OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Evil Rudy on March 02, 2011, 02:14:15 am
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In the spirit of my new found love of the PC world of OzVmx,I would like to pose a question...
What was it like when you finally spoke with your MX hero if at all
I very literally just got off the phone with Mark Barnett.
I am not worthy, I am not worthy...
E. Rudy & Suzuki 43 (my little pig for the night).
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Good question that Evil.
I wish I was there ;)
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In the spirit of my new found love of the PC world of OzVmx,I would like to pose a question...
What was it like when you finally spoke with your MX hero if at all
I very literally just got off the phone with Mark Barnett.
I am not worthy, I am not worthy...
E. Rudy & Suzuki 43 (my little pig for the night).
Nah Rudy,
I only get scared talking to you…
VMX42 ;)
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Not an MX rider but road racing. I bumped into Peter Williams (ex John Player Norton rider) in a pub in Auckland. Couldn't have met a nicer bloke.
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They are bike folk. There's no class system in bike racing. You can meet your heroes, chat with them, have a beer and talk bike racing, and they'll be just as keen as you. I've been very lucky, and have met a stack of my heroes in bike racing, and they don't consider themselves to be anything other than a bike racer, just like us. ;)
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I wouldnt say there are any hereos..I always liked Batman though ;D
Actually the time I was talking to someone of mx importants,I didn't know it (which is often) ::)
I had to point him out and ask someone later who he was, then I followed on with some google research on him. :o ............. GEOFF BALLARD
As it turned out I spotted a photo of us together in Roger Harveys CD7 Conondale 2010 book.It shows the finer detail of how interesting the discussion was ;) ;D
cheers A
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Ah finally, something close to my heart.....
In '87 we went to Europe to race sidecarcross and had the benifit of going to a training camp with the then 3 time world champion of my chosen sport...quite a buzz but didn't get too close.
Later on we raced at a few international events and always got a nod from him to say gidday.
After we crashed at the Swiss GP while tring to qualify, he met us in the pits and asked what we were going to do, I replied that we would have a short holiday and then go home to Oz. Without hesitating, he asked if we would like to come up to his place and stay a while-now this was unheard of, a Swiss asking us back to his house to stay- we were stunned!
After a day or two with his family he asked if I would like to go training with him-on the Jumbo. I was shocked. Here I was being asked by the current world champion if I would like to passenger for him, I didn't really know what to say but jumped at the chance and after that we ended up staying with him for 6 months and are now still very good friends.
What a great guy to even ask me and put his faith in my ability. Still luvin' it to this day. :D :D
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..I always liked Batman though ;D
So Alison, was it the tights or the underpants on the outside… :D
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..I always liked Batman though ;D
So Alison, was it the tights or the underpants on the outside… :D
There's just no hope for some ;) :D its all in the shoulders ;D
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Lucky enough, over the years, to have been on the line with a few of the true greats including Noyce, Hudson and Thorpe.
I went to a DT training day in 92-ish, expected to meet a God in a Ferrari. Turned out he was a normal guy in a diesel VW Golf. He taught me more in a day than I ever learned in the rest of my racing career (and yes, I forgot most of it within the week).
At the Telford show last year my 9 year old son asked Joel Robert for an autograph. JR was amazed anyone so young even knew who he was. For 10 mins they chatted like old mates about some GP or other, one reliving his youth and the other turning a grainy DVD into living breathing reality.
Last year at the Farleigh VMXDN Georges Jobe gave an impassioned speech that made hairs stand up on my neck. A marquee of grown men. tears welling in their eyes. Next day I was watching a race when someone wiped out Shayne King. Exhausted, he couldn't start his Maico, so I jumped the fence to help. I couldn't start it either. Then the bikes owner arrived, did no better even after bumping it downthe hill. The piss-taking fromthe crowd was rampant. SK's reaction? - not a tantrum in sight, he thought it hilarious and began the long walk back to the pits.
My point? These guys are bikers. Decent blokes. No airs, no graces. Just a bit fast, thats all.
Can you imagine another sport where your life heroes are so accessible? Can you get a kick-about with Pele? Drink a beer with Schumacher? (though James Hunt would have...).
Justthink how privileged you are to be able to meet your old national or regional champs, have a barbie, share a cold one, go riding. You're privileged. Enjoy it every chance you get. This life is no dress rehearsal.
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I too have been fortunate to meet a number of my MX Heros :) some back in the day and some within the Vintage scene .
