Bike eligiblity, arguments and perspective

[Husky500evo]

       As we get older, there is an increased reluctance to embrace change, even if it is for the better. That is why rules for a sport involving older people should be well thought out before being put in a rulebook, as there is bugger all chance of getting them amended later, (even if they are wrong) because you will never get everyone to agree. The problem with the MA pre '78 rules is that they were copied word for word from the AHRMA "Historic class" rules, presumably because no-one here had the imagination to write up sensible rules for this class. Just be thankful that the AHRMA "Ultima class" rules were not copied for MA's pre '85 class, as they are written to try and change history and create a imaginary level playing field, where you can race an '84 CR500 Honda or '83/'84 KX500 so long as it doesn't have the standard disc brake front end. The thought of an '84 KX500 running around in pre '85 class with a drum brake front end just seems totally wrong to me.
       Maybe I just have "issues" with authority, as there always seems to have been rules that I thought were plain stupid, even way back when I first started racing. I can still remember reluctantly having to rivet rectangular numberplates over the oval ones on my brand new bikes, because that was the rule at the time. Which genius in MA ( or ACU , as it was back then) came up with that brilliant idea ?   

[firko]

Which genius in MA ( or ACU , as it was back then) came up with that brilliant idea ? 

Arthur Blizzard. He also banned nylon pants as a fire risk.

[Davey Crocket]

When I see photo's of those early days with the square front number plates I just chringe....god there ugly...Arthur Blizzard...what a genius....what state did he come from Firko?...or should I say what state of mind was he in?....no relation to Nathan I wonder?...LOL.

[JohnnyO]

When I see photo's of those early days with the square front number plates I just chringe....god there ugly...Arthur Blizzard...what a genius....what state did he come from Firko?...or should I say what state of mind was he in?....no relation to Nathan I wonder?...LOL.

Not only did we have to run  square front plates but in 79 we had to run them on the side as well! I had to bolt square plates over the top of the side covers on my YZ400f!
In 1980 I bought a pair of JT nylons from the US and wasn't allowed to use them because of a fire risk!
ACU.. Full of genius's!!

[Nathan S]

When I see photo's of those early days with the square front number plates I just chringe....god there ugly...Arthur Blizzard...what a genius....what state did he come from Firko?...or should I say what state of mind was he in?....no relation to Nathan I wonder?...LOL.

None whatsoever.
That sort of "let's make the dirty ingrates' lives harder" shit is the shit that I spend my life trying to stop...

[pancho]

 Let's not forget that Arthur Blizzard did a Hell of a lot of work for motor cycle sport for a bloody long time!

 Its a pity there are not a few more blokes of this world that keep turning up and doing things when others 'just want to race'.
 
pancho.

[09.0]

Hi all,

For those who enjoy a little irony, please read my original post in this thread and also the one I wrote a day or so back - and then note the discussion that followed.  I shant repeat my point for fear of  contradicting my argument about repeatedly arguing the same points...

I apologize if the following is self indulgent or self important - but this thread is about perspective, after all.  Today has been the best day of my life, thanks to an exceptional bunch of friends, and I think the following is relevent to the intent of this thread. 

Four years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, and the disease has progressed to the point where I have recently had to leave my engineering job.  I am 46.   I struggle to dress myself, I can barely stand without toppling over, and my hand motor control is shot (I am typing this one fingered).  I have joined this community after buying an old Sprite from Dave Alsop, and being swept up in his enthusiasm for the sport.  (Thanks Dave!)  I now own something like twelve bikes in varying states of repair (carefully disassembled and stashed around the house and environs so the CFO thinks I only have five...).  I love it.

Today I was invited to a mates workshop for a quiet barby lunch - and was met by a workshop full of people for a surprise  party.  Unbeknown to me, a  group of 170 friends, family, old workmates and former students have pulled together to pool resources to restore my old 1970 Escort, to be presented to me by the end of the year.  Today at our first work session, we stripped it to a bare shell, ready for sandblasting.  I am still utterly floored by this.

I am not fully  sure of the exact point I want to make here, but today I was fortunate to be on the receiving end of something bloody special.  And I was part of a team of people working together on a common project, and having a bloody good time doing it.  No arguing, no whinging - it was all about doing, delivering, enjoying.

