RACE BIKE STOLEN AT UNADILLA!

8/15/2009 10:55pm
This is not good. Can't believe racer x has not posted this yet. 3 pro bikes (LaMay, Browning, and Weeks). AMA Needs to add more security to the pits. Hard to imagine that this happened in the pro pits.

Brittany
shaner708
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Export, PA, USA
8/16/2009 2:06am
They didn't have to be pushed out of the pits, someone parked inside the pits could have put them in their trailer/ motorhome and could just drive out. I don't know about Unadilla but I live next to Steel City and all it has is a chain link fence and people have holes cut in it all over the place to sneak in, they could have gotten the bikes out that way
c3011
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Perrysburg, OH, USA
8/16/2009 3:45am
The main objective of the security at nationals it always seems to is make life difficult in the parking lots and be d!cks to the race fans.
Huckster
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Woodstock, NY, USA
8/16/2009 5:00am
There is a fence around the entire pits at Unadilla. I loaned my bike to a privateer for yesterdays race as a back up bike just in case. Between moto's, his mechanic rode the bike out of the pits, across the road, and put it in my van. Not a single person stopped us to ask what we were doing or if we owned the bike. Scary.

BL I hope you had insurance on that bike.

The Shop

murray653
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Johnstown, OH, USA
8/16/2009 6:11am
kardy wrote:
Was a bad night for privateers and a good night for thieves up at 'Dilla. It happened to Willy Browning too. The #156 race bike was...
Was a bad night for privateers and a good night for thieves up at 'Dilla. It happened to Willy Browning too. The #156 race bike was sitting under a lowered canopy in the pits with mechanic sleeping 5 feet away in the trailer with the door open, woke up to no more race bike. Willy rode his 08 practice bike in the races. Several other thefts in the pits overnight... Justin Weeks' mountain bike was stolen, some gear bags, etc. Security in the pro pits? Not so much.

Here's a pic of Willy's (former) bike:



You can contact me through here or my email jeff@kardyphoto.com with any info, or Willy at willyb156@yahoo.com.



Thanks Kardy!

This is devastating to both these guys and all the riders that lost gear over the weekend! I'm putting up $1000 of my own money for the return or leads that result in the return of Willys bike! No questions asked, just get the bike back to us.

I will say everyone really stepped up this weekend and helped each other out. Willys practice bike was not at all ready to go but we managed to scrounge pieces and parts from others in the pits! Willy loaned out gear, and helmets to the ones who needed it!

For Willy to make the main on that bike was amazing! There really is no quit in that kid and to hear him tell me "I don't want to give up" motivated us to get that bike running.

-Bob Murray
Digger437
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Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA
8/16/2009 8:42am
WOW, this just sucks. I sure hope you guys get your stuff back.
TerryK
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8/16/2009 8:55am
Thieves suck balls. I hope against hope you guys all get your stuff back.

Any serial numbers just in case?
BLaMay95
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Anchorage, AK, USA
8/16/2009 9:08am
The frame number for my YZ 450 is JYACJ10C29A038827. If anybody finds my bike at a local track or on the internet. let me know.
BL95
NWMoto76
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Washougal, WA, USA
8/16/2009 9:08am Edited Date/Time 8/16/2009 9:11am
I swear, it’s almost impossible for a person or fan to get into the pro pits without the proper credentials. I’ve been hassled by security when I had the right credentials or wrist band, where they say I’m at the wrong gate or the color on my wrist band doesn’t allow me in that area. Yet these thieves manage to get in and get out with not one security guard seeing, noticing, or watching someone wheel around a bike in the middle of the night. Something ain’t right here…maybe inside job with the security personnel, or as another person stated, it’s someone already in the pro pits that places the stuff in their motor home or trailer. If that’s the case, it’s really sad that someone in the industry who is racing or is there with someone racing, would steal stuff from another rider. Plain and simple…..it’s Bull Shit, and the thieves need their arms chopped off and put on display at the front gate as a message to anyone thinking about stealing!

