Famous father
By TMX Archives on 8th Feb 05
entire life I've been told from one particular individual that I'm the son of a famous father. THROUGHOUT MY entire life I've been told from one particular individual that I'm the son of a famous father. The person who drummed this into me was, of course, my father - and I like to believe it's still true.In his racing days he was known by the nickname 'The Iron Man'. I still call him that to this day but reckon it was more obvious 30 years ago as to why he was given such a tough guy nickname.He turned 60 a few weeks ago and he isn't so 'iron' anymore but that won't keep him away from motocross bikes. For his birthday he was presented with some shiny modern riding kit with my intention being to get him out for a few laps some day.Actually, I'm thinking along the lines of getting him stuck up to the handlebars in a Donegal bog next winter. He's retiring from work and coming racing with me full-time this season so if you spot him at the races be sure to remind him that his new riding gear is to be used.I don't play golf but that fact didn't stop BBC Northern Ireland deciding it was a good idea to have me on their sports programme playing the hardest 18 holes in this country. I agreed to do it knowing it would be a good laugh all round.The day it was booked for gifted us with 80mph winds and lashing rain - perfect! The weather didn't make it much fun for me but my shots made for pretty good TV! Someday when I'm done racing I'll maybe invest in some lessons - it would be money well spent!I contested the Dublin supercross in mid-January on the all-new aluminium framed YZ250. It's a nice bike. I love two-strokes, especially when they're on a fun indoor SX circuit. The track was very small and very tight but still good enough for a spot of bar-bashing with the visiting riders.My results were medium to okay considering I hadn't been on a bike since the beginning of December in Cardiff (or been on a 250cc Yamaha since 1997). I got awfully boxed in everywhere on the Friday night final and came out of the stadium with no result and feeling a bit claustrophobic.Saturday night was better as I got away from the gate around third, progressed forward and closed in on Jean-Sebastien Roy. I passed him with two laps to go only to let him by again before the finish. It was close and the crowd were pretty loud so I hope it will happen again next year.My next call of duty for Yamaha was to take a trip to ER Williams' - Mold's premier off-road dealership - dealer night. I had been before a couple of years ago when I was with CAS so I knew what it would be all about.It's a very popular evening and I never seem to get to talk to everybody I see there for long enough - Paul Eddy, Wayne Braybrook, Josh Coppins, Jason Rennie, the Jones family, Princey, Rodger Hardley, Steve Dixon and a shop floor bung-full of motocross junkies.I saw a nicely restored YZ490 two-stroke air-cooled bike while I was there and said to Mr Dixon that I reckoned that would be the bike to have for Weston. I'd certainly have no fear of running out of coolant, unlike last year!Matt Bates and his Events 22 team are hosting a round of the World Indoor Trials Championship in Belfast's Odyssey Arena on March 19. I went along to the media launch and got to see Dougie Lampkin tackle a JCB on his four-stroke Montesa.I joked with Matt that I'd bring my trials bike and show off my skills. Clearly that would have been a brave move and after seeing Dougie nearly wreck himself on the slippery, yellow-painted machine I'm very glad I left my bike at home.It was good to catch up with Dougie as I rarely get time to talk to him. He's a busy guy and totally dedicated to his trials riding but he tells me there's a baby Lampkin on the way in the summer. Congratulations.Ray Archer visited me at home and we headed out with my team-mate Martin Barr Jnr on the bikes for the day. The skies were blue, the bikes were blue, the gear was blue and Ray's nose was blue!He got some great shots of us doing some laps and play riding a little bit before I managed to completely cartwheel my new bike down the track after clipping a bank. The only damage was a bent set of bars and my dented pride. Yamahas can endure big crashes okay it seems - not that I plan on doing that regularly but it's good to find the limit every now and again.This is my last month of preparation before the racing season starts at Hawkstone on March 6. So with that in mind that's enough story telling from me and I'm gonna get back to my daily project - motocross.Best regardsIron Man JnrBy Gordon Crockard