A Youngsters View of Aging

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind it doesn't matter.

Mark Twain

A look in the 2015 rear view mirror

As 2015 sputtered to its inevitable end I started looking in the rear view mirror on what had happened during the year.

And the reason I started this was I began noticing invitations from distributors and manufactures in the motorcycle industry for 2016 rider resumes. Now I know they are primarily looking for the up and coming rider, but I thought wouldn’t it be fun to send a few of them a resume from an old guy rider.

I’m always looking for the humor in things and actually spend a lot of time cracking myself up. I did write a resume and just sent one out but haven’t heard back yet; part of a rider resume is what your accomplishments for the year were. When I started adding up all the races I participated in this year and all the places I went to it honestly blew me away. I had thirty two race starts, in five different states, competing in Motocross, Cross Country and Enduro. That’s countless hours of driving, bike prep and riding. And the money it took to do this, no wonder I’m broke at the end of each month. I compiled eighteen first place finishes, nine seconds, four thirds and one fifth place finish.

Sure I wasn’t competing against twenty something’s if I had to do that I would have given up racing a long time ago. I get to race with and against my peers and that’s what makes this so special, the camaraderie is priceless. I’ve also found for the most part those of us who choose this sport are like minded in many aspects of our lives. As we age they just keep coming up with new classes for us. At one of the International Old Timers races this year there were five eighty year old plus riders all lined up behind a starting gate, that’s pretty cool stuff.

I know I have those who admire me for what I’m able to do, but also have hero’s young and old alike. In today’s society our concerns for people’s health is at an all time high, especially as the majority of our population grows older. Well in us you’ll find a group of people who in many cases deify what is termed as normal behavior and activity. Most would agree motocross for instance is considered an extreme sport, in terms of the risk, the fitness required to do it at even a basic level, the reflexes required, the mental capacity needed, keep us fitter and healthier longer than most of our peers, especially us older riders.

We don’t consider ourselves tough but we are. Injuries are part of it, we all fall off sometimes and it can hurt, sometimes a lot. We all know that but it doesn’t stop us and none of us think it won’t happen, we know better. But it’s just what we do, nobody takes it for granted and all of us are very thankful we can still do it.

I frequently thank the big spirit in the sky for allowing me to do this and when I’m finally done I’ll have no regrets but stories and memories to last until my time here is up.

Doug 21J

PS Before I read this to my wife I had told her I felt like a little something was missing. After I read it she says why don’t say something about just what it does take to continue doing it. I said you mean things like riding all the time and when you do fall off the first you do is move all your parts to make sure nothing is broken and unlike when you were younger you just lay there for a little while. And then you get back up and ride some more. Or how much you look forward to the next bike you get, or just how much you enjoy being with your riding buddies telling stories.

The special feelings you have on one of those almost perfect days, whether it is on an MX track, trail riding or riding dual sport bike. Or how much I enjoy tinkering and cleaning my bike she said yes, so I said I think I will.