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 ENDUROS AREN'T JUST DIRTBIKES WITH HEADLIGHTS

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DeeBart

DeeBart


Posts : 137
Join date : 2009-08-12
Age : 48
Location : Hoover

ENDUROS AREN'T JUST DIRTBIKES WITH HEADLIGHTS Empty
PostSubject: ENDUROS AREN'T JUST DIRTBIKES WITH HEADLIGHTS   ENDUROS AREN'T JUST DIRTBIKES WITH HEADLIGHTS EmptyFri Sep 04, 2009 4:45 pm

Another good article I found...

The Beginning

Back in 1971 when I first
started riding motorcycles, my Honda SL70 was referred to by my
friends as an enduro type minibike. I was told by someone of
more wisdom than my 10 years that because it had a headlight it
surely wasn't a motocrosser.


In the early 70's I lived
in what was in retrospect a trail rider's paradise, Oil City,
PA. This little town nestled in the Allegheny Mountains had more
pristine, undeveloped land than this young man could ride in a
lifetime. I would wake up on weekends and summer days and ride
my bike through the alleys to an old baseball field that served
as my gateway to endless miles of deer trails. During those early
years I developed a love for the deep woods that were only reachable
on my dirt bike.


Like many of us 40-somethings,
circumstances created situations and opportunities that took us
away from our riding days. For me, it was a driver's license
and my first car that caused me to stop riding.


Back in the Saddle

It wasn't until 1990 that
I had a chance to buy an old 76 KX400 from one of my salesmen
for $300 that I got back into woods riding again on two wheels
hat I loved so much. Unfortunately, it was only a temporary reintroduction
as kids were born and moves happened.


Christmas 2001 was to be
the catalyst that would send me back to throttle twisting. That
year we bought our youngest son a PW50 and set him lose in the
yard. He loved it almost as much as I did watching him. I decided
that I needed to get the old 400 out of the shed where it had
been sitting for five years not being even moved. After soaking
the carb in solvent, fresh gas, etc. she started right up and
I was riding with my son.


Unlike his dad, he didn't
have countless acres of wooded land to ride on so we ended up
taking him to our local motocross track where he excelled at peewee
racing. After watching I even got into racing. I can still see
he looks on the faces of the other riders as I pulled on the track
with that old KX with the suspension of a milk truck and started
riding.


Fast New Friends

One thing I learned real
fast was how good dirtbike people are as I quickly made a bunch
of new friends. Like me, most were dads that where out with their
sons watching them ride. Funny thing happened though; most of
the dads went out and bought bikes. So I upgraded to a 96 XR 400.


Just a year ago here in
Northwest Florida, there were several good places to trail ride.
At one such place I met a local center of influence in the dirt
bike community. This man and his adult son became friends and
invited me to ride an enduro with them in Mississippi. This is
where the fun really started.


Back in the saddle with
cramps


The event was the Bear Whiz
Enduro in Hattiesburg, MS. When my son and I pulled in Friday
afternoon there were maybe ten other people there. By 10 PM there
were RV's, toy haulers and trucks all over the place. On Saturday
I got to meet the colorful Fred Pittman who hosted the event.
My son raced his first kids race that day and I'll never forget
the relief I felt when I saw him come out of the woods several
miles later in one piece.


All that night my buddies
from Fort Walton kept reassuring me that I would be able to finish
the race. They explained that all I had to do was not to pass
them since we were on the same row and I wouldn't burn a check.
At 300 lbs. and 40 years of age I was sure that would never be
a problem.


Sunday morning we were up
early and ate some eggs at the campsite before heading to the
line. I think we were on row 36. As the race started I was jittery
and wondered what I had gotten myself into. It wasn't long before
faster riders were blowing by me. One thing I noticed right off
the bat was that they said "thank you" as they passed.


Long story-short, I finished
the race with the worst leg cramps I ever had. I was in agony!
But I finished; I made it all the way! Most of it was due to
the coaching of my friends and the inspirational words of my buddy
Vic when he said, "Only 20 more miles to go. That's like
two loops at Mossy Head" (Mossy Head is on of our now-closed
riding areas).


Time of my life

Last year my son and I competed
in six SERA enduros together. This year we joined SERA and I
have already finished three and my goal is just to complete them
all, to go the distance. I am a C - rider and proud of it. I
have never had as much fun as I am having now. I have lost 35
lbs. and presently working out with a trainer to get into shape.
I don't just go riding anymore, I go to practice.


They say that a man in his
forties will go out and buy a sports car to try to regain his
youth. Me, I want to get a steering dampener for my 426.


Some observations

1) There aren't as many
woods out there as there was in 1971.
2) Even on the worst day (like this year's Bear Whiz) I feel lucky
to be out there riding.
3) You'll never find better friends than the guys you ride with.
4) Enduros are not a type of motorcycle, they are the best-kept
secret in motorsports.




Rick Reynolds
Navarre, FL
Rick@venueonhold.com

Now you boys should be fired up so you need to get out to these local events and support them!!!!!!!
Dee B.
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easy2pass

easy2pass


Posts : 79
Join date : 2009-08-09
Age : 42
Location : Pell City

ENDUROS AREN'T JUST DIRTBIKES WITH HEADLIGHTS Empty
PostSubject: Re: ENDUROS AREN'T JUST DIRTBIKES WITH HEADLIGHTS   ENDUROS AREN'T JUST DIRTBIKES WITH HEADLIGHTS EmptyFri Sep 04, 2009 9:12 pm

Me personally, I never had a bike until my son got his little 70, and i couldnt turn down the price for my 250x to ride with him. I gotta say, this is the most fun ive ever had........much more fun than cars.....i can do that when im old haha.
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