My first race was a motocross when I was 12. I don’t remember finishing a complete lap. But you have to start somewhere. My father took me to hare scrambles and different off-road events so I could gain experience. As my ability improved I ventured into different types of racing.
I rode in motocross, hare scrambles, enduro, hill climb and flat track. I won a National Championship in Hare Scrambles in 1968. It was very humbling to receive my trophy on the stage during Bike Week in Daytona, along with the top racers of that era.
I won the class championship at Mt. Meridian three years in a row. That was the first dirt track I rode on. It was normally the first scrambles race of the season. I also won the Tri-State Scrambles Championship. Around this same time the European manufacturers Motocross Teams came to the states. It required an invitation to participate in these events. I was fortunate to be able to be invited to a motocross in Ohio to compete. That was an eye opening experience. They had be doing motocross for years. It was fairly new to the states. Those guys were awesome.
I rode pro flat track for a couple years. Pointed my first year as a novice and moved up to the junior division. Riding a 750 on a half-mile is a feeling I will never forget. Those were good times. I had the opportunity to race at different tracks form Washington D.C. to Kansas. At some point life catches up to you. You have to decide the priority. Making the decision to quit racing has always bothered me. I still miss the competition. I have come to the conclusion though, for a racer, there is never a good time to quit.
I may not be competing, but my wife and I enjoy riding our Harley.