Author Archives: Joe V

It doesn’t look like nearly as much as it did. But, my whole side was swollen and now turned purple.

As you may recall, I crashed pretty hard on Saturday.  A stupid crash really, that did not need to happen.  But it did, and that is racing.  If you are going to sign up to race, then you should be prepared to crash occasionally.  I am ok with it.

Here is a little video from the crash that someone took and gave to me.

I did race the next day on Sunday.  I was not so good, but I got through it.  I ended up 2nd, but never really had anything for Rob who won.  Must have been boring for him.

I still look like I was going fast. Don’t let that fool you though. I was just getting around the course on Sunday.

The course at Mounatin was dynamite. Thanks a ton Rick and WIXC and MotoXsplat.

Out till the next weekend.

Joe

Just before the start. Looks good, feeling good.

The start straight was only about 30 meters long and into a right hand 180 degree turn.  I lined up on the 2nd to the right side, taking the straightest line to the inside of the turn.  Pete Emme was to my right on a 350 also with just a button.

You may recall that having only a button start has been my only reservation with the new bike.  So far, it is not really failing me.  I am figuring it out and starting in neutral then jamming the bike into 2nd as soon as I feel that it is running.  It is not as fast as someone that can get a 2stroke fired up on the kicker really fast, but in the amateur classes I think it is fast enough to not be last to the first turn.

Rick has a small movement of his elbow just before he raises the flag.  I noticed that on the starts before my wave.  There were 15 bikes on my line (one of the best things about the WIXC is that in the +40 class there is a real race).

Ricks elbow moved and I hit the button.  My bike started right up (Thank you Jason and Full Spectrum battery), I jammed for 2nd and launched toward the 1st turn.  Have you ever watched one of those SX starts that goes bad in slow motion and noticed someone comes across another riders front wheel, they bounce off each other and then someone ends up launching sideways and being tossed about like a ragdoll?  Someone came all the way from the left side of the start grid and went all the way right.  Because I was set up to be 2nd into the turn, my front wheel was the only one taken out.

There I was, in front of a pile of bikes hard on the gas towards the 1st turn, being flung over the bars and bouncing off my bike an other people’s bikes.  It hurt.  Magically, I was not run over by another bike.  I stood up and could not believe what had just happened.  There was dirt jammed into my helmet and both controls on the bike.

My new Nytro handguards were broken off, my bars were twisted and knocked down.  Other than that, the bike was fine.  But, my side just below my Leatt suit I had taken a hard hit.  I could tell that it was already swelling up into a huge bruise, and damn did it hurt.

Feeling kinda aggressive. Chasing later in the race.

Red mist was already forming in my head then.  I hoped on the bike, not sure if I could ride or not, red mist in my eyes and shot ahead of the C class that was just starting.  I was a minute behind my wave, they were already leaving the moto track.  I rolled along softly for a few seconds as I took a mental inventory of myself and my scoot, then went completely into pursuit mode.  I caught the back markers of my wave right away in the woods, and made it my crusade to catch at least one rider per lap – not too hard at the beginning of the race, but got alot harder as it went on.

In the end I made my way up to 2nd, and within just 10 seconds of the lead.  I rode possessed and chased through the whole race.  Rick cheered me as did everyone else who knew how my race went.  It felt good.

By the time I got back to the trailer, my whole body was hardening up.  Any movement that required engaging my core muscles was nearly impossible due to the huge swelling and bruise on my side just above my hip.  Walking around the trailer was hard, getting my boots off, getting in the truck were all near impossibilities.

Notice anything missing?  Just one handguard, felt like I was trying to stay away from anything on the left side.

I spent alot of time in the evening with ice on my side.  Sleeping was tough.  My whole body is still really beat up feeling.  But, race #2 for the weekend is today.  we will see how that goes.  If I am not too much of a Nancy and can ride, there is no mercy today.

Joe

I broke down.  I NEEDED a 2013 motorcycle.  New motorcycles are just so shinny and well…new.  It is really not much different than needing a new pair of shoes.  They fit so well and look so good and the laces have not been caught in your bicycle chain yet…mmm.  I ounce bought 5 pair of Converse I was so intoxicated with the new feel of them.  I think I still have 1 pair in the box…

Chris Bach told me that the new 2013 250XC-F was phenomenal.  I did not believe him.  I loved my 2012, how much better could it be?  I am now here to tell you that it is WAY better than the 2012.  Not exactly sure how.  The power is incredible, the handling is even better.  I am pretty excited about mine.  Chris was right.

Enjoy the photos of the first ride on it.  I have not finished it entirely.  The fork is not massaged yet by Neezer at Fox, no radiator braces yet, MX handguards on it just now – but that will not cut it for the woods.

Precious!

It is time!  Racing time!  Every year, Georgia GNCC comes around and I get to kick my season off with a trip there and jump right into racing.  No need to do any riding before racing, just get after it.  I have this conversation alot with Liz.  She thinks that I should be more slow to my start of the season.  Get a few more riding weekends in, then get myself up to race speed later.  Nah…Just get after it and race.  No better way to know what you need to work on.

I mean seriously, don’t you just go get a burrito when you want one?  Do you have to build up to it?  BTW, a burrito is way better than a pizza.  No one really wants a pizza more than a burrito.  I mean pizza is good, but it is not a burrito.  There really isn’t another way to improve on just about any food.  Wrap it in a tortilla.  Corn or flour, nothing wrong with that.

So this year I booked a flight down to Atlanta and sent my bike down with Mat.  Yep, pretty much a superstar.  I am full pro you know.  Fly down, get on a pristine bike, fly back home.  Yep, it is pretty much always that way for me… Ha, lol.

