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Post by beaupre716 on Feb 13, 2014 1:13:15 GMT -5
We talked last week about your favorite tracks of all time, but let's narrow the scope a little this time: What's your favorite local track? Here are some of my thoughts on our operational circuits. Fernley
Pros: This circuit is fast, long and littered with countless opportunities for sandy bermshots. Cons: It tends to develop brutal square-edged holes and kickers not long after practice, and the surrounding landscape is a little bleak. To read the rest of my pros and cons on local tracks, have a look at the home page, and don't forget to share your favorite track below and in the poll.
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Post by beaupre716 on Feb 5, 2014 21:44:46 GMT -5
When I look back at all the tracks I visited over 22 years of racing, there are certainly some standouts, including: Glen Helen Raceway. With its towering hills, gigantic banked first turn and world-class dirt, Glen Helen is easily the best track in Southern California. It was an abomination when tracks like Lake Elsinore and Pala (both so-so facilities, in my opinion) held Glen Helen's rightful place on the national schedule, though it looks like that era may be coming to an end. Hollister Hills. We talk about ruts here in northern Nevada, but until you've seen Hollister's 60-yard-long grooves, you can't really claim to be an expert. A beautiful landscape and plenty of elevation change round out this historic facility. Honey Lake. Sure, it doesn't run that often these days, but when it does, Honey Lake is worth the trip. This is another track defined by its epic changes in elevation. Barona Oaks Raceway. This tucked-away gem near San Diego is special to me because it was the site of my first race, but I think anyone could appreciate its rich dirt and meandering layout. De Anza Cycle Park. This one could seem like a controversial choice to anyone who rode this place -- it was flanked by perpetually brown hills and populated by sizable tarantulas -- but when ridden by a competent pilot, that course's hills and valleys sent echoes throughout the surrounding area in a way I won't ever forget. Silver State Raceway. This course had epic dirt and was so close to home, but I think it was the people here who made my memories of this track so fond. The atmosphere of the old Friday night races is something I'm not sure I'll ever see again. Check out the home page to find out what my all-time favorite is, and don't forget to leave your favorites below.
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Post by beaupre716 on Feb 3, 2014 20:36:16 GMT -5
I've had many scary moments on my dirt bike, including multiple kicks on jump faces that seem to turn into slow-motion panic revs and over the bars "endos" that I would like to forget..... But one that stands out in my mind the most was at a Loretta Lynn's regional qualifier at Glen Helen. 3rd Moto of the 250 B modified sitting second overall behind a fast Suzuki rider named Dayton Beavers heading into the moto. All I had to do was finish in the top 10 realistically and I was on my way to Tennessee.... Got a great start, riding a bit over my head and got into second behind beavers... Followed his exact line off the top if "mt St. Helens" when he hit a kicker right I. Front of me that hit hit right behind him! As I watched him swap out and high-side directly in front if me, I knew what was in store! It was so scary, and nothing I could do about it! I ended up hitting his bike about a 3rd of the way down and proceeded to tumble to the bottom Ruined my shoulder, never had been the same since Couldn't wait to get back on my bike after surgery Gnarly story. Glen Helen's hills are no joke! I wonder where Dayton Beavers is today.
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Post by beaupre716 on Feb 3, 2014 20:34:14 GMT -5
We have only one that has won a supercross... Lux Turner Was really excited when I saw that on the broadcast Saturday. Way to go, Lux.
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 30, 2014 15:27:38 GMT -5
Motocross won't come back until we are out of this depression. Yes, we are in a depression and it won't end anytime soon because we don't make anything in this country anymore. We don't have a manufacturing base and we don't export anything. The "new" economy does not work. Not very many people have the money to spend on racing. Bikes cost too much, gas costs too much, the massive rigs cost too much. The average age of the motorcycle enthusiast is getting older and they don't like the "new" tracks with huge jumps you can't see over with overly steep jump faces that shoot you up to high and then slam you down like a ton of bricks. Sure the experts like it but they are only 5% of the racers. Some of the kids like it but they don't pay for the racing. The dads don't like it and they are out riding in the parks or in the desert and the mountains instead of going to the tracks. Two weeks ago my other club put on the PCGP. We had over 600 entries. About 200 of those entries were in the +30, +40, +50, +60 classes. Almost 300 of the riders were pee-wee, 65cc and 85cc. The rest were the sportsman, the smallest group of the bunch. The plain and simple fact is that the riders don't want to get hurt. I know, it seems simple but most track builders seem to have missed it. Riders stay away from the MX tracks because the jumps are to big and there are to many of them on the track. The Hangtown track just got a facelift and they made it harder with bigger jumps. I have been going to Prairie City every weekend this month and I see about 20 riders at the Hangtown track. Now, at the same time, there are around 60 riders, I am one of them, That is riding the little MX practice in the park and not even thinking about going to the Hangtown track. Not to mention the hundred or more bikes roaming around in the park at large. No one wants to pay $25 to go get hurt on a track that is beyond the skill level of 95% of the riders out there. I don't care what the builders say about their tracks being safe for all riders. It is just not fun to roll every jump, so why would a rider want to pay to ride a track that is not fun. You may not agree with me but the next time you are at the Hangtown track just look over the hill and you might see me. If you are going to Riverfront or E street, I will be going to Mammoth Bar. You raise a worthwhile point that I missed when constructing the poll, Larry. If anyone else feels that overly jumpy/unsafe tracks are a factor, please note this in the comments. (I've not yet found a way to edit a poll once it's in progress.)
