One more reason why I love the So Cal motocross club, REM

During practice yesterday a weird noise started emanating from my engine. My first thought was to take advantage of the knowledge of one of the best engine tuners on the planet, an REM regular, Terry Varner. Upon hearing the noise he immediately told me to turn it off….”that thing won’t make it through the day.”

I generally don’t like to barrow other people’s bikes for different reasons, some of which are 1) I’m afraid I’ll like their bike more than mine and consequently never be happy with mine again (for now I have an old 08 CRF 450, but I like it and I’m comfortable on it). 2) I’ve always felt like a bike is such a personal object and asking to barrow somebody’s is like asking to barrow their wife (to which a friend of mine jokingly said yesterday, “Hell no, I’d loan my wife out quicker than my bike!” At least I think he was joking).

The word got out that I had a mechanical issue and soon I had 3 different people offering me to ride their bike. One of them is a competitor of mine…that races in my class!...and he only had one bike! He told me I could ride one moto and he could ride the other. But his generosity didn’t stop there. This particular racer just moved up to my class a couple weeks ago and after winning the 1st moto yesterday in spectacular last lap fashion (so I was told), AGAIN, he asked me if I wanted to ride his bike the 2nd moto. He said, “I think you’ll really like it!” Oh yeah, I should also say he has a 2016 KTM 450! Are you kidding me? What a display of generosity! It brings tears of joy to think of what a generous offer that was. Luther you’re an awesome person! In the end, a couple other REM regulars came together and put in a good word to yet another REM regular and by the time the, always fun, riders meeting was done I not only procured myself a ride for the day, but it was in time to get plenty of practice in, and on a state-of-the-art 2016 KTM 250.

I raced 2 hard motos. I was battling every lap of both motos and at the end of the day I had that satisfied I-got-in-plenty-of-hard-moto-laps feeling! As I was headed back to load my toasted-engined bike I told REM promoter/owner Frank, “Another great day!” as I always try to do, when appropriate. Frank thanked me and said something to the effect of, “Man, you always have a big smile on your face!” Now I’ll tell you, I’ve fried many engines and had many mechanicals in my days…..I’ll promise you every time I was loading my bike up afterwards I at least had a scowl on my face if I wasn’t verbalizing my anger with some sort of moderate to severe profanity! As I was loading my bike yesterday I thought to myself, I feel satisfied, good and happy…..so what’s different about having a serious mechanical today compared to when I’ve had them in the past? That’s when it occurred to me the difference is REM/Frank his wife Myra and the type of people they attract! I hate to out anybody as a super nice person but…Thanks Engine Builder Terry, Dentist Mark, Artist Jon, Fast Guy Luther……and let’s just say a certain guru gets 5 stars from me!!!