Your basic $12 rental car. “I’ve got a killer deal for you…” Sweet.

Ok, you know that I have been about to jump off a bridge because of the cold at home.  Winter that just will not start.  Not that jumping off a bridge would do anything other than break my leg at home, as the water is solid still everywhere.  I mean, will this winter never end?

Don’t know, but I am here in Georgia where it is clearly not winter.  In fact, it was downright hot today.  It is amazing how the 1st time you are in 75 it seems like it is Africa hot (Africa hot is not as hot as Alabama hot is though).

71 on the way to the track, 75 for the high. Damn, that is hot at this time of the year.

This freak across the aisle, pulled out a Native American wind instrument on the plane, played it, then covered up his head with the blanket and slept. Superstars should not have to put up with that.

So I am sitting here now watching Supercross in the hotel.  Just had a killer mexi meal and now I am just living the life.

I probably should still have my sunglasses on.

Sunday evening, after the Georgia GNCC.

The Georgia GNCC never disappoints.  It is a proper GNCC.  Hard.  Clay that gets super rough, creek crossings that get really snotty, crazy rough everywhere, spaghetti roots everywhere, long loop etc…  Every time I do it I am not disappointed.  In 2008 when we did the whole series, it poured down rain the day before and we got the van stuck and it was amazingly muddy and clay that stuck to everything.  Last year when I came down it was sort of muddy, not like it was in 2008 but mud.  This year it was hot (75 – that is crazy hot for someone who is living in a winter hell), and dry.  Dry = holes EVERYWHERE and rough and roots that come out of the ground everywhere.  My hands are completely roached.

When Georgia is like this, it is like velcro. Beautiful, tacking and tough.

Clearly I already knew what was coming in this photo. Good to get the 1st race in though.

I ran pretty comfortably in 5th place for most of the race.  But, I stopped to change my gloves (my hands were torched) and get something to drink.  I should not have stopped.  I just could not get back up to speed after that.  I ended up falling back a couple of spots, and just could not make it up.  At the end of the race, all I could do was lay there on the ground.  My whole body hurt.  But damn was it good.  Racing and spring all at once.

All in all, I am pretty satisfied with the result.  The 1st race is always tough.  I went better than last year at this race, but still need to work on getting up to speed this spring.  Hopefully I can go down and ride with Adam in Illinois next weekend.

It is good being a superstar though.  Maybe I will do it again.  Now, where are my sunglasses?

Joe

Superstar! Full Pro weekend!

We have been pretty busy putting together our program and bikes with our current sponsors and a list of some new sponsors.  Sitting here looking at a super wet and not summery feeling Sunday, seems like racing will never get here.  But, we are really getting close.  This week I will head down to Georgia to do the 2nd round of the GNCC series, and it is just weeks till we are racing in the upper midwest.

Bikes have come together really well, and we have a bunch of new sponsors along with a bunch of the same.  Our program has just gotten larger every year.  Tons of thanks to everyone involved.  Here is a run down of what we have going on this year.

Vesrah has been our title sponsor for a long time.  Mark Junge has been a longtime supporter and a great friend.  He is an amazing road racer, a great cyclist, an ace motor expert… among a bunch of other things.  Vesrah has always provided our brakes and we rely on Mark for alot of advice on how to run our season.

Don’t have it yet, but one of these is on it’s way for Joe. “I am going to tear up things this year on this!”

We are back with Fun Mart for the 2nd year.  They have proven to be a great resource for us.  Nicholas there will get parts out to us fast, they are always there for technical advice and they are just really nice guys.

What can I say.  The best made graphics, period.  AJ is the man!

That bike is the bomb, eh?

After using Pirelli for years, Scott and I were a bit nervous to switch brands.  I know that alot of people feel that way, you get used to something and it is tough to switch.  The guys at Kenda helped us to figure it all out and now we both could not imagine riding on anything else.  Try the Millville 2, you will not be sorry.

Brand new sharp knobbed Kenda tire there on Scott’s rig. Yum.

The first new sponsor for the year is the Fox rear shock.  I guess I never really new how great a rear shock could feel.  I never knew just how much difference those kind of things could make.  I always figured that I am really the weak link in the bike

That little baby is the bomb! Wow.

going faster (I am still not changing that pov), but do not discount what a difference that a super high end part can make.

This Fox baby is the bomb.  Wow!

The guys at Full Spectrum called up and asked if we really wanted a cool little thing for our bikes. Sure!

This tiny baby does it’s thing and saves 2+ LBS on the bike. 2 pounds! On top of that Full Spectrum provides a wiring system that delivers the full voltage to the starter without loosing anything along the way. Zing!

Pretty psyched about the battery thing.  It is a small thing, but 2lbs is a big deal, especially if it really starts the thing reliably.

Factory Connection has always equaled great suspension for us.  They have been supportive and loyal to our program since 2008.  I do not think we would have anyone else tuning our forks.  If you need suspension work, give them a shout.  They will hook you up properly.  Period.

Have you checked these out yet?  That is the Bell Moto 9.  Reminds us all of Bob Hannah.  (Only wish I had that kinda speed – ha!)

This is a bunch of years for us in Bell helmets.  They were one of our original sponsors.  Love their moto helmets.

Yep. Orange gear this year. You will definitely be able to pick us out of the crowd – I hope. Been in Moose gear since 2009. Thanks for the support guys.

Another of our long term sponsors has been Maxima oils.  You know that Ronnie Lechien works there?  He is actually our contact there.  How cool is that?  So not only is the oil the best, we get to talk to an absolute motocross legend every time we need something.  (I tend to order things one bottle at a time so that I can talk to Ron every time I need something.)

