YELLAPIG RACE TEAM
In 1980, a skinny 15 year old kid in a small town bordering state forestry became mesmerised by the many dirt bikes that frequented the area. The blue and yellow Yamaha ITs that seemed to dominate the forestry planted seeds that would grow into a passion. The hunger to be out there conquering the trails was to be eased with a humble Suzuki TC100. When the hunger returned and the TC100 out classed, it was relaced with a (little) giant killing (more like anoying) Honda XL185 S.
The XL does hold a special part in my history. It was bought brand new and shared with my father who rode it to work during the week. On the weekend, off came the mirrors and into the bush. I later took over the payments and the mirrors stayed off. Real tyres were fitted and before long, I was challenging my mates who had progressed to the likes of PE175s.
A visit to Conondale for a motocross kickstarted the obsesson and suddenly I hurled down the racing (read: riding with other people that were racing) path. The then sad XL185 was traded on an equaly sad RM125N which had some issues. The RM did not last a week and was returned and replaced with a 1981 CR125RB. A real weapon. Now I could hold my head high in the company of the blue yammy ITs. I then joined the Sunshine Coast motorcycle club and started to race, or ride around with other that were racing. My main passion was belting around the forestry. I also bought an IT175h new some time around here.
While still involved with racing I met a mate with a brand new YZ125j who offered me a ride. It was smooth and the power curve started right at the bottom. The next day I had one. This was to be the bike for me. The one that all my greatest memories were made on. My greatest successes and triumphs.
But life took a different path for me and the YZ was traded for an IT175 and I started my decline into apathy. Over the next few years I went in and out of bikes. I have a XR200, and then an 84XR250 and somewhere in there an XL500 s. Another IT175J found it way into my garage. As the years rolled on the bikes became less and less important. I had little oportunity to ride with life and work. Then i met up with a friend who along with his brother had 2 IT200s. I then sld the IT175 and upgraded to the IT200. This was about 1992.in the early 2000s I spotted a 98WR250 2t for sale. I had never ridden one or heard what they were like, but I thought that it would be a great thing to have. A test ride and the IT was for sale and the WR was mine. (Not so easy as that but). I still have the WR which has proven to be lovely
Although not riding often I was keen. A friend kept on wanting me to have a look at QVMX when they rode at nearby Coles Creek. I eventually made time to get there and was flung back into my youth where I had really got off dirt bikes. I had to have one, and the first to come along was a rather sorry 79 YZ250. This holds no connection to me as I never had or wanted one. But it was a way in. After spending much time and money on Ebay it was all together and going and I was there doing it. My desire for the return to a YZ125J surfaced. I was colose to twice as heavy as I was in 1982. Maybe just to look at. I started collecting bits as the became available. but eventually found one complete except for the front end. I just happened to have aquired the front end hardware and was riding it around that afternoon.
The 125 was then pulled down and all the best bits put into the rider. I purchased some nice used yellow USA plastics for a different look. The little YZ got a bit of a flogging from the press "back in the day" and I hear many people call them pigs and fat and heavy. I just love it. Other than a few teething issues, it has not missed a beat. It is not bothered dragging my sorry 100kgs around either and has helped to shame me into loosing some weight.
I have since aquired a 1983 RM 250 which is the class of bike I should be riding. I also have an IT490 as I got the big bore bug, but it still needs some development. An IT175H, YZ125K and all the bits for another 125j live in my shed. I did start fixing up a YZ100J/K for my daughter. After chewing up the $1,000 budget it was mostly done and rideable but after only a couple of rides there was no interest. I sadly had to sell that one to appease the keeper of the wallet.
Team PIMP RACING and WILTEC might have the fastest and bestest looking bikes, But I will have to out do them on the web as opposed to on the track or in the pits. Having visited PIMP RACING site just now I find a photo that does not work and a link for photos that leads to an email proforma. A clever marketing ploy or sloppy web design. Are Team PIMP RACING too busy winning Australian titles to look after their web page?
