Playing Catsup

Playing Catsup
It has been a long time since I sat down in front of a screen and just wrote for the sake of writing. There has been a whirlwind of activity in my life, both good and bad, since the last time I reached out. As I sit here and gather my thoughts to put out for the world to see, I feel like I am in a really good place. Not exactly the place I expected or intended, but a good place nonetheless.
It is no secret that times are tough in the industry right now. People are hurting, companies are hurting and the industry as a whole is just in a funk. So what better time than now to start up a motorcycle shop? At least that is what me and my longtime mechanic/friend Jesse Black thought. So we started up The Dirt Lab in early January, and to everyone's surprise it has done very well. The goal is to expand to online retail, but for now we have our hands full with what we are doing. This has been years in the making, but we finally got our ducks in a row and pulled the trigger.
Team Solitaire, my life's work and the dream that I just could not turn my back on is still marching on, although the economy has slowed our progress. It is a tough time to race motorcycles for a living. Five years ago I was making great money and living comfortably even though I was a tenth to fifteenth place guy in the mains. There are far fewer rides available today, and the bonus money and manufacturer's contingency has gone in the wrong direction. Kudos to all of the guys out there still making a go of it and living out their dreams in these meager times. I have faith that things will turn around soon, but until they do the competition in the pits will only get tougher as more riders fight for fewer opportunities.
I always have to talk about my family. When everything else in the world is turbulent and unpredictable, there is no better feeling than recognizing the innocence and purity of my children. They are oblivious to money problems, stressors and the host of other daily drags that rear themselves so frequently. Sometimes I wish I could be like them; but then again they can play with the same toy for hours on end and not get bored. I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
I haven't ridden my motorcycle in two weeks. I thought I would take some time off after the series went to the East Coast to heal my body and find the fire again. I have realized one thing over the past two weeks that makes me appreciate even more the life I have been living: Riding a dirt bike is the one thing in my life that I am in complete control of. I can make it do what I want, when I want, 99% of the time. Aside from mechanical issues and other riders, I control my own destiny aboard my motorcycle. I am good enough that whatever I think just kind of happens. Sure I crash and make mistakes, but I also control, like no other aspect of my life, the outcome each and every time I get on my bike; and that gives me a great feeling of accomplishment.
I think I will go ride tomorrow.
RC

Life is Grand

Isn't it?  I don't care to ponder its meaning or get philosophical or anything, just wanted to say how great life is.  I hope it is treating everyone reading this equally well.  Not to say I don't have financial, family or other issues or that I am not stressed beyond belief at points throughout the day or week, but regardless of all that life is amazing.  I see people way too caught up in possessions or perceptions (especially in Arizona for some reason) and it just makes me sad for them.  Don't be those people.  RC

A New President

Tonight was pretty historic.  i think it will be one of the defining moments of our generation, one that will be talked about in history books and classrooms around the world for a long time.  I realize that people in this sport tend to skew Republican and think that a Democratic President would shut down all of our riding areas.  So while many of the people who read my blog may be disappointed with the outcome of the election, I feel that it is good direction to be going in America.  Under Clinton, we had a huge budget surplus, a healthy economy and even places to ride our dirt bikes.  So what if he ran an intern in the oval office?  He is married to Hillary, so can you really blame him?  I hope that we experience equally prosperous times under President Barack Obama.  I, for one, and hopeful.  RC

The Anniversary

Not only a good band from the midwest, but also the event of the day.  I have been married for four years to the most amazing friend, wife and mother I have ever met.  She has given me the two gifts that I cherish the most in my life, Everett and Audrey.  She has also given me about a million smiles, a few tears and a lifetime full of memories.  Happy Anniversary to us.

Yesterday, Anniversary Eve if you will, Jesse and I flew up to Idaho to meet with Terry, Max and Craig from FLY Racing/WPS.  They have a first class operation all the way, and I am pleased to be aligned with them for the ninth straight season.  Oh, and Idaho is such a great place.  I love it up there.

