RIDERS FORUM

THIS PAGE CONTAINS INTERESTING EMAILS IN REGARDS TO MX PRODUCTS, VIDEOS, PLACES TO RIDE, AND OTHER ISSUES

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Phill that is the SICKEST background I have ever seen!! Awesome!

Did you make it yourself??

dude that pic is sick... thanks alot!!! im living at waldo so i hope to see u at the winter am's. Good luck

Phillip, your stuff looks great!

...... you do a real good job. I saw good colors, good focusing skills, and good framing up close. ......

Philip,

Hello, this is XXXXX from XXXXXXX. First off, great photos!

Philip,

Nice work! We are a small, local publication.

From all the pictures that you have taken off me all of them have only been the best and i Love everyone of them If you want would you like to try to get it on a semioletribemotocross plague?? or a seminole tribe AD in FLMX or something because these are really good pictures

Nice pics.

Just wanted to tell you that your pics on here are great. I can tell that you really enjoy taking them..

The picture you have posted currently of Tim Ferry is just awesome..!

Shelley Walker

Reed is not the fastest guy on the track (although his times are not bad) but he might be the most consistent for the season. In addition, he might be the most AGGRESSIVE if he gets out front and smells blood!

Stewart we know has the speed to win ... but will he stay safe to the end? Will he get taken out for pissing off other riders (Travis P., Ivan T.) with his nonchalant, non-caring, riding style?

If you find the time give me your input for this season. I love to hear how u put it together.

The Stewart thing is being blown out of proportion from the weekend. Believe it or not, he actually was riding more calm and mellow than I have ever seen James ride all weekend. The thing with IT in practice was rough, but a mistake. If you saw the section up close there was two ways into it and IT went to come back inside and James was already jumping fast into it...it really was as Stewart said, an accident. IT is hurt now and that part sucks because it was practice, but those guys ride practice real hard and they all do it to the guys slower than them at one point or another so it is tough to call.

The run in with TP was a tough moment to call. Stewart was in a two lap heated slam fest, just got shot putted off the track, landed on the side of the jump and basically just tried to get right back on the landing and was focused on Reed. You have to put yourself in a race situation when you can't help but be a bit frantic, plus he was not thinking of someone they just lapped being that close. No he did not think to look back, but that is a tough one to call for sure. In my opinion, I would not blame him as he was very locked on Reed and had just almost been launched into orbit by him. Rolling around on the track in the middle of the start straight after the race was a bit much, he could have made it back to his mechanic and Kawasaki guys and done without the drama out in the middle of the track.

BUT, I do not think IT or TP did any wrong by being pissed, they both had a right to be as does anyone who get taken out like that whether it is by accident or not.

As for Reed, no different from last year. James was playing it VERY calm and safe and was going to take the win by the end of the race no matter. RC was coming up SO FAST it was stupid, if it would have been he and James out front it would have been the same as last years SX season. Reed is consistent as you say, that is his strongest point that may just win him the championship as you say. My bet goes to Stewart though with the first race being a fluke and maybe even the second with a sore foot, however I still think he can beat Reed with a sore foot.

I have also heard two things on the inside about RC, the strongest being that he wants to leave the series leading the points...that just might see him racing though Daytona as that is usually when he charges to and he has been holding some stuff in and training as hard as ever.

The sleeper this year? Windham ...he is going to be strong, confident and fast. Not beat Stewart fast, but battle with Reed fast for sure...he will also be back mentally with RC out.

Millsaps will win Atlanta, Stewart will lap up to 3rd place at Daytona or Orlando (unless RC shows up =) )

And to through in a bone to my team, last two times in SX that 4 guys from the same team made a 250 main were Factory Honda in 1999 and it was Pichon, Windham, Lusk, Tortelli and Factory Yamaha at Phoenix 2005 with Ferry, Reed, Vuilly, Voss at the Pheonix SX.

If my guys pull it this year, we will be the first Independent team in SX history....so cheer us on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 28, 2004 1:17 AM

Dear MXA:

When is a motocross bike considered a works bike? What parts or price makes it a "works bike?” Is a privateer’s bike built from aftermarket parts (excluding factory exotics) and engine work form companies such as Pro Circuit or Boyesen considered a works bike?

Thanks for your input.

