Thanks Donnie, good to see you again. Thanks also for the start video. The bike problems were of my own doing. Lesson learned. Wish more of these races were closer for me.
I'll be honest, the narration was a little much. I race with the OCCRA series. I am a usual in the post vintage class where I ride either my 1981 Suzuki PE175 or my 1982 Suzuki RM465. Watching this video reminded me that the class is technically A live engine start class, but we all collectively choose to do a dead engine start just to show those rule makers that these old bikes can start easily, too.
I used to blow head gaskets like crazy on my 1978 Yamaha 125. I had some other chronic issues but I can't remember. I think I would have loved that race. Sucks you are having trouble with your bikes. The only reason I went to KTM in 1999 was because my buddies were getting hundreds of hours out of them without turning a screw. I think I was faster on my rmx250 but I ran my 1999 KTM 300 about 350 hours before I did anything to it except wheel bearings and some fork seals. I don't think they are as reliable now but I've ran my 350 for 3 years with no engine issues, I've had fuel filter and fuel pump issues. I had to upgrade the starter in the beginning though. But it's been pretty dependable. I'm wanting to get back on a 2 stroke but I've been riding my buddies KTM 300 but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to ride it as fast. I'm going to ride my other buddies 2004 yz 250 and see what it feels like.
Unfortunately the problems are of my own doing 😫. Maybe I can get them sorted. You would have enjoyed it. Some bikes just seem to go on forever but you probably take care of them too.
That was great to watch, thank you. You were picking them off, nice lines and steady pressure. I'm a big 200 fan as well. Have an air cooled KDX200 roughly the same vintage as your IT. Although I do like my 01 Husky 125 for the sandy single track out here. That'll be vintage class soon :)
+1 on the attitude, perfect for smokin' the bigger bikes. Easy Peasy. The 200 life! Less is more. Over 20 yrs for me. Got bored when ever I went bigger. I run a STIC Super X carb on my Upgraded 200SX. It puts the stock mid power right off idle and goes nuts from there. I short shift on the trails for sure.
My first Hare Scramble was on a new at time IT200. Grant Mountain AL, Tony Hendon got the overall that day. I ended up not finishing right at the end, but it did fire me up to do several years of HS racing in Alabama and Georgia. Good times they were! Great Job by the way!