VMX quibbles are first world problems.  Sure, try to fix them, but lets not define our sport by the arguments we have about them.   In the scheme of things, our quibbles are trivial.  Arent we doing this for fun?

And can we at least have a laugh at our own expense - that this thread about the tedium of eligibility arguments is being filled with eligibility arguments...

Enjoy life while you still can

Cheers

Geoff

Wow Geoff. A sobering thought to be in your situation at your age. I'm also 46.
Great story regarding the escort and having good friends and family.
Thanks for sharing and all the best.
On a side note regarding the rules/ eligibility and being told what to do.
I have always bought/ restored bikes to fit an era. So easy to comply. It's only hard work in your head IMO.

[GD66]

Let's not forget that Arthur Blizzard did a Hell of a lot of work for motor cycle sport for a bloody long time!

 Its a pity there are not a few more blokes of this world that keep turning up and doing things when others 'just want to race'.
 
pancho.

His mrs is still there, I rang the race office for the historic roadrace nats at Eastern Creek last year and Jan answered the phone, she was the race secretary. Arthur may have been a bit misguided at times on the way through, but he is quite fondly remembered by the NSW roadrace blokes, and together they did knock up a daunting number of days working voluntarily at race meetings, so a lot of people should be grateful for that at least.

[dalesween]

Yes, these square number plates wern't pretty, even on these!

cheers Dale.

[FourstrokeForever]

Hi all,

For those who enjoy a little irony, please read my original post in this thread and also the one I wrote a day or so back - and then note the discussion that followed.  I shant repeat my point for fear of  contradicting my argument about repeatedly arguing the same points...

I apologize if the following is self indulgent or self important - but this thread is about perspective, after all.  Today has been the best day of my life, thanks to an exceptional bunch of friends, and I think the following is relevent to the intent of this thread. 

Four years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, and the disease has progressed to the point where I have recently had to leave my engineering job.  I am 46.   I struggle to dress myself, I can barely stand without toppling over, and my hand motor control is shot (I am typing this one fingered).  I have joined this community after buying an old Sprite from Dave Alsop, and being swept up in his enthusiasm for the sport.  (Thanks Dave!)  I now own something like twelve bikes in varying states of repair (carefully disassembled and stashed around the house and environs so the CFO thinks I only have five...).  I love it.

Today I was invited to a mates workshop for a quiet barby lunch - and was met by a workshop full of people for a surprise  party.  Unbeknown to me, a  group of 170 friends, family, old workmates and former students have pulled together to pool resources to restore my old 1970 Escort, to be presented to me by the end of the year.  Today at our first work session, we stripped it to a bare shell, ready for sandblasting.  I am still utterly floored by this.

I am not fully  sure of the exact point I want to make here, but today I was fortunate to be on the receiving end of something bloody special.  And I was part of a team of people working together on a common project, and having a bloody good time doing it.  No arguing, no whinging - it was all about doing, delivering, enjoying.

VMX quibbles are first world problems.  Sure, try to fix them, but lets not define our sport by the arguments we have about them.   In the scheme of things, our quibbles are trivial.  Arent we doing this for fun?

And can we at least have a laugh at our own expense - that this thread about the tedium of eligibility arguments is being filled with eligibility arguments...

Enjoy life while you still can

Cheers

Geoff

Great to read you and your mates are staying positive Geoff. I can only imagine how hard it must be to accept what you are going through. You are right. All the little perceived problems with VMX are trivial when life throws grenades at us.
On a bright note, at least you have a great group of mates around. Your story reminds me of my younger days hotting up Escort panel vans with mates. Geez we had some fun. Drive in movies, girls, funny tobacco, cheech and chong......
The best Van we did had a later twin cam RS2000 motor and gearbox, twin side draught Webers and extractors going into twin side pipes. Rolling on fat Hot wire mags of course. Ha, I remember we set fire to the carpet in the front welding the brackets for the side pipes! You've never seen 3 teenagers move so quick getting anything we could to douse the fire. The back was decked out with black velvet roof and sides, red carpet on the deck with scatter cushions and 4 clarion speakers powered by a Pioneer stereo with graphic equalizer.  By the time we finished doing all the mods, we run out of funds for paint so we painted it with brushes and black enamal paint! The paint was still wet when we drove to Matraville drive in that night  One of the girls put her initials on the rear door which caused my mate to go bananas..... He was proud of the paint job!

[pancho]

  CHEERS  Big Bird.