Met a pro? Your impression?

thatguy
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thatguy 1/17/2015 11:12am
1/17/2015 11:12am
I've met my fair share of current riders and only had one bad experience, which was with DM18. He was was the PC tent in plain clothes and had his buddies and wife. I recognized him and asked for an autograph. He said, "one minute" and proceeded to tell his friends that he "came over there to get away from these people" and his whole group laughed. It came across as a dick move, so we just left without bothering him anymore. It was race day, but it just kind of turned me off from him as a fan. Oh, well. He still has killer style.

I can tell you that as much as I think JLaw has turned into a dbag, he took the time to come back and take a picture with me as he was walking into his motorhome with some chick, presumably about to get busy. I thought that was pretty cool. All riders that I've talked to are way more willing to chat when they're not racing, as you would expect.
brimx153
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brimx153 1/17/2015 11:37am
1/17/2015 11:37am
I ve been lucky to meet a lot of pros ,met RV in England at the mxdn , found him really really nice and funny too , I had a drawing for him , he got me in past the sercurity ,got to hang out in team USA pits for most of the day rv gave me his mxdn hat to whaich was class . was talking to Ferry then for ages, he was really funny . even got to rev his bike . was so cool . then met JS7 , he let in the motorhome and all , he was nice but very focus ,seems a bit shy in a way , but a nice guy . meet RC in belguim in 03 he was a really nice guy , I was waiting for nearly an hour in the que . again I had a painting for him ,when he saw the painting he was made up with it .took me in to the pits with him . again was talking to him for ages .all of them were so down to earth . I ve met Everts loads of time s and chat to him ever time I see him , really sound guy . i have talked to most of the mxgp riders , except some of the younger one s. what always blows me away is how humble most of these guys are . got on the best with tommy Searle ,so sound . the only bad experience i ve every had is with billy Mackenzie ,was a bit of a prick , but maybe he was having a bad day . Townley was also a bit stand off ish , was in the middle of talking to Dobb ,Searle and Barr . and he just came in and butted across me looked at me like who the hell are u ha ha.
stillwelding
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stillwelding 1/17/2015 11:38am
1/17/2015 11:38am
I'm old, and my first job was with a Husqvarna shop called Tracy's of Burbank. The riders out of that shop were Billy Clements, JN Roberts, Mitch Mayes, and Terry Clark, to name a few (Mike McCoy too, Mouse's dad). I also worked for Al Baker Jr. in the early 70's where I met Roger DeCoster, as well. I also worked for Sinisalo in the early 80's and signed Jeff Ward, Mike Healy and George Holland, as well as trying to get David Bailey, Rick Johnson, etc. All these people were personable, regular guys, as such. As time went by and times and riders changed, my contact with these personalities lessened.
Racing changed. No more box vans and more airline flights. The old style camaraderie was gone, and it was, in the motor home, race, fly home. Still, in some products I was selling, I got to meet Big James and his wife, as well as still see my old friends when the circus came to town.
All this history leads up to my chance to tell my favorite contemporary riders story.
Chris McAvoy had just gotten the job as manager at Yamaha of Troy, and I had done some work for him and Corey Shea, Jason Lawrence's mechanic. I was at the truck at Anaheim 1 or 2, and Chris says " Go over and introduce yourself to Jason", at this point in my hanger on status in the motocross industry, I wasn't really interested in the riders, but I didn't want to snub Chris. So I strolled over to where Cory was working on the bike, and Jason was chatting at the tent pole with Scott Sepkovic or somebody, he stepped back to the bike, so I took my chance. I said " Hey, I'm Bruce, and Chris said I should introduce myself". Jason looked me right in the eye and said "Well, You Did It", and strolled into the rig.
brimx153
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brimx153 1/17/2015 11:46am
1/17/2015 11:46am
i think the big thing fan s do is approach them at the wrong time .if you come up to them just right after .or before a race your not going to see the real person . come up to me after a crap race , and id be in a pissed mood and i am no way near the level they are . i think a lot of fan don't think of this . go home and think that rider is a prick . when really he has a lot of stuff on his mind at the time . wont even remember see u never mind not being nice to u

The Shop

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disbanded
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disbanded 1/17/2015 11:54am
1/17/2015 11:54am
I was at the MGM early in the day for the US Open of Supercross in Las Vegas.