Rekluse.  Auto or standard, they are damn fine clutches.

Not only is there logo just about the coolest thing out there, the bars and gels are perfect for before during and after a race.  Use them during training and during a race and you will see a difference.  Plus, all organic.

You will for sure see us at a few GNCC races, a few MAXC races in Indiana, most of the WIXC races in Wisconsin and a few of the D16 races in Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan.

Ok, it is about time to get this season started.

Out,

Joe

So we went to Missouri, again.  In the end, all roads in the early season around here lead somewhere like this.  After all, we do live in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin.  Ugh.  Someday the planet will turn on it’s axis and Wisconsin will end up the perfect template.  Until then, all roads at this time of the year lead to the show me state.  Welcome says the brochure.  See the worlds largest ball of twine!

Where in the world is Waldo?  Well young people, we is in St. Joe.  Every year we go there, and every year we wish that we could be near here all the time.

This year we had new suspension to test and get right.  We set up a short little loop that was like 2-3 minutes around.  It had uphill, downhill, flat turns, rocks bermed turns etc…  No jumps, but we can figure that out later.  We both set out to learn about our suspension.  You start out by going around and then making a small adjustment, then you go around again and then you make another small adjustment, then around again, you keep doing it until you find something that you like.

Usually you would do that by bracketing.  Go all the way one direction until it sucks, then all the way in the other direction till it sucks.  In theory, you will like something roughly in the middle of that.  But, it takes a long time to really get there.  Cool stuff though.

In the end, we hit something really good.  At least I did.

My motorcycle is so cool, I do not even know how you are going to cope.

See you at the races!

Joe

I almost cannot handle the anticipation. The smell of dirt. Real live dirt that is not frozen. The kind that actually moves when you kick it, that your tires leave an impression in when you cross it. OMG!

Good god! Look at that, that is dirt, that is not snow.

As is usually the case, we reach a time when Scott and I just cannot handle it any long, and we load up and head south. Need to get some knobbies on some dirt that is not frozen. It is a beautiful February day now, that can almost convince you that winter does not suck. Rest assured though, it does.

We are driving along, changing the radio station between Pearl Jam and whatever that other stuff is, talking about bike racing motorcycles and things that have nothing to do with winter. There is hope. (btw, Mumford and Sons actually is not dry good)

Look closely, you might have to squint. No your mind is not playing tricks on you, that is actually water in its natural state. You do not have to drill through the top layer and you cannot drive your truck on it.

There will be dirt biking. There will be smiles. There will be blisters. Like I said, I almost cannot handle the anticipation.

Lots to do in the next 2 days, with suspension testing and eval, learning how to ride a dirt bike again, photos for web use and PR stuff for team etc… But for now, I am just going to dream about summer getting my bike dirty a pressure washer in the yard and no white stuff anywhere in sight. Hey, it can happen folks, I’ve seen it.

Out,
Joe

Getting ready to ride.

Now that is a good looking cup.

Coffee.  We all drink it.  It is not that hard to make, but it seldom is that good.

Let me start with this.  Europe is the land of inconvenience.  Cars do not come with cup holders (My German friends say its because you shouldn’t be drinking coffee when you drive anyway…harumph – they are sometimes not very happy people) Grocery stores are not complete.  You cannot get your laundry done on the way home from work, retail stores close at 5pm (I mean, aren’t their customers at work till 5pm?  How do they do any business), there is no such thing as a walk in haircut (I know you are thinking, what do I care?).  The list goes on and on.

For the most part, Europeans are good with that.  (But, the lines at Mcdonalds are pretty long there, a business that is built on convenience.  Well, convenience and a creepy clown guy.)  It might just be their European-ness getting the best of them.  You know, it is ok if I complain about my place but you cannot do that.  Pride.

In fact, if you think about the differences between France and the USA, they are plenty.  We like crap beer, they like wine.  We do not smoke like they do.  We are fat, they are skinny.  The north of the USA has way worse weather.  The south of the USA has way better weather, although the south of France is pretty damn nice.  The food in France is generally not very good.  They have a better bike race than we do (2 of them).  We have better offroad racing than they do – World Enduro, what the hell is that anyway?  Can you name a really good French car?

But, in spite of that they have way better coffee in France than you can generally get in the USA.  And do not go all Starbucks on me.  Starbucks is the Mcdonalds of coffee.  Safe, the same, boring, not great.  If you have a local coffee shop that you like, then you know what I am talking about.  But, it is just damn hard to get good coffee in the USA.  Good beer – easy.  I mean an IPA is pretty readily available at your local grocery store.  In France, the coffee you can get at a crappy convenience store will be great.

There are a few good videos that I need to post here.

I like to watch that one once a week or so.  Like the song, like how it makes me wish I was riding every time I see it.

So the 2013 season is making it’s way here.  I am just 20 days from our first testing trip to St. Joe, 28 days from a possible 1st race in Indiana and 48 days from the first GNCC that I will go to (I vowed a few years ago that I did not need to drive to Florida to do early season races – hours of sand whoops and Palmeto roots is not my idea of a good time in early March).  Lots to do.

Tires, suspension, testing, building and decaling, new gear, sorting, polishing, finish the trailer etc…  Love this time of the year.

Built a new seat yesterday. Damn, check out the grip that thing will have! Yowza.

Stack-O-Kenda tires. Ready for shredding.

New graphics for the team.

Similar graphics to last year, but with a bit of black added in now.  We are more bad this year than last year – Ha.  Yellow is my background color for GNCC, blue for local, Scott runs red etc…  You get the picture.

The gear. Super sweet Orange tone Moose Gear. We will have helmets to match also.  Matchy, matchy.

