Now that the sweltering temperatures of summer have finally ended, another Fall riding season is upon us. This past summer was one of the most consistently hot that I can recently remember. Thank goodness it’s over!

For my first column as a "dirt biker", I’d like to say how thrilling it is to see new and young riders enter our sport. Working in a motorcycle dealership I get to see motorcycling, as we know it—at the core—the children. I’m sure most of us got our first taste of being a "biker" when we were kids. My first ride on a two-wheeler was when I was 5 years old back in the mid 70’s on some no-named, Briggs & Stratton-powered, single-speed, brake-pedal-the-size-of-a-’71 Ford LTD, mini bike in my grandfather’s back yard in College Park. The exhilarating performance (not) of the pull-started motor made me feel like a BIKER. I didn’t even know what being a biker was back then. All I knew was how fun it was to ride in the yard on this little mini bike—until that telephone line that my grandfather was holding up for me to go under so it didn’t possibly get caught in the wheels of the mini bike. SNAP! The line caught me by the neck and off the back of the bike I flew! There I was, my first ride on a mini bike and also my first mishap. My neck looked like Lon Chaney as Frankenstein with a big whelp around it. Enough about that though.

My point is most of us enter the world of motorcycling as young’uns—fresh, new and naive. We are invincible at this young age (so we think). Without the kids, motorcycling will not survive. Even though there are HOG chapters galore and AMA members across the country for us adults, if we do not introduce our beloved sport to the youngsters, how far will we really go as bikers? It’s the planting of the seed on that birthday, Christmas, or whatever the occasion may be when a child receives his or her first mini bike. More often than not, they are officially a biker for life, from that day on. And what makes that tradition carry on (28 years for me)? A dirt bike is the mere core of what we call motorcycling and without it, bikers are primarily adults acting as kids having fun on the open road with their friends and loved ones. But starting a child on a dirt bike at an early age will continue a tradition that has now gone on for 100 years. Some parents are worried about the safety aspect of riding a motorcycle. Horseback riding, bicycling, skateboarding and rollerblading are no more or less safe. Biking is only as safe as we make it to be. And bikers are only as safe as they choose to be.

For me, after 28 years of motorcycling, 18 years on-road, and, serious motocross racing for three years, I have had my share of mishaps on the dirt. Accidents can happen. But, I’d rather enjoy the sport that keeps me physically and mentally fit—risk or no risk. The day I stop riding will be the day I am unable to ride (or the Government shuts down all public ORV areas). Do your part to keep dirtbiking areas open so that our tradition can maintain its core, the dirt bike.

Keep the shiny side up,

R. David Harris, Jr.

Assistant Sales Manager and Roswell Dirt Riders Club Director

Roswell Fun Machines

Roswell, GA