After about 6 hours of playing nickel slots, I went for a bathroom break and as I am walking in - out comes Ivan Tedesco.

He must have had some Taco Bell or something because the bathroom freaking reeked!!!



UpTiTe
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UpTiTe 1/17/2015 12:33pm
1/17/2015 12:33pm
UpTiTe wrote:
Never met one.
AZ35 wrote:
You should try hanging around the podium after the Nationals, you may have some luck meeting a pro?

Oh wait.... you already did that...Wink
I did get to talk to Johnny O and Jeff Ward once.
bigborefan
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bigborefan 1/17/2015 12:40pm
1/17/2015 12:40pm
I've talked to Cooper, Reynard, Larry Ward, and DeCoster.

They're all just normal dudes. Fast, but normal.

Coops intense. He loves life it seems. Very approachable.

DeCoster will talk too you like you're part of his crew. Very neat guy. You don't get to be The Man for no reason.

bigborefan
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bigborefan 1/17/2015 12:45pm
1/17/2015 12:45pm
stillwelding wrote:
I'm old, and my first job was with a Husqvarna shop called Tracy's of Burbank. The riders out of that shop were Billy Clements, JN Roberts...
I'm old, and my first job was with a Husqvarna shop called Tracy's of Burbank. The riders out of that shop were Billy Clements, JN Roberts, Mitch Mayes, and Terry Clark, to name a few (Mike McCoy too, Mouse's dad). I also worked for Al Baker Jr. in the early 70's where I met Roger DeCoster, as well. I also worked for Sinisalo in the early 80's and signed Jeff Ward, Mike Healy and George Holland, as well as trying to get David Bailey, Rick Johnson, etc. All these people were personable, regular guys, as such. As time went by and times and riders changed, my contact with these personalities lessened.
Racing changed. No more box vans and more airline flights. The old style camaraderie was gone, and it was, in the motor home, race, fly home. Still, in some products I was selling, I got to meet Big James and his wife, as well as still see my old friends when the circus came to town.
All this history leads up to my chance to tell my favorite contemporary riders story.
Chris McAvoy had just gotten the job as manager at Yamaha of Troy, and I had done some work for him and Corey Shea, Jason Lawrence's mechanic. I was at the truck at Anaheim 1 or 2, and Chris says " Go over and introduce yourself to Jason", at this point in my hanger on status in the motocross industry, I wasn't really interested in the riders, but I didn't want to snub Chris. So I strolled over to where Cory was working on the bike, and Jason was chatting at the tent pole with Scott Sepkovic or somebody, he stepped back to the bike, so I took my chance. I said " Hey, I'm Bruce, and Chris said I should introduce myself". Jason looked me right in the eye and said "Well, You Did It", and strolled into the rig.
Well, you're still in the industry and JLaw isn't. Karma.

I has a Sinisalo "ride" in the late 80s, if you could call it that, lol. I loved that gear. I always thought MCs Sinialso stuff in 93 was sweet. Loved those purple pants.
ehr400
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ehr400 1/17/2015 1:31pm
1/17/2015 1:31pm
Met , RC, Emig, Glover, BB, James, The Man, Stanton, Wey, Izzi, Everts, Gonclaves, Cairoli, Ferrandis, Langston.

Ryno, the coolest guy I met. Super pumped and being pretty cool. Doug Henry the same way. Super cool dude. Tommy Hahn awesome. Same with Byrner. Tony ALessi real cool and planets aligned for me.


Dbags, Josh Grant at Steel City 2007 it was on saturday and in the pits real chill. We saw him and asked him for a picture and he said nope, if it isn't going to be in a mag then you have to pay me for it. Walked away. , JLaw, Josh Hansen, Jeff Stanton. Stanton was real stand offish and seemed genuinely bothered we asked him for a picture.
motomike137
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motomike137 1/17/2015 3:02pm
1/17/2015 3:02pm
They are all people just like the rest of us, some are cool some not. They have bad days , good days and are not perfect. Dudes like Pastrana are freaks of nature and you can't hold the rest of em to the bar he sets. Also remember that you have to be a little nuts to be good at this sport Wink .
Diego Kawi Rider 1/17/2015 3:19pm
1/17/2015 3:19pm
Ricky Carmichael, Cole Seely, Scott Burnworth, Ron Lechien; all really nice guys.
queen of spodes 1/17/2015 4:53pm
1/17/2015 4:53pm
Met Ezra Lusk at a dealership meet & greet when he was still racing SX, he seemed like he didn't want to be there.
John250
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John250 1/17/2015 5:21pm
1/17/2015 5:21pm
My wife and I got an opportunity to talk with Doug Henry and his wife (ex now) Stacey at the Troy National. Spoke with them for about 30 minutes. VERY cool down to earth couple. Could not meet two nicer people either.

