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JAY LAEL • For this story to have proper context, I need to begin in 1972. I was 13 years old, living in Colville, Wa. when I managed to pester my step-dad, Warren into taking me to my first "motorcross" race at Colville MX track. That day I was to be treated to show of outstanding riding by none other than the great Jim Pomeroy. If memory serves me correctly, he was riding the red 250 'sang with #57 on it and sporting the "University Bultaco" jersey, jofa mouthguard, mutton-chop sideburns and mustache etc. He absolutely DOMINATED the field, making a fan out of me that day. I still remember the day the motorcycle magazine came in early 1973 which told of his GP win in Spain. The headline read, "What's happened to Jim Pomeroy?" Here was a guy from Washington state who made it big in Europe as a professional moto-cross racer. MY STATE!I was truly inspired by this fact. Fast forward 32 years to the Alderdale Vintage motocross, "Hammer and Tongs" where for the first time in my life, I sat astride a motorcycle on the starting gate, right next to my hero, Jim Pomeroy. It was absolutely surreal. Like I had done it before in another life, or in my dreams. As we prepared for thew gate to drop, I knew I was going to get the holeshot. I knew it with every fiber of my being. It's weird all the other times when my attitude was more like, "Well, just do the best ya' can.... (sigh)" What a fine attitude for a guy who's trying to win a moto! Something about being lined up next to a well respected legend, just brought out the best in me and it was an amazing experience. Truly humbling to have something go so incredibly right.
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Jim once again leads the way as a true sportsman by loving every minute of some good hard racing, getting roosted a few times and just laughing about it. When he says he's having fun, believe it. That's why it was so awe inspiring. I also had a chance to "duke it out a bit with some of my good VDR buddies, Marvin Newton, Blake Landon, and especially a streetfight to the end with my old buddy Paul Thompson, in our second +40 evo ex. moto. Paul is faster than me but has been having trouble with arm pump and just wilted the teeniest bit, enough for me to see daylight for just a second, and that's all it took. Paul is such a sportsman! He said I was "riding good, and good job!", when I had managed to cross the line ahead of him. A true champion is shown not just by how he wins, but how he loses, tells even more about the character of a racer. Paul is the real deal. All you guys are amazing!
Blake had me SMOKED at least twice, before he had "mishaps" which allowed this consistent old geezer to prevail. He'd go streaking by me and just be GONE. I saw him flying down the hill some 100 yards ahead of me and just haulin' like crazy, the first time it happened I came along to find he had ended up stuck in the sage brush near the "dirt wall" jump. I didn't envy how he must have been feeling at that moment. Later on he was putting the boots to me and Paul Thompson when he lost his front end in the downhill off camber left turn before the scorekeepers tent. I am certain that next time Blake will be hauling a$$ but will he stay on his wheels? Better come to Port Angeles to find out. It was so great to see all of my kindred dirt racing brothers! Kudos to Lindell, Siege, Dirk Williams, the A team in general on a job well done. Guys, Let's hear your stories from the Alderdale Hammer and Tongs. You're among friends here. Later, JL
 New Recruits: Ryan Jump with Jeff Osborn chasing |
RYAN JUMP • Where on earth can you begin your official motocross career 2 days after your 33rd birthday? My name is Ryan Jump and by default I am a Bultaco man; default because my neighbor and good friend is Roger Landberg of Hot Dog Vintage . Last spring I took notice of Roger and his weekend getaways to the mysterious land of Vintage Dirt Racing NW. At the end of the summer of 2004 Roger invited me to his place for a little bar-b-cue. He put me on a Bultaco 250, sent me out on his track and the rest is history. I was hooked. We chose an evolution bike; a '79 Pursang model 220 (370cc). At the gates I made friends with #41 Jay Nelson who ended up being my rival for the day. I jokingly mentioned getting the hole shot. With my heart jumping out of my chest I had no idea what to expect... some guy wavin' a sign... pointing up and down the gates... everyone ready?... I watched Jay as he put his bike in gear... I followed suit... keep the RPMs up... when would the gate drop... an eternity passed... the scream of engines ready to run... It's on.... A little too much throttle... front wheel high off the ground... ease up... into 2nd gear... ease the power on... into 3rd gear... here's the corner.... Hey! I exclaimed... I'm 2nd in the first turn.... a victory in itself... #41 in the lead... #10x a close 2nd....\ All
through practice and the first 4 laps of the moto I was taking a tight
right line on the first table top down the back stretch. I wasn't clearing
the entire thing though, so my alter ego said, "If you want to win
you have to clear the first tabletop". I went for it... I took it
fast and still accelerating... as I peaked over the top I realized I was
a bit farther right than I wanted to be. I made an effort to persuade
the bike to go back to the left with a little body english. To no avail...
