minority, and the large majority (at least in the past but no doubt now also) are hard working people with a passion who get away with older, borrowed machines, people who scrimp and save from meet to meet and probably miss many in between.

I have always believed that the harder you work for something and the less is 'given' the more you tend to appreciate it. The fact that so many here are still into bikes is no doubt testament to that "passion" which was developed as the bike iteslf and keeping it running was such a part of the lifestyle.

When i was racing, there was always a couple of guys who had a new bike every year who's parents obviously were supporting their hobby.
Most of the field were supporting themselves though, and even those that were getting results and had earned some sponsorship from a bike shop, were still paying for most of it out of their own pocket.
I often wonder whether those guys that had everything given to them got the same thrill when they rode as the rest of us did.

When I was racing there was a young kid who was so fast, Chris Hill.
He was only about 8 years old so he obviously was being supported by his old man.
Where is he now?
I heard he retired at 16 from the bikes.
Was it just his old man pushing him while he perhaps didn't enjoy it even though he had an incredible gift at such a young age?

2

Introductions / Re: Raced in the early 80's on YZ80H/K and CR125RD in Melbourne

« on: July 01, 2011, 08:30:06 pm »

I should also mention that I never graduated beyond C-grade and never won a race but improved a lot after attending the Blackbutt Gully MX school in Nowra NSW on the YZ80H with Anthony Gunter as one of the instructors.

I raced at various tracks around Victoria on both the YZ's and the CR.
On the YZ I raced at least 2 events at Waiaa at Shepparton including the Vic Championships, a previous Vic Champs at Melton, a supercross at the Shepparton showgrounds, and one event at Dandenong (Hammond Rd?) where I grabbed the holeshot for the first time in my career only to be greeted by the red flag as I rounded the back straight with a commanding lead.
Not having any idea why they stopped the race, I headed back for the restart which wasn't as good for me as I got caught up with some other bikes over the jump in the main straight and ended up in Dandenong and district hospital with a broken tibea, lacerated chin and a 3 month hiatus from racing. :'(
I would love to know why they stopped the race as my dad said no one watching near him had any idea.
It was suggested that it was because I was from the Whittlesea & District club and Dandenong looked after their own, but I don't believe that. 

3

General Discussion / Re: Did many here race when they were young?

« on: July 01, 2011, 11:07:10 am »

I was about 13 or 14 when I got my first job at a petrol station after school.
A mate came round on a clapped out old XR75 which had no kick starter, but I was in awe and saved my money to buy a new bike.
I had no idea about bikes but went to Elizabeth St in Melbourne where all the bike shops were and saw an RM50T and decide to buy that based purely on how it looked and it's price ($600 I think).
After riding that for a while at the Epping track (W&DMBC), I realised I needed a bigger bike to race so I set my sights on a YZ80H.
It had just come out and another member at Epping gave my a ride of his bike and I couldn't believe the power.
So after I had saved up again, I sold the RM and bought the YZ. (It was $800 I think)
I started racing at Epping mainly and rode the H for a few of years until I traded up to a YZ80K when it came out.
When I turned 18, I bought the only second hand MX bike I ever raced from a mate, a CR125RD.

I was totally self funded, including maintenance which I learned by following workshop manuals and getting help and tips from the mechanics at the petrol station.
My dad was happy to drive me to tracks towing the bike trailer and he never charged me for fuel.(probably because he had a company car )

4

Introductions / Re: Raced in the early 80's on YZ80H/K and CR125RD in Melbourne

« on: July 01, 2011, 09:47:06 am »

Hi GMC.
You probably don't remember me but might remember a mate, Chris Burrows (crash)?
I remember when Jeff Leisk came over from WA, he hung out with a few of the DVMCC members and I recall going to "The Lower" (Lower Plenty Hotel) one Thursday night and Leisky being there with some members.
I don't remember any names of the guys though.
I also remember being in the pits with "crash" at a supercross at Olympic park I think.
Crash was racing and Leisky was giving some tips before their races. (not the same race though)

Hi Hardex.
I failed to mention that I'm now in Singapore and CB400's are more common than in Aus.
Mine is a 96 CB400 version S, which incidently just blew a rad hose yesterday and I had to be towed.

Thanks for the welcome guys.

5

Introductions / Raced in the early 80's on YZ80H/K and CR125RD in Melbourne

« on: June 30, 2011, 11:47:49 pm »

Hi all.
Just joined after googling old tracks and finding this forum.
I haven't ridden a MX bike since then, but lately I have been riding on the road on CB400.
I have just started thinking about the old days after I ran into a mate that I used to ride with who hasn't stopped riding since then.

Anthony Peters.
Whittlesea & District Minibike Club (VMBA) Epping track : YZ80 H,K
Diamond Valley Motorcycle Club (ACU) Newtown track, near Ballarat : CR125RD