Some of the most real people i have been lucky enough to spend a bit of time with have been Harry Everts , Joel Robert, Akira Watanabe, Jeff smith , Joel Smets and the late Jim Pomeroy . All these guys were so humble and unassuming about their acheivments and they genuinely seem interested in us mortals :)
Closer to home are guys like Josh Coppins , Hugh Anderson, Laurie Alderton, Tim Gibbes,Ivan Miller and Craig Dack :)
As i sit here typing this its a cool feeling that in this very office a number of World MX champions and notable forum members have visited, checked out my bikes and paraphenalia and signed memorobilia for me ;D how cool is that , i am a lucky Bastard ;D
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*A lifetime ago in 1976/77 I worked for American supercross pioneer Mike Goodwin (Currently serving life for double murder). Thanks to that job I met most of the top riders of the day and became friends with some, such as Billy Grossi. One of the memories from that time of my life that's stayed with me is just how nice and normal the top riders were/are once you got through their media image. For instance both Billy and Bob Grossi had reputations as outrageous rock star like party boys but the reality was that they were just a pair of cool Nor-Cal beach town boys who loved hanging with their mates and enjoying the occasional surf, ride and party, no different to most others their age.
*Many years later I was lucky to spend the day with Roger DeCoster at Hans Apelgrens house. I found him to be one of the most laid back, genuine people I've met in my forty years in this sport as everyone who met him on his later private visit will no doubt agree.
*While covering the last Eastern Creek Australian GP for a now long gone and forgotten magazine, I got to meet my all time road race hero, Barry Sheene, another whose reputation proved to be totally different to reality. I'd been told by many that he was an egocentric arsehole but it only took my half hour with him and a whole weekend of watching him work to realise that he was a really nice bloke who showed genuine interest in whoever it was he was talking to. I was wearing a Steamboat Springs, Colorado vintage motocross festival t shirt which pompted Barry to tell me of his time chasing ski bunnies and drinking cocktails there back in the early seventies. He showed great interest in the idea of vintage racing in Steamboat and asked if I'd ridden the event (yes) which prompted another conversation on the ex DeCoster RH he had at home on the Gold Coast. He was warm, funny and knew how to work a room. Later in the weekend as Barry walked past while I was having a post GP beer with a couple of mates, he winked and said "See ya in Steamboat next year Mark, we'll get some of that ski bunny action". I was really impressed that he's remembered our conversation as well as my name after two days of talking to countless people. He was a class act.
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I think you'll find it a common experience with most truly fast guys. I was 7 when I met Thorpey and I'll never forget it. Willing to spend a few minutes with a couple of grommets who just asked silly questions!
My brother set up McGrath's suspension a couple of years ago for Super X (when he didn't bring his own with him) and Jeremy was just happy to get some help. More time was spent with the local riders on the team who a) complained about everything; and b) got totally smoked by McGrath. From all accounts, he is really down to earth and easy to work with.
The true wankers are the local A grade twits that win the same series, year in, year out with zero competition and think they're God because of it.
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Chasing up some Bultaco information recently I had the idea to ring Kenny Zahrt in California.For those that may not know he was National rider of note in the states in the early mid seventies. When he recovered from the suprise of a total stranger calling from "Osstralia" he couldn't have been more forthcoming with the information I was after. Spent some time chatting and he expressed interest in VMX magazine. Said he was aware of it but found it hard to buy. Quick phone call to Firko later who secured a couple of copies and sent them on to Kenny. Thorough gentleman (Kenny) not Firko! Cheers Jerry
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When we were kids we all wanted to be Barry Sheene, we even tried to ride like him knee out style (still do today). In about 1993 he walked into the shop I was running at the time looking for a clock. We struck up a conversation and he conveyed to me the story that in 73 he wanted a Suzuki to run around his estate on and that Suzuki had sent him one of Rogers RN370s. As true as I sit here he spent an hour telling me all about that and his life with Suzuki then Yamaha. When he found out that I had a few asked me over to his house at Carara and to bring over one of the bikes which I did. For the next few hours he allowed me to dribble all over his collection of #7s and just hang out at his place. With out a doubt he was one of the most normal and uneffected guys I have ever met, a true champion of the sport - shit, his influence is still on RR today and forever will be.
Was a great day, just a moment in time I wont forget.
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i concur with dave ,i met barry sheene a few times- i used make tranzac exhausts.anyway barry came up we rrepaired and repainted exhaust systems on his that he was restoring normal bloke,easy to talk to ,no hey i m a legend and you should do this for free great bloke r.i.p.
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I raced in the last round of the west coast VMX nationals in the states four years in a row in the nineties. The meeting was at a really good track in the Hollister Hills (Hollister was where "The Wild One" was set). The first year I raced there we went to a party on the Saturday night in a town called Gilroy, not far from the track. There was a video playing "On Any Sunday" (favourite film, of course) and the cool part was that the guests at the party included Dick Mann, Dave Aldana, Gene Romero, Jim Rice, John Desoto and a few others I can't remember. All great guys and happy to talk about anything and everything. Great memory.
