46
46yo, I started riding (unbeknownst to my parents who forbade me) at 12 when a couple of friends got bikes (Honda XR70 & Yamaha GT80), my parents found out a few months before I turned 14. For my 14th B-day my day handed me the classified section of the paper (if you are under 30 and don't know what that is ... just ask your parents!), and said, find a dirtbike that you like with a price that I like.
I ended up getting a Hodaka Combat Wambat 125 a week later and I never looked back. Traveled the whole gambit from MX-HS-Road Racing back to HS & Enduro.
In 2009, I had the opportunity to join a team (chase crew/chief mechanic) to run the Sportsman class for the 2010 Baja 1000. A few days before leaving for Baja, I was given the opportunity to become the 5th rider as well! What a dream come true, until a crash on a "pre run" 2 days before the start, in which I broke several ribs 10 miles into a 40 mile run. Although, I was able to finish the run it was obvious that night I was out for riding and assumed my duties as mechanic and driver of on of the chase vehicles. What a blast it was!!!
I currently have a 2001 GG 250XC, I loved it soo much that I sold the 2000 KTM 300MXC that I had been riding. I do miss the grunt of the 300 but I don't like the "ride on top of a building" feel that the KTM's have (all my major crashes have been aboard a KTM- the 300 & 450rfs in Baja!) and I find that my GG has that "low in the saddle feel", very similar to the 94 YZ 250 (after revalve) that I rode before the KTM. I don't know if it is due to the factory or my suspension guy (Hyperformance Cycles) who had already set it up with the previous owner. I have only ridden one other GG, an 03 300 and it felt nearly the same to me.
Anyway, I am currently re-habbing from ACL recon surgery (MXing my XC) and looking to find a nice e-start bike, hopefully I won't have to resort to a PDS bike!
Bikes currently in the garage:
1982 Husky 430XC (for sale/trade)
1994 YZ 250
2001 GasGas 250XC
2003 CRF 150(daughter's)
2007 110 pit bike (my toy and son's ride)
2000 Kawasaki ZRX 1100 (for sale/trade)
My other addiction ......
1965 Fairlane 500 Sport Coupe
1966 Datsun SPL311 (1600)
1967.5 Datsun SRL311 (2000-#321)