It’s been 42 years since I rode this bike, but today, I race the CR-125 Elsinore for the first time. You would think I would have taken the bike somewhere to practice a little bit first, but because this was supposed to be just a check-the-box item that I had been looking forward to, I didn’t want to put any more time on the bike than necessary.

When I was 13 years old, my Dad called me on the phone to tell me someone was coming to the house to pick up a few hay bales. I was supposed to stand by the road and flag him down so he knew where we lived. Obviously, this was way before Google.

I stood out by that road for what felt like an eternity when a blue and white Chevy pickup rolled up, pulled into the driveway carrying a brand new 1975 CR-125 Elsinore. I knew instantly that bike was for me. I was so excited I nearly peed my pants waiting for him to get it out of the truck.

The guy who brought it to me was Scott Pung, his family owned the local Chevrolet dealership in Alma, and they also sold Honda. I probably walked into that store 100 times to look at this bike. I think I wore a path in the carpet from the front door to the upstairs area where they kept the bikes.

When Scott unloaded the bike, he said: “Have you ever ridden one of these before? They’re really fast, not at all like your old motorcycle” (I had a Honda SL-125 4-stroke). He kicked the bike over one-time, and it fired right up. It was so loud that it gave me goosebumps. I’ve been waiting for years to get a real racing dirtbike!

The first time I rode the bike, I remember going up the path to the airstrip out behind our house and getting into the powerband for the first time. It hit so hard that the front tire came off the ground! It happened so quick that it scared me a little. My other bike could barely do a wheelie. You had to rev it up and pop the clutch to get the front wheel off the ground, not this thing. Twist the throttle and hang on!

To make a long story short, I was never allowed to race the bike, I could ride with my friends at their tracks in the area, but I couldn’t attend a race. 42-years later, I am finally going to realize a lifelong dream of racing the Elsinore in a real competition. I’m sure my parents had their reasons for not allowing me to race the bike when I was young, and I respect their decision, but I had to get my way eventually.

It’s 5;30 AM Sunday morning, May-7th, 2017, and Jeff Cole just pulled into the alley behind our house in Bend, Oregon. The race is being held at Crooked River Ranch, just an hour from the house. Tech inspection is at 7:30 AM, practice is at 8:30, and racing will begin promptly at 9:30. According to the race schedule, I was the in the 6th race, 125 intermediate. Only six riders were in my class, so they also put the 125 experts in our class.

Back at the trailer, we’re setting up the pit and looking the bike over one final time. This bike was completely restored by Vintage Factory out of California a few years ago, and it was still absolutely spotless. So much so that people were walking by the bike, shaking their heads in disbelief that I would race it. I just said it would take me too long to explain.

Here we go! The announcer called for 125 practice, so I quickly pulled my helmet on, fired up the bike, and headed up to the starting line. Usually, I go through a period of nervousness until I get to the gate, but today was all about realizing a 42-year dream and having fun.

At the gate were many other Honda Elsinores, some with a green stripe on the tank and some with a red stripe like mine. The 73-74 models had a green stripe, and the 75 had a red stripe. There were also Suzuki TM’s and a few other Japanese brands. The flagger had us fire up our engines and pointed for us to enter the track.

This was my first time at this track, so I took the first lap really easy for two reasons; 1) to make sure I learned all the obstacles on the track and 2) to ensure the bike was working correctly. On the 3rd lap, I whacked the throttle wide open, and there it was, right where I left it, that crazy hit the little CR had just past half throttle. Ye-ha! After all of these years, it still feels the same, if not more of a surprise.

The little Elsinore is just screaming its guts out underneath me, and I’m just laughing under my helmet at how fast she can go! This little bike really rips! She’s got zero power until just past half throttle, and then all hell breaks loose. I know it’s just a 125, but because it only weighs 170 LBS, it feels like a much more powerful bike. I head into a tight corner downshifting to first and hit the throttle hard. The engine responds with a scream that sounds like a swarm of angry bees. Two more hot laps and practice is over.

