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All I heard when I read this was “I got a blowjob and I was shit in the main event”.
I responded to Roller Decoasters post about being a chase driver for Jeff Ward and Micky Dymond for the race across the west bicycle race and got picked. During the 2 days before the race they shared some of the stories from "back in the day" , holy shit... lol. Big Thank You to Roller Decoaster for a week I will never forget. Along the way Tomac's and their son Eli came out to say hi and cheer them on, along with mtb legend Greg Herbold. Don't know if that counts as "In the wild" but wow what a week last week was 🙂 Besides that our only real "Interaction" with a famous moto dude was bumping into K-Dub at the Del Mar fair a few years ago. He asked my son where he bought his funnel cake, he was like "right over.....Hey Kevin Windham" ! What's up ! lol. He was as friendly and down to earth as they come.
We sat next to Sandra Bullock and Jesse James at Speedway one night, she was very cool, Jesse ? Not so much
I was mountain biking in laguna a couple years ago and saw a dude rolling up on a Gasgas ebike, look at his face and it was Barcia. I said "oh hey it's Justin Barcia" he gave me a wave and we kept it moving. Not a crazy story but it was neat at the time haha.
Growing up in Simi, O'Mara, Stanton, Johnson, Bailey and Donnie Hansen, even MC towards the end of Hondaland were a common sight around town. I was just a young buck so it wasn't earth shattering at the time but now I look back and it was pretty damn cool.
All-time best moto encounter in the real world was sitting next to Malcolm Smith on a flight back to LAX from SLC in 1998 or so. Absolutely the coolest guy you could ask to meet. We talked moto for a short time and when he found out who my Grandpa was we were off to the races, so to speak. Shortest flight ever. Kept in touch up until he passed away.
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I ran in to Randy Hawkins, 7 time national enduro champion, and Jan Hrehor, he was from Czech Republic and raced GNCC, at a restaurant I just stopped by their table and spoke to them. They were super friendly.
A couple of years later a friend of mine calls me and wants me to go help him pickup a bike. He bought a backup bike from Randy. A Suzuki RMX 250. We picked it up at his shop and spent some time just in awe of the trophy’s, ISDE helmets, etc. He was really down to earth and answered all of my questions and didn’t try to rush us.
Not MX I know, but a successful dirt bike racer.
I bumped in to DV12 while holidaying in France in 2003.
Who was your grandpa?
Just an old timer from the S.F.V. who did pretty well in the 50's and 60's until he hit his head and couldn't race anymore. He was super close to the Ekin's brothers, and Steve McQueen. As a young kid in the 70's they'd all be over at my grandparents house in Reseda for Sunday dinner and I had no idea who anyone was. Oh to go back in time and be able to be a fly on the wall.
That is an awesome story and thanks for sharing. Steve McQueen at your house? There’s little that can top that! 👍👍
You’re right, would love to have heard the stories.
I used to race Mtn bikes and did the local series that held a race at the Charlotte Whitewater Center and I podiumed and thought I was fast.. Then a few weeks later I went back to a random Wednesday night short track race at the Whitewater Center and a lot of the JGR guys were there, Barcia, Peick, Barcias mechanic Ben, maybe Brayton? Maybe some Club guys? McElrath and a few others.. They were all joking around on the starting line just being cool dudes. Someone was like "yeah I'm going to wholeshot this like I will in super cross this year". And I thought to myself, no you won't because I'm here and I'm pretty fast... Well they kicked the dog shit out of me and dropped me like a sack of turds. I got like 13th out of 15.
The pace at the beginning was insane. I thought I was a good climber but the climbs didn't slow them down at all. It was like they were like tractors. Once I finished they were already changing into their street clothes. Makes you remember they are all world class athletes and you are not.
I went into the old Ford dealer in TR years ago and I walked in and two guys were talking. One was clearly a salesmen wearing a blue polo and I happened to be wearing a blue polo that day. I was walking by them to go to the service center and the salesmen gave a friendly nod and "Hey" and the other guy stuck his hand out for a hand shake and said "Hey I'm Randy Hawkins.". I think Randy thought I worked there, but he was super friendly.
These TP stories remind me of the time I ended up at Pastranaland.
I was in Maryland for MXdN with my parents. We went out to dinner then linked up with a family friend, Kris Brown. He owned Cooperland for a while so he was connected with Kenny Bartram and the Nitro crew.
We end up out with StreetBike Tommy and a few others and close down the bar. Tommy invites back to Pastranaland and says there is only one rule, we can ride anything that isn’t yellow.
It’s quite a blur but I recall rolling down the driveway in the bed of his pickup, seeing the foam pit, absolutely giddy as can be to send something.
We stand around for a bit then get the news.
Tommy lost the keys to the shed partying the night before. He was shitting himself and I was devastated lol
Went back to the hotel with the biggest blue balls ever.
Fortunately, the build up was relieved after seeing RV go 1-1 and RC stand on the top box for the last time.
Ps. Kris sold Cooperland and built a ranch back in northern Wisconsin. He owns Icon Meats, sponsor of ClubMX and Lawrence Experience.
