Rally Anyone?

Saturday - MMX - Private Ride Day

If you live and ride in N. CA tomorrow is a perfect day to get your moto on. The weather is great, the track is an old school real motocross style sand track. It doesn't get much better! Get there early, pound out some laps and then enjoy the hot lunch prepared by Master Bill.

Sierra MC Private Ride Day

Can you ride sand tracks like this? Probaly not but it is always fun to try. These days it is tough to find a real sand track to practice on. If you do find one it is usually crowded or not well prepared. If you are a vet rider (30+) there is a very special ride day coming up Nov. 2nd at MMX in Marysville, CA. The Sierra MC have reserved the track just for vet riders. The track will be preped and you can ride as much as you want. As a bonus they have a great raffle and you even get a hot lunch! Details below...

                                                           All 30+ Riders Are Invited

                                                                Saturday Nov. 2nd

                                                                        9am - 3pm

                                                $35. Includes Entry, Lunch and a Raffle Ticket

                                                                   Gates Open 8:30

                                                  981 Shad Road Marysville, CA 95901

Adventure Riding

The GOAT

MTA 29th Annual World Vet Championship

The 2013 moto season is winding down. All the big races are over. The weather is turning cooler and rain is on the way. The cross country guys are gearing uo for their race season. What's a moto guy to do? Well if you are a vet rider you still have the Big One left to ride. Next weekend at Glen Helen is the 29th World Vet Championship! If you are 30 or more this race has to be on your Bucket List. Think about it...you get to ride one of the most famous tracks in the country. It will be perfectly prepared as a real motocross track. You can compete with guys from all over the world. This is one race all vets have to do at least once and after the first time you will be back for more. Check out the flyer.

 

Ride Alert - Dog Attack!

This note just came in from our wandering rider #33 and I felt the subject was important enough to place here on our front page. I don't think many of us think about saftey issues beyond avoiding crashes but this incident illustrates the need for more proactive thinking when riding in unfamiliar territory. Eric is big, strong, experienced and very fit. I hate to think what might have happened to someone else in this situation.

"BEWARE WHEN YOU RIDE and I am not talking about crashing. I feel lucky today, lucky to be alive. I am always cautious when riding in remote areas or when riding alone but I never expect to have to defend myself from an animal. In this case a domestic animal,  a rather large Pit Bull dog.

I was out testing the race bike for the upcoming Baja 1000 in the Southern California desert when I spotted a dog running down the trail toward me in a fairly remote area. I am a dog lover and slowed to not hit or run over the dog. I slowed to a crawl and the dog swung wide and approached me from the side and knocked me off the bike. I was on the ground in the sand when the dog grabbled my leg by the boot and began to rip and shake the boot. Since he was not penetrating the boot I took my time and yelled and spoke to the dog while keeping my hands, arms and upper body out of his reach. He continued to regrip and shake as if attacking an animal. I was fairly sure there had to be an owner nearby and started yelling for the owner to get over there and get his dog. No one came. This went on for what seemed like an eternity but was probably about 1 or 2 minutes before the dog seemed to tire a bit and slow down his attack. I did not kick or act aggressive in hopes he would lose interest. I would not have been able to get him off if he had gone at my upper body since he was fairly large and very strong and I was on the ground. I can only assume the dog heard his owner call because he stopped for a minute and took a few steps back and listened. I continued to talk to make sure he knew it was a person in the riding gear but he didn’t seem to care by his actions. I was able to slowly get to my feet and prepare to defend for a second attack when he headed toward the person calling from a distance.

I grabbed the bike picked it up and fired it up. As soon as I did the dog headed back toward me at a full run. The owner had come into range and was yelling at the dog to come to him which had no impact on the dog whatsoever. The dog never slowed and was heading directly back at me.  I stomped it in gear and hauled ass! I returned to my truck to get my firearm to protect myself as I intended to come back to get the owners Identity and license number from a vehicle I observed as I left. When I returned the truck and the owner/dog were long gone. I couldn’t even see any dust when I went to the top of a hill to look for them. If that dog had encountered a woman or a child on a motorcycle or quad I am fairly certain the outcome would have resulted in serious injury or death.

So I will now be armed with a good sized knife or firearm on these remote rides. Just thought I would share info that may save someone else from serious injury. Think about it and ride safe!"