Best of luck to you Ben....I hope you get your stuff back or get a ride for the last nationals!!
TerryK
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8/16/2009 9:12am
NWMoto76 wrote:
I swear, it’s almost impossible for a person or fan to get into the pro pits without the proper credentials. I’ve been hassled by security when...
I swear, it’s almost impossible for a person or fan to get into the pro pits without the proper credentials. I’ve been hassled by security when I had the right credentials or wrist band, where they say I’m at the wrong gate or the color on my wrist band doesn’t allow me in that area. Yet these thieves manage to get in and get out with not one security guard seeing, noticing, or watching someone wheel around a bike in the middle of the night. Something ain’t right here…maybe inside job with the security personnel, or as another person stated, it’s someone already in the pro pits that places the stuff in their motor home or trailer. If that’s the case, it’s really sad that someone in the industry who is racing or is there with someone racing, would steal stuff from another rider. Plain and simple…..it’s Bull Shit, and the thieves need their arms chopped off and put on display at the front gate as a message to anyone thinking about stealing!

Best of luck to you Ben....I hope you get your stuff back or get a ride for the last nationals!!
Im with you on the inside job. Pretty easy for another rider to hide a bike in his trailer. And don't think it's below some guys to do shit like this....it's not.

Maybe next time this shit happens, security should do a search of every enclosed rig in the pits. Pretty hard to hide an entire motorcycle.
BLaMay95
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Anchorage, AK, USA
8/16/2009 9:18am
The security gaurds were checking every rig leaving the pro pits. when we left they hadn't found anything yet.
DC
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Morgantown, WV, USA
8/16/2009 9:20am
This absolutely sucked, and the head security guy (John Knox) spent most of Saturday looking for the bikes, talking to the state police and doing what he could. There was overnight security in the pits, and I am sure the gates were manned. The state police searched every rig leaving the pro pits yesterday afternoon, but I have not heard if they found anything.

Unadilla's pro pits are right surrounded by the track on one side, woods on the the back side which lead to the amateur campground, and then Route 8 runs all the way up along the front side. With people camping inside the pits, milling about throughout the evening, and driving pit carts around, it's just amazing that someone grabbed two bikes and didn't get caught.

As for Racer X not having it up, we just got home from a 10-hour overnight drive. I will make sure someone gets something posted as soon as we have more information.

For what it's worth, I have never seen or heard of so much crime in my entire life. Bikes are getting stolen from all over the place, and Morgantown had five or six armed robberies in just a few days last week. I don't know if it's tough times or what, but people are doing some brazen and sad stuff out there. I'm sure some of your heard about or saw the video of my mom's house being broken into right after High Point while she was in her bedroom sleeping....

These bike thefts put a damp cloud over the whole raceday, and I really hope these guys get caught and rot in jail.... But only after Willy and Ben get to practice starts on top of them with their bikes.

DC
MX Sports


TerryK
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8/16/2009 9:26am
Thanks for the info DC. It's nice to know that something was and is being done. It's sad when people assume that nothing was done. MX folks are a tight knit bunch and always look out for one another.

Here's hoping that both riders get their bikes back or if not maybe a few people will step up and help out with some bikes and parts.
jtomasik
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Golden, CO, USA
8/16/2009 9:29am
Awesome last sentiments DC. Good to hear someone in the media speak up about what jerks like this deserve.

Best wishes to the honest guys who are suffering because of the idiotic few.
NWMoto76
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8/16/2009 9:45am
Thanks for that update DC! It is great to hear how much was done for Ben, but unfortunately nothing was found. I definitely agree with that last sentence of your post!

This totally sucks for Ben and Willy. I have a hard time believing this could happen at a national, because security at these tracks are usually very thorough and question everyone….sometimes they go overboard, but obviously for a good reason. It is crazy the amount of thefts that are taking place these days. I can’t stand stealing or thieves.

I hope someone steps up for these guys and helps them through the remaining nationals...



DC
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8/16/2009 10:01am
MX Sports will do our best to help these riders, including the ones who lost their gear bags (Corey Pennington lost his gear bag, and Ivan Tedesco tried to loan him gear but Corey wears 32" to Ivan's 30", so my sister Carrie went to one of the vendors and bought him a set of riding gear because he did not have anything else to race in.)

We are posting a reward as soon as we have all of the information, and we are also comping the entries to the last three rounds of the series for Ben and Willy because this happened in the pro pits.

