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Brian Richards from Bellingham WA fly'in high out of the lower section.
It could be said my journey to the first AHRMA National began in July of 2006. That is when my buddies got me back into motorcycles and just happened to be AHRMA and VDR racers. Being on a tight budget AHRMA and AMA was not possible just getting back into it. My first race back was Bodner Ranch and though I loved the event and the people, and will always returnI was told “wait till Chehalis next year. Thanks again to you Dirk for all the effort into this event you and your group puts forth.
With the winter setting in, we were off to Riverdale to do some racing. Again had a blast and was like a kid in a candy store just having a blast. Then again Just wait for the National.
Fast forward into 2007 and off to races at Crooked River and Prineville all the while watching the calendar waiting for mid August for the “FARM”. My mind was made up, I’m going Saturday to get there early, do my sign in and tech so I could get all I could out of my first National. As Frank and I head up the Freeway, stop for lunch then to the event. When we took the exit off I-5 my smile had to be bigger than the Cat that swallowed the Canary.. Over the Tracks. Pay our fees and to the pits that Clay had picked out for us. Hey, we were there, unloading and trying to look around all at the same time. Not an easy and safe task.
After all the set up and the entry and the Tech. we were off to check out the track and the pits and people and bikes and you get the picture. Ran into the Mud Turtles, (top shelf people there). New rider Britt Zimmer, and his Can-Am, and a few others we have gotten to know. At first walk of the Track it seemed wide, fast, a few jumps, but wide and fast. As we were relaxing getting ready to eat another newbee ran into us. Mike and his CZ sidepiper came into our pits and we struck up conversation with him. Hey we had burgers, dogs, and beer, so we had another friend join our pits and had a great time. Like I said I wanted to take it all in.
We set up our beds and off to what sleep we could manage. Up at the crack of dawn, and Dave pulling in and now we are set. Normal race morning rumbling and to the riders meeting. The usual do this don’t do that and Introductions. Gordy Ochs was honored, and rightly so. And Chuck Sun was in the house. Then we were off to practice. Sitting there on the line ready to get started and what! My bike quits. Back to the pits and Dave and Warren tear into it. Dave and Warren work hard and fast to get it running. Well I missed practice and was getting ready for my race I just about had to ride Franks Husky. The same bike that I rode a bit over a year earlier for my first ride in close to 30 years. A hard crash over a little jump and my body hurt. The ground won again. But they got my bike up and running(this was my first race on my new maico 400) and off to the start. Good thing cause I did not want to hurt Franks bike.
To the race. Like I said my fist thought was wide and fast. Wow it was. But I totally had a hell of a good time . As I look back and remember my moto’s. I won in the places I wanted to. I was not last off the line. I rode well for a fat over weight 50 year old. But most off all, I had the best time I could hope for and I did not crash. An improvement to say the least. Maico was doing good.
Frank chose his Bultaco Pursang to race. I didn’t get much of a chance to see him ride since he was in the gate behind me. First moto start was more like mine than his, Bike stalled and was last. He was making up ground as the moto came to a close and the Pursang was running as good as it looked, really good. Frank was not up to par in the health department for this race weekend. Dealing with a head cold and body just spent. After a good rest he was ready for moto two. Second moto start was much better. What else could you ask for, A good running bike and a good safe race, no crashes, a win win for us.
All I can say is the FARM lived up to the hype. The track was great, they ran a tight ship. A record crowd showed up and close to 500 riders raced with 16 double gates, one after another, just like clock work. The crew was working hard. I met the Richards, Brian and Nancy, great people and racers from Washington. Bill Grubin, The Vintage Dude himself. Had never met him before yet he turned over this web site to me. Jennifer Holzbach, always a pleasure talking to her and Chris. The Bentley’s and the Poole’s up from CA racing in the great PNW , and Dave Gulickson, a friendly racer from K Town. All in all I came away with a lifetime of memories. Well maybe a years worth to get me to the Farm 2008…………………….Thanks to all who worked for this event to happen.
Bill McCormick 85r
Gas It N Go
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