Not too many dirt riders here...but here's a 50 year old rookie trying a muddy track with traffic. I did alright and came off the track in the same shape as I went on, so a good day overall.
They only have two classes, Pro and Novice...I probably could have used a beginner class since I got passed so much.



Here's the link in case your browser doesn't show embedded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyVAPumdUQI&t=3s

Brave. I'd hate having those other guys next to me

As you say this was your first "open practice", what were the previous videos from? I.e. what is the difference?

Blast from the past! I did some riding at Metcalf in the 80's. Hollister Hills was more fun, but again this is 30 years ago....

Every bike was two stroke back then, if someone said four stroke would eventually dominate we'd say they're crazy!

I got out of dirtbikes mid 90's - saw too many people breaking their backs, necks.....

About to buy my eighth street bike though, swear it's my last, yeah right......

The other videos were just "trail" riding...this is more motocross on a MX track. I did have one video of me doing this track in the off season bone dry with nobody else on it. This was an actual "event" with a $30 entry fee and 40 other bikes out there in my Novice class. I'm not used to riding in muddy/soupy conditions with rutted corners and a lot of riders out there.



It's funny...I feel the opposite! I rode street bikes from teenager to my late 30's...gave it up cause it's too dangerous. In the dirt...we are all going the same direction and not on our cel phones behind the wheel of a 2 ton killing machine...lol

Did my first MX race today.

First time lining up at a starting gate and doing a real race. Messed up the start some but finished 8th out of 14.

That's pretty cool, Force10. Thanks for sharing.

Good race and video.

Thanks guys!

I joined the "Over The Hill Gang" mx racing club. Just a bunch of old timers split up by age group doing races. I'm in the 45-52 class.

Really laid back fun club. Picture a softball beer league...that's pretty much what it's like. (minus the alcohol of course)

You made it look easy, nice smooth riding. I'm guessing many a noob has planted themselves on their butt or face trying to do that too aggressively.

Thanks!

You're right about the noob part. They had to stop the races for a bit while someone was ambulanced out of there and wait for the replacement ambulance to show up. We saw a Medi-Vac chopper
coming in close by. I hope he's ok.

Maybe just a tad more dangerous than a softball beer league.

I had a decent knock on my trail bike this weekend. I was just trying to get some seat time before my second race this Sunday.

I can't run my red sticker race bike this time of year in California (except in races) so I was on my trail bike working out the riding muscles. I know this TT track real well but I was on auto-pilot and
washed the front wheel over the burm and went down. I was wearing my race vest with no rib protection and bounced off the ribcage a little on the hard pack.

Here's the vid with slo-mo after:



https://youtu.be/_2OKeP6wpCc]

Keeps it real. That was not to bad, coulda been far worse. Makes me want to buy a motorcycle again. Gotta keep telling myself, just say no.

Yeah...pretty mild as far as dirt bike crashes go. My 49 year old bones held up pretty good...should be 100% by race day Sunday.

My 2nd race...wasn't really clicking with the bike. I'm out of shape and was toast by the second moto!

Turn on your sound for the full vibe:

glad to see you did better on the start on the 2nd moto

I can almost feel the tiredness on the end of the vid I know these laps where somehow the throttle hand doesn't want to turn the grip any more...

Cool to see how you keep improving and testing yourself. Had a good laugh at the "Rookie Alert" and glad to see your little off wasn't a big one.

Thanks guys!

You're right RS...I was spent. I was so happy to see the white flag fly on the second moto...that's not the right attitude!...lol

Being so old to start this sport...I need to work on re-growing the tendon that goes from the go-nads to the throttle hand enabling me to twist it more...Ha!

Thanks for watching the vid

LOL, me too.

Our circuit outings are usually 25 minutes in every hour, 5 minutes before end they wave the flag to come in. 20 minutes divided by 2:30 laptime means 10 laps or so.

I usually end up doing the outlap, then two or max three timed laps, and by the fourth I already realize I'm not going to get any faster. Yet my slightly overweight buddy is out there doing his fastest session lap on the 7th or 8th try. I really don't get it... well, actually I do - the more comfortable you are, the less energy you drain.

Now we're gonna have to find a replacement for you here at SimHqs, until your out of the hospital.
This is bad.

Hope your bike blows a piston rod.....before you do...

Seriously, be careful, nobody thinks it will happen to them.
Until it does.
Old guys don't mend very fast, and as for a moto racer.....you're old

But good luck, if you must!

Edit;
Just watched the Video.
Great first start......too much clutch, not enough gas?
Been there, done that.
Better than ending up on your back.

Jeez......you ARE too old for that.
If the crash doesn't kill you, the slamming over every hill will break you.
I don't see this ending well.

God speed...........

Murph!

It's great to hear from you...I hope all is going well with you and yours!

Actually...I've accepted the fact that I will break something and get injured eventually, it happens to the best of them and nobody is immune from it in this sport. I've lived a pretty tame life
and haven't done anything remotely as exciting/risky as this...the feeling you get being out there is awesome. Even at the noob/beginner level that I'm at.

I'm finally able to ditch the orange highway worker evaluation vest and I get my number plates before my next race. The next race is a pro track I've seen on tv called Hangtown in Sacremento
at the end of October.

I appreciate the concern though Murph!

Don't be such a stranger!