| vmxr tries an avdra national livermore 5/11/08 |
| Sunday morning, Chris and I load up and head South an hour to try out a new club. I really did'nt know what to expect. This was AVDRA and I only had experiance with AHRMA. Would it be so different that I would feel out of place? |
| Last year I wouldn't have had time to try something new, I was in a points race and was fully committed to a "One Club" race program. 2008 started rough for me though.Vacation Scheduling conflicts at work. Hungry tax man, Fuel co$ts and illnesses made a full on series attempt just too crazy to go for. This year is one of those "LIFE is what happens when you're waiting for your dreams to come true " periods for us at the Hannah house, so we decided this will be a" just for fun season". I'm not saying racing a series isn't fun but to do it right you need alot of things to fall into place and at the right time. Add these things up on the VMXR race calculator and it spits out a tape that says "In order to race once a month in the San Francisco Bay area, you need to belong to more than one racing club". Which brings us to Mothersday 5/11/08 AVDRA Motocross National at Club Moto Livermore Calif. My wife Chris and I showed up at around 8:am. The gate fee was $10 a head I was pre Entered and had my membership card. These I had done on line on Fri May 2nd. I could have actually done it up until Mon the 5th as per AVDRA National Pre-entry rules. I had paid $30 1yr membership, $35 for my First class/ Vintage 500 int. $25/2nd class +50 Int. $25/3rd class 125 Euro. Sign-up was easy I had received my green 2008 membership card on Thurs.5/8 I showed that and the paperwork I printed out on my computer on 5/2, they sent me to tech and in 10 min. I was done. So I'm getting my bikes ready for practice, 72 yellow tanker CZ 400 and the SL 125 Honda when all of a sudden I hear "riders meeting,C'mon guys get over here". I'm thinking, oh damn I missed practice! I knew I should have gotten here at 7:00, But as it turns out riders meeting is before practice. The guy conducting the meeting says "Just learn the course,Now is not the time to get good, Just learn the course". 20min open practice then another 20min practice for 60+ and slower racers. |
| The track was nice. Although on a compact piece of Real Estate it was an interesting mix of up and down hills, jumps and straights wide enough to pass. The turns varied from big sweepers to berm rails to tight stuff you could check your back tire pressure in by just looking down. 20min goes by so fast when you're having fun. I could tell this track was going to be a blast! 1st moto 9:am 1min board flips 30sec Gate drops without a hitch.The motos are 5 laps. I'm in moto 1-3 and 5. Knocked down my first 3 motos by 10:30. Chris is in the truck talking to her mom on the cell, wishing her a happy mothersday. No intermission. I jam back to the truck the Cz's thirsty. Chris is on the phone, I motion for her to take some pictures with my imaginary camera. On the starting line we hear all second motos will be 6 laps. Cool !!! I have to say the program was "tight and right". The competition was good I got into several little battles and had a good time doing it. The fact that other bikes besides vintage were racing really didn't come to mind. Maybe because I was doing 3 classes I don't know. I do know I got my racing in. Back at the track I'm pulling off the course at the finnish of my last moto here's my sweetie with the camera still in it's cover." I'll take some pictures now " she says. It's over I answer."but it's not even noon yet,I was going to take some pictures this afternoon" It's cool we'll get e'm next time. So this is the first time I've ever raced, stayed for awards and been home and unloaded by supper. The Awards part was nice that was the only time I realized how many different bikes had raced that day. GP=post vintage,Vintage=Classic,Mini Adult, Kids classes, Dash for cash guys got real trophies and money, I miss trophies! No one got hurt. It's 5pm Mothersday we're barbecuing. I'm reflecting on this multi-club racing thing. I know at the end of the year I won't be winning any series but hey I won one of my classes today,brought home a nice plaque. I had alot of fun,met some new people,tried something new and I Raced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Story by Robin Hannah
#960
#960
| Above: The start gate worked perfect. Below : If you can't pass on this track you just can't pass!! |
| Above and below: The jumps were rapmed with good run-up and run-out. |
| All the different turns: above switch back, to the left: tight, Below berms just about every kind of turn was represented at ClubMoto On Mothersday. Text backgrounds in pink in honor of Mom's Day |