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Talking about normal folk in race suits, one of the most obvious to me is Steve Gall. I caught up with Steve at Echo Valley a few years back and joked with him about an old magazine I had that carried a story from early days and they had asked him what he was going to do after motocross ( a question we all might have asked ourselves back then).
The joke was that here we were some 30yrs on and he was still into motocross up to his elbows. He asked if he could have a copy and as I was/am computer stupid I sent him the whole mag. He was very greatful that I went to the trouble and we still catch up and have a joke from time to time.
A really nice FAST guy, like most of them at the top.
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probably when i met georges jobe at farleigh
he was my GP idol of the eighties
got him to sign my kawasaki m robert jersey
he was great to talk to and down to earth
with some great stories ;)
the other was brad lackey he was great
and boy has he got some stories ;D
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Over the years i've spent a bit of time with Barry Sheene, Mick Doohan, Darryl Beattie, Kevin Magee and Jason Crump. They're all good friendly down to earth guys happy to talk to anyone and very approachable.
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Some great & endearing stories here guys. The only one I met was Joel Robert (briefly) & he was a real gentleman too.
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Here's something that links two names above, a generation apart.
Gary Flood told me that when he and Ivan Miller were working at - and riding for - UK Comerfords
in the early 70s, Dave Thorpe's dad was involved with bikes and would visit the shop. He'd
sometimes bring his quite young son in with him, and Gary got to know him pretty well. I guess David would
have been 11 or 12 at the time.
By the way, does anyone know what has become of Barry Sheene's home museum of bikes please?
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I think Stefanie his wife has sold a lot off as I have seen some that appear to be in other people's hands. Cant blame her if she has life goes on and she probably needed to flick them.
On that point we only are custodians of what we own anyway, when I had my 25 Velocette it had the original owners name and address engraved in the cover of the maggy. I tracked him down and he had passed away 50 years before buy was still known in the town he lived - we are only lease holders; everything eventually gets passed on.
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On that point we only are custodians of what we own anyway, when I had my 25 Velocette it had the original owners name and address engraved in the cover of the maggy. I tracked him down and he had passed away 50 years before buy was still known in the town he lived - we are only lease holders; everything eventually gets passed on.
Geez Dave,
That's a bit deep for OzVMX. But it does make me feel sorry for the poor sod that ends up as the next custodian of my crap. :D I hope they have more storage space than I do… ;D
VMX42
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Here in the States I've had the fortune of rubbing elbows with Brad Lackey, Jim Pomeroy, Dick Mann, Jeff Smith, Billy Liles, Tony D., Marty Tripes and the most laid back "hero" ever- Chuck Sun. All easy to chat with and yes they are just like us only faster.
Of course I'm always starstruck in DeCoster's presence at the SX races though....
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All Barry Sheene's bikes are still in his house on display. I talk to his son freddie regularly and there were'nt any plans to sell them as far as i know.
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have had cause to write to both Brad Lackey and Marty Smith of late - have been absolutely amazed at how "down to earth" the guys have been when replying - you could of knocked me over this morning when Marty replied to my latest email and then sked me if I was going that way to let him know so we could go for a ride. Now this may have been just being very polite but Marty was my childhood hero and I was gobsmacked ;D
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ROGER DEcOSTER, jOEL ROBERTS, Harry Everts,Gaston rahier,jeff Smith,Sammy Miller,Jim Pomeroy,Bad Brad,Super Hunky,Ivan Miller, Geoff Eldridge and Firko
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ROGER DEcOSTER, jOEL ROBERTS, Harry Everts,Gaston rahier,jeff Smith,Sammy Miller,Jim Pomeroy,Bad Brad,Super Hunky,Ivan Miller, Geoff Eldridge and Firko
I've heard that Firko character can be a bit of a prima donna. Or maybe I just caught him on a bad day? ;)
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I've heard that Firko character can be a bit of a prima donna
I prefer to call it my artistic temperment. The chicks dig it. ;D
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ROGER DEcOSTER, jOEL ROBERTS, Harry Everts,Gaston rahier,jeff Smith,Sammy Miller,Jim Pomeroy,Bad Brad,Super Hunky,Ivan Miller, Geoff Eldridge and Firko
I've heard that Firko character can be a bit of a prima donna. Or maybe I just caught him on a bad day? ;)
Just dont mention those 7K TM 250s around him ;D
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talking to my dad in the uk every week i told him hes my hero !!! [maybe we all should if we get the chance]......
