Chris Castles of Vernon chuckles when asked what he gets out of racing vintage motorcycles.
“Satisfaction and a porcelain mug, probably made in China,” said Castles, who won three classes – the Premier Open Twin Expert class . the Classic 500 Expert and the Plus 60 Class – in the Novation Lumberjack Vintage MX Series last season. Races were held all over California, Washington State and Oregon.
Castles, 64, bought a 250 BSA bike when he was 16 and living in Buckinghamshire, England.
“It cost me a fortune. It was five pounds which was about seven bucks. It was in a barn. We had a field with a horse and lots of dirt bikes before I bought that bike.”
Castles progressed to flat track racing on English fields at 18. He would reach sprint speeds of up to 60 mph and win a few heats. He was hooked on motorcycles.
He emigrated to Vancouver in 1973, worked as a technician at UBC and tried sailing for a while. In the late 1970s in Vernon, he competed in the provincial off-road moto series and finished top-five, earning some Team Canada berths. He was often racing up and around Vernon Mountain.
In 1983-85, Castles did the six-day Enduro Team race in Wales, Holland and Spain. That same season, he suffered back issues and stopped riding, but got his pilot’s licence and switched to flying over the next two years.
He returned to England, bought a Triumph 500 Rickman off the son of a friend, who had won two English 250 and 500 class titles racing one summer. Castles would also build his own bike and go on to win the Welsh championship and place fifth in the European motocross championship.
Castles moved back to Vernon two years ago and got into the Novation Series. Racers count their best five of seven events.
He runs in the over 60 class, travelling to the U.S. with a Vancouver buddy, still active at 73.
“We help each other out and we have a friendly rivalry,” said Castles.
The Series may change the classes and the over 50s and 60s would be combined.
“If they do that, I guarantee I won’t win for a while.”
In the early 1990s, the American Historic Racing Motorcyle Asssociation (AHRMA) region extended from the Washington/Canadian border to the Southern California/Mexico border. Most members were in California. Shortly thereafter, Southern California became its own region.
At that time, coordinator, Mike Lightfoot thought a “series within a series” should be developed in the Pacific Northwest which would include Oregon and Washington.
Lightfoot’s plan has proven to be successful. Now, it is no longer financially feasible to have two series and two sponsors, especially in these tough economic times. Novation Racing/Inc. lends support in expanding the Northwest membership.
When not racing motorcycles, Castles snowboards (“it’s easier on the knees”) and does a little downhill skiing.
He recently bought an RV4 plane which he keeps at the Vernon Airport.
Castles is competing this weekend at the Desert 100 in Odessa, Wash., near Spokane, competing in the event for the first time in 30 years.
