BIG SPRINGS RACE REPORT

[ingramracing]

Our whole family had a lot of fun at Big Springs this weekend. Our youngest daughter (who didn't want anything to do with dirt bikes two weeks ago) even decided that she wanted to try racing in the peewee race after she practiced on Saturday. She got last but had the time of her life!

Our son raced in his first Junior class race, and he did pretty well. He just recently started trail riding and has come a long way in a short time. It did sadden me, however, that when he came off the track and was finished, he said, "Man, some of those guys in the woods are mean." I asked him what he meant. He told me that he was riding and some adults came up behind him, yelling "Get the f*** out of the way", "Move a**hole", and calling him a "mother-f***er". He got over, and even crashed himself trying to get out of the way. They were able to get around him, then another rider came up to him and said, "Don't listen to those guys, they are probably drunk." It broke my heart to think that here my son is, trying his best at his first race on the "big trail" and some adults felt the need to belittle him. Even his escort couldn't believe it. One thing that I love about Forward Motion is how there is a place for everyone - regardless of age and skill level. Remember - the junior class contains our future riders. And a big "thank you" to the 131 for helping our son.

[TEAMBRAWNER]

Where to start where to start first off I want to say thanks to Perry Kegan for a epic race it is very sad to me that we may lose big Springs Kansas forever as it's one of the best tracks I've ever ridding I like the high flow high-speed stuff that being said I will start with my race report. OK first off I'd like to apologize because I cheated constantly I cheated by bringing the secret weapon not too many people know about it but it is governmentally funded They have spent over $4 billion on it so far it is a motorcycle that runs on air and even though it is cleverly disguised As a 1995 XR600R It is nothing of the sort why let me tell you about it this motorcycle is automatic it's systematic it's Hydromatic Why XR lightning It's got a chrome carburetor four titanium valves And is 100% carbon fiber the bike only weighs 34 pounds thanks to the billions the government put into it. It's also got GPS traction control antilock brakes satellite navigation Oh and the best part a recliner seat that's real big and cushy So if you get my point it looks old kinda like it's rider but the bike Is absolutely awesome OK enough about the bike it started out a normal day got up at 5:30 in the morning and drive to Topeka I was amazed at how many people were there when out for one practice around 930 and sat around and waited for the race to start So I get to the line patiently wait for the shotgun to go off and I kicked the big XR over unfortunately the government didn't put in the budget for an electric start so I actually had to kick however it did start on the first try. And I got 13th in the hole shot So were off it took a while but I worked my way through my class and by the third lap I was in the lead I was feeling no pain everything was good then on the last lap I stalled actually thought maybe it ran out of air because it runs on air but after about 10 kicks and 20 seconds it started again Thank god because I did not want to push the 34 pound machine to the line You know I still do have some Dignity OK well there it is that's my race report kind of boring but I had to set the record straight Thanks again to everyone that made that happen. Also it was an awesome day for me and my family as Nick Brawner won his first overall in the forward motion series and Alec got forth in the A class and eighth overall And with the help of the secret weapon I actually won the vet advanced class but for now I'll savor the flavor because it probably won't happen again

[jgordo]

Ryan your memory is almost worst than your jokes!!! I was skeptical all day Friday and Saturday morning as I helped do some work around the track. It was shaping up to be super fast!! And while it was, the dust and brakin/acceleration bumps that formed after the first race helped to slow things down a tad. Perry set a good course up and lots of entries made for a super fun day!!
Had a great start, slid in behind Phillip and just tried to stay smooth...didn't take long before I made a mistake. At the high speed Y on the hill I decided to try to go straight through the thorn trees and Flyin Ryan took an actual race line and got around me. Super pumped to roll through scoring bumping into the back of Ryan yelling at him to go faster and being in third!! The second lap was fairly uneventful and went through in third again...hey now I might be able to do this!!! Third lap I could see that bright yellow bike lurking on the switch backs. About three miles in I found a spot and let Tom by hoping to be able to hang onto his coat tails. Well he bobbled and instead of riding I was watching him and I missed the turn, swoosh the 741 kawi goes by. 5th isn't so bad...
In the ex section I see someone at the pinwheel...it looks like Flyin sitting there eating a sandwich and drinking a coke...back in 4th!!! The pressure must have been to much because once again I tried to go straight at the Y...there goes Flyin on one side and Spooner on the other! Well heck 6th isn't so bad... I hung with those guys but I was off the pace until I saw a small pile up in a corner. Why there was Spooner standing there looking at me with his hands on his hips as a 600 rider was trying to pull his Honda off the slick 711 KTM!! Well Spooner caught up!! Going through scoring I was a few seconds behind Flyin...But I don't think he was worried because he was turned around yelling at me to try and catch him!
I never did and I stayed in 5th. I did catch up to Phillip but he realised I was also a 700 and took off!! Never did catch him! Overall it was more fun than I've had in a long time!!! Great group of guys!! I did find that when passing, instead of being a jerk and just revving my motor and yelling I actually yelled 700 rider a few times. Then actually let the rider know where I'm at when I pass and I didn't have one problem in traffic. The youngster that was being followed by 131 got pretty nervous when I went to pass so I actually talked to him...told him I was going wide in the next corner and to stay straight in the middle of the trail. He did awesome. If others were calling him names and cussing him I think their riding style needs to be questioned not his.

