Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Father and son winning titles in vintage racng seriesBy MICHAEL BOYLAN Years from now some enterprising scientist will conduct a genetic study of the racing gene and how it is passed down from generation to generation. They will look at the famous cases; the Pettys, the Andrettis and the Earnhardts, to name few, but they could also study families from all over the world who have passed on their love of racing throughout the years. One such family is the Lights of Tyrone. David Light and his son, Craig, race vintage motorcyles in motocross events. They recently received awards for their impressive 2004 season from the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA). Craig was the 250cc Motocross national champion in the novice class, while David was the national champion in cross country racing. Father and son have new trophies to add to their ever growing collection and nifty new jackets that are the envy of others on the circuit. The bikes they race in vintage motocross are from 1975 or further back, which makes the AHRMA races a kind of living history museum. Their motto is ride them, dont hide them, said Craig, who was first attracted to the sport by seeing all of these old bikes in racing condition. Many of the companies that made these bikes, including the ones he and his father race, Bultaco, have been out of business for 20 years or more. Finding parts or other bikes that could be put back in racing shape becomes a part of the sport itself, a hobby within a hobby. At a race last year, the Lights brought seven bikes behind them on a trailer and returned home with nine, unable to let their new finds slip from their grasps. There are three types of races: road races, motocross, which is racing on a variety of terrains, and cross country, which is endurance lap racing on a variety of terrains. Racers compete in their age groups in either novice, intermediate or expert. The bike that Craig won his championship on belonged to his Uncle Joe, who also won a championship on it in the 1970s. Davids father also raced motorcycles and often goes on the trips that take the family to the races. The Lights pack up their motor home several times a year and head off to races. Last year they raced in New York, Ohio, Florida and Indiana among other stops on the circuit. ARHMA takes a racers best seven finishes to determine points standings and champions. David and Craig are very close, both in a familial way and in a competitive way. David was a cross country champion and Craig placed third in cross country, while Craig won the motocross championship and David placed third. After nabbing the motocross championship on the bike that his father rode to a third place finish in motocross in 1992, Craig joked with his father that he had finally accomplished something that his father hadnt. Craig also received the Hard Charger Award at a race last season. The award is given to the racer that tried the hardest in all of the races that weekend. It was that very same weekend that father and son finished seconds apart in a cross country race. The Lights spend a lot of time on bike maintenance both before and after a race. It is one thing that David, an employee at Lockheed, and Craig, an aspiring mechanical engineer set to attend Kettering University (formerly the General Motors Institute), in the fall both love about the sport. They both feel that the bikes often run better after some maintenance with the addition of custom built shocks and new wheels. There is also a patch of their yard that has received all of the washed off terrain from numerous races. Interestingly enough, it is also the patch that grows the best. The two racers from Tyrone also enjoy the camaraderie in ARHMA. Each race reunites them with old friends from all over the country while also introducing them to new people whom they know they share at least one common interest with. The people who race vintage motorcycles come from all walks of life, from doctors to plumbers. One interesting racer that the Lights have seen at a number of races is former Indiana Pacer Rik Smits. It is a good group of people, said David, who said the rivalries were mainly friendly. Though riders typically bump each other while racing, fully intent on winning, they will also help each other inbetween races. He was also pleased that Craig and other young guys were welcomed so readily into the sport. Craig has earned the respect of people twice his age, said David proudly. Craig, a senior at Sandy Creek High School, has been riding bikes since the age of seven and had to wait until he was 16 to race in ARHMA. Though his racing will be put on hold during college, he doesnt expect to stay away from it too long. The Lights have nine bikes, ranging from vintage to modern. They also wear betwen $500 and $600 in safety gear at the races. With entry fees, travel expenses and bike maintenance, the sport can get expensive but the Lights feel that it is well worth the money. This summer, the Lights will travel to some of their favorite tracks that they have raced on in the past and Craig will be racing in the intermediate class. In the first race of this year, he won a cross country race, placed second in a motocross race and seventh in another motocross race. Craigs advice for aspiring riders is to ride with temperment and know what your limits are. Craig estimates that he races at 90 percent of his skill in all of his races becaus those who race 100 percent of the time at top speed are likely to crash. I ride fast and as I continue to keep racing, my limits get higher and higher, said Craig. Though a shortened season likely means a championship is out of the question for both Craig and David, this season will be just as special for them as they will be racing together with their family and friends cheering them on.
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