With some time to start anew, we are all excited about the approaching season and getting ourselves into the best possible place before the gate drops in Anaheim.  We are busy, busy, busy right now building bikes and getting schedules set.  We have a few race bikes and several practice bikes for sale if anyone is in the market.  You can always reach me via e-mail (team@teamsolitaire.com) for this or any reason.

Hope everyone is having a great week!  RC

The Perfect Day

This may be mundane to those of you without kids, but any parent will understand.

Today was the most perfect day I can remember.  I woke up with my daughter at around 6:00 AM (okay, so it didn't start of perfect as I like to sleep in).  I spent almost two hours playing trains, reading books, eating breakfast and just loving on my little princess before she was ready for a nap.  About that time my son work up, so I put her back to bed with my wife and Everett and I played golf, soccer and baseball in the front yard for an hour.  

At ten, I took Everett to soccer practice and we had so much fun.  At his age, I still get to participate (bonus!) so I have as much or more fun than he does.

When we got home from that I took a nap, as I was sleep deprived from a recent trip.  This afternoon the whole family went for a hike, along with Jake Marsack who has been staying with us for about a week.  Now I am in bed and ready for a week of preparation leading up to the US Open in Vegas.  But today was probably about as perfect as they come.

NOFX CONCERT

NOFX from stage right.  Don't Call Me White...

Jesse, Eric "The Intern" and I got an invite from Erik Sandin to check out NOFX last night.  Erik is the drummer of the band, and they were playing at a festival-type show called "Edgefest".  Basically, pile about ten thousand people into a field in, get them drunk and play loud music is the business plan of the promoter.  It just may have been the best people watching I have seen since two weeks ago at Newark Airport.  

Anyway, we got to hang out on stage for the show, which was a good thing because I could still smell the B.O. and beer from there and I was a good twenty feet away.  Plus, we got to watch all the kids trying to crowd surf that got flung on to the ground when they reached the front of the crowd and there was no security there to catch them.  But most of them were drunk enough that they didn't feel anything anyway, even the eleven-teen year olds.

I like NOFX because they stand for something.  I really applaud Fat Mike for being a voice, probably an unpopular voice to most people in the motorcycle industry, and he doesn't seem to be afraid of criticism.  I kind of struggle with that because I recognize that a lot of people (sponsors, fans, etc.) that might disagree with me may be less supportive of my program (and I need all the help I can get).  But as I age, I have begun to realize that I have to just be myself whether people like it or not.  This blog, since it won't be through RACERX anymore (I have a new one on their website) will be more of my personal voice.  I am also going to try to update more often with inside stuff on the team, etc.  Kind of a real behind the scenes that doesn't have to be so "PC".  I hope you like it. 

Politics as usual...

What does that even mean?  I mean, politics are everywhere.  Everything you do in life is in some way influenced by the people you know who either like or dislike you, support or oppose you, agree or disagree with your ideas or plans.  Other people's thoughts or objections should have no bearing on the decisions you make, but inevitably those outside influences factor in.  Frankly, it sucks!  The older I get the more I just want to tell the naysayers (especially the ones who don't have the intelligence, fortitude or even the slightest idea of how to do what I am doing) to go straight to hell.  I mean, do you look back at life from the porch on a rocking chair and give a second thought to the people you ignored along the way?  F them.

Politics on a larger scale are equally as frustrating and annoying.  After watching the GOP convention tonight, I can honestly say that I have never seen a more tired, obese, genuinely uninteresting group gathered in one place.   I mean, seriously, this is the best we have to offer?  I wouldn't trust a 72 year old man to drive my kids to school or even drop off my dry cleaning, let alone become the next president.  It is mind-boggling that this is the best we have to offer.  At least Obama is a great spokesman, which let's be honest with ourselves, is 90% of success.  I mean, these are the people that voted for George W. Bush - TWICE.  Let's keep going down this road, the last stretch was so smooth.  Either way, I am over all the political advertising interrupting Family Guy.  

RC