"1975 Husqvarna 360cc CR"

I had one of these Husqvarna's for a very brief time, I mention it because it was next in line and things were about to change. The year was 1980 and Bathsprings Raceway had begun. This was going to be the beginning of something that would place a mark in our memories and we would still be talking about it near forty years later.

Bath springs Raceway had run their first race, I had taken the Ossa and realized I was going to need a motocross bike. I found one of these locally, I think it was 1975 360cc CR.

I owned this bike for such a brief time my memory is quite foggy on the details. After talking with my Brother we remembered it had a problem. The bike's engine would seize up when it got hot. Apparently, the engine had been rebuilt and the cylinder bore tolerance was too close. I only remember racing it once, most likely it was the second race at Bath springs. The second one or later, it most certainly was Bath springs, for it was the first time I would meet a guy by the name Gene McKay. I was fixing to get a lesson in motocross, however, it would be a very brief lesson.

You need to understand, until now, as much as I loved riding, for the most part, my experience had been trails, gullies, and gravel pits. Like I mentioned above, things were about to change. I thought I could ride one of these things pretty well until this day. We lined up that day, I think it was perhaps a rubber band start, some of the older Motorcross guys will remember those. This guy Gene had been exposed to the larger world of Motorcross and had obtained skill and experience our local guys did not have. Gene made us look silly on the track lapping us during the race. I personally had never seen anyone ride like that before. Gene faded out of sight after a while and as we all progressed through the years, Gene's ability became something more to be strived for rather than amazed at, but for this time he was pretty amazing in our eyes.

I realized if I was going to do this, I was going to have to change. What I had been doing up until now had not prepared me for this. A halfway effort and an old bike was not going to get me where I wanted to be.

Lacking experience and exposure left me without really knowing what I needed, I just knew I needed something more than I had to be competitive at this. I found this old bike and it was Motorcross, I didn't understand yet how quickly these bikes and this sport was changing. I discovered after trying it I wasn't any better off than I was before. Excluding the engine problem it already had, Motorcross had advanced beyond what this bike was capable of being, it wasn't going to be competitive in the sport. Beyond that, I was in need of much personal improvement to be competitive on any kind of bike.

The suspension on this bike was way under par, along with the power and the general feel of the bike. I just couldn't get a grasp of it and feel comfortable with it all.

It is like that in our lives as God moves us along. In His Sovereignty, he governs the affairs of men. We stand back and wonder at times why certain things happen in our lives. Yet, each event is a link that leads to another that in the end brings us to His purpose. It has been said, “The same Sun that softens the butter, hardens the clay.” These events in our lives take us one way or the other. While one event may soften the heart of one, the same event hardens the heart of another. Would we not do well to check our hearts? Are the events in our lives leaving us hardened, or are they breaking us in humility? The answer we find may tell us the direction our life is going.

Exo 9:34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

We are all passing through this life with our various experiences, for some of us, the trip is shorter than others. We do not know how long our path will be, so we must make the most of each moment we are given. For some of us, the path will seem harder than others, this may seem a bit unfair, that is only because we cannot see past our moment into the end game. This old Husqvarna really didn't seem to add anything to me, however, it was a place for my feet to stand for a brief moment while I got my bearing in this small world of Motorcross I was living at the time.

We need not think the insignificant places of our lives mean nothing. God in His Sovereignty is working all things for his purpose, it is for us to trust Him with who we are and where He has placed us. To be content with the life and lot He has given us. Let us not allow things in our lives to harden us, but rather soften us into the surrender of our lives to Him and the Grace of the Gospel He has offered.

Even if we losing everything here leads us to the gain of everything in Christ, then glory be God!

Rom 8:26 Also, the Spirit helps us. We are very weak, but the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We don't know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself speaks to God for us. He begs God for us, speaking to him with feelings too deep for words.

Rom 8:27 God already knows our deepest thoughts. And he understands what the Spirit is saying, because the Spirit speaks for his people in the way that agrees with what God wants.

Rom 8:28 We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan.

Rom 8:29 God knew them before he made the world. And he decided that they would be like his Son. Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.

Rom 8:30 God planned for them to be like his Son. He chose them and made them right with him. And after he made them right, he gave them his glory.

Php 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Php 4:12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

David