THE WEEKLY FEED: JANUARY 20, 2016

BLAST FROM THE PAST

I have a few pics this week, as this has turned into a tasked salted with passion since we have an unorthodox filing system (a million photos liberally tossed into file cabinets, closets, desk drawers and binders) that has me poking and selecting anything that makes me smile. Enjoy.

IMG_1921
My complete hero early on was Bob Hannah,  Hannah was a local and raced at my tracks, Valley Cycle Park and the ‘Dunes. Too I love this outfit, duckbill visor, Jofa, Hi Points, Hallman chest protector and JT gloves and pants.
IMG_1923
Hannah and Howerton will go down in infamy as one of the nastiest rivalries in American motocross. This is 1978, Howerton was Factory Suzuki and JT equipped, Hannah Factory Yamaha, HRP geared and Scott boots during their short run as a high-end boot in the late 70s and early 80s.

 

IMG_1922
Larry Roeseler is most definitely one of the fastest off-road racers and most accomplished to ever race for this country. He spent a very short time racing for Factory Yamaha with John Fero and Rick Munyon and won several National enduros along with a glug of off-road events.

 

DB 4
Mickey Dymond didn’t have a ride one year for the Rosebowl Supercross, borrowed our RM250 won his semi and went on make the main event.

SUPERCROSS FACTS, GOSSIP AND PIT PIECES

The San Diego track was painfully pedestrian with nothing really new so it made starts paramount. When the teams were walking the track all the top guys knew they had to go 3-3-3-2 in the one rythym lane, otherwise everyone did the same thing everywhere else.

According to our inside sources San Diego’s Petco park is a weird place, it’s absolutely smack dab downtown. But the pits are really far away and you have to negotiate the massive homeless population.

Here’s some random thoughts: The Barcia thumb injury makes sense, he was riding way too good in the Nationals to suddenly having arm pump issues.

Cooper Webb is the real deal. He’ll have to get his starts under control if he wants to be a player in the 450 class.

If somebody doesn’t shake up RD5, its gonna get boring real quick.

Trey surprised everyone, he’s been really hot and then bitter cold. Most figured he’d be hammering the podium hard.

It looks like James Stewart will ride this Thursday, Mike Webb telling us that this will be the shakedown for Anaheim. Webb says that JS7 has incredible focus and any dip in the meter could be catastrophic- therefore the gradual push rather than an assault is the plan of attack.

Jason Anderson finished third, then got docked two positions for jumping while red cross flags were out. Cole Seely is now officially third position and Eli Tomac fourth.

____

All of these photos come from Kinney Jones, our bud and one of the top photo journalists on the planet.

ANSX-1_0551
Eli Tomac is struggling to get his race reps in, necessary after so much time off the bike. The good news is that he’s riding smart and not throwing it away in a panic. A third in San Diego helps the points chase.

 

ANSX-1_0196
Michael Leib’s BPR Yamaha is pushing for increased signage for their sponsors. The look is…unique.

 

ANSX-1_0161
Brother Mike has a lot jangling around upstairs. With James out for at least 2 events and Blake not returning until Oakland, the randomness of racing quirks has slammed the start of the Yosh team’s season.

 

ANSX-1_0166
According to Mike Webb, Blake is a workhorse and he’s looking forward to his return. He started riding a few days ago, yesterday was his first time on the Suzuki SX track and according to Mike “He feels good,  yesterday was his first day of SX. He rode MX Sat, Sun, Mon. His shoulder (collar bone, scapula, ribs) feel normal.”

 

ANSX-1_0002
Getting Supercross seats is a tough gig. Better stick with Jenny Craig before you show up!

 

ANSX-1_0067
The man contemplates another season, one where his rider is again a dominant force. Roger is without a doubt the most powerful man in motocross.

 

ANSX-1_1225
Number 55 has captured the TV world with his altercations with Weston Peick. The outside world has mixed feelings, the moto community is tired of his antics.

