Predictably, I got a great start, easily the first into the left hand sweeper. Downshifitng, I hit neutral and drifted up the banking. A bike rockets past. Rats. Well, it was one of many, really. However, I passed a few. Like the kid on lap 3. He looked pretty young, but with a helmet and gear on, how could I tell? I suppose by his riding style. As I passed him, I thought, 'I was racing before you were born.' Wait a minute. I could have been racing before his DAD was born! 

 

Searchlight did not disappoint this year. We rode through the motocross course, over tires and logs, through the desert, through a shop, a couple front and back yards, and over the streets of town. A true motorcycle grand prix, and lots of fun. 

 

Thanks to the shreiking winds, dust was less of a challenge than past years- although later last evening, my eyes felt like the sandman had given me seconds.

 

After racing on an off for more than forty four years, this event was a first. We packed five guys- Bob, Chris, Kevin, Mark and me into a pickup with the bikes on a trailer, all the gear in the back. Heading out at four thirty a.m., we sounded like college kids on a road trip, joking, laughing and telling stories of races past.

 

Going home, a completely different story. We slumped in the truck, rehearsed the race and realized we possessed more aches and pains than originally thought. But we left one another satisfied that a great time was had by all. 

Check out the four minute video on www.searchlightgrandprix.com. It paints a pretty good picture of the race.