moto celeb spotting

mx_563
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mx_563
Edited Date/Time 3/19/2016 12:26pm
Just curious how many of you guys still get a little star struck around "moto-celebs". I know it's silly, but I have to confess that I still do. I can't help it. I'm a grown man but when I see someone from the moto industry, I trip out.

I'm down in So Cal on business, and earlier this evening while picking up a few things at Whole Foods, I spotted Sean Collier with what I assumed to be his chick and their baby. As tempting as it was to goon out and bring up the Spectrum episode, or the departure from Fasthouse, I managed to play it cool and mind my own business. Still, it was exciting. It's like here's this exceptional, somewhat famous motocross racer, who's got skills I can't even imagine having, and he's just strolling through the grocery store and nobody knows it. Crazy.

Anybody else have a moto-celeb-sighting story?

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mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 3/15/2016 9:56pm
3/15/2016 9:56pm
I've known Sean for quite a while now, he would have enjoyed someone recognizing him and saying hello. He's really down to earth and probably would have talked to you for a little while.
PTECH
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PTECH 3/15/2016 10:02pm
3/15/2016 10:02pm
I saw Mitch Payton at a restaurant after the race here in Phoenix and I froze in my place and just watched him wheel by in awe. A causal onlooker seeing my reaction would probably think I had never seen someone in a wheel chair before.
chocolatethunder782 3/15/2016 10:18pm
3/15/2016 10:18pm
Oh man I am 29 and still terrible about it. I was on a flight after Anaheim 1 a couple years ago and it was filled with supercross racers. Brayton, Hansen, Millsaps was right next to me, Short was on there, and a couple others and I just froze because I was so nervous. I even awkwardly tried to be inconspicuous and take a picture of Short standing right by me and my phone made a noise and he looked over at me. It was awkward.
HenryJ77
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HenryJ77 3/15/2016 11:36pm
3/15/2016 11:36pm
I saw GuyB driving this afternoon on the way to Newport Beach.

The Shop

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extremeadversary 3/16/2016 12:39am
3/16/2016 12:39am Edited Date/Time 3/16/2016 12:40am
I constantly see everyone driving back and forth to the test tracks. Ran into Dungey, Roczen and Musquin at Starbucks. Dungey kinda Rock starred me but Roczen and Musquin were very friendly. I normally don't ask for pics or anything but with my job I meet quite a few outside industry celebrities so I'm used to keeping it professional. Just wish em luck, throw in a question and shake hands. Riders are normally surprised to be recognized in public.
NHtoWA421
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NHtoWA421 3/16/2016 12:58am
3/16/2016 12:58am
ive seen villopoto at the track, watching open practice with his brother a couple times. The first time was on fathers day this past year. I pulled off the track to take a breather on the hill, near where tyler was. i happened to look up and there was RV standing right there chatting with his dad and brother. needless to say, i didnt interrupt
crusher773
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crusher773 3/16/2016 1:38am
3/16/2016 1:38am
I had lunch with Windham in an airport one time.
MxKing809
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MxKing809 3/16/2016 2:17am
3/16/2016 2:17am Edited Date/Time 3/16/2016 2:18am
Walking through the MGM in 2010 after Vegas SX, I saw a guy in a wheelchair that grabbed my attention. Looked closer and it was Mitch Payton and Kevin Windham playing Blackjack. So I got 50 bucks out of the ATM I went and played one $50 hand with those two legends, lost first hand, wished them luck and left. It was awesome

Mitch was hammered, and they both had about 10 grand in chips
KVDT
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KVDT 3/16/2016 4:21am
3/16/2016 4:21am
I took a piss beside Larry Ward at the Charlotte Supercross one time.
Flesh206
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Flesh206 3/16/2016 5:59am
3/16/2016 5:59am
Honestly you could sit me next to any president for what it's worth....don't care. They are just people too.
dl117
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dl117 3/16/2016 6:19am
3/16/2016 6:19am Edited Date/Time 3/16/2016 6:20am
PIssed at Hard Rock in Minneapolis between Nathan Ramsey and Josh Hansen.....would have been okward to shake hands...
Spydee
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Spydee 3/16/2016 6:24am
3/16/2016 6:24am
dl117 wrote:
PIssed at Hard Rock in Minneapolis between Nathan Ramsey and Josh Hansen.....would have been okward to shake hands...
3 girls 1 cup... jokes.
de883zx
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de883zx 3/16/2016 6:29am
3/16/2016 6:29am
My buddy was in Vegas and got wasted with rch crew and Carmichael and got a Suzuki tatto on his ankle. Lost his wallet etc. hangover type shit he said. Said it was epic from what he remember( or was told after)



NATEP231
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NATEP231 3/16/2016 6:33am
3/16/2016 6:33am
Took a piss once in the Atlanta tunnel waiting in stagging for the heat race I heard a knock on the bathroom door followed by a lime green tech 10 being booted threw it. Dean Wilson came running in. We laughed. He won the heat race. And we never talked about it again
Samuel
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Samuel 3/16/2016 6:40am
3/16/2016 6:40am
I used to be really into fmx and I met Dustin Miller in Cainville riding last year or the year before. He seemed like a nice guy. Also sat by Greg Godfrey at a supercross.
motoBRD
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motoBRD 3/16/2016 6:59am
3/16/2016 6:59am
I just feel awkward and nervous waiting for a signed poster in the pits on raceday. I know it's stupid and that they're just normal guys away from the track crowd.

