Austin Del Valle Round 3 / 1980 Maico kicks my butt!

Went to Round 3 of the Austin Del Valley Series and had a great time. Both my son and I rode two classes each and one class we were able to start from the same gate. Of course I started bragging how my 09 CRF450 was going to rip him up on the start since he was riding my old 05 CRF450. The first moto he was gone! I was trying too hard and killed the bike on the start. I had to hear how he beat me which was ok. I still took 1st in the 50+ class because my other competitors were home asleep in bed. You know how old guys are! This was a night race and as soon as the sun goes down it is time for bed (just kidding). Our second moto was a bit different because we both got a good start but the results were the same. As we entered the first corner I got to see Frank and two other bikes rubbing bars through the corner. I was already looking at places I was going to go to keep from hitting them. The big difference was these were fast riders; they do this kind of riding all the time. Frank did get the hole shot and held first for a way but arm pump took over and he fell off pace. At that level you have to ride all the time and now that he is 22 and having to work a lot of weekends, ridding is not the priority. I know there are a lot of early 20 years olds that can relate to this. Back to me – After the 1st turn I ended up crashing at the top of the hill and when I got started again it was a very quiet track being by myself. I waited for the fast guys to go around and then jumped in behind them to see what I could do. Guess what? I could do nothing they were gone. Frank saw me and instead of trying to stay with them he started playing with me. It was fun because I would try and pass him and he would laugh and just take off. It really was a lot of fun and I bet my family had a blast watching it also.


My 30+ class was a different story. There were 5 of us on the gate and the 1st moto I got the hole shot. Two really fast riders immediately passed me the next couple of turns and left me and the other two bikes racing for 3rd. The bike behind me hounded me the entire race. He was just waiting for a mistake and then it did. I was having problems with the ruts on a few corners do to wearing glasses and the glare was messing me up. Don’t get me wrong! The lights were the best I have ever seen it at ADV and the mistake was all me. When I cross rutted and bobbled he dove under me and got position. After that I was really pushing it to get position back and was going through a corner rut and fell over. I had the bike leaned over too much and could not bring it back up. I wish someone would have had a picture of that right before I crashed. I could have looked like a pro for about 1 second Ha Ha. There was a bike that went by me and I thought I was lapped. The problem was I was not lapped and ended up going off the track too early. Never ever not look at what flag is being shown.

The second moto of the 30+ class had a bit of a twist. Who was that guy on the 1980 Maico? Wow what a blast! That Maico has some power. He got me on the start and it was the same riders going at minus the two really fast guys. I could not get away from that Maco for nothing and he could not get away from me. We battled that entire race. He would fly though the corners and pass me and then when there was jumping I would pass him. He finally got separation where when I jumped I was not close enough to pass him. My son said it was a lot of fun watching us race and he could see I was trying my best to get position. My hat goes off to the rider on the 1980 bike. I figured the bouncing bronco would tire you out and I would get you at the end but that did not happen. At least I did not DNF this time.

As far as the track condition tonight. It was really good. Dennis brought in a ton of sand it held up real good. There were no questionable sections and the lighting was really good for not being higher in the air. The last time I rode at night I had to stop racing because I could not see. This is due to wearing glasses. This time I was able to ride with no problems and will defiantly race a night race again.

Great day of motocross…. Lots of good competition and my family were there to watch and said they had a good time.

P.S. Sorry no pictures I left camera SD card at home.

Cross Creek Cycle Park 2010 Spring Series Round 1

Cross Creek Cycle Park Round 1 of the Spring 2010 series was a total blast. The first thing I would like do is thank the vet riders that came out and supported the race. This has got to be the most vet riders I have seen at a MX race in a long time. We had 3 30+D riders and I know for one rider it was very first race. In the 30+ C class we had 5 riders. Not sure of the count for the 30+A & B but the total on the starting line was in the area of 14. I heard one rider say we had 18 on the line but I think that may have been the second gate bikes included. The pro turnout was pretty good! There were 7 pros with Hunter Hewitt taking 1st over all. Thank you Hewitt for coming down from Pilot Texas giving us a good show and also all the other pro’s as well. I will be pulling for you in the next part of the Supercross Lights West. It has been a long time since I have seen that many pro’s at a Cross Creek race.

My first 30+C moto was a nightmare on the start. We took off and all heck broke out in the back section. When I came over the first jump all I saw was a rider hitting the ground and his bike being vertical on its front tire. I will tell you right now I love the Honda front brake, they work great. I also made the right decision for once and went left instead of right. I missed the bike and rider by about 6 inches (it seemed like). As I was missing the bike and rider there was this awful sound to the right of me (I think we have all said this while racing once in our life). The vertical bike finally fell to the right across the track and the rider to the right of me yells out OH SH11 and t-bones the bike on the ground. I think I saw a body flying next to me. I won’t go into details on how they are but I will say both riders are ok. I ended up taking 2nd on that moto which had me feeling pretty good. The second moto I got 1st which gave me a 1st overall.

The 50+ class was another question because it was an open class. I was racing against fast riders like Ace and all I saw of him was his back for a few seconds on the start. Believe it or not but we had seven 50+ riders on the line. My first moto I battle with two TORCS riders and wow what a ride. They would out corner me and I would out jump them. Back and forth we went until I made one mistake and both got in front of me. I was bench racing with them afterwards telling them they set me up by staying next to each other and blocking my ability to jump. Here is another reason why you need to practice more cornering than jumping. Jump for show and corner to win! The second moto I almost got the hole shot because two of the fast guys did not race the second moto. Since I got a real good start I just kept thinking I need to poor it on before the real good corner guys got in front of me. I could see one of them every corner coming and getting closer and closer. My jumping started to go away a bit due to being too tired to hold on. Hold on I did and ended up getting 1st over all due second moto tie breaker. Bobby Lewallen told me that since he came and raced the MX race with me that I now have to race the TORCS with him. Bobby I will be there one of these days soon! It will have to be a MX track. Thank you again to the TORCS racers for supporting our MX race. Also thanks to the TORCS racers for reminding me that cornering is more important than jumping. I still like jumping more.