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 30, 2014 1:17:17 GMT -5
Back in 2004, motocross racing in northern Nevada seemed a little like home prices at the time: It felt like the upward trend would never end. The races were packed every weekend, and everyone in the pits had massive rigs and multiple bikes. I remember waiting for the results to be posted at one especially packed Fernley race -- I was a Cycle News reporter back then, so I had to wait for the results sheets to haul them home with me -- and I asked the MX West scoring lady, Kim, how many entries there were in total for the day. "612," she said. I marveled at that number on the way home. How big was local moto going to get anyway? But of course, as with home prices, the rising trend in local motocross couldn't last forever. Read the rest of this story on the home page, and please share your thoughts via the poll on this thread.
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 27, 2014 1:27:29 GMT -5
Stoked to see this last night. Aaron's gotten a lot of TV time this year. Nice work!
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 25, 2014 15:30:14 GMT -5
I've clearly got nothing on you guys with asphalt experience! Coming from motocross to road racing... motocross is racing, roadracing is a video game. (motocross is physical & cerebral / roadracing cerebral} Roadracing for me was an easy trasition from mx b/c you could be successful off the couch. as always, cheers... j~ I love the superbike photo above. Road racing from that era looks so gnarly. It's gnarly now too, but I imagine the tires and brakes are probably a better match for the engines today.
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 24, 2014 0:23:07 GMT -5
I've clearly got nothing on you guys with asphalt experience!
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 23, 2014 1:42:03 GMT -5
Looking back, it was a questionable habit. But I got away with it for a long time ... until the day that I didn't. I used to loft my bike off the drop shown below and float to the transition where my bike is landing in the photo. It was a quick and fun way to get down the cliff, just before you chose a new way up and repeated the process all over again. The questionable part was this: I'd approach the cliff in first gear -- going too fast off the edge would send you too far into the transition below -- but shift to second just as my bike left the ground. Shifting to second allowed the bike to ride away from the landing at a sensible RPM. It never occurred to me that there was any unusual danger in this, as shifting on the face of jumps is something you tend to do a lot in race situations (and I still raced back then). The difference is that you're typically shifting from second to third or third to fourth on a regular jump -- not first to second. The problem with first to second is the gap in between otherwise known as neutral. I don't know if my bike's gears hung up slightly or if I simply didn't get enough boot under the shifter. All I know is that when my transmission stopped moving me forward as my front wheel hung over the face of the drop, something had gone terribly wrong. To read the rest, stop by the home page ... and don't forget to share your own scariest moment below.
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 20, 2014 13:42:03 GMT -5
Great job, Aaron and team -- shame about the motor. We'll be watching for Oakland.
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 19, 2014 17:17:51 GMT -5
Boy was I wrong. But what a ride for Reed!
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 18, 2014 12:45:11 GMT -5
Looks like the votes had it on this one -- RV is hard to stop these days. But what about tonight? Retro night is always a good time.
I'm going to go out on a limb with Barcia. He looked a little off last week and I think he'll be out to redeem himself.
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 18, 2014 0:24:45 GMT -5
We have had some amazing riders come from this area.... It's cool to see how many rippers are from the area! Lets not forget about where Freddy could have ended up. And also, with this list of local "Heros" I still think give credit where credit is due..,, I know he maybe never made much of any career, but I still think on a good day in his prime Tommy Jean could have beet anybody around here. Sjogren (my bro!) Bobby G, Justin Soule, Espo, Nate, Mason, Miller, Lash , Hazel, Ferris, Nelson, Havey, josh Morros, Ross Neely, Chris Barker, Adam Conway, both Simino's...... There's lots of talent around here Hope everyone has a great Friday! -Tony Evans Tony's too modest to mention that he's beat most of those guys and belongs on the list himself! Good point on Tommy too -- he had no shortage of talent on a bike.
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 16, 2014 23:17:51 GMT -5
Does an 06 crf450r exhaust fit an 05? Got my eye on a good deal I think it may, but I'd call your favorite shop to cross-check part numbers to be safe.
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