mxracernumber1;4558 said:
Man this is some great stuff. How far have bikes come since those days? Still, there's just something about an old dirt bike that is romantic to me. I bet that Honda was tops back in the day. How did you fare on the podium back then? By the way that was a pretty fancy bike trailer for back then. Hell, it's better than what I'm using now. Did you guys camp out in that thing at the track or just use it to hual the bikes?
Bikes have come ALONG way since the late 60's and early 70's.
My Elsinore in the photos had maybe 7'' front and 4" back suspension travel. Honda had really just entered the European dominated motocross market and all my friends had CZ's, Bultacos, Maicos, Husky's, Rupps and Hodakas.
In fact my best friends Rupp 125 was in the trailer (number 811) behind me during the trophy shot I posted earlier.
Here he is in the #2 spot behind me after the hole shot and coming up to the fisrt turn.. wearing a red shirt. That Rupp had more top end speed than my Elsinore. It was my brother's old bike which he had sold and we spent plenty time drag racing each other so I knew he could reel me in if he clicked the gears right.
I also raced 80cc Indian motorclces in 1972/1973. They dominated the CA circuit and where unheard of in the midwest. They were built here in the US but had a Italian Minarelli engine.
Most, if not all the tracks in MN and WI that I raced are still in existance but the level of jumping has increased. We allways had problems with breaking the footpeg mounts off the frame from jumping. LOL.. I even broke them off my YFZ450 in Glamis a few years back...
We only used the trailer for transporting, not only my MX bike but snowmobiles and when hunting we used it to haul game. My uncle, who was a shop teacher, built it.
As for my results back when I was 16.. lets just say I won or placed in the top three for every race I entered starting with a mini bike, then to the 80cc class and then AMA 125CC MX racing. My nickname of Fast1, was given to me by the annoucers during the results since no one could pronounce my last name. I still use it for memories of the good times.
I can still remember the first MX race I entered with the Elsinore at Cambridge MN. I was 4th out of the first corner and 3/4's around, first lap, a guy I was passing lost control in the whoops and hit my front tire causing me to go down hard. Got up, tank was dented from my knee and bars bent.. was pissed and now in last place. At the end of the moto I had passed almost everyone and took 3rd. Next moto I ran away from the entire field and placed #1 taking the combined #1 spot for the final.
WoodsChick;4575 said:
I'll say! I love it! Down to the home-made numbers, going "commando" with no gloves and riding across the street from houses, to the ahead-of-its-time custom toyhauler/trailer! Keep `em comin' Fast1!
I'd post a vintage photo of me riding, but it was only 1989
WoodsChick
I wish I had more photos scanned since I have some really great shots of many races and even 8MM films.
Actually that dirt road cut thru one of the corners of my track that I built. If you look close you can see part of the curve before the dirt road and I was just exiting the corner and showing off with a cross-up wheelie for my brother who was taking the photo. It is amazing that all those home owners put up with the noise.. since at times we would have 5 or 6 of us running that 1/2 mile track..
Besides the trailer being ahead of its time.. so was my high school sweetheart with her Husqvarna red/white colors!!
My brother and I would port our own engines at 14/16 years of age with sandpaper, files and bits on a drill in addition to raising the compression by flat filing the heads.. Since I was young and purchased the Honda with all my money (still remember it was $850) I had to improvise with taped numbers, work boots, jeans, no armor and my traditional white race (sweatshirt) jersey. None of the local Honda dealers would sponsor me since their sons were racing 125 and they never placed in front of or near me, regardless of the equipment or top end modifcations..
Here is what the 78 Elsinore looked like.. My younger brother posing on his new toy just home from the dealer.. Even only 4 years later, this bike was light years ahead of the initial 74 Elsinore.
Now if someone could just tell me how to regain those skills I had at 16 on two wheels????
WoodsChick;4575 said:
I'd post a vintage photo of me riding, but it was only 1989
WoodsChick
Post it up!
.