Two run ins with Marchbanks, once at Sheetz filling up his truck after Budds creek, he said he was driving back to Club Mx lol, then on the rooftop of Aldeans bar in Nashville the night before SX, same night we met Jeremy Martin in another bar and let’s just say he had a few brews in him and was super friendly to us, we actually talked for a good ten minutes, it was awesome
Lots of cool ass stories/memories in here!!!
Late 2005 or early 2006 at Bookoo Arenacross I think it was Long Beach amateur day we were lined up in the parking lot waiting for our moto’s to start and Jeff Ward was standing there in line nearby with I assume his kid that was going to race a 85 or maybe 65. I didn’t want to bother him so I just walked on by.
After Dean Ferris retired he showed up at our local race, I noticed him by himself way out the back of the pits. He had a stock bike laying on its side and he was changing the clutch. He dominated and the next year he was on a factory team again.
Reading your posts was curious if you know Mopar Cleyon ?
I said hello Mike Larocco a couple times in Norco, Ca. He used to come watch his kid ride horses. He was pretty stand offish. I just mentioned I saw him race a lot then left him alone. His soon to be ex was nice enough.
I met Mike Kiedrowski at a Christmas party, he was pretty cool.
Pit Row
Late summer 2020, my wife and I went to our local pub. She goes to sit in the garden while I get the drinks. I join her five minutes later and she’s sat at a bench talking to Robert Plant.
I sit down and join in the conversation, explaining that we have a mutual friend in Jason Bonham (he raced in schoolboys at the same time as me). We talk for a while about motocross, and to my surprise, he asked about some riders he remembered from those days (I later messaged one of them to tell him that RP asked after him; he was thrilled).
Anyway, after about ten minutes he left, and my wife says, “He’s a nice man. How do you know him, then?”
“Did you not know who that was?”, I ask. “No. I was talking to him about his dog”, she says.
So, she spent ten minutes talking to Robert Plant and had no idea who he was.
Last month I was at a local practice track in nh. Some dude on a yz450f was quadding things on the track I’ve never seen anyone quad before. Turns out it was Jimmy Decotis.
Had quite a few run ins but the oddest was probably waking up from surgery next to Cole Seely. Had a quick drugged out convo about dirt bikes that I don’t really remember.
Had a bunch of “run ins” at the last three us.mxons. The first year im standing next to the leap and some super fit dude is next to me with a super hot chick. We chatted about the leap for a bit then people started noticing the guy and a small group gathered, it was Mike Larocco. Also ran into RJ, wardy, Canard, Mathes and a few others while hanging out around the announcers tower that year too.
Buddy and I were sitting at a hotel bar in north bend and a little guy (no offense) walked up to a couple guys next to us with his hoodie pulled up. It was Jason Anderson not looking for attention. We just nodded at him.
Saw Jbome on a roof top bar trying to watch the MC hole shot deal in Nashville this year. He noticed me noticing him, again just nodded. He was headed to the bar, in hindsight, I should’ve bought his drinks and chatted him up a bit but I hate bothering people.
Next night after a long day of Nashville Supercross, we ran into Emig on our way back to the house. Looks like they were just headed downtown while we were leaving. I said Emig, he turned around. I said something dumb, like you’re awesome, gave him a fist bump and carried on. The funny part about that story, we were staying at pro golf caddy‘s house in Nashville, the next morning he was talking about how annoying fans can be at times and I said oh boy I was just that guy last night. Told him the story and he said, that’s a perfect interaction.
Just remembered another one....went to Baja with my friends in early 98'. We were headed toward the Sawmill from Santa Veronica and when we stopped for a break at The Boots, who should roll up but Larry Roeseler in a pre-runner. Oh and on that same trip Lyle Lovett was at Mike's Sky Ranch so we all took pics with him. He was cool.
I think that’s supposed to be satire, but it also sounds unbelievably real…..
I tore my MCL in Pastrana's foam pit practicing bicycle tricks. Bummer, but what a fun day and I was pumped to check out his shed/bikes.
Robby Neely is a SC resident. Growing up, he did all the tuning and porting work for my cousin , who was very fast back in the day. Robby also built a couple of my 125's for me, although it was mostly wasted money as I wasnt really fast enough to get the full benefit. Couple years ago, i was at a friends home track watching Cole Mattison absolutely rip that track to shreds. An old man was standing there watching every lap. Turns out it was Robby and Cole was his grandson. Sadly, Cole was killed last year in a MC accident on the street. Robby is still a good guy to talk to.
Lyle Lovett is hardcore Moto. Saw him a few times at Scott Wallenberg's RacerX Inter-AM.
Kevin Sherman goes to the same daycare as my 6 year old
Wouldn’t be the wildest ryno story out there would it lol
I used to enjoy going down to the Hannegan speedway near Bellingham, Washington back in the 80's. There used to be moto races on Wed. evenings and one time I remember seeing Jim Pomeroy there spectating. He was quite vocal watching the action so it was quite a treat if you had recognized him and listened in.
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