It’s harmless to say Steve Clark’s retirement strategies aren’t like most.
The 67-year-aged Kingsport resident desires to race motocross into his 70s. It is a passion for Clark, who obtained back again in the sport 3 yrs back just after practically a 45-year hiatus.
Competing in the American Historic Racing Motorcyle Affiliation (AHRMA), he has two second-place and two 3rd-area finishes in the countrywide standings.
Racing a 1974 Yamaha MX 250 in the 60+ and Open up Age Novice classes, Clark compiled additional points than anybody in 2021. However, championships are based mostly on your best five races — which gave both equally series titles to Pennsylvania rider Richard Knepp.
Clark, who performs in finance in Johnson City, explained he’s additional aggressive now than when he commenced racing as a Knoxville teenager at the previous 411 motocross track.
“I was not as serious as I am now,” he claimed. “I was 18, clean out of high faculty, and I know time is extra minimal now. My children are grown, and even though I’m even now doing work, I have far more versatility.”
His very first race bicycle was a Suzuki 400, which he describes as not a extremely secure bike. Although he won a regional championship more than three tracks in Mississippi, Clark stated he’s in no way been the quickest rider, but the most dependable.
“I would acquire a couple races, but I didn’t wreck considerably,” he explained. “A whole lot of my accomplishment now is staying dependable. I’m not often the fastest person in my class. I’ve been able to travel to the different tracks and rating points.”
However, he does his share of profitable, sweeping motos at Open up Age races in Jefferson, Texas, and Cairo, Ga, final season. He also swept the 60+ group in functions at Pell Metropolis, Alabama, and Barber Motorsports Park.
The 250 he rides is comparable to the 400 with which he began. AHRMA regulations prohibit the use of most present day engineering. The sequence draws a varied group of riders from their early 30s to a pair in their 80s.
Clark, who travels to the races with his wife, Brenda, doesn’t see himself racing in his 80s. Still, he feels there are a few great many years left in him.
“Most men stop right before they get in their 70s. Wherever I restarted late, was out of it 45 many years, I can last lengthier the place I haven’t taken the punishment,” he mentioned. “I’m working now, but I’m not likely to be functioning forever.”
He has competed in many states, ranging as considerably north as New York and Michigan and as considerably west as Oklahoma and Texas. He’s continuing a custom of winner riders close to the Tri-Metropolitan areas space, relationship back again to brothers Ken and Jim Hayes on the flat tracks to nationwide motocross champions like Mike Brown and Zach Osborne.
“We have the organic terrain close to listed here that generates superior racers,” he said. “You have a lot more wide-open up areas than the larger cities, and a good deal of people today who own farms will allow you go out and apply throughout the 7 days. A good deal of destinations you just cannot do that. It is the laid-back angle of how people like the outdoors around here.”
For the 1st time in decades, the classic bikes are coming to Muddy Creek Raceway in June. Clark attended when the Blountville track hosted the Lucas Oil Countrywide Championship races. Now he’s ready to set his possess wheels down there.
“I’m incredibly fired up about it mainly because the track is lovely,” he explained. “I’m ready to journey on it, to experience what it’s like to be on the monitor.”
He expects it to be equivalent to Crimson Bud in Michigan or Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, which are nicely manicured tracks. He’s not a fan of some other venues, exactly where it results in being additional about survival than racing the level of competition.
“I really don’t like it when the mud is so extraordinary that it limits what you can do,” he reported. “We have been racing in Arkansas and my carburetor acquired trapped wherever mud obtained within it. I don’t like it when it’s so significant. I do not find the cross nation racing or enduros enjoyment.
“I like being on a observe that is tacky but rapidly. Curves and jumps are fine, but I like to use the bicycle for what it’s for rather of a battle with the features.”
Winter season INDOOR Sequence
Carson Eads experienced a dream weekend in rounds 9 & 10 of the FMF Indoor Motocross Winter Collection at the Smoky Mountain Expo Middle in White Pine.
The Kingsport teenager entered six races, 12 motos general on his Yamaha and won them all above the training course of two days. He went 4 for 4 in the hard Unrestricted B course. For the season, he has racked up 12 wins and 15 podium finishes.
One more Kingsport rider, Hard cash Taylor, experienced five podium finishes in 6 races, together with a earn in Friday’s 85cc Beginner race. Anthony Fields from Bluff Town scored two wins and a pair of runner-up finishes.
The series returns to White Pine on Friday and Saturday for rounds 11 & 12.