Met Cooper practicing at a local track before the National. He was pretty friendly.

Jeff Gibson is also just a normal guy. Very nice.
thatguy
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thatguy 1/17/2015 5:34pm
1/17/2015 5:34pm
queen of spodes wrote:
Met Ezra Lusk at a dealership meet & greet when he was still racing SX, he seemed like he didn't want to be there.
Same thing happened to us with Malcolm Stewart at A1. He and I chatted it up for quite a while at one of the previous Seattle stops (SUPER nice guy), but you could totally tell that Malcolm didn't want to be stuck in the autograph line at this past A1. He didn't even look up as he handed us the poster. I'd love to run into a pro at an after-party like back in the Emig/Mcgrath era.
Outsider
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Outsider 1/17/2015 6:03pm
1/17/2015 6:03pm
disbanded wrote:
I was at the MGM early in the day for the US Open of Supercross in Las Vegas. After about 6 hours of playing nickel slots...
I was at the MGM early in the day for the US Open of Supercross in Las Vegas.

After about 6 hours of playing nickel slots, I went for a bathroom break and as I am walking in - out comes Ivan Tedesco.

He must have had some Taco Bell or something because the bathroom freaking reeked!!!



I was in a restaurant in New Mexico and they had these unisex bathroom stalls.. anyway I go to enter one and out walks Susan Sarandon.. Yes, I sat down when i pee'd and yes, the seat was still warm.

Suck it
Bruce372
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Bruce372 1/17/2015 6:56pm
1/17/2015 6:56pm
i remember when Josh Grant was the next big thing, he was racing at REM and Amaradio beat him.

Grant threw a big tantrum and sped through the pits, nearly ran me over on my walk to the john!
Sandwarrior752 1/17/2015 7:02pm
1/17/2015 7:02pm
I have met multiple pro riders from Belgium / Holland sometimes international riders staying in this region and racing the dutch national series also. Memorable experiences i can remember is meeting Steve Ramon he was then a 125cc pro rider for factory kawasaki Jan Degroot i think, he was really friendly to all the fans i probly have a pic of this meeting somewhere it was at a Belgium national series round. Few years later we also met Tanel Leok at a Belgian round because a friend know his girlfriend at the time she was smoking hot lol.
Another fun one was Ken Dedycker training at a local track here he drawed allot of attention but every break he took from riding he was talking to fans and signing autographs and stuff.
jstein639
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jstein639 1/17/2015 7:07pm
1/17/2015 7:07pm
MXant15 wrote:
I have met a few riders at the tracks here in socal. Big names and privateers. The most notable was Sean Hamblin. Hamblin was standing right...
I have met a few riders at the tracks here in socal. Big names and privateers. The most notable was Sean Hamblin.

Hamblin was standing right next to me at the js7 ride day at milestone. He looked to be laying low as he was wearing casual clothing, a hat, and big sunglasses, standing clear away from all the crowds. I knew it was him and I didn't say anything for several minutes. We both just watched js7 and josh hill shred the track as fans of the sport. After they finished their moto I turned to hamblin and introduced myself to him. Very friendly and we talked for a few minutes then I went on my way, not wanting to bother him too much. Cool dude and he's just a regular fan of the sport for sure.
I met hamblin in 2005 at gpf. He was super cool and was jumping completely over an on off (I asked him and he said it was a quad). I also met tp199 at the same time but at mtf. He was riding supercross with a cast on his broken arm. He took the time to come say hi to us 12-13 year olds and made our day. Been a fan ever since

Pit Row

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oshow
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oshow 1/17/2015 8:40pm
1/17/2015 8:40pm
brimx153 wrote:
i think the big thing fan s do is approach them at the wrong time .if you come up to them just right after .or before...
i think the big thing fan s do is approach them at the wrong time .if you come up to them just right after .or before a race your not going to see the real person . come up to me after a crap race , and id be in a pissed mood and i am no way near the level they are . i think a lot of fan don't think of this . go home and think that rider is a prick . when really he has a lot of stuff on his mind at the time . wont even remember see u never mind not being nice to u
Exactly.

