Ping 101 out of job next year?

BLAHBLAH
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BLAHBLAH 6/29/2010 3:32pm
6/29/2010 3:32pm
Hoodie wrote:
Did I miss the post that said why, or what he is doing?
I am not usre how it is in GA but out here in CA starting pay for a firefighter/paramedic is about 80k a year before overtime. That also includes full health care benefits and retirement. I have a quite a few buddies who are firemen and they wouldn't trade their jobs for anything. They have a ton of time off as well; plenty of time to pursue other ventures.
MISFIT442
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MISFIT442 6/29/2010 4:32pm
6/29/2010 4:32pm Edited Date/Time 1/19/2014 8:17pm
Hoodie wrote:
Did I miss the post that said why, or what he is doing?
666
panic revver 6/29/2010 4:53pm
6/29/2010 4:53pm
Hoodie wrote:
Did I miss the post that said why, or what he is doing?
BLAHBLAH wrote:
I am not usre how it is in GA but out here in CA starting pay for a firefighter/paramedic is about 80k a year before overtime...
I am not usre how it is in GA but out here in CA starting pay for a firefighter/paramedic is about 80k a year before overtime. That also includes full health care benefits and retirement. I have a quite a few buddies who are firemen and they wouldn't trade their jobs for anything. They have a ton of time off as well; plenty of time to pursue other ventures.
80K???? You are WAYYYYYYYYY off. Cut that in half. Captains base pay is not that high.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 6/29/2010 5:20pm
6/29/2010 5:20pm Edited Date/Time 6/29/2010 5:20pm
Hoodie wrote:
Did I miss the post that said why, or what he is doing?
BLAHBLAH wrote:
I am not usre how it is in GA but out here in CA starting pay for a firefighter/paramedic is about 80k a year before overtime...
I am not usre how it is in GA but out here in CA starting pay for a firefighter/paramedic is about 80k a year before overtime. That also includes full health care benefits and retirement. I have a quite a few buddies who are firemen and they wouldn't trade their jobs for anything. They have a ton of time off as well; plenty of time to pursue other ventures.
panic revver wrote:
80K???? You are WAYYYYYYYYY off. Cut that in half. Captains base pay is not that high.
In San Jose...a Captain can make twice that.

The Shop

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KAWboy14
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KAWboy14 6/29/2010 5:47pm
6/29/2010 5:47pm
so riders dont make any money, so they quit to start moto mags........team managers dont make any money.......so they quit to save lives from fires


are the only people making money in moto, the photogs?
dpingree101
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dpingree101 6/30/2010 11:06pm
6/30/2010 11:06pm
My next column spells everything out pretty clearly. I am leaving the team sometime this summer to pursue a career in the fire service. The pay and benefits are quite good out west (from $50,000 to $80,000 for EMT/Medic) but the biggest thing is the time I'll get to spend with my family and the long-term stability for my family. The motocross industry is awesome but the time commitment is insane and I'm missing my little girls growing up. Nothing is worth that.
This job is the only thing that has ever grabbed my attention like motocross... I love it. And I believe if you are passionate about what you do you WILL be successful, regardless of what it is.

I'll still work with Racer X, maybe even more since I will have more time. This way I can stay as close to the sport as I want without it completely controlling my life. And I might even have some time to go riding again. Fire and Police National Champion? Well, let me just make sure Shea Bentley isn't working for the Atlanta PD. Wink
Matt Fisher 6/30/2010 11:16pm
6/30/2010 11:16pm
Best of luck to you Ping, I hope you're successful in your endeavors, and good job on putting your family first.
motodog621
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motodog621 6/30/2010 11:38pm
6/30/2010 11:38pm
Ping- nice talking to you at Comp Edge Tuesday- and when you are in, check out www.firepolicemx.com Cool
gnarwhip
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gnarwhip 6/30/2010 11:39pm
6/30/2010 11:39pm
Yes good move and remember, since you're gonna be hanging with a bunch of dudes for long hours, it's not gay if you say "Surprise!" first.
redrider400
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redrider400 6/30/2010 11:40pm
6/30/2010 11:40pm
dpingree101 wrote:
My next column spells everything out pretty clearly. I am leaving the team sometime this summer to pursue a career in the fire service. The pay...
My next column spells everything out pretty clearly. I am leaving the team sometime this summer to pursue a career in the fire service. The pay and benefits are quite good out west (from $50,000 to $80,000 for EMT/Medic) but the biggest thing is the time I'll get to spend with my family and the long-term stability for my family. The motocross industry is awesome but the time commitment is insane and I'm missing my little girls growing up. Nothing is worth that.
This job is the only thing that has ever grabbed my attention like motocross... I love it. And I believe if you are passionate about what you do you WILL be successful, regardless of what it is.

