Mixing it with moderns

[Gerard De Ruyter (Twistandshout)]

vmxman and i took a hike out to young on sunday for the young amcross round.  he on his '05 yz125 and me on my '86 cr250.  the good thing about amcross is they classes for 45+ and 125 and 250 two stroke bikes (one for each).  which made for bloody good fun.  the rg put in a good show in both its classes, never anywhere near last which always makes you feel good, and this is against '08 450s in the old guys class and a heap of young guys in the 250T class.  its got great power spread and only gives up some time with braking (and some suspension i guess). 

graeme kindly let me ride his 125 in a couple of his races which is good for comparo - his pro-circuited/v force reed zed has got amazing mid and top end, but not much low down which 'mid pack' guys like us need, so prefer the rg on the whole.  but brakes a 'little' better on the zed....

the rg would have been the oldest bike there easy.  in fact, there would have been no other bike racing there older than probably 1998.  everything was either red, blue, green, yellow or orange (and a few red huskies).  so with conventional forks, the '86 stood out by a country mile on the start line.  viva la difference hey?

did both practices and all eight races.  boy am i paying for it today.  burgers and thickshakes on the way home helped tho.

[YSS]

Did you also ride any classic bikes on that event ?

[Gerard De Ruyter (Twistandshout)]

no walter i didn't - i'm the guy who hit the 'one bike only' button in the recent forum poll on how many bikes do you own.  and that's a 1986 cr250 (not even pre'85! i hear you gasp).  i ride it cause if you only got one, and ride a range of modern/old events, you go for something that does both adequately.  and it does!

the other thing i thought - i might only have one bike, but i tell you what, it gets to front a lot of starting gates - more than a lot of the bikes some guys have got in their massive sheds......

[brent j]

Twisty I'm in the same boat, only one running race bike and only moderns to race against.

BUT, I enjoy racing now more than I did in the 70's. I have no pressure and usually find a few guys towards the back of a "C" grade field to dice with.

I was loaned an 06 (I think) KX450F for one meeting and couldn't come to terms with it. It was fast alright but I'm quite happy with how fast the XT500 goes these days.

As for brakes, I find I make up most of my time going into corners when all the moderns hit the brakes and they work! I find a lot of guys tend to stay out of my way going into corners, wouldn't have anything to do with me telling them I'm behind them on a 300lb motorcycle with no brakes would it???

I'll never win anything but I don't come last either, the bike gets a lot of attention and people tell me they can see me smiling even inside my helmet!

Brent

[Nathan S]

the other thing i thought - i might only have one bike, but i tell you what, it gets to front a lot of starting gates - more than a lot of the bikes some guys have got in their massive sheds......

Touche!
 

But hey, I've read the forums: Any bike made after 1984 is a goddam modern anyhow!

Seriously, good stuff.
Has VMXman made good his promise to front up at an Amcross on his RM?

[Graeme M]

Geez, I should have. Couldn't have gone much worse! But in fact the track was a chopped up rutted slogfest, and I think the poor old RM would have been struggling. Still keen on the idea but the event I was aiming for was probably Wagga and I don't think that will fit this year. I do hear a rumour that there is a grasstrack at Cooma in August and there may be a vintage class there. If that happens the RM will be a definite starter.

Gotta second Gerard's observations, it was a top day even though I rode even more craply than usual. My first real ride on the YZ and I found it a bit hard to get used to what with razor sharp handling and brakes and a seat as hard as a rock. I really need to do some more riding, I am definitely losing the touch. But Amcross meetings are superb, if you haven't done one you don't know what you're missing.

[oz555ktm]

Yes Cooma dose have a grass track comeing up
  and thay will run a Pre 85 class if thay get 6 or more to line up .
And will give out a tophys 1st ,2nd and 3rd

[Graeme M]

That sounds pretty good to me. I'll be there for the Over 35s and the vintage class. But Gezza might be a bit unhappy if it's pre 85 - maybe we can convince them to do Pre 88?

[Gerard De Ruyter (Twistandshout)]

i'm sure it'd be easier to leave it as is.  i'll just go 35s/45s and 250T and watch the 'old bikes'. 

then again, if it helped to get minimum numbers up might be worth a shot....

[oz555ktm]

Some time you need to fly under the raydar .

I think when it come to thing like this .
To LOOK at a 1985 or a 1986 it will look the same !!!
only the guys who know ! want care.

It is Not a VMX  Meeting .

Anway if you have a ride at Cooma it will be all for FUN...
I did say that the Old Guys  just  do it for the fun
But would like to Race by them self .

[Fenno]

Cooma will most definately have a vintage support class incorporated in the
grasstrack round on the 17th of August
final details should be worked out this week with flyers soon after

if numbers are good they will give us a full grid

Twisty I have proposed (just for you ha ha) that they could addopt the ACTMCC's old school bylaw with the addition of the machine being pre 90
if the Cooma club powers to be follow this or the pre85 it doesnt matter cause as you said there is other classes that you can ride in

[Gerard De Ruyter (Twistandshout)]

cool.  i'm sure it'll be fine on the day, 's only a club day anyway.

[Wombat]

...I'm behind them on a 300lb motorcycle with no brakes would it???
I'll never win anything but I don't come last either, the bike gets a lot of attention and people tell me they can see me smiling even inside my helmet!
Brent
Love your attitude Brent; no Sheep Stations in your sights? Good on ya!

[brent j]

I try to keep them honest Wombat!!!!!!!!!!!!

See you at Conondale?

Brent

[Wombat]

It was one of my all time favourite tracks from the dreamtime and I'm thrilled to see it remains a race track to this day.
Thrilled it isn't just a memory covered over with brick and tile breeding boxes.
Yeah mate, riding or spectating but I'll be there.

I think we should resurrect the forum name tags from CD5!