The season cannot get here soon enough.

Remember, Fear minus Death = Fun!

Still damn funny.

2013 season cannot get here soon enough!

I have thought that what I need is some resolution. Some goals. Since it is 2013, here goes. 50 goals. (Just seemed like a good number).

The 1st 13 are work specific, so I left those out. You know, top secret stuff. If I told you, well you know – you just cannot know that stuff. It could split the space time continuum and create a vortex. The future would see itself, and the alternate reality is created leaving us all with too many thumbs or something like that in the future.

Since this is my moto blog, I got rid of the non Moto stuff for here. Gives me a chance to talk deeper about the goals with my moto.

Without any varnish, here they are. Just the moto related goals. Some are big, some are small.

Moto
14. Win a GNCC in my class. In 2011, I was 4th at Ironman GNCC, then 5th at the first Loretta’s and won the 2nd Loretta’s race. This past year I got a 6th at Ironman and then 5th at Loretta’s. Close, but not quite there.

1st place 2011 Loretta Lynn’s GNCC

15. Win WIXC old guy class. I have become a huge fan of the WIXC series. They are the best races in Wisconsin. I plan to do most if not all, and hope to win my class.

19. Replace my truck with something that get’s much better mileage. I love trucks. Who wouldn’t want a truck. But, I do not like the gas mileage.
20. Buy a property near Camrock Mountain Bike trails. I plan to be one of 8 people in the whole state who can ride mountain bikes from their garage and their offroad motorcycle from their garage.

23. Clean out my closet and drawers and cycling cabinet and moto gear. I have enough clothing and sports gear for like 3 people. I am going to cut that down to enough for 1 person.

25. Go to a SX race. I like to do that once a year. They are really fun.
26. Sell my street bike.

34. Learn to use the rear brake while using the throttle on my 250F. I am still struggling with this skill. I think it is imperative for me to get this skill if I have any hope of winning a GNCC race.

36. Buy Aztalan membership and get better at jumping my 250F.

38. Learn to wheelie on both my favorite mountain bike and my motorcycle. I have said before that this is a genetic skill. I am going to take the year and learn to wheelie, or at least just about kill my self trying. By the end of the year, I will either wheelie or it will be a lost cause.
39. Set up my 250f with ice tires and do some ice riding. I live in this godforsaken environment, it is time that I do something to enjoy it.
40. Finish my trailer. I really only need a few things.
a. Wheel rack
b. Surface on the shelves.
c. Netting to hold things on the shelves

46. Ride a race with Noah
47. Ride a race with Russel

49. Drink more beer.
50. Get more involved with my community. Give time, get involved with a local cause directly.

Best and Worst of 2012 – Moto season

“Best and Worst!” Yes I am seated, so I can call that game.

I started this game at my family dinner table when my kids were young. It started as just a way to get everyone talking and for me to stay in touch with my kids when they were growing up. The game was that you had to say out loud what the best part of your day was and worst part. The rules were pretty simple at first, you had to have answers and could not pass.

It worked. We all talked, we all knew something about each other and we got a sense of who we were as a family and who we were becoming as individuals. And, we learned that we really liked each other.

But, the really great part is that the game has taken on a level of mythology that is truly impressive. The rules evolved along the way. The first evolution of the rules was that you could not say the same thing as someone else. That meant that if you had spent the whole day with someone, you really wanted to be able to go before them, as it was hard sometimes to not have the same answers as the person before you. That pushed the next evolution of the game and that was, the person that called the game got to decide the order. Calling the game could only be done when everyone was seated. That led to a mad dash to call the game the moment the last bum touched a seat. This would set off a bout of competitiveness, and anything you can compete at in our family is a good thing.

Of course calling the game meant you got to penalize someone into going last, making it difficult for them to come up with an acceptable offer on the game that had not already been spoken by someone else.

The next evolution on the rules was a complete ban on anything cheesy. One could not ever ever ever say something like “My best is that we are all here together for dinner.” – Cheesy. This rule has been particularly difficult for guests to understand. Grandparents in particular have difficulty with this rule.

The next evolution was that the person who called the game could decide to change the rules at any point in the game. Most people do this as they really just want to penalize Ali (at least that is what she assumes, “No one in this family ever listens”) I like to be able to change the rules midstride, just to exert my authority over the game. Somewhere along the way Liz is going to say “Your not the boss of me…” Given that, I need to find ways to be in charge.

The last evolution of the rules is that I can change the game rules anytime I want, even if I did not call the game. I am sort of a dictator. Most people are fine with this, Hanna has just resigned herself to it, but it mostly just irks Chris – which is the real reason that I created the rule in the first place.

The funny part is the lore of the game. It was fun even when the kids were in college, as their friends would come to the table and say “Ooo, I have heard about this game.”

It is pretty much the best family game ever.

Which brings me to the point of this blog entry. I am going to give you my version in relation to the moto season this past year. I know the rules are that there has to be just one best and one worst, but since I make the rules, here goes…

Worst of this past season.

1. Our D16 series has pretty much fallen apart. It is not really worth racing any longer. The races have only 40 or so riders on the line, they never start on time, the electronic scoring never works, the results are not up forever after the race, the website for the series is pathetic, the results are never up on line with an regularity, the courses are so poorly marked that cheating (either purposeful or mistakenly) is rampant…

When Rick Anschutz was managing the series, it grew into a 13/14/15 race series. After he left, it has slowly devolved into what I have described above. Fortunately, Rick has his own series now (see Best point below). This is all too bad, as it would be great to have seen the series continue to grow.

