When to quit racing and track riding?

look into another kind of racing, perhaps.

im 67 years old and stuff is heavy and i get tired. but i race LSR on a 650 triumph and i ride the fastest bike in the world in my class.

think about what else you might do that wont beat you to death. in america there is a shortage of nortons in LSR

dorset said:

im 67 years old and stuff is heavy and i get tired. but i race LSR on a 650 triumph and i ride the fastest bike in the world in my class.

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Not many people can claim that !

What's LSR? I tried to look it up but found myself at Lone Star Racing! I figure that's not it...

MexicoMike said:

What's LSR? I tried to look it up but found myself at Lone Star Racing! I figure that's not it...

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land speed records.

I had all the crashes I was ever going to have when I was in my 20s. I am now 80 and there is now a marital embargo on my racing . My wife traded in my tow car to buy an SUV. I have had three strokes and a double by-pass, but I am now brand new again. My mate is 83 and scared of dying. He rides every year at the Broadford Bonanza. His Triton is 750cc and he believes he can still beat me. The other day he was in his car at the side of the road crying. He reckons he has had a breakdown. I told him 'you cannot go on forever- he asked 'why not ?'.
Motorcycle road racing is better and safer than sex.
I last time I raced, I had them all cold - they were never going to catch me - they would have needed 140 horsepower. The fuel line popped of when I was 100 metres in front. - My last chance.
My friend Steve Oszko died 4 days ago. Before we went he said 'You idiot, you left it too late', As you get older you usually become more competent. My only regret is I did not do more racing when I was young. In total, I have been married for 53 years.

Craig said:

Got to know yourself and your true limits in all things , not only on 2 wheels , lots of shit out there can ruin your day …. but I do think “Ride fast & take chances” applies to most things in life , no fun if not pushing onwards & upwards …..

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I ride fast and I don't need to take chances. Taking chances is for idiots - all you need is enough experience to be competent. There is no way I am ever going to crash while racing. Whatever happens, I have probably already experienced and coped. If you lack confidence, do not race. You need to be sure of yourself. The last time I raced I was 75 and I was better then ever. Take a beta-blocker to control the adrenalin.

acotrel said:

I ride fast and I don't need to take chances. Taking chances is for idiots - all you need is enough experience to be competent. There is no way I am ever going to crash while racing. Whatever happens, I have probably already experienced and coped. If you lack confidence, do not race. You need to be sure of yourself. The last time I raced I was 75 and I was better then ever. Take a beta-blocker to control the adrenalin.

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You raced in 2017 ?!

You kept that quiet …

Definition of SAFE : - a situation or condition where the risks are minimised to a level which is tolerable to the stakeholders. Road racing is safer than riding on public roads.

dorset said:

look into another kind of racing, perhaps.

im 67 years old and stuff is heavy and i get tired. but i race LSR on a 650 triumph and i ride the fastest bike in the world in my class.

think about what else you might do that wont beat you to death. in america there is a shortage of nortons in LSR

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Until you get off at whatever speed the world's fastest 650 Triumph will do. Then getting beat to death is on the table.

By the way, that is impressive!! How fast is the fastest Triumph 650?

As you get older you become more able to handle responsibility, you might even be allowed to hide your own Easter eggs.

Fast Eddie said:

You raced in 2017 ?!

You kept that quiet …

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Just before my mate died. I'll have to hide my Easter eggs.
He was my helper. He had one eye and still raced at age 70. But by then he'd had the cataract removed.
I know I was past 70 the last time I raced, and it was easier then it ever was.
My problem is, if I tried to do it now, I am too unfit. I'd have to start walking a lot more.
The best thing about having him as helper was, because he had raced, he knew what had to be done without me telling him.
My mate from the next town would help , but he has only raced once, so does not really know what it is about.