Phil,
True-to-life works bikes were banned in 1985. A "real" works bike does not necessarily use a single production part. The frame, engine, wheels, suspension, swingarm and plastic are built especially for racing. In 1985 works bikes were banned by the AMA Production rule. The AMA rule has never been rewritten, tightened or enforced--so many works parts are either legal or not inspected. Thus a "modern" works bike is one with special factory suspension, magnesium wheels, different transmission ratios, exotic ignitions, carbs, cranks and running gear--it does however have to use the stock casting (allow there is lots of cheat room in that rule) and the stock frame. It used to require the stock plastic, but that rule is no longer enforced and many modern works bikes have special narrow aluminum gas tanks.
A hopped-up stock bike with lots of aftermarket parts is not a "works bike”--works parts come from the German word "werks" which refers to the factory--thus works parts are special one-off parts from the factory and only the factory.

for a young English rider, the first girl in UK to get expert point's. Her prize was to go to Texas to ride, but she crashed and is now paralyze from the chest down, and was told she will not walk again. On Saturday December 11th she will leave hospital in Texas for England to start rehab, and learning how to live a different life. She is only 16 years old.

Alanticprom has starter a fund for Laurie Squirrell and would like to know if you would start one on your site. They have got lots of gear from all the pro's to auction and raise some money to help pay her bills.