I'll still work with Racer X, maybe even more since I will have more time. This way I can stay as close to the sport as I want without it completely controlling my life. And I might even have some time to go riding again. Fire and Police National Champion? Well, let me just make sure Shea Bentley isn't working for the Atlanta PD. Wink
Good luck Ping. The pay out there is great considering I made 30k my last year here in GA. The two captains that trained me and my buddies in fireschool only made around 60k so 50-80k is awesome. And you are right about the family thing. That is the reason I quit the fire dept. I was working two jobs and never got to see my kids. Have fun and watch your weight the first year man, its called the freshman 15 in college, but its more like the freshman 25 in the fire service. lol.
txmxer
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txmxer 7/1/2010 4:03am
7/1/2010 4:03am
dpingree101 wrote:
My next column spells everything out pretty clearly. I am leaving the team sometime this summer to pursue a career in the fire service. The pay...
My next column spells everything out pretty clearly. I am leaving the team sometime this summer to pursue a career in the fire service. The pay and benefits are quite good out west (from $50,000 to $80,000 for EMT/Medic) but the biggest thing is the time I'll get to spend with my family and the long-term stability for my family. The motocross industry is awesome but the time commitment is insane and I'm missing my little girls growing up. Nothing is worth that.
This job is the only thing that has ever grabbed my attention like motocross... I love it. And I believe if you are passionate about what you do you WILL be successful, regardless of what it is.

I'll still work with Racer X, maybe even more since I will have more time. This way I can stay as close to the sport as I want without it completely controlling my life. And I might even have some time to go riding again. Fire and Police National Champion? Well, let me just make sure Shea Bentley isn't working for the Atlanta PD. Wink
You just need to work on your starts.

I'll sell you a video I made that will help you out. It's Motocross 102: When you are ready to be a champion Wink
Gardner37
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Gardner37 7/1/2010 5:14am
7/1/2010 5:14am
Public sector pay is gonna take a huge nose dive next year and beyond. Those cushy jobs with killer pensions are going to be just jobs with crappy pensions. The gravy years are over. Just sayin.
chrisgg90 7/1/2010 5:45am
7/1/2010 5:45am
motodog621 wrote:
Ping- nice talking to you at Comp Edge Tuesday- and when you are in, check out www.firepolicemx.com Cool
Would love to come over and race one of those fire police races myself
IntenseRider
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IntenseRider 7/1/2010 5:58am
7/1/2010 5:58am
Matt Fisher wrote:
Best of luck to you Ping, I hope you're successful in your endeavors, and good job on putting your family first.
x2!!!
russerbe
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russerbe 7/1/2010 6:18am
7/1/2010 6:18am
I recently purchased his video and watched it last weekend. Even if you have five of these type videos on your bookshelf, you should buy this one atleast for the comedy factor. He says some hilarious stuff in 101.

On a side note, it's pretty refreshing to see a man give up pretty much the only life he's known, so he can spend more time with his family. It's great to see family trumping career every now and then.


BTW, you told me at Freestone that after I watched your video that I'd be ready to qualify for the next National, Somehow I'm still in the beginner class!!! I demand a full refund!!!!!!!!! Haha

Best of luck to ya DP101!!
rallendude
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rallendude 7/1/2010 6:57am
7/1/2010 6:57am
Good luck Ping.

My first reaction was similar to most here. That guy has lost his mind. Quitting a dream job in the industry where he gets to ride killer bikes all the time that he doesn't have to pay for. And going to all the races. Man, he's nuts.

However, after having owned a small bike shop for several years and having it become 24/7 and almost ruining my favorite pass time/hobby, I know exactly why he's doing this. Some of you need to put into perspective what his current job entails. What his job REALLY is. Heck, I was just a little bike shop. He's team manager for a full on sateliite race team that plans on winning nationals and supercrosses. I can imagine the time and dedication required to do the job and live with yourself at night knowing you've done your best.