So, Salt Lake SX a few years ago. My son was 1 and he stayed home with the wife, so I thought I'd get some signed posters for his room. I'm waiting in line and Andrew Short runs out of posters. The whole line splits and I'm like, well I'll go shake his hand and talk to him. All I could say, and awkwardly enough, was good luck tonight.
Markopolo400
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Markopolo400 3/16/2016 7:10am
3/16/2016 7:10am
I ran into Paul Carpenter in the Philly airport 10+ years ago when he was riding for PC. I nearly soiled myself, went up to him basically shaking said hello and he looked up shocked that someone actually knew who he was.

I was on my way to England for a school exchange program, and meeting Paul is what I remember the most of that trip LOL
Dezerted
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Dezerted 3/16/2016 7:24am
3/16/2016 7:24am
I've met James Stewart, Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Emig at star west long ago and all treated my buddy and I like we were just one of the guys. Even McGrath which was surprising considering I became completely paralyzed and became a mute..

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hammertime
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hammertime 3/16/2016 7:38am
3/16/2016 7:38am
Flesh206 wrote:
Honestly you could sit me next to any president for what it's worth....don't care. They are just people too.
thank god somebody else here isn't extremely ghey! sit me next to DD, i'll at least admit to having a solid boner....but the rest of this worshiping is over the top.
hammertime
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hammertime 3/16/2016 7:53am
3/16/2016 7:53am
more on this....i do worship the bikes though! i snapped this shot that's gone viral at A1 06 of o'shows RC 125


other side i haven't posted before..





Benchracer17 3/16/2016 8:18am
3/16/2016 8:18am
hammertime wrote:
more on this....i do worship the bikes though! i snapped this shot that's gone viral at A1 06 of o'shows RC 125 [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/16/128194/s1200_vegas_anahiem_114.jpg[/img] other side i...
more on this....i do worship the bikes though! i snapped this shot that's gone viral at A1 06 of o'shows RC 125


other side i haven't posted before..





Isn't that Lechien's '85 125?
hammertime
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hammertime 3/16/2016 9:18am
3/16/2016 9:18am
hammertime wrote:
more on this....i do worship the bikes though! i snapped this shot that's gone viral at A1 06 of o'shows RC 125 [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/16/128194/s1200_vegas_anahiem_114.jpg[/img] other side i...
more on this....i do worship the bikes though! i snapped this shot that's gone viral at A1 06 of o'shows RC 125


other side i haven't posted before..





Benchracer17 wrote:
Isn't that Lechien's '85 125?
nope. they were so close. read the bar tag.
mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 3/16/2016 9:24am
3/16/2016 9:24am
crusher773 wrote:
I had lunch with Windham in an airport one time.
I drank captain and Coke with him in 2012 at a tucker rocky dealer party. That was a fun night with Dano from DVS and the MSR rider support guy!
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 3/16/2016 9:33am
3/16/2016 9:33am
It's kind of crazy how low profile so many of the "celebs" can be in plain sight. It's weird walking around the pits and the stadium and seeing former pros walk around and not be recognized. Off the top of my head, I've been standing only feet away from decoster, rattray, Hansen, Donnie Hansen, j bone, deano, big James, John tomac, wey, josh hill, hell I could go on and on but you get the picture. Just not something that would be as common in other sports.
Moto_Geek
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Moto_Geek 3/16/2016 9:44am
3/16/2016 9:44am
I met Jeremy McGrath first time at Phoenix SX Budlight Sponsor days, my daughter was 1 and handed him my daughter to hold for a picture like I was handing him to the pope for a blessing. LOL. That picture was on our mantle for about 10 years. LOL. Yeah I read his book too.. He's still the king of supercross for generation X.
KennyT
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KennyT 3/16/2016 9:48am
3/16/2016 9:48am
MX riders rarely are recognizable to the general public so once they leave the track it is pretty rare for them to be confronted by someone for a pic, handshake or autograph. I imagine it is a good ego stroke for the majority of them to meet a fan away from the track....especially the retired riders who we all seem to forget about way too soon
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 3/16/2016 9:51am
3/16/2016 9:51am Edited Date/Time 3/16/2016 9:51am
Moto_Geek wrote:
I met Jeremy McGrath first time at Phoenix SX Budlight Sponsor days, my daughter was 1 and handed him my daughter to hold for a picture...
I met Jeremy McGrath first time at Phoenix SX Budlight Sponsor days, my daughter was 1 and handed him my daughter to hold for a picture like I was handing him to the pope for a blessing. LOL. That picture was on our mantle for about 10 years. LOL. Yeah I read his book too.. He's still the king of supercross for generation X.
I completely agree. I have never been star struck by an athlete/celebrity, but I bet I would look like smiling bob from the enzite commercials if I ever got to meet MC
shanes
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shanes 3/16/2016 10:08am
3/16/2016 10:08am
all the ones i know are just normal people maybe a little more motivated and a little faster than us mortals but all very good guys . i don't know a lot of top MX riders but train motocross , supermoto , enduro with Moto GP , world superbike , BSB, speedway , endurocross boys most weeks if there not away racing ,
Falcon
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Falcon 3/16/2016 10:30am
3/16/2016 10:30am Edited Date/Time 3/16/2016 10:30am
I'm pretty fortunate that I work in the industry... I've met, ridden with, and hung out with some of the big ones over the years. I live about a block away from Weston Peick, I've ridden with MC, Jimmy Button, Billy Laninovich. Partied with Ron Lechien. The best was recently at work, RC was there and he recognized me from some event. Your moto life is complete when Ricky Freaking Carmichael gives you the "what's up" head nod when you walk through the lobby! Cool

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