Don’t have all the details about other classes but the turnout was pretty good. Hope to see more at the next race. The next race will be April 3rd. Will be a great weekend! Here is quote from Shawn “Prepped practice that Friday (April 2nd) all day. Racing starts at noon on the day track for the first motos then finishes the second on the night track, we should be done by 7 or so. Afterwards the Lights will stay on till 11 pm for general practice and the day track will be reprepped for Sunday. The little ones are welcome to join our CrossCreek Easter Egg hunt at 11 on Sunday as well. I can't wait.”

See you all at the next race! Any questions about the series go to www.crosscreekcp.com or www.mcody818.com/subsite/SeriesAd.pdf

CrossCreek 2010 Spring Shootout!

CrossCreek 2010 Spring Shootout

Everyone spread the word about this series so we can make it a big one. Just a reminder that Shawn has added a few more classes: 2 stroke open, 65cc-85cc 7 -13 Women & of course the "Over The Hill Gang" 30+ A, B, C & D classes. The 30+ D class is designed to bring out some of the beginner Vet riders that have never raced. Once they have raced they will be hooked for life. I for one did not start until I was 42.

Cross Creek Cycle Park

Video of Cross Creek Remake 2009

Here is a Video of a young rider at CC.
Jimmy Taylor

Cross Creek Remake of track!

At first I was a little nervous about the steep step-up in the middle of the track. After about 5 times doing it, it was really cool flying over it and landing on the down side with no problems. When I was not hitting it hard enough it felt like a kicker but even when I got kicked the bike was in perfect position for the landing. The faster I hit it the better it felt and was a lot of fun.

The new S turns in the back were really great also. It was a section where you can practice / race going into corners with a lot of speed and hard breaking. Once that section gets broke in it will be a lot better. In that section the last turn going to the jump that is cut out for water run off is really soft sand. I had to sit back on the back wheel to get better traction. I could not get the speed up for the jump but my son had no problems.

The new double double section is not as hard as it looks. The main thing is to hit the first double with enough speed and then just a little gas to make it over the second. When I would hit the first double a bit short it was hard for me to make it over the second. My son told me it was because I did not know where the throttle was. The trouble with that statement is he was right. Both doubles are case able and safe. They flow real well when doing them.

I really like the start! When you hit the first jump, you are going in a straight direction vice in a turn. I think that will have an impact on less race start crashes. The old Jump 1 is now jump 6 or something like that and you hit is straight. I could never make that jump before but now it makes the entrance to the RUT corner much nicer.

This track is the best track in the area as far as I am concern! It has something for all level of riders, flows real good. If you have not already ridden there it is a must. Great jumps, Ruts, Berms for railing, more than one line, great atmosphere, great people = Great Day!

The only thing I did not like but adapted to it. I did not like the jump after the rut section. Before you could jump all the way to the bottom before the slight left hand turn. Today I had to jump short to the top of the camel hump so I could make the turn on the inside. Even at that I would sometimes have to go to the outside. The nice thing about it was I could jump the next table with no problems which I could not do with the old track.

Everyone should thank these guys that have put so much work into this for us. If people only new how much work it is! The best way to thank them is support the track by riding here. More riders mean more races!

Pictures at later time!

My Son riding Cycle Ranch for the first time!

Took my son to Cycle Ranch this weekend for the first time and he really loved it. He told me the table tops are huge and when you do the entire jump it feels like you are never going to come done. I would do the jumps 3/4's of the way and when I landed I hit really hard so I can just imagine what it would be like going for the entire jump. Track was a sand track which I suck at in sand. It was technical but safe if you did not make the jumps etc.... Even with that said there were a few jumps I did not attempt. Over all it was a great day! We played hard with some friends of ours and everyone came home safe.

My two month vacation back to Nevada

My trip back to Nevada was a lot of fun. I rode at Thunder Valley in Denver Colorado the weekend before the National race and that was a blast. Nothing like what you see on TV. It had rained a lot and the ruts were major. If you did not ride them the way you are suppose to ride ruts then they would knock you off the outside peg. Lets just say I crashed in a couple of corners about 6-7 times.

Denver Stop - These are videos of my good Mx friends Cat & Steve that live there.

Next, I stopped and saw my Father for a week up in Idaho. We did a lot of 4 wheeling in the mountains etc... Did not find any tracks to ride except in the Mountains. The TORCS guys in Texas would of loved this place.

Idaho Stop

Next, was my 4 week stay in Reno Nevada where I had to do some personal business. During my off time all I did was ride ride and ride.

Mustang Mx

Fernley Mx

There was also some other riding that I did a few days which I can not show videos of it due to not carrying a camera with me. You will understand why when you watch them. These videos are from a friends web site TAGNMX Photos. It is a type of riding and racing that the TORCS guys of Texas do except out in the desert. This is one of the things I miss about Nevada. I could get on my bike, drive out of my driveway and be doing this type of riding for thousands of miles. I bet this place is where Jimmy Hoffa is buried.

Dirt Tricks Fun Ride 2008