New OTMX Season Begins!

2012 OTMX Opener at Tulare

The opening round of the International Oldtimer MX series got under way at Tulare this weekend with some picture perfect weather, track conditions and wheel to wheel racing, literally.

The track was prepped to perfection with 100% traction and not the mud/slop that is generally associated with a well prepped track. The track operator, Rick has certainly figured out the secret to preparing a picture perfect racetrack and it showed the whole weekend.  Some of the national caliber tracks should hire this guy to prep their tracks! I never saw a single rider bust out with the pressure washer after any moto. Impressive.

This led to some great racing despite the dismal turn out of riders. Well you know what they say when no one shows up for dinner, MORE FOR ME! 

It was a lot of fun to see old friends after not seeing some of them for several months. Our group lucked out in our pit parking selection due to the fact that we had built in entertainment most of the weekend. The entertainment came in the form of a trio of riders that made the journey in a motor home and trailer the size of the L.A. Coliseum. They provided nonstop laughs while earning some new nicknames like, Explosive Ed, Rapid Randy and Yogi. It seems Yogi was the best description Rapid Randy and Explosive Ed could come up with after trying to sleep in the same area code as Dave (YOGI) since he snores like a bear!  Rapid Randy actually went cruising the pits to see if he could find someone that had an extra pair of ear plugs to sleep with for the second night!

The best racing of the weekend had to be the 5 moto battle over the two days of racing in the 60 Master class between two warriors named Gary Chase and Terry Sage. These two guys traded wins with the tie breaker being moto #4 when they crossed the line literally side by side, wheel to wheel and had to go back to the scorers to ask who got the nod. Initially it was Sage but the outcome may still be under review. No matter which way the decision goes the spectators were treated to some of the best racing since Carmichael and Stewart banged bars. Thanks for the show boys! This looks to be a real slugfest in the making this year with both men willing to push each other to the very end every moto.

I think my Hero of the weekend would have to be Gene Hbrosky, #20. The guy is 79 years old and still mixes it up with the likes of Ron Clawson, #97 and Harold Noell, #11w in the 70+ class. I spoke with him briefly and found that he was the last of the Mohicans. He said all his buddies that had traveled with him to the races had either passed away or just given up on racing. That is what brought such a smile to my face when I watched him get a great start and win one of his motos! You are the MAN, Gene!

The weekend was just about perfect due to the fact that medical crew mostly sat around and watched the races without having to get too involved. But we are always glad to have them there just in case!

Thanks to all the track flaggers, scorers, Rick Hollenbeck for track prep, Ron Clawson for putting on the event and to the small group of hard core riders that made the trip.

See ya at the races, #33