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 RIDER PROFILE 
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Vintage Dirt Racing NW / Hammer and Tongs
Alderdale, WA. May 29, 2005
Let me give you a little background. My name is Ryan Jump and by default I am a Bultaco man. I say default because my neighbor and good friend is A-team Member Roger Landberg, AKA "Hot Dog" of Hot Dog Vintage . His expertise is TEAM BULTACO. (He provides well built and exceptionally fast bikes for Jim Pomeroy and Ron Pomeroy when they ride in the Pacific Northwest.) He also rides expert Vintage and Evolution classes. As an A- team Member he is part of a coordinating effort to organize as the Pacific NW AHRMA Region. Separate from California and Nevada this would give Northwest riders a venue with much less travel time. AHRMA VMX membership in the region stands to increase dramatically.
I grew up in Elma, WA, (out in the sticks, 30 miles west of Olympia), riding motorbikes in the woods and logging roads of Capital Forest. From the age of 10 to about 13, I rode on a Honda XL 80 and 13 to 16 a Kawasaki KT 250. Having left the dreams of motocross behind, I pushed on into adulthood never riding in an official race or even on an official track.
| Last spring I took notice of Roger and his weekend getaways to the mysterious land of Vintage Dirt Racing NW. Not having a clue what VDR was about, I stopped at Hot Dog Vintage and inquired within. He explained that it was a great group of guys and gals that had one motive: Fast times, good friends, and plenty of fun (the latter 2 being the most important). He pointed me to the VDR NW website and undoubtedly The Editor "Siege" and his great work, painted a much bigger picture of everyone's passion. |
At the end of the summer of 2004 Roger invited me to his place for a little bar-b-cue. He put me on the #13 (Eddie Hernandez' Bultaco 250), sent me out on his track and the rest is history. I was hooked. Now I just needed financial backers. After a little persuasion I gained approval from the money people (Julie, my wife) and I signed up for a Hot Dog Vintage bike build.
This was then the conquest for the next 7 months. After work and on weekends (time permitting) Roger and I (I was more like the tool room attendant and Roger the technical shop foreman) went to work on a bike. First we had to pick a bike from the archives. Roger has 30+ skeletons ready to start with. We chose an evolution bike. A 1979 Pursang model 220 (370cc) frame that was now on the rack.
The rest of the bike ended up being in the attic. (Yes it's amazing what a VDR guy like this has in his attic.) During the process I was amazed at all the smaller items that Roger had available that would enable us to press on and not be delayed by parts. More of the time delay was me cleaning and painting the frame and such. I was "The Shine Master" and Roger "The Wizard".
May 22, 2005
Bike Delivery Day!
With just 7 days 'til race day I had to get acquainted with the new machine. To this point I had only imagined what the 370 would do for my adrenal gland. Wow, what an awesome bike! I overdosed on adrenaline the first day!
Now comes the moment of truth, RACE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 27, 2005
I was not a day over 33. (really, it was my birthday) I helped Roger load 5 race bikes and 2 pit bikes onto my flat bed to head for Alderdale with Julie and our daughters (Megan 10 and Morgan 8). Roger and his lovely wife Bobbi led the 5 hour expedition to the Promised Land. Aubrey and Eddie Hernandez (Roger and Bobbi's daughter and son-in-law) had a third vehicle containing USAF friends John, (owner and driver) and Justin (pit crew lead). John and Justin are quad riders just along for the fun. We don't hold their 4 wheel dependancy against them, we only hope someday they will learn to ride on 2 wheels. "Always support those with problems" my parents have taught me.
An 11 pm arrival left little to do, but set up camp and get some shuteye in our Suburban.
May 28, 2005
Sun's up, rise and shine, its practice day. I could hardly eat breakfast, but I knew I had to get my energy up. I then paid for my practice time and figured I'd better get my money's worth. It was quite an experience, my first time on a bona fide motocross track. My only mistake that day was I had so much fun I forgot it was only day 1 and that it was only practice. Day 2 is when it counts, so I went ahead and put the bike away after 25 + laps for the day. Very happy with the progress, I fell asleep with the buzzing of 2-stroke throttle blips in my head.