3. I did not do a whole series this past year, so the fun of chasing an overall season result was not there. I hit a few D16 races, a few WIXC races a few GNCC races etc… They are all fun, but a couple of years ago when I was chasing the D16 series, it was always fun to race the same group every weekend.

Best of this moto season (I like to save good stuff till last)

1. Vesrah Offroad is the 2012 Perry Mountain 24hr champion. The Perry Mountain 24hr race has been a couple of year focus for Scott and I. Last year we crumbled while leading during the night and finished 5^th place duo team. This year we felt we understood the race better and built what we hoped was a bullet proof plan to success there. Our plan worked flawlessly. We had 2 full time people at the pits, one full time person to give us status during the race, an air conditioned RV and a full time RV camp manager and cook. The only thing Scott and I had to do once we were there was ride. We managed to finish 1^st place Duo team and 7^th overall team. We were the very first duo team to break the top 10 overall at the race in the history of the race. You can read all about it on the link above at Perry Mountain.

2. My new Vesrah Offroad KTM 250F from Fun Mart. Wow is all I can say. For my riding and skill level, it is by far the best bike I have ever ridden. I am sure that there are plenty of riders out there that would feel it needs more power, but damn can I ride the thing. Love it.

3. Our new team trailer. I have always wanted to have a great trailer. This thing is aluminum and 7’X14”. The really great part is that everything just goes with you to the races. Spare wheels, extra gear etc… And, no matter how hard the race is it is not so hard to load up afterward (not like loading a 50 additional mud lb’s heavy motorcycle up the ramp and into the back of a 4X4 pick up).
4. The WIXC series. Rick Anschutz has put together a really nice 14 race series for next year. It covers most of the state of Wisconsin. We are missing another race or 2 in southern Wisconsin, but it has been growing really nicely and those will come over time. The races are great, they are fast and feel very much like GNCC races, they use electronic scoring, they start on time, the results are posted by the time you are loaded to go. Great stuff. Good on you Rick.

5. Our sponsors. Scott and I have worked really hard to build a responsible and visible offroad team effort. We try hard to look professional, to put up a nice little website that we are proud of, and to have great looking motorcycles and gear at every race. That effort has resonated with our sponsor list, and we are proud that we have a solid list of sponsors that have stayed with us over the years.

Vesrah, Fun Mart, VCGraphix, Factory Connection, Moose Racing, Kenda, Maxima, Bell Helmets, Honey Stinger, Rekluse, Oakley, EVS, GPR

Really looking forward to this season. I am ready for the calendar to turn over a bit quicker, but before that happens I have a couple of months of serious fitness work to put in. I plan to race most of the WIXC races and chase the overall, about half of the MAXC races in Indiana and a few GNCC races this year.

I am pretty psyched for my new 2013 KTM 250XC-F. Nicholas from Fun Mart says he will have it for me at end of January.

woot.

Hi, my name is joe… I am an offroad junkie.

It’s like Sirens or something.  They keep taunting me.  Trying to lure me in.

Joe…Joe…come take me home with you! (Siren voice)

This is not like that girl in college… Oh sorry.   It is like an obsession though.  They are shiny, they are new, they are not here yet.  OMG.  Just how much faster would I be on a 2013 model?  If you are like me, the progression goes something like this.

1. Whatever.  I am perfectly fine on my bike that I have now.  I will rebuild it from the ground up, and it will suit me just fine for another season.

2. Ok.  Maybe I will start the season on my current bike, then get a new one half way through the season.  I can keep the current bike as a back up, and break in the new one slowly, racing it as I get comfortable on it.

3. I really think I would be faster on the new one.  New features, that I have to have.  New suspension that will be dramatically better.  It has more HP.  It is shiny.  The frame and everything just feels so much better on a new bike.

4. I am not getting a new one.  That is dumb.  I promise you I am not going to go any faster on a new one.
5. Maybe.  Hmmm…

6. “Nick, can you order a new one for me?”

I think I am at stage 5 now.

In the garage, there is a 2012 KTM 250XC-F. But, I rode a season on it. It has memories, but it just doesn’t have that new bike smell. It is an old friend that has served me well, but the sirens of the 13 models are calling to me.

Joe…joe…come take me home…we are ready to be yours…we want to be set up to be the ultimate old guy bike for GNCC and Harescrambles. They will not stop calling to me.

- 5 more horsepower
- new fuel injection
- no kick starter
- new engine cases

OMG. I think I NEED one.  2013 is going to be a very good year.

Joe

I am such a dork.

Woot.

Woot again! Just what everyone needs, a creepy little Loretta Lynn doll.  Stella would love to chew up all of those.

That is pretty much it.  When you pull in to Loretta’s Ranch, there is a sign outside that says – Welcome Y’all.  Ok.  Thanks Loretta.  I have been here before.  Not in some other life kinda way, but here to race before.  3 times, to be exact.  And even I know that this makes my 4th time.  You see, math is hard.  I know that to be true. But, 3+1 does equal 4.  Since I have been here 3 previous times, this makes my 4th time.  You know, the next time.  Oh, whatever… I am tired of explaining myself.  Get with it.

Ha! Math isnt that hard. See?

I also know exactly where Loretta Lynn Ranch is and exactly what the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow is, by the way.  Ask me.  Deep Thought says the answer to life the universe and everything is 42.  Don’t think you are getting out of this easy.

So once again, Scott and I are taking on another GNCC.  Are we crazy?  Are we unbalanced?  Are we left handed?  I think so would be my answer to most questions (unless you can answer with a decimal point).  This time, no creek crossings.  I figure that since we did more than our share of creek crossings 2 weeks ago, I am laying down the law this week.  There will not be any.  Period.  “This Cannot Happen.”