For what it's worth, there was a heavy fog on Friday night/Saturday morning that made it really tough to see (driving in at 6:30 a.m. from Onoeata was an adventure), and it was really tough to see in the wee hours at the track according to John Knox, our head of security.

Also, while the day-time security that was wearing yellow shirts were mostly volunteers, the night crew were corrections officers from a local prison. The gate along Route 8 was locked, so they may have headed to a corner or under the fence somewhere with the bikes. And then again, maybe it was someone already in the pits, which is an unfortunate thought....

DC
MX Sports
8/16/2009 10:29am
What's weird is both Ben and Willy had motors done by me.

Thank you very much Davey for everything you've done so far and continue to do in this matter.
KMC440
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8/16/2009 11:31am
DC do all of the NPG tracks have fenced areas for the pro pits? Will there come a sad day when the amature racing ends on pro week to eliminate "hiding" a stolen bike?

Willy B is one of, if not the nicest person, always considerate and gracious with conversations and does not deserve this bullshit.

Lastly, someone somewhere in the moto community has to know, maybe not today, the assbags that pull this shit off. Thieves are lowlife scum and usually brag about their exploits. Keep your ears to the ground western NY someone will know something soon I hope.
DC
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8/16/2009 11:51am
All of the tracks' pits have fences all the way around, and they are all also rural, for the most part. That means its easy for locals to come up with a plan to sneak them out if given the chance.

But then again, Baltimore always had a serious problem with bikes being stolen at the AX races there and some of those likely ended up in one of those "Baltimore Biker Boys" videos.) It just sucks when stuff like this happens. Erin Normoyle had her bicycle stolen at Washougal, so it happens everywhere. We will do all we can to get each track to add more security and also remind everyone to keep their stuff locked up at night, though in some cases even that doesn't help, obviously.

DC
MX Sports
Ozzy
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8/16/2009 11:52am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 1:34am
Not to throw salt in the wounds, but it's
the responsibility of the promoters to
have GOOD security!
If & when the crews, riders, etc., leave in the evening,
the security needs to be top notch. from awning set-ups
to displays, etc., are left out, & many times
vulnerable to "Pit-thieves".
Yrs. ago while at YOT we were at a famous
National track, & a large part of our awning was stolen!
Was I "PO'd", sure big time. The AMA did nothing!
Par for the course, yet the track promoter & I hooked
up & he paid in full for the replacement.
He was very nice about it too.
As in a court of law, there's a president here, & the promoter of
such is liable.
If I were them, the unfortunate riders in question, that's what I'd be doing.
I'd be after the Unidilla promoters.
Dave O.Wink
FastEddy
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8/16/2009 12:01pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 1:34am
You guys need to invest in a GPS tracking chip like a lot of folks are doing with boats & cars.

Anything similair to this should work. http://www.chipandtrace.com



I have seen some priced for as little as $200 to $300 dollars.

The way the economy is now...people with thieving tendencies are coming out of the wood work.
It is a shame, I really hope they catch the people who ripped off Bens bike and I hope he gets it back.
Ozzy
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8/16/2009 12:05pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 1:34am
Yes, these unfortunate happening happen everywhere!
Nothing's void of it!
When it happens, your smarter the next time,
however.............
Security secures?
I hope so..........
Is it a perfect system?
No, nothing is.........., but
there's something called "insurance".
Can't hold an event without it!
When giving your coat to the hat check girl, you expect to get your coat back!
They provide solice & security for your item.
Anything less & there liable, simple!
Again, I lived it, handled it, & everyone was happy.
I also know first hand that the following yr. & years, the promoter had even
more of a security presence & then some.
Also, he told me so............!
Props to DC & MX sports for showing concern!
Dave O.Wink
breck
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Des Moines, IA, USA
8/16/2009 1:21pm
This is not good. Can't believe racer x has not posted this yet. 3 pro bikes (LaMay, Browning, and Weeks). AMA Needs to add more security...
This is not good. Can't believe racer x has not posted this yet. 3 pro bikes (LaMay, Browning, and Weeks). AMA Needs to add more security to the pits. Hard to imagine that this happened in the pro pits.