Back in the pits, I see my Father-in-law has shown up to watch the race and offer his support which is greatly appreciated. We put the bike up on the stand, fill it up with some 110 octane VP race gas mixed with old-school caster and get ready for the first moto.

Moto #1

Race #5 is winding down, so we lift Els off the stand, fire it up, and head to the line. Most of the other riders are already up there fidgeting with the dirt behind the start gate and other race prep rituals. I roll up on the far outside and shut the bike off. The guy next to me is the #1 rider in the class and has been all over the country riding other AHRMA events. He’s done this many times and knows what to do.

The class before ours is getting the checkered flag, so the starting official gives us the universal “start your engines” sign by holding one finger over his head and waving in a circle. The 8 motorcycles on the line simultaneously fire their engines, and I can instantly feel my heart rate rise in anticipation of the gate dropping. Since I have never practiced a start on this bike, I am trying to decide whether to start in first or second gear? If this were a modern-day 2 or 4-stroke motocross bike, it would be a no-brainer-click it up to second gear, hold the throttle wide open until you see the gate fall, and dump the clutch.

The start official points at each rider on the line to ensure we are ready. I put the little Elsinore in first gear and held the throttle wide open, waiting for the gate to drop. The gate drops, I dump the clutch, and Els hooks up so hard that I almost loop out! The rest of the field is quickly in front of me, but I pass three other riders before the first straight is behind us.

We head into the first corner, and the expert 125 riders are already one corner away from the rest of the field. I’m in third place out of six riders and right on the heels of the second-place rider. We come down through the first series of switchbacks heading across the start straight, and I move into second place on a super fast straight-away.

Halfway through the race, I can see the first-place rider and catch him fast. Els is struggling to stay on the pipe, and the lead rider is pulling me out of every corner. With two laps to go, I pull through the single-file finish chicane, pull in the clutch and immediately go to the ground, breaking my clutch lever. Els is still running, but the third-place rider quickly passes me. I pick the bike up, but it will hardly go? WTF…I rev the bike for all it’s worth for the next two laps and pass the second-place rider just before the finish of the race.

Pulling off the track, I know that there is something really wrong with the bike. It will bearly pull itself and wants to stall. I end up pushing the bike the final 100 yards with the rear wheel completely locked up, even while the transmission is in neutral.

Jeff puts the bike on the stand and quickly notices that the rear brake is stuck full-on! The last two laps of the race were run with the rear brake on. Well, that makes sense! Turns out, the bolt that holds the brake lever in place had loosened up and held it in the full-on position. The rear hub was so hot it was smoking. We fixed the bolt, filled up the bike with fuel, and got ready for moto-2.

Moto#2

Back at the line, we fire up the bikes and get ready for the gate to drop. This time I stick the transmission in second gear and hold her wide open. The gate drops, I dump the clutch, and Els bogs miserably. The engine falls flat on its face. The gearing is just too much for the engine to handle. I quickly slip the clutch to get the revs back and pass the same three riders before the first corner.

I’m running in third again but quickly displace the second-place guy and lay a bead on the first-place guy on the Suzuki. I’m reeling him in fast, and by the end of the third lap, I’m right on his ass! He’s a seasoned rider and knows I’m back there. We dice back and forth for the lead, but he cuts me off at every corner. I go outside, and he runs me wide. I tuck inside, and he cuts me off. He’s got eyes in the back of his head!

We do this for two more laps. I’m all over him but can’t seem to find a way around him. We come into the second to last corner, he brake checks me, and I plow right into the rear-end of his bike so hard it lifts off the ground about 3 feet. I can’t believe we are both still up! It’s a race to the last corner. He goes inside, and I take the outside. Els is wide open, and we have a gap but not the line. I have to let off before the single file finish between the hay bales, and he just gets me. We’re second place, and that is that.

I haven’t felt that invigorated in a long time! The CR-125 is not for sale. See you next year, Mr.Suzuki rider. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to practice my holeshots!

MM