I've seen the supposedly nicest ones ignore children at points in time. But have also seen them do extraordinary things for fans.

Budman, Vanilla Ice and I gave Emig hell one night after an Atlanta SX at the club. This was the year after the trouble, he hated me that night but has always been very nice and came up and BSed since then.
disbanded
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disbanded 1/19/2015 7:39am
1/19/2015 7:39am
Outsider wrote:
I was in a restaurant in New Mexico and they had these unisex bathroom stalls.. anyway I go to enter one and out walks Susan Sarandon...
I was in a restaurant in New Mexico and they had these unisex bathroom stalls.. anyway I go to enter one and out walks Susan Sarandon.. Yes, I sat down when i pee'd and yes, the seat was still warm.

Suck it
You sit down to pee?
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 1/19/2015 7:49am
1/19/2015 7:49am Edited Date/Time 1/19/2015 7:52am
I've never "met" one. I've never been into the autograph thing, and I've gotten a bit jaded about pro athletes so I don't really put them on a pedestal anymore or make any sort of efforts to go talk with them. With that being said, as I've walked through the pits at SX, the guys that I've caught glimpses of interacting with fans that have really stood out to me were: Dungey, Roczen, Top Jimmy, James, Shorty and AC. I posted a thread last week about taking my son to his first SX this year at Dallas. I think Enticknap will be one of the riders I may actually try to take my son to see. The raps are a little too much for me (although I think they are hilarious), but he seems to have one of the most positive attitudes of anyone in the pits, and that's a trait I like for my son to see.

We are pretty lucky with the access we get to the athletes in this sport. Not many other sports (none really that I can think of) where you get such easy interaction with the athletes. Hell, for you SoCal guys, you can be riding on the same track as them on any given weekday, which still blows me away. I can't believe that actually happens, but that's a completely different topic, haha.
dcg141
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dcg141 1/19/2015 8:00am
1/19/2015 8:00am Edited Date/Time 1/19/2015 3:04pm
I have met all the KTM guys from the last decade at dealer meetings. They are usually pretty relaxed in those settings. They are the same guys you see on TV. Some are fun to hang around with, some need a personality injection. Shorty and Mike Brown are 2 of the coolest guys you will ever meet.
motoxxx599
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motoxxx599 1/19/2015 8:25am
1/19/2015 8:25am
UpTiTe wrote:
Never met one.
me either
JayDizzle93
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JayDizzle93 1/19/2015 8:27am
1/19/2015 8:27am Edited Date/Time 1/19/2015 8:30am
Me and a buddy bumped into David Pingree in the pits at the Houston Supercross, I think he had just retired from racing. He was cool, funny and articulate. I thought he would have been an angrier guy from his column but, he was nice and talked to us a few minutes when he didn't have too. Cool guy.
travis-grant 1/19/2015 9:22am
1/19/2015 9:22am Edited Date/Time 1/19/2015 9:26am
brimx153 wrote:
I ve been lucky to meet a lot of pros ,met RV in England at the mxdn , found him really really nice and funny too...
I ve been lucky to meet a lot of pros ,met RV in England at the mxdn , found him really really nice and funny too , I had a drawing for him , he got me in past the sercurity ,got to hang out in team USA pits for most of the day rv gave me his mxdn hat to whaich was class . was talking to Ferry then for ages, he was really funny . even got to rev his bike . was so cool . then met JS7 , he let in the motorhome and all , he was nice but very focus ,seems a bit shy in a way , but a nice guy . meet RC in belguim in 03 he was a really nice guy , I was waiting for nearly an hour in the que . again I had a painting for him ,when he saw the painting he was made up with it .took me in to the pits with him . again was talking to him for ages .all of them were so down to earth . I ve met Everts loads of time s and chat to him ever time I see him , really sound guy . i have talked to most of the mxgp riders , except some of the younger one s. what always blows me away is how humble most of these guys are . got on the best with tommy Searle ,so sound . the only bad experience i ve every had is with billy Mackenzie ,was a bit of a prick , but maybe he was having a bad day . Townley was also a bit stand off ish , was in the middle of talking to Dobb ,Searle and Barr . and he just came in and butted across me looked at me like who the hell are u ha ha.
Regarding Billy Mackenzie, i grew up racing him all be it behind him and i always found him cool. I remember the final schoolboy nationals used to be at Desertmartin in Ireland every August and it was a week long race (just like Loretta's). Anyway Billy was always known to like JD & Coke and a drink in general, so Ken Winstanley & team CAT Honda (who Matt Winstanley rode for and who used to give Billy fits on the track) used to but Billy drink after drink each night and get him drunk, hoping it would hinder him the next day of racing. It never did haha - those two gave some great races each year in Ireland.

