Blog Post

Rupert X Ruport: Drawing a Line in the Sand for the 50+ Racers 15

If you make it down to Loretta Lynn's in the 50 Plus "Masters" class, you should be treated with the utmost respect and care, all proper-like. Additionally, you should have the benefit of a full gate (42 racers), as do most of the other classes, but, more importantly, as an elderly and distinguished lady or gentleman, you shouldn't have to be "stagger-started" behind another class, which is, of late, the 45+ class. Why should we care, though? These old geezers aren't going to bitch and complain, they usually don't have their moms or dads with them to cause a fuss, and they've often reached a point in their lives, where, they've calmed down—and aren't about making a ruckus anymore. They're pretty "chill" as their kids might say.

MX Sports brings you these terrific AMA National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynns Dude Ranch, in the sticky jungles of Tennessee. They perform such a brilliant job of operating these week-long motocross vacations, that it is difficult to find fault with their program, yet this "ageism" issue needs to be addressed. First off, if you're over fifty and still riding, my backwards Team Green cap is off to you, and, if you're competing and enough of a bad-ass to be in the top thirty riders, nationwide, to make it to Loretta's, you're a legit savage. Who are these guys, anyway?

These guys, generally speaking, are usually male, over 50 (!), have decent jobs, and have been racing 30-40 years. They've bought the handlebars, the Preston Petty fenders, the DG heads, the tall seats, the Rad Valves, the "factory" pipes, the hex grips, the plastic mufflers, the see-through side panels—all of it.  They've ridden 500s, they've ridden in El Caminos, they've ridden in box vans and ambulance—they have ridden. And, somehow, their wives often know of only about half of their moto expenditures. They're factory workers, doctors, Supercross Announcers (Erv Braun), professors (Gary Bailey), dads of Supercross racers (Matt Tedder) and, they are usually very skilled at this motocross game. After decades of success, trial and error, most have kids that race, some have grandkids that race and, whether they speak of it or not, their moto-knowledge is usually at level Eleventeen.

As you may know, Loretta Lynn's Big Dance has been going down since 1982 and, if the archives are correct, there were twenty-five (25) classes at that first race and thirty-six (36) classes in 2014. Now, if the official online archives are, indeed, factual, the "Masters 50" class was initiated in 1993, with Ohio's Henry Gref winning that first one, with a total of 20 riders gated. Next year, the Professor—The Gary Bailey—decided to snap up the Masters Championship in another 20-rider field. My buddy, Larry Evener, won in '95, with an eighteen-rider pack and, oddly in 1996, there were 21 entries…
In 2001, there were thirty–five seasoned gentlemen in the Masters 50 class and then, since I can't find any results from 2002 thru 2008, I'm assuming they did away with the class for a few years. There did appear to be a few more age divisions, so maybe there was a good reason, who the hell knows?

2009 would see Matt Tedder, Team Green hero and dad to a bunch of fast kids (and, allegedly the owner of like thirty Kawasaki KXs and KXF's) come back to win with twenty riders competing and, in 2010 he "done did it again," taking another Master's title.

Former pro and world-class moto hero Gary Semics took it in 2012 and then legendary Loretta's champ, Kevin Foley, won big in 2013, with a field of thirty (30) racers. 2014 was Florida great Earl May's time, in another 30-rider race and we are already beginning the Area Qualifier stages for the 2015 running of Loretta's, in August, at the ranch.

In conclusion, it is high time we recognize these distinguished and fast humans for what they are, they're our motocross teachers, leaders, pioneers and family members. They shouldn't be stagger-started, have an abbreviated field, nor be treated like second-class citizens, this is 2015 and we cannot allow our elder statesman of motocross to be shuffled about and disrespected. They deserve better.

Full gate (42 racers) and no more stagger-starting (dammit). That's all we ask*. (* I've now been told a few of these feisty 50 plus gents have asked for " bikinis and beers" at the podium, too – but that's a special request.)

Gary Peak, Ike De Jager, Denny Swartz, Robert Reynard, Shorty Goode. Just wanted to throw those guys name out there, too. 50 Plus. The Masters Class.

Viva La Fiddy-Plus, amigos!

15 comments

View replies to: Rupert X Ruport: Drawing a Line in the Sand for the 50+ Racers

Comments

In reply to by lumpy790

In reply to by motomike137

In reply to by spacerider

The Latest