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talking to my dad in the uk every week i told him hes my hero !!! [maybe we all should if we get the chance]......
it would be a bit arkward as i dont know your dad ;D
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Mental picture, Firko in a tutu.
Lama, I agree totally, I lost my dad 25 years ago and still wish I could talk to him nearly every day.
Apart from dad I had 2 heroes when I was a kid, one was Billy Macdonald who rode my fathers bikes and had an off track persona that was just as formidable as he was with a throttle in his hand, I talk to him regularly and he'll be in Syd next week for the BWP reunion.
The other was my brother Carl who took over riding dads bikes from Billy then went on to ride Speedway in the UK for 6 years, he was doing everything I wanted to do when I was old enough but like typical big / little brother relationships he seemed to have no idea I existed, at the time.
We're closer nowa days than we ever were.
If I could meet and talk to my hero tomorrow it would be Billy Connolly, The Big Yin.
No one can say the F word as many times and get away with it like he does.
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I have had the opportunity to spend time, both riding and casual chats, with John Hederics over the years through both our association with Honda.
A very quiet guy, but you learn a lot from his actions. A very professional attitude to his desert racing and eveyone associated with him in the industry.
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Got an email from Jan Thiel ;) Just direct and to the point.
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/Lozza85_2007/janthiel.jpg)
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I’ve come across a few over the years and have also found them all to be great blokes.
The first notable I guess was meeting Goat Brekker on a trip to the states, while Gall and Dacky were on the plane trip with us it was Goat that picked us up from the airport and we went out to dinner with them all within the first couple of hours of being in the US.
Goat took us out to play Putt Putt golf one night.
He went up to the window to grab the golf balls from the chick at the counter, a good 8 or more from what I could see.
When the girl handed them to him he then took a couple of steps backward and started juggling all of them. We were all blown away, not to mention the workers.
He had a few juggling things at his home but it took a bit of nagging to get him to juggle stuff as he actually seemed a bit shy.
Wasn’t fussed about me wheeling his works bike (genuine, not replica :D) out into his yard for an impromptu photo shoot either.
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Got an email from Jan Thiel ;) Just direct and to the point.
oooh! The Master himself. Very nice! What wisdom did he impart to you, Grasshopper?
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Actually the time I was talking to someone of mx importants,I didn't know it (which is often) ::)
I had to point him out and ask someone later who he was, then I followed on with some google research on him. :o ............. GEOFF BALLARD
Your not alone there Alison, I know of a few stories along those lines.
It would have been back around 1990 and Leisky had just come home for Xmas and someone invited him to a DVMCC presentation night.
I had always admired Leisky, but wasn’t sure what to say to him. I felt unworthy and that my achievements weren’t worth mentioning, and I didn’t want to be blowing wind up his arse either so I was a bit taken back when I noticed one of my trail riding mates Rusty was having a chat to him.
I wandered over to ‘mingle’ to find that Rusty, who had a road registered CR500 for a trail bike was telling Leisky what a powerful bike the CR500 was and that it took real balls to hang on to these arm wrenching beasts. Me mate was rabbiting on for a bit and Leisky was just nodding politely when he was ‘saved’ by some one calling out for him.
Stunned at what I had just heard I asked Rusty if he knew who he had just been talking to.
“No, why, who was it”
That was No 2 in the world 500 class for 89, Jeff Leisk.
“OHHH NOOOOO he groaned, I thought he looked familiar”
Rusty then slid out the back door never to be seen again for the rest of the night
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Got an email from Jan Thiel ;) Just direct and to the point.
oooh! The Master himself. Very nice! What wisdom did he impart to you, Grasshopper?
"Do not email me again".
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I wandered over to ‘mingle’ to find that Rusty, who had a road registered CR500 for a trail bike was telling Leisky what a powerful bike the CR500 was and that it took real balls to hang on to these arm wrenching beasts. Me mate was rabbiting on for a bit and Leisky was just nodding politely when he was ‘saved’ by some one calling out for him.
At one of the car club pres nights, Dean Herridge was being bored stupid by one of the locals, who was dribbling drunken crap. I went and 'saved' Dean, and he was clearly grateful. Then after a few minutes, I realised I was dribbling drunken crap at him.
That was a weird position for me to be in...
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Got an email from Jan Thiel ;) Just direct and to the point.
oooh! The Master himself. Very nice! What wisdom did he impart to you, Grasshopper?
He told me I ask very good questions,wisdom ,well the path that leads to over 50HP from a 125 and how they did it and what they (a staff of over 100) would have liked to have developed. One tidbit was that they ran a RSA engine on a dyno without a pipe, result was 17HP so the pipe is responsible for 66% of a 2T engines output.