[FlyinRyan]

Very nice race report Jimmie. I've heard stories about how fast you are, I guess the Legend is still alive. As far as Nick Spooner goes, I was told he was not going to be at the race so you can imagine my surprise when I came up behind him in the woods. Nick, we always seen to be riding in the same areas. I bet I have 2 hrs video watching you ride. Now the real reason I am on here for a second time.

I'm pretty disturbed about IngramRacing's race report. The whole reason I am able to come out and spend as much time racing as I do is because my son Tyler and I do it together and because of that, I make it a priority. If I ever hear of anybody making my sons experience out on the track a bad one because they are in a rush to get past him because they are going for all of that 600-1200 cash that goes to the winner then I am going to be pissed. Then if they start yelling profanities I shudder to think what may happen next. Actually being a passive person like I am, I'm sure that I would just pass along the go Pro footage that we would have from the go Pro my son is wearing and Dan would just tell me, "it's all good and I will take care of it."

I do look at forward Motion as a family event and am sorry for IngramRacings bad experience. I'm sure if word gets out about who is doing this, it will get taken care of.

[Spooner]

Ryan, maybe we should see if Shane Watts wants to watch some of the footage of me, I'm sure he could pick up a few tips That was the same guy that was woo hooing me too so maybe we need to let him know the etiquette.

I can't believe someone would do that to a junior rider, any idea who it might of been?

[FlyinRyan]

No idea but I'm putting a spy in the Junior Class with a GoPro. I moved Tyler up to the 800's last year at 11 yrs old because he thought he was ready for the two hour big show. Now after 4 races the longest he has stayed out on the course is 1 hr 38 min. Then he landed in the ER with a concussion at BS trying to ride over his head so he is moving back down for experience.

[yellow jacket]

Big Springs Report:

Hunting lions in Africa with bow and arrow is no more exiting than being tapped out in 5th gear and having 20 feet visibility on the top of the Big Springs track. I make it sound bad, but it is one heck of a rush.

The Big Springs weekend was epic. Saturday was a wonderful opportunity to see what a pro track is like. Perfect moisture, fast and smooth. So perfect that you could push that front tire so hard that you can feel each knob biting that dark moist terra firma. We got to the track around noon and headed out at 1:00 p.m. It was heaven, I wanted to ask Dan if we could hold the race on Saturday and Sunday. After hanging out our open sign and working on about a half dozen bikes, we called it a day. Evening came quickly and PK did not disappoint with a wunderbar meal. We had just started to get comfortable when what I can only describe as a nuclear blast went off about 150 yards away. After taking a look at my singed eyebrows In the mirror, I slid on down to witness a small marsh mellow fire, that you could see from space. I decided that I needed to go to bed at 10:00 p.m., but Flyin Ryan would not have anything to do with that. He was running around the pits until after midnight on his golf cart whooping and using a flashing yellow light to make sure we could not get an advantage on him on Sunday.

Without generators running all over, we all got to sleep in on Sunday. The sun came out and the wind came up, which as you know dried out the track. By the time practice was over, that perfect soil had turned to yuk. Slid over to help a little with crowd control on the mini course. It was very gratifying to see the next generation running around the mx track. All to soon the big boys were ready to head out. The shotgun start had one casualty, PK accidently shot down the drone that was circling the start. The dust was flying all over the course, by lap one, JP was changing flat tires for the fast guys. I was feeling like crap all night and just about did not enter the race, but I knew I had an ace in the whole for just an occasion. Like TeamBrawner I had a plan just in case I got sick, but wanted the screaming yellow zonker to be on the start line. I had been doing research at work and found a company that wanted to experiment with 3D projection. I signed up with this guy and got to use it this weekend. As I sat in the motorhome with my joystick a 3D hologram was out making me look like a real motorcycle racer. All I had to do at the end of the race was rub some dirt on my face and go collect the wood. I can't wait for the first mud run.

As Dan said, it is all good.

Tom #709, Maybe

[Aintdeadyet]

This is exactly why I almost didn't let my 14 year old race Sunday. It was his first race, couldn't ride Jr as he is on a YZ125, rode that huge TR class. For most part he had helpful people out there, but did say couple guys acted like douchebags. Seems some things never change, this was an ongoing problem years ago, not major, but still always a part of HS for some reason.

How damn hard is it to just be patient and say "THANKS or THANK YOU"???

Signed, aintdeadyet, aka KTWade, now on a Yamaha lol

[swedishfishmx]

Some people have a switch and it gets either turned off or on while racing.

It's a bummer, but it is what it is.

Insert quote about "sticks and stones may..."

[Gibber]

I'm thinking more like "LITTLE MAN SYNDROME!"

Never seems to happen to the 6FT 1IN, 230# dude on a 300. Just the 4FT, 100# kid on an 85.

I would like to see them flip that switch with one of us in the 700's!

Do you suppose it is an attempt to impress themselves since their wives or girlfriends are UNimpressed?

I'm not sayin' anything, I'm just sayin'!

Long and the short of it is, switch or no switch they just need to cool it. And anyone who sees it happening needs to either call them out or bring it to someone's attention. I'm sure the dads with kids out there will be happy to address it.