I had a really good race here last year.  I think that I was FIRST PLACE!  In case you are wondering, that is really as good as I can do.  But seriously, I did have a good race here last year.  I have not had as many great races this year as I would have liked.  Sure, I have won some races, but other than Perry Mountain earlier this year (We won, in case you do not remember), I have only had a couple of other good races.  I am looking for one here.

Back at the back row again.  I guess I could move up to a different class, but the back row is actually my speed.  I finish in the top 5, and I am much older than anyone else in the class – so there.  Here is where I will stay.

NEWS FLASH – we did not cross a creek at a GNCC race.  WTH?  Is Barry Hawk on pain killers or something?  I do not think in the history of GNCC racing has that ever been done.  The standard for GNCC is that if there is not mud, then make some.  I think that my bike will be clean in less than 30 mins of washing.  Air filter is probably pretty bad, but there is not 50lbs of clay/mud that needs to be removed.  Wow.

So very interesting start to the race this year.  There is always a grass track section at a GNCC off the start to spread everyone out before the race goes into the woods.  But, we never get to do that section after the start.  This time we did the grass track section each lap.  Super fun.

Then we jumped onto the MX track, where I got to show off my sweet monster man made whoop skills and my sweet jumping skills.  I felt a little like Napoleon Dynamite going off the jumps with everyone watching each lap.  I am ok at ripping a berm, but not jumping.

Then off into the woods for 10 miles of hills and rocks.  Huge uphills and downhills and rocks.  If you asked me what the race was like, that is my summary.  Just add fast and really really rough and I think you get the picture.

Typing this the day after and my body is still tired sore and beat up.

Me looking like a pud in the race. Thanks Jason Hooper at Digital Offroad for the picture.

One of the beauties of traveling to race is that I can show off my burrito finding skills.  I am proud to say that between Scott and I we both found an excellent burrito in Tennessee and Kentucky.  Yep, wrapped in a tortilla is some goodness.

A burrito bigger than my shoe! YES!!!

One of the unexpected highlights of the race was coming around somewhere in that first lap and seeing a motorcycle on its side and completely engulfed in flames.  Not sure what happened, but holy cow it was ablaze.  There where a few people just standing there looking at it with dazed looks on their faces.  “What to do with that?”

Look at the helmet cam video at the bottom – 9mins 40 secs in you will see the bike on fire.

Check out this photo from Jared Bolton of the bike on fire in the race.

I am pretty stoked that I got in 6 laps.  This is absolutely a first for me.  I have been routinely able to get in 5 laps lately, but I have never gotten 6 laps.  When we did the whole GNCC series in 2008, I only got in 5 laps one time all season.  Surprising part is that at 6 laps, I was still only in 5^th place.  That is my fault though, as I completely crumbled at the end of the race.  I was charging hard all the way through the 5^th lap, and at the end of the 4^th lap was in 4^th place gaining on the 3^rd place guy (I had the gap to 3^rd down to 35secs at one check).  But the 6^th lap, I completely  cratered.  I got crampy and could barely hold on to the bike.  Turns out my fork was completely gone.  I would go all the way to the metal on any medium sized bump – and there were lots of those by now.  I just could not push any more.  I fell apart so badly that the 5^th place guy caught me and I could not even stay with him.

Scott looking fast as always. Thanks Jason Hooper at Digital Offroad for the pictures.

Oh well, it was a great race.

That is a wrap on a truly great season of motorcycle racing.

Surrender Dorothy.

Out,

Joe

I just found this really killer helmet cam on Off Road Viking. This might be the best looking race course I have ever seen. Lots of great woods, nothing stupid technical, and not miles and miles of grass track.

Fun to watch 2 pros and the different riding styles and line selections.

A weekend follows a week.  A week starts with a Monday.  A Monday starts with the alarm going on.  (It is kind of a linear thing).  Mine started early last week with a drive up to Marquette.  A local work outing to put us all on the same page planning for the 2014 model year.  It was a ripping good time, looking for the perfect IPA, talking about future bike stuff, eating burrito’s and riding mountain bikes.  I wrote all about it here.

After working up there all week, I just stayed until Sunday and did the WIXC race at Pine Ridge.  Drove down to Iron Mountain and holed up in a hotel room with my feet up trying to rest up after a week of riding hard.

That is me in my hotel room. Pounding out a story about the week. Feet up, drinking lots of water.

I raced at Pine Ridge years ago, but have not been back to race there in at least 5 years.  A race is like oatmeal, sometimes you get the mix just right other times not.  This race turned out to have a huge MX track and not enough woods for me.  The entire course was fast and rough. Lots of holes and whoops at speed.  It was tiring.

As usual lately, I cannot buy a start for any amount of money.  3 kicks on the line and it finally started.  My bike starts perfectly when I am doing practice starts.  It even starts when I am waiting for the lines ahead to go off.  But, when go time comes it just does not start.  The bad start put me in 11th off the line.  On a fast course that is tough to deal with.  To make matters worse, I crashed trying to make passes twice in the first lap.  I had my work cut out for me.

Rick went through me at the first part of the race, as it turns out he got even a worse start than I did.  I found myself with my arms all pumped up a couple of laps into the race, a sign of how rough it was.  Because of the arm pump, I was not making it as far forward as I wanted to.  Eventually I settled in to a nice pace and caught riders, but wow.

In the end, Rick won and I ended up 2nd.  I was just 30 seconds back, but it felt like I was barely going out there.  It will have been good practice for Dyracuse and for Ironman GNCC, fast and flowing.

Pine Ridge has a slip and slide into a pond that in the summer would be a gas.

Burrito!