Jamie Dobb once did our presentation and handed me my trophy, that was 1997 and he was cool. Mike brown i met at Hawkstone in 1998 and he was just stood there looking cold as hell, he recipricated but i think he struggled with my accent. He proceeded to wax the field that day, that honda 125 sounded so sweet

Shook McGrath's hand at Sheffield supercross 1998, that was cool. He could see little me stood there and put his hand out to me!! Same with Everts at 1998 MXDN all i remember thinking was how big that guys calves were.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/19/2015 9:30am
1/19/2015 9:30am
UpTiTe wrote:
Never met one.
You should try it man! All the pro's over the last couple of decades were pretty damn cool. It was those ones back in the 80's you gotta stay clear from.....bunch a pricks! haha. Laughing Laughing Tongue Tongue
ReturnofJorddo 1/19/2015 9:33am
1/19/2015 9:33am
Met Josh Hill at Riverglade walking through the pits right before the first mx2 moto, seemed cool. Made a fool of myself when I asked for a pic with him and started fumbling for my camera instead of getting my phone out, Im surprised I got a clear shot, I was shaking so bad Blush Pinch

For the whole last MX1 moto, Vince Friese was standing right beside me. Funny how someone classified as one of the more aggressive and "dirty" rider could be a pretty chill dude. Didnt really talk to him other than when he asked me a few questions like "Did Mike come around yet?", didnt feel like making a fool of myself for a second time or asking for a pic. I cant do small talk, so I didnt wanna do that and make a fool of myself. Cant wait for the nationals next year to talk to a few of the pros. Hopefully Ill be there all weekend this year so I can chat with them when theyre not in race mode on race day!
travis-grant 1/19/2015 9:34am
1/19/2015 9:34am
UpTiTe wrote:
Never met one.
jeffro503 wrote:
You should try it man! All the pro's over the last couple of decades were pretty damn cool. It was those ones back in the 80's...
You should try it man! All the pro's over the last couple of decades were pretty damn cool. It was those ones back in the 80's you gotta stay clear from.....bunch a pricks! haha. Laughing Laughing Tongue Tongue
off topic here but i noticed where you live, didn't 'Stand By Me' get filmed there? my fav film
Openwheel racer 1/19/2015 9:35am
1/19/2015 9:35am
logan_140 wrote:
Met mike brown such a down to earth guy helps you on the track. Still drives around a beat up Toyota pick up cool dude
I had the opposite experience with Mike Brown. Red Bud 95 I was wrenching for my buddy. He smoked his clutch in the Red Bud mud bog practice. We didn't have a spare clutch, I asked Brown's mechanic walking back to pits, if I could buy used fibers from them. He said sure no problem, we have a box of them come on over to the truck. So I tore buddies bike apart then headed over to HOT. Brown's mechanic saw me and headed into truck to get fibers. In the mean time Brown walks up and asked what do you want ? I told him I was buying some used fibers, he replied "yeah, well were not selling them, go ask somebody else, get lost" so I left and went over to Lamson's mechanic who gave them to me for free, even though I wanted to pay. I wasn't one of those fans wanting free junk, just wanted to get if fixed for qualifiers. Funny thing is we had 4th gate pick, guess who had #5 ? Ha Ha it was Brown.
DMG
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DMG 1/19/2015 2:59pm
1/19/2015 2:59pm
I met Scott Burnworth once, kind of a tool.

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