reddick/ marion county mx to replace gatorback

[chicagojerry]

there is also a blurb under racing category, you can follow the thread, gatorback canceled     chi jer

[Rob Thatcher]

It is great to have Chi Jerry giving us the inside scoop.  MX of Marion is a great track from a vintage standpoint.  

I was working just north of Jacksonville in 2001 and raced most of the Florida Vintage MX series in the winter and spring.  Here is me at MX of Marion.  I broke the frame two weeks before at the Gatorback vintage track, ordered a frame off the internet and rebuilt it in my dorm.  The first race things fell off all over the track in the 250 class, but then was great in the Open Age and won my first national.

[joe novak]

Rob,  Exactly what year and model Yamaha were you racing?   I am guessing circa 1974-5; I think I see a shock spring in the photo.   Did Yamaha introduce the monoshock in 1976?    joe

[brian kirby]

'74 both MX and YZ were twin shock, '75 YZ was mono and MX still twin, '76  both were mono. Donno which that is, but a '75 MX would be vintage legal under the "like design" rule.

Brian

[Rob Thatcher]

That was my 1973 Yamaha MX250.  It really should have been silver but the prior owner had repainted the tank yellow, so it was easier to make it look newer (plus I liked the color).  Great bike, not too evil handling.  I had a Trick-it fork kit, works performance shocks, Circle F pipe and PVL ignition.  Absolutely nothing ever beat me to the first turn on that thing, it was crazy fast in a straight line.