I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WOULD GET A REAL KICK OUT OF THIS STORY, MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE IT WITH OUR MOTOCROSS COMMUNITY. ITS KINDA LONG, BUT I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE WHOLE THING TO ITS EXTENT. OBVIOUSLY IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF RACING, HAVING YOU OWN PRACTICE TRACK ISN'T AN ADVANTAGE, IT'S A NECESSITY. FIRST YOU HAVE TO PICTURE MY TRACK AND WITH THAT ALONE YOU WILL GET A LAUGH. I LIVE RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF MIAMI IN AN EVERYDAY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR HOUSE IS ON AN ACRE AND A HALF LOT THAT IS SHAPED LIKE A RECTANGLE. THE FRONT HALF OF THE LOT IS THE HOUSE AND POOL AND THE BACK HALF IS ALL TREE'S AND PALMETTO BUSHES. FINALLY AFTER 7 YEARS, MY BROTHERS AND I GOT OUR MOM TO LET US BUILD A REALLY TIGHT ARENACROSS (OR MINI SX) TRACK IN THE BACK YARD. SO, THIS SUMMER WE STARTED, GOT A BOBCAT AND CLEARED OUT THE LAYOUT FOR THE TRACK CLEARING OUT HALF THE TREE'S IN THE BACKYARD. DOWN HERE IF YOU GO ONE INCH UNDERGROUND IT IS ALL CORAL ROCK SO THERE IS NOT ANY DIRT TO WORK WITH. SO, WE GOT A DEAL FROM THE PLACE TO GET GRADE B ORANGE CLAY TO BUILD THE TRACK OUT OF. THEY GAVE US THE DIRT FOR ONE-THIRD OF THE NORMAL COST, BUT HAVING ORANGE CLAY DELIVERED TO YOU HOUSE IN MIAMI ISN'T CHEAP BY ANY MEANS. SO WE GOT 108 YARDS OF CLAY (COST $1770) TO START AND THAT ENDED UP COVERING THE COMPLETE LAYOUT WITH LIKE AN 8 INCH BASE. IT ALSO LET US START A BUILD UP FOR ALL THE BOWL TURNS, 5 TURNS IN ALL. THE TRACK IS ONLY 10' WIDE, BUT ITS PERFECT FOR ONE RIDER GIVEN WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO RIDE SX. WE THEN WENT TO LORETTA'S AND RIGHT AFTER THAT I GOT OPERATED ON AND THE LAYOUT SAT AND HARDENED FOR TWO MONTHS. MY BROTHERS WENT BACK UP TO GAINESVILLE FOR SCHOOL AND I GOT SOME MORE MONEY TOGETHER FOR DIRT. I ORDERED 144 YARDS THIS TIME ($2360) AND HAD ENOUGH TO BUILD UP ALL THE BOWL TURNS AND BUILD ALL THE JUMPS. WHEN I WAS DONE I HAD A SWEET MINI SX TRACK IN MY YARD. I COULD FINALLY PRACTICE ON MY BIKE EVERYDAY AND COULDN'T WAIT TO HEAL UP. THE TRACK HAS A BIG FINISH LINE DOUBLE WITH A 6' FACE AND LANDING, ONE SMALL RHYTHM SECTION, A STEP ON STEP OFF AND ONE SECTION OF WHOOPS. WEATHER WAS PERFECT AND WITH RIDING PIT BIKES, PACKING WITH A 4-WHEELER, AND LOT OF SHOVELING A RACKING, THE TRACK WAS FINALLY READY TO GO. IT WAS A BLAST FOR 2 WEEKS AND THEN LAST WEEK THE RAINS CAME. WELL, THE RAIN KILLED MY TRACK AND TURNED ALL THE HARD AS A ROCK CLAY INTO MUSH, SO OBVIOUSLY I COULDN'T RIDE ON IT. SO, LAST FRI I GOT THE BOBCAT AND ORDERED ON MORE LOAD OF CLAY ($295) AND WAS GOING TO FIX THE TRACK UP ON SAT AND THEN GO TO HOME DEPOT AND BUY OF BUNCH OF CLEAR TARPS TO COVER ALL THE JUMPS AND TURNS SO THE RAIN WON'T RUIN THE TRACK AND THEN IT WON'T BE TO SOFT FOR RIDING ON. I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE a lot OF COVERING AND UNCOVERING, BUT ITS SMALL AND IT SURE BEATS THE RAKE A SHOVEL...TRUST ME. NOW, THIS IS WHEN MY STORY BECOMES UNIQUE. SAT MORNING I WENT OUT TO TRAIN ON MY ROAD BIKE AT ABOUT 8am. I GOT BACK AT 9:30 AND WHEN I WALKED UP THE DRIVEWAY TO THE GARAGE, I COULD HEAR THE BOBCAT RUNNING IN THE BACKYARD. I WAS LIKE "OH SHIT, DAD IS ON THE BOBCAT!" FIGURING HE WAS DOING WHO KNOWS WHAT, I WALKED STRAIGHT BACK THERE IN MY ROAD SHOE'S AND HELMET STILL ON. NOW, PICTURE MY PROPERTY. OUR LOT TAKES UP A FULL BLOCK AND WE ARE A CORNER LOT. THE NORTH AND SOUTH ENDS OF MY PROPERTY ARE 99th AND 98th STREET. THE WEST SIDE IS A BUSY TWO LANE STREET, 97th AVENUE AND THE EAST SIDE IS A NEIGHBOR. WE HAVE AN 8 FOOT WOOD FENCE THAT SURROUNDS THE WHOLE PROPERTY EXCEPT FOR THE FRONT. AS I WALK BACK AROUND TO THE BACK I SEE THE BOBCAT SITTING THERE, BUT IT SWEAR IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A DOZER RUNNING IN MY YARD. JUST THEN I SEE A FULL BLOWN DOZER IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT USED TO BE MY TRACK, PLOWING AWAY. MY BACK GATE IS OPENED AND THERE IS A HUGE TRUCK AND TRAILER OUT ON THE BACK STREET. AS I START TO RUN TO THE DOZER, I