On The Pegs May 2020 - Volume 5 - Issue 5 | Page 54

On The Pegs
54
weekend that consisted of a stadium trial on Friday night, the Schrieber Cup on
Saturday and El Trial de Espana on Sunday; each at a different location around
southern California. It was a brutal weekend and I managed to win all three
events. This gave me a lot of momentum and a mental edge for what I thought
was going to a run at the 1981 national title. Instead I ended up in Europe but
that is a different story…
3
4
First National Win, Colorado 1984
After a couple of years in Europe, where I had the experi-
ence of a lifetime but didn’t win a damn thing, I returned to
the national series for a few rounds in 1983. In 1984 I decid-
ed to give the nationals a serious shot riding a 242 Montesa
for Cosmopolitan Motors. In the early rounds back east, Don
Sweet and Stan Bakgaard established themselves as front
runners. I did OK but didn’t get any wins.
Throughout my career I had struggled with ‘stupid five syndrome’; that
unexplainable mental lapse that costs you needless points.
When the series resumed in Colorado I got off to a good start and just told
myself today was going to be my day – no stupid fives. It was touch and
go a few times but I held it together and got the win. It felt amazing and I
wanted more.
Key loss – Wyoming 1984
This loss was equal to any win with respect to the impact
it had on my trials career. After winning Colorado the week
before I went to Wyoming expecting to do it again. Instead I
lost to Stan by one point. I still remember the section where
I gave it up. It was a tricky, loose turn-and-climb out of a
creek bed. On the last loop I lost concentration and took a 5.
I stayed to watch Stan’s ride. He came around the turn like
he was on rails and blasted out for a clean. I left Wyoming tied with Stan for
the title lead. I thought about that one point loss all the way home (and for
the rest of the summer) and vowed to do everything I could do to be at my
best mentally and physically for the final 3 rounds in the Pacific Northwest.