Motorcycle Work

Lots of dirt bike work going on around here this week!

Tom cleaning the mud from the last track day.

Dan and Jake working away at the 250F.

A few more tweaks and connections and they were ready to try and start it up! It took quite a bit of kicking but it finally started! They've been warming it up and cooling it off. They took it for a light ride. And then a screw came out of the carburetor. They had already ordered a rebuild kit for it, so it should be here any day. Then it will be ready to ride, not ready to race. They have a little more tweaking to do. Tom plans on replacing his tires and some other stuff. There is a two day training camp coming up at the end of the month that they want to attend. If all goes as planned, they will have their bikes ready by then.

I'm so proud of both of them, and that awesome husband of mine! This was a big project. They've spent weeks on this, not to mention most of their spending money...and ours. Jake has been out there for hours working on it all by himself. The manuals, the research, the reviews. It's a lot of reading, planning, ordering, and waiting. I just pray the bike keeps running well for a long while, so he can enjoy the fruits of their labor before the next repair. It's the nature of motocross though, ride, break, repair, repeat!

Another fun track day!

Jake and Dan are still working on getting Jake's 250F running, so the boys are sharing Tom's 125 when we go to the track. That makes it hard for me to get any reading and writing done while we are there since there is always one boy sitting and talking with me, but we have fun.

There was a race over the weekend, so there was a dead campfire and some lost toys at our spot when we arrived at 9am. Tom decided to keep this car as a mascot. Jake has named him Arsee.

Jake was a little tired. Getting up early and loading the truck in the morning instead of the night before was a bit too much. We won't try that again.

Jake requested that I walk out and take some pictures and videos of him riding to put on his Hookit page. Tom tried to take some last time but they didn't come out well. Tom is just too distracted to focus on the camera. Jake took some great ones of Tom though.

Tom led me out to the middle of the track where I wouldn't get run over but could take better pictures. He showed me a way to get there without crossing the track, which makes me nervous. Always thinking of his Mommy's safely, that one!

I get so excited watching them ride! Tom was racing another guy on the smaller track. It was funny because I glanced over and saw him and knew right away that he was putting all his effort into staying in front of the guy. I stood up and walked over to watch. It looked just like the pros! I didn't get any video of it though because I was too worried about him crashing to think about the camera.

Tom thought it would be hilarious to roost me with dirt as he rode off. I should have deleted his pictures! Luckily I have a video of that. Proof that it was premeditated!

Tom's last lap time.

Jake's last lap time.

I was seriously impressed by their track skills today. They were clearing jumps they had only rolled before and their lap time was improved a lot. Money is not wasted on track days! Jake flew of a huge table top and amazed me so that I yelled out to him like a true Motocross Mom.

And then, after three hours of riding, they have to change clothes, cool off a bit, and load the truck. The loading has gotten a lot better as well. They have developed a system so as not to irritate each other. Of course, that system was thrown off by loading the truck this morning before we left, but thanks to Jake's "long suffering" and easy going personality, no blows were thrown. Just a few stern looks and shaking of the head.

When we got home, they showered and had dinner, and then Tom and I ran off to rehearsal at Theatre29! It was a VERY long day!

Our First Race Day

It wasn't really a race day for us though. We decided since Jake's bike is not operational that we would wait to actually enter a race. Tom wasn't excited about that really, but Jake really wants to have their first race together, so he agreed to wait a bit. I thought it might help my anxiety about entering if we went for a dry run to the opening of the series. We went as if we would be racing but didn't bring bikes.

We got up at 4AM. The boys set their alarms so they would get up two minutes before me because they think that is funny. Cooler packed, loaded up and we were out the door at 5:45. We took the bug...just for fun! Besides, it's smaller and easier to park in a small space.

We arrived at 7:45 and there was line of trucks with bikes and gear just like I expected. Perfect. We found a place to park the bug, no problem. If we were racing, it would have been better to get there about an hour earlier. Talked to some people. Went over to the Registration Desk. There were still people signing up for today's race, perfect. This series you can sign up online before hand, so then you only have to check in when  you get there. 

The boys checked out the board for the practice schedule. Jake was brilliant and took a picture, so we were always aware of who was practicing and where. We saw their class practice a few laps. We all stood by the fence and watched as all the classes took their turn at practice. Each group gets a few laps to be ready.

And then a hush fell on the area as practice ended and everyone was at the Registration Desk getting the race schedule. We went to the bug for some lunch.

The first race on the Main Track started while we were eating. Holy Cow! Those guys fly!

After the first race started, the boys went over and talked to the people at Registration about signing up. They gave them a magazine, stickers, and a form. They told them what class they would be in and how many people were in that class today. Not many. Most of the riders are either little or adults in the beginner class. Teens are usually in the advanced classes because they are kids of dirt bike riders and have been riding since they could walk. That eased my mind a bit. The riders are more spread out and less competitive in their class. That doesn't mean that the boys will stay there though!

This is their very excited look. Really. They are pretty wound up about entering. And now we are too! We had an awesome day watching all the practices and then the first round of races. The kids are adorable! They are my personal favorite. The Dads all walk them up to the starting gate with the kids on the bikes and then hold them up until they take off. They round the corner and then here come the Dads running across the track to cheer them on and pick them up if they fall. I wish I had got a video!

Jake wouldn't let me take a picture of him being cute. But Tom would!

So now we are all fired up about racing! I'm amazed that what I thought was complete chaos last time we watched a race, was pretty organized once I knew what was going on. The races and practices all went up on time, no sitting around waiting. It was great! I can't wait to be there for a real race. Tom and Jake are very excited. Ooh! And they put transponders on each bike so they know exactly what their lap times were! Now there will be no doubt who is faster. I just can't wait to hear that argument!

The only downside was that two kids did get hurt during a race. No big deal, they walked off the track. But on the main track there was a paramedic called. We couldn't see what was going on but a guy said he saw it happen and it was pretty bad. That my biggest fear is that they will get hurt badly. I can't stand it when my babies are hurt! But they are invincible, you know? I can't protect them forever. The only consolation I have is watching them talk about riding makes them both light up. So if you ever meet us somewhere and my sons aren't socializing much, just ask them about dirt bikes...they won't shut up!