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VET & OLD TIMER RIDING SECRETS

Vet class guide to success

By Rick Sieman

You are 41 years old and have a beer gut like Yogi Bear. Your conditioning is less than ideal. When you were a hot Intermediate, you weighed 160-pounds. You now weigh 215 and have a 38-inch waistline.

Congratulations, you are now a Vet. Or, even worse, an Old Timer. But cheer up. You get to ride only with people your own age. No snotty-nosed kids who cut you off, or ram you in the turns. Nope. Now you get cultured, dignified, mature people of your own age group cutting you off, ramming you in the turns and riding over your face.

The editor now wisely chooses to race a light, smaller displacement bike. Because it's easier and requires less energy, that's why. This KDX 200 fits the bill nicely.

THE BENEFITS OF OLD AGE?
Quite frankly, I can't think of any. But on the way to getting old, you definitely do get smarter. Not too smart, however, or you still wouldn't be racing motorcycles.

I've been racing for well over 30 years and have accumulated some little tips I'd like to pass on to you. No, you won't find out how to do double jumps, or giant wheelies, but there are some valuable pieces of insight here:

1. Don't race an Open-class bike. Always get a 250 instead. The reasoning is clear: big bikes will tire you quickly and you'll fade. I can't tell you how many Senior Class races I've seen where ten 500cc bikes bolt to the lead, only to have a handful of 250 riders beat them to the checkered flag.
2. Don't ride a 125. Even though you can go like stink on one of these little buzz bombs, you'll have to pass everyone else on the track, as everything but the water truck will beat you to the first turn.
3. Work real hard on getting a good start. In most Old Timer races that I've seen, everybody charges like madmen for the first three laps, then settles into a more or less regular pace.
4. Pick smooth lines. Yes, indeed, in order to save energy and to maintain a good pace, take the very best lines you can find, even if it means going way outside and losing some time in the process.
5. Try to ride as if you're nursing a small pain. When you do this technique just right, you may not have to stand up anywhere on the course except for the jumps.
6. Eat bananas for breakfast instead of the usual stuff. Why? They won't bloat you and will give you good slow-burning energy for hours.
7. Do not drink any alcoholic beverages the night before a race. Not even a beer. In fact, as much as I love beer, I will not touch a cold one from Wednesday onward (assuming it's a Sunday race), but after the race, the aluminum cans get crumpled.
8. That's one nice thing about racing. If you do good, you drink some cold suds to celebrate, and if you do poorly, then you can console yourself with even more cold suds. Either way, it's a win/win situation.
9. Do not modify your engine. If you feel that you must spend money, spend it on getting the best suspension possible. This doesn't mean that you should not properly jet and tune in your bike, but you do not want to turn it in to a wheel-ripping monster. A smooth, correct power band is the best friend of the tired rider.

   Before Super Hunky got really old, he used to love to race Open Class bikes, like this fire-breathing 490 Maico.

10. If another rider is hounding you and threatening to pass, try to ride on the edge of some loose stuff and roost as much loose stuff as you can in his face. This can easily be done by screaming the engine and fanning the clutch quickly. Take care not to loop out when doing this dirty maneuver.
11. Use slower riders that you're lapping to foul up a pursuing rider. If you're an Expert Old Timer and you're about to lap a Novice, you can easily make him move over into your pursuer's line, simply by riding very close to him and revving the engine loudly with the clutch held in.
12. Always jump off the lowest edge of any jump. High jumps and hard landings are for young kids still suffering from acne and a primal determination to impress friends, both girl and others.
13. Use the highest gear you can whenever possible. Lower gears will deliver a rude blast of power and will prematurely tire you. Slip the clutch if the engine tends to bog, but keep that machine in as tall a gear as you can.
14. If you race an Open bike, run up at least one tooth on the countershaft sprocket. This will mellow out the power delivery and still allow you plenty of beans for a killer start.
15. Wear comfortable riding gear. Chances are you've gained a few pounds and your leathers are too tight. Pop a few bucks for a new - and roomier - set of riding pants.
16. Do some kind of training during the week. It's not critical what you do, just keep that old body of yours in some sort of condition. I lift weights twice a week, and run a little bit, even though I detest running. This helps reduce injuries and keeps you in one piece longer. This doesn't mean that you have to give up all of your bad habits, but if you insist on participating in a tough sport, at least keep your muscles and connections strong.
17. Ride well forward on the bike and keep your arms loose. Lower bars will help you do this; higher bars will make your arms and hands work much harder.
18. Use the smallest grips you can find that are still comfortable. The smaller the diameter of the grips, the easier it is to hold on, and this will reduce arm cramping and pump-up.
19. Do not bloat your stomach with energy liquids between motos. If you like to use an energy drink, cut it heavily with water and sip sparingly.

    When SH hit 40 and started racing in the old farts class, his bike of choice was an RM 250. While it was hard to get starts against all the big bikes (check out #03 buried at mid pack), the 250 was easy to ride and led him to a Number One plate in 1988 in the Senior Class.

20. If you must eat during a long day, ingest something easy to digest, like fruit. Do not eat anything at least two hours before you race. When your body has to digest food, it uses a great deal of energy to do so. You'll need all of your energy for racing.
21. Take lines like a road racer. Instead of darting around wildly and slamming off of berms, take smooth, graceful arcs and try to keep the speed up. While not as fast or as spectacular, this smooth approach does not eat up energy.
22. Ride where no one else is riding when there's heavy traffic. Most tracks get beat into a one-line groove and the riders tend to ignore the edges or the outside simply because it was not beaten down. In practice, when the track is wet and mushy, the outside will more often than not slow you down. But as the day wears on, it will firm up and offer some surprisingly good lines.
23. Do not smoke cigars during a race. During trail riding, sure, that's okay, but cigar smoking could obscure your vision and might be a fire hazard.
24. Well, after you read and digest these tips, your riding in the Old Coots Class should dramatically improve. But, you ask, Rick, surely there must be other tips and tricks?

Of course there are. But I still race every - now and then; do you think I'm going to give away all of my secrets?