Have you got a question for Jan Nathan? ;D
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Talking to Mark Barnett on Tuesday night this week in the company of my single malt loving mate,was the stand out highlight of my MX life, with daylight second.The man was very friendly and patient, and the fact he was about to go riding with Chad and Byrner at Chads track added an extra dimension to our conversation.
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i
met was in the company of Roger Decoster at an organised VIPER night. i was in complete awe of him and very shy, i wanted to say something but buggered if knew what ::). too this day i am disappointed that i didn't even try to talk to him. he was very approachable on the night. at least i got a pic to remind me of the night.
Below left to Right.
YZHilly, Roger D, Myself.
(http://api.ning.com/files/s7iEOCa*rQQaA*NrZJ6-NomYPNvEDxAQ0jZmncSJwZ8_/PB050548.JPG?width=737&height=551)
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Hoony is my hero. Not up himself at all. I've met him a couple of times and always found him polite and approachable. Cheers J
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Thanks for that Jerry, as promised the pursang is in the mail :D
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talking to my dad in the uk every week i told him hes my hero !!! [maybe we all should if we get the chance]......
it would be a bit arkward as i dont know your dad ;D
You do so TM Bill, he's the bloke that looks after all the transponders in UK moto races, he and Roy Humphrey-so be nice to him next time.
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All these guys were so humble and unassuming about their acheivments and they genuinely seem interested in us mortals :)
Yeah back in the day I met a few but they never called back. ;D
Just got off the phone with Ken McIntosh ( think Bathhurst and the current races Manx's) truly I am not worthy.
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hero's/legends/scramblers of era's gone by........You'll see em all at CD8 :P
Is Evil Rudy going to be at there ? ;D
cheers A
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When he found out that I had a few asked me over to his house at Carara and to bring over one of the bikes which I did. For the next few hours he allowed me to dribble all over his collection of #7s and just hang out at his place.
I remember you telling about that the week after but you politely didn't mention his smoking of Gitanes ...
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I saw him belting a puppy with a stick once.....
I hope not and doubt very much that it's true, not a good comment to make on here.
Did you try to stop it???
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The cyber racers on here are my heros. "Look at me, loook at meee......"[/color]
..... did you know theres BOLD as well as red colour choice?
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Hoony is my hero. Not up himself at all. I've met him a couple of times and always found him polite and approachable. Cheers J
Mine too,he's a legend for being about the only forum user who hasn't gotten into the many cyber shitfights or slagged off at anyone(Alison too).You're a close second Ross. :D
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hoonys ,my hero too ;D
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Obviously an IN joke, I got sucked IN.
I'm not too concerned about the Cat bit, I'm a dog man.
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Life member of The Cat Protection Society. Woof meow...
sure you are / your moveing from nimmo memorial gardens cause theres no room left for dead animals
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I really like cats AND dogs. Do I need counseling ..?
(I'll raise your red; and add Oblique)
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Clarence ?
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i forgot about that thing ::)
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wheres the chiwowa cross thingy
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Here is a mega cool brush with a living legend, rgvmax built a TYGA RGV Lucky Strike replica that was as good as it gets.
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/rzrob/IMG_0498.jpg)
While on the way home from the recent Laguna Seca MotoGP while getting some fuel for the ride home who pulls in beside him?
(http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac227/Repumax/SwantzSignature.jpg)
(http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac227/Repumax/TankSigSwantz34.jpg)
(http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac227/Repumax/MaxnKevinSwantz.jpg)
As you can see Max was somewhat happy
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Boy, what are the chances of having Kenny Roberts there as well to sign the Yamaha in the background… :D
Neat bike though. Any more pics of it Lozza?
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Great thread. Thanks for digging it up.
Again not VMX. A few weeks ago I read Gene Krantz's autobiography and I'm in awe of the apollo/man-on-the-moon project. So I found Krantz on Facebook and shot him a mail thanking him and the rest of the (considerable) team for inspiring a young boy. HE replied. Couldn't have been nicer about it.
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Boy, what are the chances of having Kenny Roberts there as well to sign the Yamaha in the background… :D
Neat bike though. Any more pics of it Lozza?
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/Lozza85_2007/post-2-0-67160800-1292665161.jpg)
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/Lozza85_2007/post-2-0-44139100-1292665133.jpg)
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/Lozza85_2007/post-2-0-14095000-1292665130.jpg)
The RZ owner caught King Kenny coming out of his motorhime all hung over and in a grumpy, but all was OK when Kenny saw it was a 'real bike' ;D
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Met Cam Donald last week. Nice bloke very approachable. J