Warning 700 class

[yellow jacket]

For all those that worry about those two guys that finished at 80%, we have good news. I have permission from my grand daughter to ride her bike this year. It may drop my % down a couple points, but it has an auto clutch and is very light, and it was made in 1972. I guess that will make it the oldest bike also. Shredder, can you get me the phone number for Donnell's so I can get a big bore kit put in it?

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[quik406]

Yellow Jacket, you might make sure Dan will allow that big bore kit, we don't want any complaints about that too!
BTW If that Suz-e-Q is still too fast I got an idea. They can ask Dan to make a D vet class.

[vetteracer77]

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.






Unless you're jgordo....

Or maybe orangecrush.

[WireFryer]

I count my lucky stars every day that I managed to escape the 700 club with my person, 50% of my dignity, and most of my liver still intact...

If Robert Trickle, Doug Kenney, Super Hunky, and Evil Kinevel ever (cough, cough!) combined their DNA with Rhonda Rousey... the child produced would immediately qualify for 700 club status regardless of age.

Whoop!
Tim
#1085

[jgordo]

It's all good! I know I've heard that somewhere....after riding yesterday with Flyin Ryan I have come to a conclusion and a solution! The 700 class is going to be VERY competitive again this year and if there are any creek crossings in a race Ryan WILL end up at some point on his a@@, with his bike on top of him, in said creek!!

[joking]

I agree the 700's will be fun. You might want to carry a tape measure at the races, I saw a video that was posted on you tube showing flying Ryan cutting the course at Melveryn ks. Me and Steve Gibbs were stuck behind a rider who went down in a tight spot, Steve got around, and "wait" what was that I see In "HD"with Highlight's could that be flying Ryan cutting off at least 30 yards thats 90ft, and the rules state that a rider must stay with in 20 feet of the ribbon unless otherwise instructed at riders meeting, I wondered how he got in front of me and steve.

[orangecrush]

Well it is a little late to discuss, but however since you mentioned it. I think all 700 racers will be keeping an eye on him. Ryan's got to live with this knowing that he cheated to win, that is if it was really him.

[Iamdanjohnson]

I feel the need to jump in and clarify. Joe and Ryan are friends and Joe is only razzing Ryan because he got around a jam up that Joe was stuck in. Joe was not actually calling Ryan out on the World Wide Webb!

I thought Joe's post was serious the way it reads to me so I checked with him and he explained it all. I even watched the video and without actually being there, I would say it's all good!


While I am on here, I think this thread made a vague comment about a rider too fast for the class. Best I can tell that is referring to a man who turns 62 this year and most likely the oldest guy in the class. His true percentile is in the range but shows high last year due to some races that the percentiles show high for everyone in those events. I am pretty sure he is in the right class and if he is winning, just keep reminding yourself he is 27 years older than the minimum for the class and he is 62 years old!! How's that for motivation! If it does turn out to be an issue, he can always move up.

[Gibber]

I have video of Ryan making that pass while I was coming out of the bottle neck. I agree with Dan, Ryan "MAY" have pressed the 20 feet a little bit but it was the only way around the bottle neck. There was a fence on the other side and the trail at that point was tight and narrow. There was nowhere else for him to go. It really wasn't any further of a cut than the one last year in the creek at Big Springs or the mud bog at Drexel the year before and both were right at the beginning of the race. If there is a pile up on the straightaway at Daytona and you have to take your car down to the infield to avoid it so be it. I think the change in the starting line up will fix a lot of this.

Just an FYI, Ryan didn't need any help at Melvern to kick our butts. He was dialed in and on rails. Ryan is one of the most honest riders I know. Truth is if he had worked Carbondale he would have knocked me out of first place with my 7th place finish. I would have needed a 5th to beat him but he really was only racing in the VET 40s so he could escort his boy Tyler. He wasn't supposed to be racing us in the VET 40s so he took the high road and let it come down to me, Todd and Eric.

As for the speed thing, I am on the fence. I agree with Dan to a point about Tom. Although he is an 81% he was not dominant in the 700s last year like he was the year before in the VET 40s and he is 62 years old. Former MX champion more than once but 62 years old none the less. However, I'm 52 years old, 74.9% and have yet to win a race but I have been moved up to the 700s. I believe I can be competitive in the 700s but I am not sure I want to. My speed last year would have placed me somewhere around the top 12 in the 700s. Decent for sure but you can bet your ass when I line up on Sunday I'm not going to be shooting for a top 12, I'm going to push for a top 5 or even better. This all means I will be going that much faster when I do wad it up. See my point?

So they say "Speed is Speed". I am not real sure on that. I have spent a week in the hospital with a collapsed lung. Don't really want to do it again so I try to ride smart, like Tom. But maybe there needs to be more to regulating speed than just the percentage. Maybe wins need to be factored in. I won the VET 40 class last year not because of my speed but because of my consistency. No DNF's, mostly top 5 finishes, I ran 13 races and did both my works. Maybe a speed committee would be a good idea. Just my thoughts.

So anyway, I am jazzed about the new 700 club. Its going to be fun and is shaping up to be a great group. I look forward to banging bars another year with Ryan and Eric, Eating JP and Tom's dust again and I hope that Joe King gets out there more this year. We had a great race at Merwin last year. I am mostly however, going to miss racing my buddy Todd Sexton and goofing everyone up with our #s (1036 / 1063). But I do believe Dan is already working on getting him to move up. Once he does that should set the 700 club in stone. I am also glad to see the stuff getting stirred up already. Maybe ole' Eric is working on filling Shredder's shoes!

P.S. I have included a picture of the 736 rocket ship in its new digs. Just so you know there is more to her under all the bling. So for you 700 guys just keep this picture in mind "cause I'm gonna be givin' it hell in the new "700 Club"! BRRRAAAPPPP!

[joking]

Sorry about all the jabs. i was just teasing Ryan. I had a great time last year, and I plan on racing some more this year, depends on my knees.Tom i hope to be at racing at your age. I am sure he is cherry picking races so he can be competitive out there, I have no problem with that. Guys like that inspirer me. ( Bring it on GRANDPA TOM). HAHA Where's OLD KARL, aka slim Fuji,you better not drop your bike in the race and expect some young whipper snapper to pick it up for you.OHH and bring your AARP card, I heard dan was handing out handicap placards and blinking yellow lights for the over the hill gang.