I hit the soft berm of dirt, it sucked me in and I was down in spectacular
fashion. After thankfully noticing all my body parts were operational,
I gave the Bultaco "THUMBS UP " to my wife. As you can imagine,
she and my daughters had a front row seat for the event and they were
anxious for me to get off the track. Totally exhausted and spent, the track hand gave me what was left of my fenders in 6 nice pieces, I started the newly modified machine and we rode to the finish... gingerly!! Jay Nelson #41 had taken the checkered easily. I myself was ready for some Gatorade and a bag of ice. • MORE |
JEFF
OSBORN • Alderdale: The term rookie is a severe understatement when it
comes to my racing day at Alderdale MX Park on May 29 2005. I hadn't been racing
in over 25 years. I borrowed a '77 KTM 400 from Thom Greene who graciously let
me ride it in not only the team relay race but also the EVO Open Amateur and
40+ EVO Amateur classes. I made several rookie mistakes including trying a second
gear start and killing the engine at the starting line, running with the choke
on for a moto and killing the engine at the first turn due to infamiliarity
with the bike, and having difficulty getting the bike started before motos and
eventually push starting it. Fortunately, all these difficulties happened in
the 40+ class which I eventually got a 6th place because I didn't quit racing.
In the EVO Open Amateur class, I rode smooth and steady only laying the bike
down once in a slide around a corner and keeping the bike running and getting
back on to finish. I finished 5th in the first moto and 2nd in the second moto
for 2nd overall! What a rush! I felt more and more comfortable on the bike and
track as the day wore on. I even got brave enough to try and clear a double
jump. Once I cleared it once, I made it every time after that. Oh what fun I
had! I hadn't experienced that kind of thrill in a very long time. Coupled with
our KTM team's 6th place finish in the team relay race (thanks to my friend,
Dan Bensky for joining our team and my brother, Stu Osborn for getting me involved
in VMX racing) the day was a complete success! I'M HOOKED! - Jeff
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LEN LOWERY • DONT BE THAT GUY!!! • Yeah, you remember the old commercials where some idiot outsmarted all the rules of Darwin for a moment and survived anyway. I was THAT guy all weekend at Alderdale. Could not figure out how to launch, as the concrete start pad at Woodland has me a bit spoiled. Second gear starts that usually netted a holeshot at Woodland were suddenly worthless. Think I would have learned by the relay team race? No, that would be for normal Darwinian fans. I must continue to be an idiot. No payoffs this time, as all performances from this frog were completely lackluster. I did nothing correct, I performed sub-standard, and had one of the best times of my racing carreer while I stank!! The Dirt (capital intended) provided so much hook up, I could not find a soft spot in my clutch to keep the front end down. Once I got going, it was a very responsive and forgiving course, the kind of track that savvy guys would watch and learn from the other racers. I wish I was one of the savvy guys. There was much to learn from the "endowed" (that means big balled) for any who paid attention. I can only hope I am a better man for what I witnessed, as watching two Pomeroys and one Poulin lay waste to a track that was perilously close to bringing about my demise, assures me that I can still play this game! Let's see all you forty-somethings try that with football!! Oh, YEAH!! Then it will be your turn to BE THAT GUY!!! zenfrog Len
Lowery showing off |
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HAMMER
& TONGS ROUND ONE
Alderdale May 29th
• Vintage Results
• Evolution
Results • Makes
Challenge Results
• hammer & tongs tall tales • •
page 1 •
page 2 •
page 3 •
page 4 •
page 5 •
also see • VDR • Motocross Shirts • Hammer &Tongs • Ahrma Pacific •
©2005 SIEGE