Like some others here have said, working in the industry isn't always what it's cracked up to be.
chadwik74
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chadwik74 7/1/2010 7:08am
7/1/2010 7:08am
Good luck Ping....You'll do good!
Ozzy
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Ozzy 7/1/2010 7:55am
7/1/2010 7:55am
I've known Ping since he was just a boy.
For me always a great guy, attitude, and spunk!
That's why I helped him out years ago.
If any know what & how he's feeling, I do.
Believe me I do.......
It's not really a question of who can handle it & who can't.
That's not it at all.
But for me from Ping's beginning in all this I did ponder him jumping into
a "24/7 we never close, always on call" team managers role.
You see, it's infectious as hell. And if your good at it as Ping's grown into
being as the TLD effort shows, the hardest part is keeping yourself & not loosing
yourself in it all & being man enough to take that step back.
I applaud Ping for doing so.
Done it myself before too.
For Ping I believe the futures bright and his love for all things moto will always remain.
This too I know.
I wish David "Ping" well.
Dave O.Wink

Pit Row

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disbanded
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disbanded 7/1/2010 8:24am
7/1/2010 8:24am
Let us not forget who is really being hurt by Ping leaving the industry......

Fire!
AMA714
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AMA714 7/1/2010 8:27am
7/1/2010 8:27am
Hoodie wrote:
Did I miss the post that said why, or what he is doing?
BLAHBLAH wrote:
I am not usre how it is in GA but out here in CA starting pay for a firefighter/paramedic is about 80k a year before overtime...
I am not usre how it is in GA but out here in CA starting pay for a firefighter/paramedic is about 80k a year before overtime. That also includes full health care benefits and retirement. I have a quite a few buddies who are firemen and they wouldn't trade their jobs for anything. They have a ton of time off as well; plenty of time to pursue other ventures.
TX is a not a whole lot different. My neighbor is a Firefighter/Paramedic. He works every 3 days, has great benefits, all the time in the world to spend with family/friends and pulls down 80k a year for fun.. Yeah some weekends he gets screwed, but for the most part he has a great set up..
chrisbuehler
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chrisbuehler 7/1/2010 9:35am
7/1/2010 9:35am
Good for you Ping. Family is eveything and if you have kids you know this.
Ryno784
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Ryno784 7/1/2010 9:47am
7/1/2010 9:47am
dpingree101 wrote:
My next column spells everything out pretty clearly. I am leaving the team sometime this summer to pursue a career in the fire service. The pay...
My next column spells everything out pretty clearly. I am leaving the team sometime this summer to pursue a career in the fire service. The pay and benefits are quite good out west (from $50,000 to $80,000 for EMT/Medic) but the biggest thing is the time I'll get to spend with my family and the long-term stability for my family. The motocross industry is awesome but the time commitment is insane and I'm missing my little girls growing up. Nothing is worth that.
This job is the only thing that has ever grabbed my attention like motocross... I love it. And I believe if you are passionate about what you do you WILL be successful, regardless of what it is.

I'll still work with Racer X, maybe even more since I will have more time. This way I can stay as close to the sport as I want without it completely controlling my life. And I might even have some time to go riding again. Fire and Police National Champion? Well, let me just make sure Shea Bentley isn't working for the Atlanta PD. Wink
David I think it's a great move for you and one that I totally understand. I spent several years traveling with SX, AX and the IMS shows and finally saw the light one day a couple years back while in SoCal. (It may have had something to do with turning 40 also??) But I said it then and I'll say it now, It's just a job. The time lost to my girls wasn't worth any amount of money the job paid or the prestige that comes with it.

I don't regret things because I made some great friends and had some awesome experiences, but I feel I made the right decision to leave. And I recently took a pay cut to manage a dealership closer to home because it afforded me 16 more hours a week in my pocket to spend with family! Priceless.

You enjoy the time, and don't feel you ahve to justify it to everyone. My friends thought I was crazy leaving SX, they have no idea the work and hours and travel involved. Cheers my friend! (And you'll have much more time to ride now that you won't be working in the industry...I know I did!)
Blake
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Blake 7/1/2010 9:56am
7/1/2010 9:56am
panic revver wrote:
Sounds like Ping already has one of the best things about being an emt/firefighter. He has the second/part time job. I know quite a few firefighters...
Sounds like Ping already has one of the best things about being an emt/firefighter. He has the second/part time job. I know quite a few firefighters and almost all of them have a side gig.
The captain across the street from me has about 5 different things he is hawking all the time.

He isnt pulling down much ching. Just in conversation he has said "this 62K a year should be minuimum wage in CA"

He is gone for about 3-4 days at a time.

