Confession of an Ex-Racer
- Thread starter eeeeek
- Start date
RacerRob
Well-known member
Thanks for this thread Vik,
10 years removed from my last AFM race I still feel part of the family. In my sporting life the AFM will always be home. No matter if there ever comes a time when I recognize no one at the track, still it will feel like home.
Rich and Jimm were friends of mine, loss touches all, reminds all.
We are family, no matter how far removed.
10 years removed from my last AFM race I still feel part of the family. In my sporting life the AFM will always be home. No matter if there ever comes a time when I recognize no one at the track, still it will feel like home.
Rich and Jimm were friends of mine, loss touches all, reminds all.
We are family, no matter how far removed.
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Thanks Rob. I miss the old breed.
TenacityRacing
Early Braker
Well said Vik . Very awesome of you to start this thread.
I’ll add my short journey .
I had approximately 11 years of street riding experience until one day I fell into a pack of riders we later dubbed ourselves “The Wolf Pack” which was a spin from hangover . One of the guys decided he wanted to do a trackday in Spokane Wa with Inland Speed at Spokane Raceway.
I’ll never forget the feeling there. It was mesmerizing, then A group hit the grids and all those numbers . I remember the loudness of the pipes in the group. I was intrigued to say the least but when I started talking to them I realized 2 things. They are just normal people and it was appalling how slow I really was .
I joined WMRRA got me a race number 929. I never got to finalize that position because I moved to California. I figured I’d finish Pershing the dream with AFM.
I did one trackday and then a NRS with ZoomTrackdays and actually flunked. It was disappointing but I took what I was told and did 11 more track days and attended race 7 nrs with AFM under the 99 dollar special. I passed and raced my first race as race number 887. This way I could start my first season with lap times posted.
The next season I attended all the races under my lifetime to me number 427 and even placed 3rd overall as a novice in NF40 mostly by default from the class being low on racers. I was the slowest but honestly I didn’t want to be the fastest. I just wanted to be part of something this awesome .
I had my ups and downs and now I’m 12 years into trackdays with plans to return to the grid where it all started at WMRRA in April . I look back and I feel lucky. I’m lucky cause I love you all . I love the sport . It hurts my heart anytime I see a yellow , red or black flag. Occasionally god has different plans but rest assured that racer was free and even though life looks dark for those left behind they can have comfort in knowing their loved one lived life on their terms and even though some don’t see it we would rather live a few years free than a lifetime with a void that we can’t fill.
I pray for all of those that experience grief from racing or 2 wheels in any form.
Life is short. The past few years have been really humbling for me. I’ve lost it all and got it back again. I almost died last spring from some health issues I didn’t know I had. God has a different plan for me. I’ve made some life choices, gotten fit, am healthy and my mental health has taken a turn for the best. I shedded so much anger , grief and false feelings of entitlement . So I can relate in a different way to the dark side of life.
Good luck racers . Peace be with you and thank you for letting me play the game.
Here’s a couple pics me working up here in Washington at the ridge.
I’ll add my short journey .
I had approximately 11 years of street riding experience until one day I fell into a pack of riders we later dubbed ourselves “The Wolf Pack” which was a spin from hangover . One of the guys decided he wanted to do a trackday in Spokane Wa with Inland Speed at Spokane Raceway.
I’ll never forget the feeling there. It was mesmerizing, then A group hit the grids and all those numbers . I remember the loudness of the pipes in the group. I was intrigued to say the least but when I started talking to them I realized 2 things. They are just normal people and it was appalling how slow I really was .
I joined WMRRA got me a race number 929. I never got to finalize that position because I moved to California. I figured I’d finish Pershing the dream with AFM.
I did one trackday and then a NRS with ZoomTrackdays and actually flunked. It was disappointing but I took what I was told and did 11 more track days and attended race 7 nrs with AFM under the 99 dollar special. I passed and raced my first race as race number 887. This way I could start my first season with lap times posted.
The next season I attended all the races under my lifetime to me number 427 and even placed 3rd overall as a novice in NF40 mostly by default from the class being low on racers. I was the slowest but honestly I didn’t want to be the fastest. I just wanted to be part of something this awesome .
I had my ups and downs and now I’m 12 years into trackdays with plans to return to the grid where it all started at WMRRA in April . I look back and I feel lucky. I’m lucky cause I love you all . I love the sport . It hurts my heart anytime I see a yellow , red or black flag. Occasionally god has different plans but rest assured that racer was free and even though life looks dark for those left behind they can have comfort in knowing their loved one lived life on their terms and even though some don’t see it we would rather live a few years free than a lifetime with a void that we can’t fill.
I pray for all of those that experience grief from racing or 2 wheels in any form.
Life is short. The past few years have been really humbling for me. I’ve lost it all and got it back again. I almost died last spring from some health issues I didn’t know I had. God has a different plan for me. I’ve made some life choices, gotten fit, am healthy and my mental health has taken a turn for the best. I shedded so much anger , grief and false feelings of entitlement . So I can relate in a different way to the dark side of life.
Good luck racers . Peace be with you and thank you for letting me play the game.
Here’s a couple pics me working up here in Washington at the ridge.
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firstbuell
GO! 04,16,23,31,64,69,95
agreed, Vik
a great thread, initiated with a fine story
(always good to call out your Buell bois history)
I'm inspired to pipe in with tale(s) of my own,
& will do so soon
a great thread, initiated with a fine story
(always good to call out your Buell bois history)
I'm inspired to pipe in with tale(s) of my own,
& will do so soon
firstbuell
GO! 04,16,23,31,64,69,95
OK, this story isn't mine -
it's copied/edited/redacted from an OG flat track FB discussion, just now:
================================
OP:
Some VERY Strange stories about D--l---r--.