#33

“Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens”

Weston Beach Race

Weston Beach Race prepares for this weekend a Motocross video by MOTO

Mark Blackwell Inducted to Motorcycle Hall of Fame

Monday, October 07, 2013

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The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that Polaris Industries, which powers Victory Motorcycles and the resurgent Indian brand, will sponsor the 2013 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony's Legend presentation of Mark Blackwell. The induction ceremony, part of the AMA Legends Weekend, presented by Husqvarna, takes place at Las Vegas' Green Valley Resort & Casino on Friday, Oct. 18, with tickets available to the general public.

Blackwell, a pioneering racer in American motocross and six-time AMA championship race team manager, built his post-racing career as an executive at motorcycling companies, ultimately serving as vice president of Victory Motorcycles.

"Mark Blackwell is one of those people who is living the American motorcyclist's dream, turning a successful AMA racing career into a career in the motorcycle industry that has carried him to the highest levels," said Jeffrey V. Heininger, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which oversees the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. "We're excited to have Polaris come on board in support of Mark's Hall of Fame Legend recognition."

Said Polaris' President and COO Bennett Morgan: "Mark Blackwell was an instrumental leader in developing and then building an excellent foundation for Victory's bright future during his long and successful tenure as vice president of Victory Motorcycles. His influences, outreach and support continue to this day within Polaris Industries, and we are proud and honored to support the AMA in his addition to the Legends roster."

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Husqvarna, will officially honor the class of 2013: AMA Supercross and Motocross Champion Ricky Carmichael; AMA and desert racing champion Danny Hamel; racer, promoter and motorcycle industry icon Norm McDonald; AMA Roadracing Champion Randy Renfrow; and motorcycling fundraisers and Ride For Kids founders Mike and Dianne Traynor.

In addition to Blackwell, another Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend will also be honored at the event: Torsten Hallman, a four-time FIM World Motocross champion who was instrumental in introducing the sport of motocross to America and later founded the Thor brand.

The induction ceremony is just the first must-do event of the gala weekend. On Saturday, Oct. 19, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Legends Reception will honor the Class of 2013, the 2013 Legends and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers from previous years. The reception hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the assembled Hall of Famers will be interviewed on-stage in a relaxed setting that allows fans and friends to get up close and personal with motorcycling's heroes.

#33 Visits WPS/Fly Racing

WPS/FLY Racing Tour

I had the opportunity to visit Western Power Sports/Fly Racings’ Marketing guy, Dale Spangler, to take the grand tour. It was very impressive the way WPS/Fly Racing has set up their warehouse and office space. The place was packed with employees all looking like busy little bees on the phones dealing with customers/dealers. It was interesting to find out a bit about Dale’s back ground and the companies he had worked for in the past. He has had some interesting positions while working both in the USA and Europe in the motorcycling industry. Not a lot of guys can lay claim to working on two continents in something they really like. It was apparent that Dale really likes what he is doing and his enthusiasm was nice to see after so many years in the industry. I also understand that Dale was quite the rider, though now he says he doesn’t have a bike. Somehow I think he has it in mind to remedy that before too long, just by the sound of his voice when he admitted to not having a bike at the moment. That's Dale on the left below with his coworker Brian.

When I drove in the first thing I noticed is all the construction going on to their property and buildings. They are obviously doing something right since we are in a slow economy and they are expanding by the looks of things. The exterior had new walls being set up and new floors being poured to expand their facilities. I found it amazing that they needed more room once Dale Spangler gave us the tour. He showed me how they bring product in, inventory, distribute and then categorize it in the shipping warehouse. They have definitely made the most of their available space by building more tiers of floor space. They have the coolest roller system to assemble parts orders and send them from the top tier down while picking up more product at each stop on the way down. Very clever and efficient.

Dale showed us the recreation area for the employees and the basketball court that leads to the lunch area on the second floor. The recreation area has a plethora of machines and weights to do any type of workout you could think of. The dining area has a view of the exterior and it overlooks their motocross track they have built on the property. I was thinking I needed to get a job here so I could have a quick 10 minute lunch and hit the track every day! What more could a guy or gal ask for! I guess it made perfect sense as to why I saw so many motorcycles in the back of pickups in the employee parking lot.

WPS/Fly Racing has what appears to be a great workplace environment. I think I am going to sneak an application to Dale and see if he can put in a good word for me.

#33

“If you done it, it ain’t braggin’!”

Day 4 Italy ISDE