Out till next week.

Joe

The Double Race Weekend will make you tough. HA!  Here I am stressing over goggle tear offs.

Or, it will make you whimper.  Not much in between.  For this one, for me it was a little of both.

Saturday – hero

Saturday was the WIXC race at Valders.  We used to do a district race there years ago.  The course has not changed much, but it has gotten a little bit better with more terrain.  Mostly, the problem was that it was just dry and dusty.  But, Liz went to the race with me and that is pretty unusual.  It was great having her there.  1. She is cute.  2.  It is just fun to have someone there with you.  (Did I also mention that she is cute?)

Here is Liz enjoying the calm before the race at THE trailer. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy having the trailer?

I love Rick’s races.  The courses feel like a mini GNCC (minus the impossible mud hole) and they flow the same.  They start on time (that cannot be said of GNCC races) and have results up really quick after the race.  Thank you Rick.

I got a reasonable start, probably came out of the first corner in 3rd of 14 riders.  But at the 2nd turn, Dan Finnel went down in front of me and i ended up tangled up with him and trying to separate the 2 bikes from an unnatural act.

This is where the problem came in.  It was dusty.  I am talking Oklahoma after the great depression and the dust bowl effect there.  You could not see past your own front fender.  Made it really hard to get past people.  I hate dust.

But, I managed to get through to the front a couple laps in and just put my head down and kept going.  I felt good.  I kept pushing and eventually got a big gap.  When I came through the timing tent a few laps into the race, I asked Rick where I was.  He said way ahead in my class.  I asked him to tell me the next lap where I was in the overall.  So he did, and the answer came back inside the top 15.  I thought that was pretty good from the 4th row, but decided to see if I could get into the top 10.

I put my head down and charged all the way through the race.  In the end I had a huge gap on my class and managed to get to 9th place overall.  I was pleased with that, but was plenty spent.

On the way home, Liz and I stopped to eat a burrito as big as my head.

Sunday – whimper

Sunday was a D16 race at Sugar Maple MX.  I had a great MX track with alot of up and down and a few different woods sections.  The woods were really really rocky.  The fields sections had great single track cut through corn fields.  Really a cool tunnel effect.  Hard to go fast in.

I got a crap start and had to battle my way to the front.  i did that in the 1st lap, but the laps were 20 minutes long – nice and long.  When we got to a steep technical uphill, I struggled to get through a bunch of guys that were stuck on the hill.  I tried to go around them, but just ended up getting myself stuck.  When I finally got free, I was back at the back of my row again.  Once more, I had to battle my way through the dust and riders to get back to the front.

I finally did, only to smash my front wheel on a huge sharp rock, tearing the tire casing and flatting me instantly.  I tried to ride it out, but it was impossible.  After getting thrown to the ground 2 different times, I called it in.  Done.  Only my 2nd DNF since I have been racing.

All in all it was a great weekend.  Shane Watts clues about different terrain and different riding techniques is paying off.  Hopefully I can keep them all going, and I am targeting a podium at Ironman.

Out,

Joe

Brave Soldier. Magic stuff.

A guy has to have a trailer for his stuff.

I pulled up into the parking lot with my new trailer in tow (I just needed a place to park it for the weekend, as I needed space in my driveway for something temporarily) and Mark said to me, “Hey, nice trailer…Every guy needs a trailer for his stuff.” Well that is it then, I am owning that statement.

There are a few points in life that kind of are turning points. You know, the point where you slap yourself in the forehead and say “Duh, why didn’t I know this before?” Sort of like when you realize that girls are pretty cool, or when you shred a trail on a DH mountain bike or on your moto, or you finally get up enough nerve to jump that double and realize that it really wasn’t that bad or when you get a truck and realize just how useful they are. Well, you haven’t experienced useful yet until you own an enclosed trailer that you can haul all your stuff in to the moto track.

Owning a trailer is the ultimate in utility. Scott talks about the moment that he recognized that he has become utility vehicle person from sporty car person. I thought that I had already become that, but owning a cargo trailer has pushed me over the edge.

You just load all of your stuff inside and drive it to wherever you might need that stuff. When you get there, you walk right into the trailer and you contemplate your stuff. You get dressed inside the trailer. You work on your bike inside the trailer. You work on your gear inside the trailer. When you are done riding your bike, you just drive it right into the trailer and strap it down. When you get home, if it is late you just leave it all in the trailer and unload it the next day instead of at midnight out of the back of the truck. When you are driving to a race you pull up to the motel and make sure it is locked to the truck and locked up and it is all safe from the elements and safe.

I bought for myself a 7×12 v-nose all aluminum Triton trailer. Made right here in Wisconsin. I like that. AJ at VCGraphix made up some decals to match the team look, and Shane from Copperhead Grahics in Marshall put them on for me.

I had to build out the inside. I have not finished, but I have taken a stab at it so far. I put in a floor to keep fluids off the plywood and make it easier to clean up. I build some shelves for the front and mounted a couple of wheel chocks. Still need to figure out how to secure everything inside, better tool storage, cleanup station, place to hang clothing, etc…but it is coming along.

Joe

Some photos of the work in progress.

Day 1.

It is better with graphics on it. Not finished with that though. Needs Moose logos.

I put the checkerboard floor down myself. I know it’s cliche, but it is a race trailer after all. The flooring will allow easy cleanup.

From the side door, you can see the shelves. One for Scott, one for me. Plus generator and extra wheels etc…below.

Enjoy.  I could not resist.  Why would I?

I want to go and race a 2wheeler. I want to go and race a 2wheeler. I want to go and race a 2wheeler. I want to go and race a 2wheeler.