 

ANSX-1_0983
Justin Barcia is getting his thumb fixed following a pre-season setoff. It really affected his racing, resulting in premature arm pump and uncharacteristic front to back moment through the pack and crashes that didn’t help the condition.

 

ANSX-1_1024
Team Troy Lee is looking a little lean. Jessy Nelson started strong then missed round two following a mid-week crash. His teammate Shane McElrath too suffered from a practice crash that has sidelined him. Justin Hill and Mitch Oldenburg are slated to represent the team on the east coast swing.

 

ANSX-1_1112
Mac Daddy still has the guavas to hit the opening ceremonies and rip out his classic Nac-Nac in front of packed stadiums.

 

ANSX-1_0967
James Stewart is day to day regarding A-2. Word from the team is that they’re hitting the track on thursday to check his progress.

 

ANSX-1_0859
Cooper Webb is the diamond of the Lites class. His cornering speed and ability to jump low lets him carve through the pack with apparent ease.

 

 

ANSX-1_0873
That isn’t a camera on RD5’s helmet, but a data acquisition device designed to absorb both physical information along with machine input.

PRODUCTS• PRODUCTS• PRODUCTS

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 12.14.36 PM

cb0b7cdf-027b-4f37-9e37-40d6768ace8a

Never miss a shift again with the Bonz Gripster Shift Lever Tip. Quick and easy replacement of your worn shift lever tip or an excellent upgrade for more positive shifts. $21.95

 

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 12.14.05 PM

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 12.14.16 PM

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 12.20.56 PM www.slavensracing.com

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 11.05.46 AM

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 11.06.14 AM

 

THIS AND THAT (BASICALLY PICS THAT MAKE MY LIPS CURL…in a good way)

test1-slide_0004
That’s my buddy Mental on 214 and brother Mike on 314 at the Idaho City 4-day Qualifier in 1989. Mike drove up with Mental in his old Ford van and the two nearly got thrown in jail and missed the race when they were mistaken for a rapist driving a similar vehicle. Mental’s internal gas explosions and dropping his  drawers  while the cop interrogated them and spraying the Idaho hillside was legendary.

 

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 9.14.45 AM
I believe that Josh Strang will win at least one championship in 2016. He’s loving his Husky and his passion for racing has redlined the thermometer.

 

6
Guy Cooper was an absolute magician in the air. He could pull off radical moves and was the first true free- styler who happened to race moto for a living. I had the luxury of staying at Coop’s house for weeks on end and his aeronautical wildness still makes the hair stand up on my arms.

 

EPK_5133
The Adelanto GP brings out the fast, the furious and the bizarre.

EPK_5134

test1-slide_0005
Brother Tip, racing my CR250 at Mammoth in 1991. Tip always hauled up there and interestingly enough…always rode one of my bikes!

 

IMG_1924
This is my good buddy Eric Hallgath, one of the fastest desert racers I’ve ever seen on a 125! Even busted up Eric was always a threat to overall the event. My buddy Kevin told me that during his heyday Eric would practice/race in the So Cal desert, then ride his bicycle home- 65 plus miles just to get some additional training in.

Enduro Illustrated, Issue #13. Jonty Edmonds continues to pump out a stellar digital off-road magazine. Please check it out.

Enduro illustrated #13 January 2016 by Enduro illustrated

 

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 9.38.10 AM

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 11.00.49 AM Don Amador pushing for Companion Trails

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 10.59.14 AM

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 10.59.44 AM

 

WOLF: BACK IN THE DAY

IMG_0202
1980, I had just gotten the job from Super Hunky to work at Dirt Bike! I was working at Kolbe Cycle Sales and Andy Kolbe sponsored me. To this day he is one of the biggest reasons that I actually made something out of my life. Brother Mike shot this of me trying to do a cool Pete Maly (an absolutely wicked test rider who could make Levi’s and a sweatshirt look ridiculously cool) wheelie on my 400 Can-Am.

Screen Shot 2016-01-19 at 12.28.34 PM

 

Comments are closed.

edit