LOOK TO MY RIGHT WHERE THERE WERE TWO BOWL TURNS AND A STRAIGHT OF WHOOPS AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT. I LOOK STRAIGHT TO THE END OF THE PROPERTY WHERE THE FINISH LINE DOUBLE WAS, IT WAS GONE ALSO. TO SPARE THE FURTHER LENGTH OF THIS STORY, JUST IMAGINE WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE IF YOU WERE ME RIGHT AT THIS TIME. AFTER SCREAMING TO STOP AND "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" 10,000 TIMES, I GET OUT OF HIM THAT HE IS CLEARING THE LAND AND SPREADING THE FILL FOR A CONTRACTOR TO PUT IN A POOL. I DID RIP MY HELMET OFF AND BOUNCE IT RIGHT OFF HIS FOREHEAD AND THEN STARTED TO GO NUTS, BUT THEN AS I WAS GOING NUTS I HAD SPUN AROUND IN A CIRCLE AND REALIZED THAT HE HAD ALREADY PLOWED THE ENTIRE TRACK. I THEN FELL TO MY ASS AND JUST SAT THERE IN SHOCK. I SWEAR I STARTED TO PINCH MYSELF AND NEW THIS HAD TO BE THE REALEST DREAM EVER. HOWEVER, IT WAS ALL REAL AND MY TRACK WAS GONE. I MEAN GONE, HE HAD SPREAD EVERY JUMP AND EVERY TURN EXCEPT FOR THE VERY BACK BOWL TURN. HE HAD PUSHED ALL THE DIRT FROM CORNER TO CORNER, INTO THE FENCE, TREE'S, PALMETTO'S AND MOST OF ALL JUST INTO THE GROUND. ONCE THE GUY KIND OF REALIZED WHAT HE HAD DONE, HE WAS MORE SORRY THAN ANYONE IN HIS SHOE'S COULD HAVE BEEN. HE HAD DEFIANTLY BEEN DRILLED THAT HE JUST COST ME, BESIDES MONEY FOR DIRT AND MY TIME TO REBUILD, ONE MONTH OF TRAINING AND RIDING; WHEN SX STARTS IN 2 MONTHS AND I HAVE BEEN OUT FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS FROM SURGERY ON MY LEG AND SHOULDER. THE GUY TRIED TO SCRAPE UP AS MUCH AS HE COULD, BUT HE WAS JUST MAKING IT WORSE BECAUSE THE DIRT HAD TO BE PULLED BACK OUT, BEING THAT THERE IS NO ROOM TO WORK WITH BACK THERE AND YOU CAN'T COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LANES AND PUSH IT BACK UP. I FINALLY HAD HIM JUST GO AND THE POLICE WROTE IT ALL UP SO THAT HE HAS TO PAY FOR ALL THE EXTRA DIRT I WILL NEED TO REBUILD. I WAS ABLE TO SALVAGE ENOUGH TO BUILD BACK ALL THE BOWL TURNS BUT ONE AND THE STEP ON STEP OFF. THE GUY OWNS A BULLDOZING COMPANY WITH HIS FATHER AND HAD BEEN SUBCONTRACTED TO SPREAD SOME FILL AND LEVEL OUT GROUND FOR A POOL. THE ONLY THING HE HAD FOR AN ADDRESS WAS 97tH AVE AND 98th ST WHICH IS NOTHING OTHER THAN AN INTERSECTION WITH STOP SIGNS. FROM HIS TRUCK HE COULD SEE OVER MY FENCE AND SAW THE BOBCAT BACK THERE AND A PILE OF ORANGE CLAY. SO, HE JUST PULLED UP, JUMPED MY BACK FENCE, OPENED UP THE GATE AND WENT TO WORK FIGURING IT WAS THE RIGHT LOT. NOW, HE EVEN CURLED UP MY HOSE FOR WATERING THE TRACK AND WALKED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AND PUT IT BY THE OUR REAL POOL. BUT YET HE THOUGHT HE WAS CLEARING LAND TO BUILD A POOL! HE SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THE BACK HALF OF THE LOT HAD BEEN SOLD BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME......WHATEVER. HE AGREED A HUNDRED TIMES TO PAY FOR ALL HE DID AND BUY ALL THE DIRT I NEEDED TO REBUILD. I ALREADY ORDERED MORE DIRT THIS MORNING, BUT HAVE TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW FOR DELIVERY. SO, IT'LL PROBABLY BE 3 WEEKS TILL I CAN RIDE ON IT AND I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPEN. I SWEAR WHEN I WAS SITTING ON WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE NEW PILE (WHICH IS WHAT HE WAS SPREADING WHEN I FOUND HIM BACK THERE) I KEPT THINKING THAT I HAD TO BE ON MTV's PUNKED, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE FAMOUS THAT WOULD PUT ME ON THE SHOW. IT ALL TURNED OUT TO BE AS REAL AS COMING HOME FROM WORK TODAY AND YOUR HOUSE IS BEING WRECKER BALLED RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, AND THEN THEY SAY SORRY WE HAVE THE WRONG ADDRESS. OH YEAH, AND MY PARENTS AND FIANCE' ALL HEARD THE DOZER OUT THERE FOR AN HOUR WORKING A WAY, BUT THEY JUST THOUGHT IT WAS ME ON THE BOBCAT BECAUSE NONE OF THEM NEW I HAD GONE OUT ON MY ROAD BIKE AND I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE BOBCAT TO WORK ON THE TRACK. SO, NO ONE WENT OUT TO CHECK BECAUSE WHY WOULD THAT HAVE EVEN BEEN A THOUGHT...

Subject:	good one
Date:	11/10/03 9:10:35 AM Pacific Standard Time