My First Open MX Race - what was yours ????????????

[Hoony]

going though some stuff the other day and found my trophy for my first Open race. i had done 1 or 2 club Mx's back in very late 70's (1979 i think).

for me it was the Hotly contested (3 rider  ) 1982 Kinkuna Festival "Fourstroke class" hosted by the Lakes Entrance Club in Victoria. i never really had a desire to race at all before this meeting but as my mates were going i got a Licence and entered on my 1980 Yamaha TT250G "the first one" ( it was an evil handling slow bloody thing looking back now). anyway i went 1st, dnf (mechanical failure), 1st for 2nd place overall on what was a great track and one of my all time favorites.

That was it i was hooked!

 for the next 12 years i did every race meeting i could in MX, enduro's, dirt track, MX sidecar (passenger on Norton 850 & Yamaha 880 twins and rider on KTM540), Desert races, Speedway solo (Weslake Mk IV). Then i bought a house had a few lean years out of racing but still rode and then a come back to VMX in 2003.

I have met life long mates in this sport and had the best time ever. would do it all again in a flash.

What is your experience.

[Rossvickicampbell]

I raced "mini bikes" for quite a few years - a CR125 Red Devil until 16 - then had a go at seniors on a 250 in 78 - couldn't of timed it better for the bike    Raced at Sandford in Tassie and was shite scared coz all these blokes were serious and not the local bike club.  Well made some serious passes, had an absolute ball and finished mid pack against all these more experienced guys!!!  Kept racing until 82 when we moved interstate - have been on and off in VMX (because of work) for 11 years now and love it with a passion.

[80-85 husky]

ravenswood mx track 1980 on a borrowed RM125s held a firm grip on second last place. had one more mx after that (it was more of an xc at Benalla) and realised I wasn't any good so gave it away until 1983 when I went enduro riding...Now were talkin, ended up with a gold medal at the bert flood event in 1985

[skypig]

I can't remember exactly which qualified as my first "Open" race.
Was it the "Orchy 500" at Failford Park - always hot early Jan?
Orange "Fruit Drink" was as close to "energy drink" as we got in the 1980's
(Why, oh why didn't I "invent" Red Bull??

I do remember clearly the Sydney SX in 1981- the first at the show ground I believe. One of my early open meetings. I wish I had a picture. Just one!

[shelpi]

Port Augusta 1978 40 deg c, drank milk threw up in my helmet got 3rd and won a dollar

[Gippslander]

1969 at Christmas Hills, Bultaco 125, Hartwell Club, my Father who is in his 90's remembers that I fell off in every race, not much has changed... 

[jerry]

Pearcedale I think it was run by Frankston MCC. Hot and dusty. TM 125 C grade. I remember riding through irrigation ditches I think they were. I think I finished midfield in all my races. I just remember the thrill of the start and going for the first corner. J

[Hoony]

I Agree Jerry that run to the first corner is what its all about to me, what a rush as everyone sorts themselves out.

Imagine a race meeting where you only do the first 4 corners of a track then line up to do it again 3 more times straight after that.

it's what an adrenaline junkie needs 

[skypig]

My first race (club day, not open event) was on a YZ80D.
Wide eyed newbie, lined up bar to bar behind the big rubber band start.
Slightly uphill, into a right hander, Lake Macquarie.

Remember it like, er, other "firsts" in a young mans life. 

[John Orchard]

My first, 1975 Frankston Open meeting at Ballarto Rd (Carrum Downs, Vic), TM125L in Sub Juniors (then 14 to 16 yo).

[80-85 husky]

I Agree Jerry that run to the first corner is what its all about to me, what a rush as everyone sorts themselves out.

Imagine a race meeting where you only do the first 4 corners of a track then line up to do it again 3 more times straight after that.

it's what an adrenaline junkie needs 

that's an enduro right there, 4,568 first corners.....

[jerry]

Ballarto Rd in 75 John I think you and I must have been at the same event.J

[relfy]

Was the open meeting in January at Failford Park know as Summer cross

[jerry]

Now I think about it my first ever race was a "Mini Bike Carnival" at the old Box Hill Gasworks in about 1973. Mixture of gravel and concrete. I remember my race number was 69 and I got a second and won a pair of goggles. J

[Hoony]

My first meeting in AU was the night MX in Avalon . Was quite a buzz to run under lights and race against  pairings I never met before . Sure Hoony would remember that one .

Yep sure do, and it was a Night MX (not supercross)  i rode that one too. was it 1982? i seem to think i saw leisk and Mike Landman on 1981 CR's 125 and 250RB models? maybe my memory is going it was many Beers ago !