Playing in The Snow 

The Taz crew can never get enough of racing so Papa and I went to ECMX to play in the snow.  Our friends Sam and Samuel Pearce came with us for a guy’s weekend. The girls stayed home where it was warm, and us guys went to race in the snow.  The season finale for the Winter Series at Elizabeth City was scheduled at the end of the track this weekend.

We woke up Sunday morning to a track covered in snow.  I got myself all bundled up and headed out to practice.  It was really fun making my own tracks in the snow for the others to follow.  Due to the snow falling, the racing started early. 

I went there to have fun and try to take over the Winter Series Championship.  The weather scared off some of my fellow racers, so it was my riding pal TJ Roberts and I out there.  We ran off with all of the races.  I decided to really have some fun in the slush as the snow was melting.  I went sliding off into the turns and ended up in the mud a couple of times.   This was fun and I enjoyed playing in the snow and slush as the closest rider was TJ and he was a half lap behind me.

Even with a win in both 60cc moto’s that day, TJ took the overall for the series because he had attended all of the races and I had not.  I was running for the D13 championship and had missed some dates.  Sometimes you have to decide which race and competition is the most important; they often run in different parts of the states, even on the same days.   

My YZ Yamaha 80 flew through the flakes in the snow with me on the tailpipe.  I raced each moto and took a second for the day in the 80cc class.

The season closed as I played in the snow and slush.  I made it through the season healthy, not wealthy in money, but wealthy in knowledge.  I have a pretty good idea of what it is going to take to get on the move for the New Year.

Hope to see you at the racetracks.

ECMX – 12/3/00

60cc – 1^st
80cc – 2nd

Whirl Wind Racing Tour  

Our adventure started in Sussex, Virginia…I had just finished the 50cc championship for District 13 and I was looking forward to getting some track time on my YZ 80 Yamaha.  My Papa drove us to the Sussex Speedway track where we parked next to our friends the Buhr Family.

 I started out the day with a great challenge for the front of the pack on my 80cc bike.  I came in 2^nd in the 1^st moto and 3^rd in the 2^nd moto, overall 3^rd.  Not bad for the first race on my new bike.  Then I ran the 60cc race where I pulled the holeshot and never looked back after the start.  I tried this in the 2^nd moto but I came out of the hole second.  By the first turn I had caught that rider.  While I was jumping, I stalled my bike and got passed.  I came back from behind to win the moto and completed the day with the overall win. 

We then headed straight to Florida, with Papa and Mom driving for twelve hours to get me to the track in time for the riders meeting.   We arrived on time and with having pre-registered we were all set.  The big issue of the moment was parking.  When we got there they were so packed we had to be parked by a guide on his 4 wheeler.  Per Mr. & Mrs. West (owners of the track) this was the largest crowd in 29 years. 

We started the race schedule with the Grand Prix.  This is when your mechanic holds your bike, and you run and jump onto the bike and start racing.  It begins with going to a checkpoint, racing through some trees, and then regular track racing.  Everyone who was racing in more than one class got to run it in each class.  There were just short of 100 bikes in each of my classes.  I finished 34^th in the 60cc and 76^th in the 80cc, which wasn’t bad for the first time.  

Then we went to the Super cross and I did okay, with a win in my 60cc modified class and a 3^rd in the stock class( In the Consi races to transfer to the mains).  I placed for the finals in the middle of the pack.  In the 80cc class I did make a lot of great track times in the qualifiers, but was unable to make the mains.  

Next we went to my favorite part of the Motocross Track, the full schedule, entire days of racing and qualifying.  We were either in line or on the track all week.  I made both my main events in the 60cc class, but missed by two places for my 80cc class.  We cam down to having to finish our races on Saturday morning and the weather didn’t want to hold up.  The rain had passed us by all week and now it was coming.  The idea of racing in the rain really excited me.  Over the summer, Gary (Professor Bailey) had us practicing to run in the mud.  

My first race was the Stock class and I ended up in the middle of the pack at the finish.  It was raining when then ran the Modified class, but I was not going to get discouraged because I was ready.  Somehow, the track had come around better this moto, maybe because of the rain.   Out of the 41 racers I finished in the top ten and was so proud of myself. 

We packed up and headed out to our next race in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, at the MX Park. Once again, Papa drove all night to get me there in time for the riders meeting and practice.  This was the last District race and I was there to give it the old college try to win the D13 60cc Championship.   With wins in both my 60cc moto and the overall win of the day, I finished a few points short of winning the Championship.  I was happy to have had the opportunity to race with my friend, Bobby Buhr, who did take the points lead.   He and I are friends both on and off the track and have raced side by side since we were in the 4-6 class. 

While riding in the 80cc class I was challenging myself to do the doubles and long tabletops, while building confidence in jumping as some of the faster riders do.  I have a great bike and a terrific teacher; he helps me build confidence in my bike and myself.  I ran some good track times during the day on the 80cc bike with a 5th overall for the day.  

This was my whirlwind tour with 9 days of racing, racing, and more racing. 

See me next week at the finale of the Winter Series at ECMX, North Carolina.  I have plans to win that race too. 

Off to “The Creek” for the season finale… 

My Papa and I were off to the track at Birch Creek to close the season.  I had a hard win in sight as I looked to finish my 50cc class season.  The first moto was great fun, a challenge between TJ Roberts and myself.  We were duping it out for the whole race, but I just never got the edge that TJ had gotten at the line. 

Then off to the 60cc race where I was third out of the turn and on the charge, hanging with the second place kid, DJ Ellis.  I went into the back/side turn and hit the brake and clutch at the same time and killed the bike.  Fourth place passed me and by the time I got the bike started I was within 50 feet of the finish and getting third place back. 

We had time for a breather before the next moto so Papa and I discussed the race ahead of us.   Going off the line for my next 50cc moto, TJ and I were neck to neck again.  The whole lap it was dice & dice.  We both had our bikes pushed to the max going over the triples.  I noticed a loss in power by the first turn.  I had it wide open along side TJ and went to go into the uphill turn and the bike just shut off.  I tried to crank it with no success.  A fellow co-racers mom came out to help but nothing was happening.  By that time we had to pull off the track.  

Papa came up and said I had been racing it so hard it died with only 3 laps to go.  My 50cc KTM bike had enough for the season.  We had these bikes so pinned it just didn’t like it.  I have had a great season and a very challenging one.  I ended the day with a 2nd and a DNF which gave me a 7^th over all in the 50cc class and completed a competitive racing season.  The 60cc class I finished 3^rd overall for the day, unlike last weekend where my ignition burned out on my bike. 

Between the bike troubles and the “me” troubles I have come a long way to accomplish four titles in both classes that I had run.  I ran my heart out this year and now I have come to my finale of the 50cc class.  I am going to get ready for the Mini Olympics in Gainesville, Florida, which will offer me new challenges.  I have completed my goals set for 50cc riding, and I look forward to riding in the 60cc and 80cc classes.  I have new goals to reach.  I am excited to be moving up to the next level.