I'll say this, if all it gets you is a 2006 Accord and a house, and a 1990 F150 truck, I'm guessing the 62 is what he gets.
Dirty Britches 7/1/2010 11:37am
7/1/2010 11:37am
My best friend is a fireman and he makes in the 40's. ALL the guys at his station have side gigs to supplement their income - mowing lawns, finishing basements, electrical handyman...that type of stuff since the dept doesn't pay enough to make a decent living.
Apparently CA (taxes) is completely different than midwest.
Sondy132001
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Sondy132001 7/1/2010 11:44am
7/1/2010 11:44am Edited Date/Time 7/1/2010 11:44am
mxb2 wrote:
I never said it was a bad job being a officer , emt or fireman is a great career, i have friends in that line of...
I never said it was a bad job being a officer , emt or fireman is a great career, i have friends in that line of work and i am also, guess my point being is that he is used to getting free stuff all the time and and some people can t get used to working shift work holidays, alota weekends, shift work has caused alota of divorces That line of work is very admirable, Trust me i dont know his salary or his personal business, Being a fireman or police officer is dangerous, benefits and retirement are a plus, but i m sure he has a sweet gig at TLD.
"guess my point being is that he is used to getting free stuff all the time" that's a funny line right there...

S
JW381
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JW381 7/1/2010 12:38pm
7/1/2010 12:38pm
Good luck Ping! You'll probably still be my favorite team manager.
Stephon
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Stephon 7/1/2010 12:55pm
7/1/2010 12:55pm
dpingree101 wrote:
My next column spells everything out pretty clearly. I am leaving the team sometime this summer to pursue a career in the fire service. The pay...
My next column spells everything out pretty clearly. I am leaving the team sometime this summer to pursue a career in the fire service. The pay and benefits are quite good out west (from $50,000 to $80,000 for EMT/Medic) but the biggest thing is the time I'll get to spend with my family and the long-term stability for my family. The motocross industry is awesome but the time commitment is insane and I'm missing my little girls growing up. Nothing is worth that.
This job is the only thing that has ever grabbed my attention like motocross... I love it. And I believe if you are passionate about what you do you WILL be successful, regardless of what it is.

I'll still work with Racer X, maybe even more since I will have more time. This way I can stay as close to the sport as I want without it completely controlling my life. And I might even have some time to go riding again. Fire and Police National Champion? Well, let me just make sure Shea Bentley isn't working for the Atlanta PD. Wink
Sounds like a man with a plan. You'll never regret the time with family. Good luck!
MXinOC
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MXinOC 7/2/2010 5:10pm
7/2/2010 5:10pm
panic revver wrote:
Sounds like Ping already has one of the best things about being an emt/firefighter. He has the second/part time job. I know quite a few firefighters...
Sounds like Ping already has one of the best things about being an emt/firefighter. He has the second/part time job. I know quite a few firefighters and almost all of them have a side gig.
Blake wrote:
The captain across the street from me has about 5 different things he is hawking all the time. He isnt pulling down much ching. Just in...
The captain across the street from me has about 5 different things he is hawking all the time.

He isnt pulling down much ching. Just in conversation he has said "this 62K a year should be minuimum wage in CA"

He is gone for about 3-4 days at a time.

I'll say this, if all it gets you is a 2006 Accord and a house, and a 1990 F150 truck, I'm guessing the 62 is what he gets.
A lot of guessing there Blake... have you ever worked, or earned more than say ...20K?
motodog621
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motodog621 7/2/2010 10:25pm
7/2/2010 10:25pm
panic revver wrote:
Sounds like Ping already has one of the best things about being an emt/firefighter. He has the second/part time job. I know quite a few firefighters...
Sounds like Ping already has one of the best things about being an emt/firefighter. He has the second/part time job. I know quite a few firefighters and almost all of them have a side gig.
Blake wrote:
The captain across the street from me has about 5 different things he is hawking all the time. He isnt pulling down much ching. Just in...
The captain across the street from me has about 5 different things he is hawking all the time.

He isnt pulling down much ching. Just in conversation he has said "this 62K a year should be minuimum wage in CA"

He is gone for about 3-4 days at a time.

I'll say this, if all it gets you is a 2006 Accord and a house, and a 1990 F150 truck, I'm guessing the 62 is what he gets.
Blake, I'm not guessing- you're wrong.
JACK_Schit
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JACK_Schit 7/3/2010 12:08am
7/3/2010 12:08am
Take his monthly salary and divide by the total number of hours he works a month and what do ya think he makes an hour?

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