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

  

Stuff and things

2008 Hare and Hound Champion Destry Abbott

My attempt at a scrub

Taylor Roberts is fast.  Lookout for this kid in the very near future!

Hello world wide web.

One thing before I get started on my things.  Josh Morros, who is one of the most naturally talented people I have ever witnessed ride a motorcycle, is in bad shape right now.  He crashed hard while running second in the National Hare and Hound last weekend and was injured very severely.  Destry went for help upon finding Josh, but being out in the middle of nowhere, it was some time before medical attention arrived.  He was airlifted to the hospital where he remains.  Please keep Josh in your thoughts and hope for the best possible outcome.  This is the kind of stuff that makes me wonder about dirt bikes.

I have been working pretty hard this week, trying to get my shit together and finish out the season with a couple of decent finishes.  I sit here wondering what happened to this train wreck of a season I have had, and I can trace it back to a lot of mistakes made.  But I can either dwell on that or do something to fix it, and I have been trying to fix it.  I will go into Southwick with a better attitude, as I worked on my technique with Destry Abbott this week and feel confident I will be better that Millville.  Thank you Destry for helping me out.  Us old guys need to stick together.

Below are a few photos from riding today.  Check out this new track in Arizona @ www.grindingstonemx.com.  The track is amazing.  It doesn't feel like an AZ track, as they brought in sand for the entire track and picked almost every rock that did make its way through the thick sand.  Kudos to them for a great new place to ride.

Preschool Blues

My son started pre-school on Monday, and my wife and I were really sad not to have him around for five mornings a week.  He, on the other hand was excited as could be at the idea of going somewhere with a lots of kids, a train table, a sand box, and an endless array of books.  He waved goodbye to us and thus began the next 20 or so years of his life spent in a classroom. 

Day two did not go so smoothly.  Mom and I were actually okay with his leaving, as we accomplished more in those three hours than we did in the other 21 that day.  Everett, on the other hand, became "that kid".  You know the one.  The one who is screaming his head off while all the other kids and parents comment, "they need to get their kid under control".  Eventually we did, though it was slower than the beginner class at Perris. 

Thankfully, we are all getting into our routine and things are back on track.  I even got started on finishing (does that make sense) the bathroom remodel begun out of sheer frustration after Budd's Creek last season.  My wife is pretty happy about that.  

Off I go to paint the bathroom.  Type at you soon.  RC

X Games Cliches

On my way back from stuffing my pockets full of Powerbar Gels at the athletes lounge on Friday night I walked by the Team Faith pits and they were having a prayer circle and singing songs about Jesus.  Next, I passed the Rockstar pits and they were snorting lines of cocaine off a prostitutes backside.  Okay, so I made the second one up.  It was speed.

RC

X Games 14

Just returned from X Games 14, which is the most fun event of the year by a long way.  The athlete's lounge is awesome.  Free food, free stuff, a ton of things to do and getting to hang out with guys like Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi and the GOAT.  Very cool.

The race went pretty well, but I missed qualifying by one position in both the heat and the LCQ.  Not very cool.  

I am home now and have a weekend off, unless I find a good money race or something of the like next weekend.  Maybe I'll just mow the lawn.

RC

Stuck in Phoenix

What would they say on the Carmax report?

There are a lot of things that suck about living in Phoenix in the summertime.  The heat, the fires, the snakes and brown air come to mind.  For me, trying to ride a dirt bike during the day, it is especially tough to keep any bit of moisture on the track or create conditions that would replicate what I will be riding and racing on the weekends.  

In an effort to improve my tracks, I have been going out early and watering with a 1000 gallon water wagon hooked up to my van.  It has been working alright, but yesterday the intern and I ran into a major problem.  When you have a 1/4 ton and about 8000 pounds of water in a trailer, let's just say it takes a bit to stop.  I came upon a water mane break on the property where I have my outdoor track and before I could shut it down front wheels of my van were buried 3/4 of the way in the mud.  After two hours of digging with a broken shovel, pushing, creating water drainage sytems and stuffing miscellaneous pieces of building material under the tires, Eric the intern and I became "unstuck".  Another day, another adventure.  Welcome to Phoenix.  RC