Brittany
ITS NOT THE AMA. FUCK.
Ozzy
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8/16/2009 3:19pm
Qoute..."BAUER" from Mototalk :

"Carrie Coombs went out and purchased new gear to replace Cory Pennington's stolen items. No one wants to see anyone suffer additional hardship...I hope they catch the bastards!"Angry

Props to Carrie Coombs...., Awesome!Kissing

Dave O.Wink
RG3
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Anaheim, CA, USA
8/16/2009 3:33pm
Hey Ben. May help a bit, but we'll keep a post up on the website, as well as post things on Myspace and Twitter. You may want to give the shop a call with any plans you have for the time being. I'm sure things will get worked out.
8/16/2009 4:07pm
BLaMay95 wrote:
My YZ 450 race bike got stolen out of my trailer fri night/sat morning. Weekends prior to the race we just went through the WHOLE motor...
My YZ 450 race bike got stolen out of my trailer fri night/sat morning. Weekends prior to the race we just went through the WHOLE motor putting everything new it. Saturday morning I woke up to go get the bike and check it over before first practice. When I opened the trailer the bike was gone. Right now im not sure what im doing for the last 3 rounds,I dont have a race bike anymore and Im scrambling to find a race bike for Budds creek right now. If anyone has any information on this please contact me at.
Cell-864-384-2207
E-mail-alamay426@aol.com
Thank you,
Ben LaMay
Another thing that will stand out is the transponder (small red timing device) mounted on the upper part of the left front fork. I would imagine the person who stole it will remove the transponder and possibly try to sell it so keep an eye out for a used transponder for sale as well to maybe track the thief. Not much to go on but just a thought. Hopefully your bike gets recovered.

Craig
8/16/2009 4:21pm
This is not good. Can't believe racer x has not posted this yet. 3 pro bikes (LaMay, Browning, and Weeks). AMA Needs to add more security...
This is not good. Can't believe racer x has not posted this yet. 3 pro bikes (LaMay, Browning, and Weeks). AMA Needs to add more security to the pits. Hard to imagine that this happened in the pro pits.

Brittany
breck wrote:
ITS NOT THE AMA. FUCK.
sorry i said the ama, i know they are not at fault. I was just saying, possibly more security would be great for night time. I was not at Unadilla, did not know the layout of the pits. I am just saying I would hate to go to the races and have one of our bikes (Trentman Racing Bikes) stolen from the trailer. I hope Ben and Willy get their bikes back soon!! Once again sorry for the AMA's at fault sentence because they are not it was not their fault, or MXSPORTS.
Ozzy
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Santa Clarita, CA, USA
8/16/2009 4:54pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 1:35am
"DC and the Coombs family are good people".......
Look all, it's no bodies fault.
Securities good until it isn't.
Many times the creeps are better,
or lucky is more like it.
It seems all involved are going thru
the motions & time will tell.
Unfortunately outside of the racing risks
at hand, traveling presents it's own demons!
It's people, & a few are bad!
Dave O.
8/16/2009 4:56pm
This sucks to hear ill keep a look out.

What I like to do is ever time I have my bike at the truck or even when its put away i put a master lock around the front rotor or rear rotor. That way if somone try pusing it away it wont move. It might work.
8/16/2009 7:05pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 1:35am
FastEddy wrote:
You guys need to invest in a GPS tracking chip like a lot of folks are doing with boats & cars. Anything similair to this should...
You guys need to invest in a GPS tracking chip like a lot of folks are doing with boats & cars.

Anything similair to this should work. http://www.chipandtrace.com



I have seen some priced for as little as $200 to $300 dollars.

The way the economy is now...people with thieving tendencies are coming out of the wood work.
It is a shame, I really hope they catch the people who ripped off Bens bike and I hope he gets it back.
Good point fasteddy. Here is another very inexpensive option. It is a vibration alert. Put it up in the engine and when they move the bike the thing will draw all kinds of attention. Should be able to get one for $5 to $10 bucks. As soon as this thing goes off they will run.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Security-Safety-Door-Window-Vibration-Detector-Alar…

I hope the riders catch them. Leave the police out of it. You can accomplish more that way.

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