OLD DOG,  NEW TRICKS?




A Gas Gas? What is that? A Laxative?

 September 2000 and I set off for Alto Pit, a dedicated off road area, just outside Prescott
Arizona. My mission, after a 23 year layoff to go and watch a "modern" trial. At this stage I did
not know that Central Arizona Trials operates an all day event with all classes up to and including
Intermediate riding in the morning and then Advanced through Champ in the afternoon. A good
system as you ride half a day and check the other. That way everyone sees everyone and it
makes for a good atmosphere.

 First impressions...... these sections are pretty ambitious! Great trials terrain, shame there isn't
any mud, anyhooo, I walk round, introduce myself and people are genuinely friendly and helpful.
Sometime later, Sheldon Heffler, the President of the Club offered me a ride on his new Gas Gas.
 I take it off for a trundle and then a few minor obstacles which of course it does without a thought.
I'm suitably impressed  and that "bug" is always there so the mind immediately says "Yeah, I
could still do this".




The Ends Card.... The First Clean on GG

 The following week I'm at "Hardrock Trials" and getting all the info from Mike Carlton. It just so
happens that if you order a new Gas Gas before the end of October there is a BIG discount so
things are really in my favor. The new machine arrives and I'm rekitted with new Hebo boots and
 a YES helmet. Some feverish practicing trying to jog the memory banks and I'm mustard keen for
the first event at Oak Flats in November. 




....Left, ..outside the rock,..over the steps

 I don't remember it section by section but I do remember being exceedingly nervous and trying
too hard I stalled the engine on the first turn in the first section! I think I then ripped the sleeve
off my new shirt in the next section and discovered that anything growing in this desert needs a
 wide berth as it will stick you, stab you, grab hold of you, and generally spoil your whole day.




Now these are BIG rocks!

 Things then got better and the sections soon had the memory banks lit up and I think I was on
 some old auto pilot as I got to grips with things and ran out as class winner by a clear 10 points.




Don't screw it up now

 During the first couple of years on the CAT circuit there were some great venues, but regrettably 
we seem to have lost all our desert areas through some nutter claiming we were destroying the
environment. These are the classic campaigners who champion every cause without ever looking 
at the whole picture. About time WE (the victims) stood up for what WE want!




I Like IT!

 The Gas Gas was a great bike and I rode it with a lot of success wrapping up 2 Senior Novice
 Championships before switching back to the mysteries of 70's engineering, heavy flywheels and
all that stuff. One fingering things had only ever had ONE application in my Life! Too late to
change ....... sorry boys ...WHOOF.....WHOOF!



OLD DOG    Tony Down



Read tales of "Old Dogs,  Old tricks"

October Archives
November Archives..... lots of AHRMA stuff.