May 29, 2005
Another night sleeping in the back of the Suburban comes to an end with the sun gleaming in the open window. Something is in the air. (Not just from lack of shower) Ladies and gentlemen "Race Day" is upon us. Let's get moving.
With nerves in high gear already, I quickly found my way to the outhouses.
(photo courtesy of Gary Osborne)
The one with the Mariner's mural was my favorite, although the Grape was a close second. The Rose motif did not change the smell.
With some direction from my manager, Roger, I signed up for Open Evolution Amateur. The course had changed overnight so I got in a few practice laps before race time.
Then a moment in time with Julie forever captured.
I was touted for an early Moto (#2) and only my class was in that moto. At the gates I made friends with #41 Jay Nelson who ended up being my rival for the day. We had a nice chat and I jokingly mentioned getting the hole shot.
With my heart jumping out of my chest I had no idea what to expect... some guy wavin' a sign... pointing up and down the gates... everyone ready?... I watched Jay as he put his bike in gear... I followed suit... keep the RPM's up... Another guy... his foot in a box... ready to release the gates... when would he drop the gate... an eternity passed... the scream of engines ready to run... It's on.....................
A little too much throttle... front wheel high off the ground... ease up... into 2nd gear... ease the power on... into 3rd gear... here's the corner.......
Hey! I exclaimed... I'm 2nd in the first turn..... a victory in itself... #41 in the lead... #10x a close 2nd......
Now I had to keep pressing, halfway through the first lap, I ease inside of Jay to make a move on a left turn. He had nothin' to do with with it, cut me off, and my first official "bangin' bars" story had taken place as we bumped for a moment. Being a 5 lap moto I settled in a comfortable 2nd, catching up to him occasionally on the doubles and straights. After the 2nd, 3rd and 4th laps I was still in 2nd place, 10-15 seconds ahead of 3rd place I later found out. The #41 was still in sight and my instincts kicked in starting the final lap... "Let's catch him" my alter ego says... "OK" I agreed... Wouldn't a 1st place finish be awesome... That was my downfall...
(The picture directly below is moments before I dropped out of 2nd place, about 15 seconds from the finish line)
All through practice and the first 4 laps of the moto I was taking a tight right line on the first table top down the back stretch. I wasn't clearing the entire thing though, so my alter ego said, "If you want to win you have to clear the first tabletop". I went for it... I took it fast and still accelerating... as I peaked over the top I realized I was a bit farther right than I wanted to be. I made an effort to persuade the bike to go back to the left with a little body english. To no avail... I hit the soft berm of dirt, it sucked me in and I was down in spectacular fashion. "2nd place is gone because of you" I yelled at my alter ego.
After thankfully noticing all my body parts were operational, I gave the Bultaco "THUMBS UP " to my wife who had captured the picture. As you can imagine, she and my daughters had a front row seat for the event and they were anxious for me to get off the track.
Totally exhausted and spent, the track hand gave me what was left of my fenders in 6 nice pieces, I started the newly modified machine and we rode to the finish... gingerly!!
#41 had taken the checkered easily. I myself was ready for some Gatorade and a bag of ice.
I rode in the always exciting Makes Challenge and helped pull out a 3rd place finish for Team Bultaco.
The afternoon's moto went pretty much the same, except for the crash was in the 3rd lap and not quite as damaging to my body.
I finished 6th of 9 entries in my class. Evolution Results. I anticipate staying on two wheels and finishing higher at the Port Angeles Hammer and Tongs July 24, 2005.
I really want to thank all the people who made this dream of mine come true.
To my family for their support and willingness to participate.
To the A-team:
Keep up the great work. You have a great program and great people at the core. I had the time of my life and I am definately going to keep on racin' as long as events are available and well organized like this one was.
To SIEGE:
Keep up the great event coverage. Our own little piece of fame. I look forward to meeting you again.
| To Roger of Hot Dog Vintage: |
| You and Bobbi are great friends and neighbors. I look forward to hangin' out more. |
| Thanks for putting a solid bike under me, all I need to do is learn to keep it there and we'll post some wins for Team Bultaco. |
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