This is a dynamic blog entry. I do not know what to do. There is a MTB race near Green Bay, there is a D16 HS race in Byron, there is an Enduro… There are so many choices.

Of course Pearl Jam plays on.

Dirt.

Don’t you just dig summertime? I am writing this from a flight home from Europe. I think I will get up early and take Stella the dog for a MTB ride in the morning.

I want to go and race a 2wheeler. I want to go and race a 2wheeler.

I will not be participating in dehydrated Breakfast Cereal hour tomorrow. Wherever you are, there you are. Bring me my Converse, James.

Surrender Dorothy.

Out.

Cheese Balls!

I would so wish that I was here doing this.  There is not much more fun than this would be.  If your doing it good on you, if your like me, you are just counting the days till you can.

All good days involve. Being up early, oatmeal, burritos, Pearl Jam and something with a 2 wheeler.

Enjoy.  Get yourself to Whistler.

47215854#

I wish that I had done this race.  This is a video that I saw on Digital Offroad.  Jason does a great job with video, and I normally check it out every week.  My friend Noah Mitchell did the race.  Looks like a ton of fun.

I wish I had done this race.

Joe

I hate summer racing break.  I suspect it is necessary to keep from racing in the absolute hottest part of the year.  But, I hate not racing my motorbike.

This is what summer was like when you were young.

Summer was filled with the pool, riding your bike, hanging out, sleeping late, no school…  it was glorious.

Now, it just means no racing and no motorbike stuff for a few weeks.  Bummer.

I need to do some racing.  2 weeks ago I did the local harescrambles at Hixton.  I have to say that I must go on record here and say that it was a horrible event.

The course at Hixton can be really good.  But, this course was so poorly marked that no one could follow it.  I was lost about 5 times per lap on the first 2 laps.  Not enough ribbon, not enough arrows, old trails not marked off, turns off the obvious trail line were not easy to see…  it was pretty bad.

On the first lap, I was following a guy who blew right by the motocross track.  I turned back and got on the course again, but never saw him during the race again.  His first lap was 2 minutes faster than mine.  The next laps we traded back and forth but with about a 30 second difference.  It is just a local race, so who really cares.  But, it is a bummer to drive all the way to a race, pay the entrance fee, trash a set of tires, put wear and tear on the bike etc…  Only to know that the result isn’t really true.

I am over it and have moved on.  But, I will be going to the National Harescrambles in Minnesota on the weekend of the 29th July – instead of another Hixton race.

Out, Joe.

I do like racing my motorcycle. I hate summer break.

I said it was hot. 102 today. I call that Alabama hot.

Here is the next forecast.

If you see a sleeping Coyote, do not wake it.

Out,

Joe

Alabama Hot!

About 1 year ago, I experienced something called Alabama Hot. It was hot. Not just a little bit hot, but REALLY hot. I saw a person actually burst into flames. I saw a lake boiling. I saw a lizard looking for shade. Alabama hot is the kind of hot that is chewy. Alabama hot is the kind of hot that makes you turn the oven on with the door open to get some relief.

I think that Wisconsin has been moved south. Close to Alabama. It is hot here. Damn hot. Not quite Alabama hot, but Alabama must be near by.

97 Monday
99 Tuesday
100 Wednesday
100 Thursday
99 Friday

Ouch
Joe

Proof that we are not the same person.

If it was 1988, I would have to have really big hair and slit jeans with a title like that. After all, Wikipedia says that Big Country was an internationally famous Scottish rock band. Duh, they had that hit “In a Big Country”. And all those other ones also…

Curiously, Wikipedia has very little to say about any of my bike rides last weekend.

We are actually listening to Stone Temple Pilots doing an acoustic version of Led Zeppelin’s Dancin Days, so it is definitely not 1988. But, I might have high pants on, so who knows.

Exactly what was the 1980′s anyway? Just think about it, the Chrysler K car was a big deal. Have you seen one of those? What the hell was Lee Iacocca thinking of? Makes a Chrysler P car look dynamite.

No Parking vehicles with trailers. Ok.

I think Illilni is just so that people from Illinois do not have to say Illinoisan when they want o make it plural. Plus the fighting Illinoisan just does cut it. Nice school though.

I am always a bit freaked out by just how long it takes to get out of Illinois. Good grief it is a pretty much plain state, but it just goes on and on forever. This drive is just about 15 hours long (to all you Europeans reading, yep I just said 15 hours and barely hallway across the country. It’s big.), the sad part is that about 19 of those hours are done inside Illinois. It’s like you are a rat in a cage running on a wheel with a frayed space time continuum.

It’s a big country. I can’t get me no, satisfaction. (gotta love Devo).

Alabama, here we come. With any luck it will not be Alabama Hot like last year. Also with any luck it will not still be 1988. I love the lore of the Perry Mountain Challenge. Mountains in Alabama, who knew?

Looking forward to reuniting with our crew :
Noah Mitchell – Mechanic beyond what we deserve.
Chris Garrison – crew chief extraordinaire.
Liz Vadeboncoeur – master of the camp and fabulous cook.
No Matt this year, but we have Russell Schneider in his place who has big shoes to fill, but will be great.

This year we will be there a whole day in advance to set up and just relax.

At least we didn’t have to take everything out for this flat tire…Not! Me and trailers.

Out,

Joe

I love offroad Moto videos.  Here is my current favorite.  It is really cool how the GNCC series is getting so much play these days.  Enjoy.

This is from the last National Enduro.

This is Jason Hooper’s, @ Digital Offroad, view of the race.  It was just like this for me, only Kailub is faster and got a better start, and well just a lot better than me.  Fun to watch also.

Out,

Joe