Tough guys

[Graeme M]

I know there's been a few discussions about the old days (read 40s/50s) on here, plus in VMX, but I rarely read those. However I just finished the article in the latest Transmoto about Tim Gibbes.

He went to the UK in the 50s and raced scrambles and reliability trials. He also did road racing, travelled to the US and raced desert, as well as toughed it out working for a variety of English factories as a tester. He rode in the ISDT as well, winning golds. And in those days the races were often VERY muddy and difficult and they rode bloody great lumps of iron with no suspension.

Makes my preference for only riding on sunny days with no mud and just a little dust on a bike with 12" of travel and even then only if I'm in the mood and can get a flat-white at the end of the day look a bit, well... soft...

OK, really soft.

But it was a great read and left me with a new found respect for the racers of yesteryear. Might have to read those articles when they pop up from now on!

[bazza]

Ah Tum Gubbs - the auzie/ kiwi great guy to talk to and hes done most things a legend

[Tim754]

Graeme ever had the pleasure to study most of John Boags  VMX championship race machines??? How that man has and still is winning events, must be a  very special inate ability and superior toughness. Cheers .

[Marc.com]

Tim Gibbes comes from a generation of New Zealanders that were tougher than a steak meal at a pie cart 

having known a couple of good MX and Enduro riders, their tolerance for injury and getting back on the bike when the rest of us would retire forever seems to be a common trait, look at Stefan Everts, Shane Watts.

I remember a story about one of the yank ISDT riders loosing 3 toes on a rock the hard way, finishing the job off with the tools in his bum bag and still finishing the day on schedule .

[EML]

One of the last real "tough buggers'' is Vern Grayson. If the hand grips let go, he would hang on with his teeth. But he was still around in the early mister Moto-x days and can still hold a bull out to piss. 

[TooFastTim]

having known a couple of good MX and Enduro riders, their tolerance for injury and getting back on the bike when the rest of us would retire forever seems to be a common trait, look at Stefan Everts, Shane Watts.

No ride no pay. Hit me Doc. Give me the good shit!

I remember a story about one of the yank ISDT riders loosing 3 toes on a rock the hard way, finishing the job off with the tools in his bum bag and still finishing the day on schedule Shocked.

Oh thank you. Thank you very much for that. Next they'll make a movie about it..

[Marc.com]

Oh thank you. Thank you very much for that. Next they'll make a movie about it..
[/quote]

Or a reality TV show, you know what is really tough 'jogging home from your vasectomy'