Round one found me with a new bike (99 200 KTM EXC), a new attitude (but with the same old ability and body).

New for this year in the series is a "Masters" class for those of us 55 and older. That's the good news. The bad news is that they are some fast old guys that are eligible for AARP. In addition, to make allowances for our aging bodies and minds, they decided to run us with the Super minis and women during the morning. These races are an hour long while the regular HS's are 2 hours.

I decided that since it was cool weather, and my body hadn't had it's fair share of abuse that I would run both the Master's class and the Senior B (plus 40).

Bobby (my son) couldn't make this trip so I loaded up and went over to Joe Jessee's on Saturday to spend the night.

Joe was recovering from an eye infection and sinus problem he swears was a result of swimming in the pool at the hotel we stayed at in Daytona. I personally think that you were taking your life in your hands going in the pool or the hot tub there--especially the hop tub, but anyway Joe kinda wanted to ride but decided against it. He did go with me to the track on Saturday for practice.

This is a good idea--practice I mean--and I wish more races would have Sat. practice even if it meant that you only rode a portion of the track to get your bike dialed in and to get an idea about the track. One lap of practice and I decided that I could be in trouble in the rocky and badly rooted sections. My 200 has the original fork springs but a heavier shock spring.

The bike was bouncing and deflecting off rocks and roots and going to the lightest compression settings on the front didn't help. Anyway the backend felt pretty good.

Remembering the chapter "How to set-up your suspension" from my book, Bob's School of Motorcycle Maintenance, I decided that because of the soft front springs and my weight, the front end was riding too low in the travel, putting it in the harsh (stiff) part of the travel. Actually, this was borne out by the fact that I had the triple trees flush with the top of the fork caps and felt that the bike was turning fine.

After practice was over, Joe took me back to Rocky Mount to pick up his latest vehicle addition--a '94 RX-7 with twin turbos, for a run out to his farm. I drove the RX-7 out and let me tell you--I've been in a bunch of fast cars in my life--this car is baaad to the bone! I don't know what the e.t.'s are on it but it was nothing to hit 75 mph in way less than a quarter mile. I got it up to 95 on one short stretch. Remember, we were riding on mountain back roads. And, with 4-wheel disc brakes--it stops right now! Whooweee!

Sunday morning found me getting ready for the Master's class. By the way, this class is not to be confused with the fishing class with a similar name--the "Master Baiters". I put on my gear and boots (master booted) and headed for the line. We were running with the mini's and women. We started behind the mini's (a real master bummer) and in front of the ladies (some of whom are fast enough to be master beaters).

I didn't really have a race strategy for this race as I didn't really know how fast this class was (there were only five of us), so I decided to just take it easy, ride as fast as I could, and have fun. I did my usually drill of starting the bike in 2nd gear as each class took off and when our turn came my Tweetybird Racing/ Bob's School of Motorcycle Maintenance/KTM Sportcycles 200 EXC didn't let me down as it started first kick! Unfortunately, I forgot to leave it in 2nd gear and it took me a moment to figure out why I was going backwards (we were starting up-hill).

Anyway I left one guy on the line still trying to kick start his 4-stroke (see "Electric start is the only way to go on a 4-stroke" in the chapter on motorcycle starting procedures in Bob's School of Motorcycle Maintenance) and headed into the woods. It turns out that Jim Thompson was riding this class and he pretty much smoked the rest of us (he will probably win the +45 class this year, also). He also promoted this race and since he cut the trail, etc., he knew what to expect--not that that would have made any difference. I had a great race-long dice with Bob Wick on his new electric start 400 DRZ and at the end it was Jim 1st, Bob 2nd and myself 3rd.

For the main I didn't have any real race strategy, for the reasons above and because I knew it was going to be a test of resolve just to finish the race. This time on the starting line I remembered to put my Tweetybird Racing / Bob's School of Motorcycle Maintenance/KTM Sportcycles 200 EXC in second gear and got a great start! Jim Thompson had lined up next to me and I left him and most of the field sitting on the line.Probably 6th or 7th out of 25 into the woods. That was short lived as Thompson blew past me, took a secret line, passed most of the leaders, and was on his way to winning the class.

The first lap I felt good, only losing time in the rocky sections when the little 200 bounced and deflected its way across the rocks. As the laps wore on I gradually drifted to the rear of the class as the rocks, roots, and ruts took their toil. I ended up in 12th place--not bad, considering (but Jim Thompson won 2 classes).

The course turned out to be a lot of fun for the most part--about 6 or 7 miles long with just a little really tight stuff thrown in.I learned something new, too. I put into practice what David White had told me about going through 28" wide trees (with 29" bars)--I could do it on the 200 but couldn't do it on my old 125 EXC (never mind that Dave can do it on any bike).To learn more, see the supplemental chapter on riding in tight woods in Bob's School of Motorcycle Maintenance.

So ended my first very first three hours of racing--I'm ready for the GNCC's! Next up is the Tidewater 100.

Bob White

'99 KTM 200 EXC (the best bike ever)
Riding the 45+ class with a 40 year-old's desire and a 57 year-old body