He was at the mid-'60s Sacramento AFM race, but wasn't riding.
Normally he rode the 450 and A-- B------ rode the 350.
D--l---r-- came up and said, Hi to me. I wondered, why isn't he riding?
A few days later he was arrested for Murder
Respondent:
I heard that he killed someone and was eating him.
Something to with LSD. Oh those whacky sixties.
The cops pulled him over and found a chewed-on arm
in the car. What did you hear?
OP:
I didn't really know him,only to say, Hi.
Guy was incredibly fast on 2 Wheels
After the Sacramento race and seeing him,
later in the week the News reported that he'd been stopped
and found with the deceased's severed arm,
wrapped up in a blanket in the backseat of his car.
Respondent: That's the story I got.
================================
so, what kinda oil do AFMers use these days?
more stories (mine) to come......
it's copied/edited/redacted from an OG flat track FB discussion, just now:
================================
OP:
Some VERY Strange stories about D--l---r--.
He was at the mid-'60s Sacramento AFM race, but wasn't riding.
Normally he rode the 450 and A-- B------ rode the 350.
D--l---r-- came up and said, Hi to me. I wondered, why isn't he riding?
A few days later he was arrested for Murder
Respondent:
I heard that he killed someone and was eating him.
Something to with LSD. Oh those whacky sixties.
The cops pulled him over and found a chewed-on arm
in the car. What did you hear?
OP:
I didn't really know him,only to say, Hi.
Guy was incredibly fast on 2 Wheels
After the Sacramento race and seeing him,
later in the week the News reported that he'd been stopped
and found with the deceased's severed arm,
wrapped up in a blanket in the backseat of his car.
Respondent: That's the story I got.
================================
so, what kinda oil do AFMers use these days?
more stories (mine) to come......
dtrides
Well-known member
I had my first race last year at Thunder Hill.
It was the culmination of spending time with our good friends (#969 & 970) Chris and Dustin and some gentle nudging form Hyper (the wife
).
We did many track days starting way too early in the year (read cold and wet)and finally did our racers school with Carters @ The Track (good folks!).
Race day was lots of nerves hoping I would remember everything and trying to stay cool and collected so I could support Hyper as it was her first race weekend as well.
Got thru practice ok in the morning and we were all impatiently waiting for the grid assignments to be posted.
We all walked down to the club house and noted our starting positions.
No sooner than we get back to our pits we hear an announcement there have been changes to some of the classes grid assignments.
I volunteered to go back down for the up dates and asked Tumbleweed if I could borrow her electric scooter to make the run.
"sure" she says and off I go on her little scoot.
I take pictures of said grid changes and hopped back on and proceeded to boogie back towards our pit....
I probably was going a bit too fast, with a bit too much adrenalin, but hey , it was my first race!
I caught up to a fellow racer who was on bicycle so I went for a out side pass.
Right then I see a pot hole and worried that this little wheeled unit would not like going thru that so I yarded up on the bars....and then proceeded to loop out (had the throttle pinned.
I went down hard face first (wearing sandals, shorts, T-shirt....you know ATGATT!).....
I came back to the pit one bloody mess.. Hyper and friends cleaned me up best they could and got me a ice pack for the swelling on my face.
The ice reduced my mellon just enough to get my helmet on and make my grid in Clubman.
Didn't place very well, hurt like hell, but I finished!
First race in the books at 60!
I feel like i accomplished something that day that no one could take away from me....all because of a little help and encouragement from my homies.
DT
It was the culmination of spending time with our good friends (#969 & 970) Chris and Dustin and some gentle nudging form Hyper (the wife
).We did many track days starting way too early in the year (read cold and wet)and finally did our racers school with Carters @ The Track (good folks!).
Race day was lots of nerves hoping I would remember everything and trying to stay cool and collected so I could support Hyper as it was her first race weekend as well.
Got thru practice ok in the morning and we were all impatiently waiting for the grid assignments to be posted.
We all walked down to the club house and noted our starting positions.
No sooner than we get back to our pits we hear an announcement there have been changes to some of the classes grid assignments.
I volunteered to go back down for the up dates and asked Tumbleweed if I could borrow her electric scooter to make the run.
"sure" she says and off I go on her little scoot.
I take pictures of said grid changes and hopped back on and proceeded to boogie back towards our pit....
I probably was going a bit too fast, with a bit too much adrenalin, but hey , it was my first race!
I caught up to a fellow racer who was on bicycle so I went for a out side pass.
Right then I see a pot hole and worried that this little wheeled unit would not like going thru that so I yarded up on the bars....and then proceeded to loop out (had the throttle pinned
.I went down hard face first (wearing sandals, shorts, T-shirt....you know ATGATT!).....
I came back to the pit one bloody mess.. Hyper and friends cleaned me up best they could and got me a ice pack for the swelling on my face.
The ice reduced my mellon just enough to get my helmet on and make my grid in Clubman.
Didn't place very well, hurt like hell, but I finished!
First race in the books at 60!
I feel like i accomplished something that day that no one could take away from me....all because of a little help and encouragement from my homies.
DT
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i_am_the_koi
Be Here Now
DT"Highside at awalking pace"rides FTW!
SonoraMike
2StrokeAddict
my original number back when I started with the AFM in 93, think I still have that yellow number plate in a box somewhere in the garage