Al maybe you have given up racing but don't know it (sounds like your wife knows), is racing safer, well you have had many crashes in the times you raced, I been on the road for near 50 years riding my bikes and in that time had come off 6 times, 2x pushing it to hard, 2x lose gravel and 2x times when a car pulled out in front of me, but the first bad one was when I was 17 on my Honda TL250 trials bike (before the Norton came along) a car hit me from behind when turning into my mate's place, ran straight over me, the bike didn't get a mark on it but stuffed my left knee up and was out of action for 4 months, so not bad for near 50 years on the road and once with a fractured left arm and broken thumb from one of the car pull outs, and most of the times I went down was when I was young and silly, before I got road smart.
Its sad when we have to give up riding from old age or injuries, I just hope I have a lot more years before that happens to me, I love riding my old Norton but riding my modern Triumph Thruxton is now my everyday ride and what ever bike I am on I am a happy chappy and still ride them like I am still in my younger days, life couldn't be better for me on two wheels anyway.
Ashley

acotrel said:

Just before my mate died. I'll have to hide my Easter eggs.
He was my helper. He had one eye and still raced at age 70. But by then he'd had the cataract removed.
I know I was past 70 the last time I raced, and it was easier then it ever was.
My problem is, if I tried to do it now, I am too unfit. I'd have to start walking a lot more.
The best thing about having him as helper was, because he had raced, he knew what had to be done without me telling him.
My mate from the next town would help , but he has only raced once, so does not really know what it is about.

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Must have been when you were 70 Al, if it was in 2017 I’m pretty sure you’d have told us about it.

“Life is what happens whilst you’re busy making other plans…”

The ride fast quote I used is Paul D’Orleans , he signed a book he had written for me with the quote , not sure it was meant literally ….

acotrel said:

Just before my mate died. I'll have to hide my Easter eggs.
He was my helper. He had one eye and still raced at age 70. But by then he'd had the cataract removed.
I know I was past 70 the last time I raced, and it was easier then it ever was.
My problem is, if I tried to do it now, I am too unfit. I'd have to start walking a lot more.
The best thing about having him as helper was, because he had raced, he knew what had to be done without me telling him.
My mate from the next town would help , but he has only raced once, so does not really know what it is about.

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Al
How about getting one of the young blokes to race your bike?
Sure there are risks but there are risks in just about anything
You could prove your ideas, keep the bike tuned ,pass on your knowledge

baz said:

Al
How about getting one of the young blokes to race your bike?
Sure there are risks but there are risks in just about anything
You could prove your ideas, keep the bike tuned ,pass on your knowledge

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That is more dangerous than a front brake...

I could put someone on it, but I would have to teach them how to ride it. If I get in the shit with it, I know what to do. It's handling is a long way from neutral. Most bikes, you don't flick them into a corner while braking, then get straight back onto the gas and let the bike steer itself. I only found out how to ride it, by getting on the gas earlier in corners, over a very long period of time. If I give it to a young guy to ride, I'm certain he would not have the nerve to do what is needed. It is not something which most riders would do. Most brake up to the middle of the corner, then gently accelerate out. I raced about once per month over a 12 year period when I was a kid, and I never suspected why Manx Nortons were fast, until I rode one - they oversteer under power. You can get on the gas earlier.

I think you under estimate youth (at least the ‘right’ youth).
They learn fast.
And have zero fear of speed.
It would be fun for both of you…

I

Fast Eddie said:

I think you under estimate youth (at least the ‘right’ youth).
They learn fast.
And have zero fear of speed.
It would be fun for both of you…

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I don't understand fear of speed. Anything which might happen to me has probably already happened. I have the opposite problem - once the motor starts, I really go for it. I think it is a severe mentaL issue. It is the reason, I never start my motorcycle at home. If I start it, I have to ride it. I'd get booked for the lot.
I do not like the thought of being even partly responsible for someone else's demise. If I get wiped out, I would have nothing to worry about. I can think of two occasions, where I have been too close to someone else passing away. I can remember my own childhood on motorcycles.
My father was once told by an Italian gentleman - 'when you ride a motorcycle, something grabs you'. My father scoffed. Even just talking about it, I get the urge.

Tomorrow I am going to my friend's funeral. His son will be there. He has been racing his father's works 350 Manx. I want to get some of the historic racing guys up to Winton for a practice day. The young guy is about 40. I might let him ride the Seeley 850 and see how long it takes him to adjust to it, It is a bit different to the usual. What you do woth it, is what you feel you should not do.